Toddler on Skis

Harvey

Harvey

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I'd really appreciate the collective FTO wisdom on gear selection for our daughter who will be 2 1/2 at the beginning of ski season. Would love to hear from anyone with experience. I know James has a 3-4 year old. Jspin. Jason. Or even you old coots who did it 20 years ago. Anyone and everyone.

For cross country skis, if we get them, we'd probably go with something like this:

http://www.llbean.com/webapp/wcs/stores ... SR&feat=sr

But I'm guessing that magic carpet "lift service" wedge turns are probably an easier first step than cross country skiing.

Still I'd like all opinions and recommendations on alpine or tele gear for the little beginner. Right now she's 36" and I'm guessing 33-35 pounds.

I admit this was probably over the top. When Neve was 6 months old:
 

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I'm surprised Tony didn't refer to this past discussion on Kids.

I won't repeat what I said before, as I don't even have time to post a TR these days.

The only reason why my girls started at 2 1/2 was that they ASKED to go skiing. No pressure from myself. It has to come from them at that age. If you look at the link below, you'll see my reasoning behind it.

Good luck and I hope with a name like Neve, she might really enjoy it. Read on, some great info and insight from a bunch of us.

viewtopic.php?f=9&t=280
 
I started both my girls at five..They started with a 1 hr private lesson at a small local area (sterling forrest). I think kids do better with a lesson the first time, parents tend to screw things up.
IMHO the first lesson is very important for future results. A beautiful warm sunny weekday can set the stage for a nice experience.
Good luck, skiing is one of the few things my kids still like to do with me :oops:
 
jasoncapecod":y549dpiu said:
I started both my girls at five..They started with a 1 hr private lesson at a small local area (sterling forrest). I think kids do better with a lesson the first time, parents tend to screw things up.
IMHO the first lesson is very important for future results. A beautiful warm sunny weekday can set the stage for a nice experience.
Click to expand...

My kids didn't start off in lessons, but you have to know what you're going and be positive. I remember seeing one parent with maybe a 4 year old and he was being miserable. If the kid has enough, he/she has enough... no reason to yell (at that age). Sometimes they do only one run, remain positive and use positive reinforcements.

jasoncapecod":y549dpiu said:
Good luck, skiing is one of the few things my kids still like to do with me :oops:
Click to expand...

I guess I'm heading that way eventually, last night was her first paid concert (none festival) that she saw - first Montreal Canadiens game on Tuesday. Got her the setlist for the show also. The friend that was with us might become a ski and concert junking like me. :mrgreen: She got a bunch of "digital" pics of the show.
 
The friend that was with us might become a ski and concert junking like me. She got a bunch of "digital" pics of the show.
Click to expand...

My taste in music (70's classic rock & metal) are a hard sell to teenage girls...
 
jasoncapecod":2x3ny476 said:
My taste in music (70's classic rock & metal) are a hard sell to teenage girls...
Click to expand...
It's sure that I would have to drag her to an Adrien Belew concert (she cannot stand it :mrgreen: , as the rest of the family). Feist is an artist that she loves and we both liked. Way better than other stuff that she likes.
 
I started my daughter at 3 on 63cm alpine skis, one-buckle rear entry boot and a simple step-in binding. She took to it and loves it. I also invested in a harness and leash, which is very help on the ground lifts typically found in the kid's learning area. It makes a safe handle to hold your child between your legs on the lift and to unload safely. I would not try tele for a few years, until they master alpine. However, I alway wear my tele gear when skiing with my daughter because the vibram sole and bellowed toe makes it much easier on me to spend time out of my skis helping my daughter. Have fun!! It is a whole new chapter of skiing enjoyment to watch your child learn.
 
We introduced 3 kids to skiing all at the age of 4 ( Now they are all in HS - no more MRG kid passes :( ) and the best thing is not to push them . Were lucky in the Laurentians to have a lot of mom and pop hills with good programs. We have been skiing as a group ever since . My biggest concern then and now is having the kids run over by some moron at a big commercial area . This is why we always head for the off trail stuff even if it means a bit of hiking . So take it one run at a time :). The skiing is actually the easy part , the logistics of organizing all the equipment can drive you crazy .
 
Anthony":xslefcd7 said:
and the best thing is not to push them . Were lucky in the Laurentians to have a lot of mom and pop hills with good programs. (...). My biggest concern then and now is having the kids run over by some moron at a big commercial area . This is why we always head for the off trail stuff even if it means a bit of hiking . So take it one run at a time :). .
Click to expand...

Very wise statement.

Anthony":xslefcd7 said:
The skiing is actually the easy part , the logistics of organizing all the equipment can drive you crazy .
Click to expand...

Now that is the truth.
 
The logistics issue is eaily resolved by hiring a smoking hot au pair (Austrian, German, Italian, Brazilian?) who knows how to ski and is willing to watch the kids on the bunny hill while you're out skiing. But remember, she has to be "smoking hot", or it ain't gonna workout. \:D/
 
Yesterday , while out clearing trails spent time thinking about the declining numbers of kids involved in skiing . Our 3 kids going to HS in the Montreal area tell me that hardly anyone skis and the ones that do go only 3 to 4 times a year and my son cam home from school to tell me that some kid called skiing a sissy sport :x . Last year read a Canadian gov't report on fitness reported that less than 5 % of kids were involved in skiing . This week Canada's Macleans news Magazine advised that skiing numbers have peaked and the average age of the skier is 40 something. In Quebec the the cost of skiing is not that bad( compared to other activities) as there are still enough small areas to get you started without spending a fortune and of course you can always hike up :) . The kids tell me there is just a lack of interest in skiing and winter in general . Their friends would rather go south to a beach than spend time in the Mountains . This attitude is probably learned from the parents who probably complain about how cold it is all the time . Then you can factor in organized activities that take place inside for one hour on a weekend day effectively eliminating the chance of skiing and being outside the whole day . Well that's my rant now going for a walk in the woods.
 
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