Ongoing Kid Stoke [2011 and on...]

[hitek79]

Well, that brings up the next issue. I know how to ski, but I'm not great. I got bored a few years back and taught myself, but 95% of my riding is snowboarding. I can cruise most blues pretty decently, but I just don't have a ton of background knowledge on skiing. My wife is a great skier, but she has some health issues going on currently, and will have a very limited season this winter.

[TomCrac]

Ready for his first season.

Let the games begin! Gonna be a great season.

[philth]

Wilco show 2015

[~mikey b]

It's a kid stoke kinda day. Currently inhaling pizza after a mtb ride. Next up is the skate park and library, followed by dinner with one of his girl friends from ski race team.

Kid's been shredding the uke. Going to get him an electric soon so he can hang with the big boys.





Growing up....

[MMP]

Growing too fast. Today in Colorado. Freshman in college. My baby.

[The SnowShow]

Growing too fast. Today in Colorado. Freshman in college. My baby.

Wow, that is awesome!!

[bigdude2468]

A few thoughts on teaching our kids to ski. I don't like the harness arrangement's, I think the constant backward pull is just the opposite of how they should learn, which is weight forward. Having taught two sons plus a granddaughter who at five is skiing Catherines plus the High T at Alta I know this works. Ski along side the child with a ski pole against their chest to control speed. They put their hands on their knees so the pole is between their arms and chest, they do not hold the poles. This gets them in the right position and you can release the poles without them even knowing they are skiing on their own. You are along side so not only do you have control but they feel more confident knowing you are right there. With a harness you are not in their sight which can add to anxiety. As they progress you just release the poles on easier terrain and not on steeper terrain. I will admit that it can be tough on your back being constantly bent over. If you have an adjustable BC pole use it so you can extend it to get you far enough away so you have room to wedge without interfering with their skis. Skiing along side they can see exactly how you make the "pizza" and how you straighten them out to go faster. Our Granddaughter started at 2 1/2, and by the end of the first day she could ski an easy slope top to bottom with her hands firmly planted on her knees. Was not turning yet but was having a blast which is half the battle.

[homeeey]

How do you size full rocker skis for kids?

My 46" /46lb (117cm) 6 year old is going to ski a 110 full camber ski this year, an my guess is this will be a break out year for powder for her. I want her to be prepared.

Opinions on sizing is appreciated. Actually opinions on skis are welcome as well.

[~mikey b]

Seems about right to me. My son was on a similar length at that size then bumped up to a 120.

At 65# this year he will be on a 138cm Volkl Gotama.and a 138cm 4FRNT Ylie.

147 Armada Tantrum waiting in the wings if Phatty ever sends them to me.

[homeeey]

So you think size full rockered same as full camber?

This makes sense to me, since when skiing full rockered in power the effective edge is the length of the ski.

[~mikey b]

Part of it for me is that's just what we ended up with. Both seem fine. He skied the Gotama last year but the Ylie is new for him. His 129 rocker tip K2s seem too short now, but they measure shorter than listed.

[skier666]

Some 7 year old stoke from Coronet Peak & The Remarkables NZ this past August...











Full report:

http://snowbrains.com/ridiculously-r...les-nz-part-i/

[skier666]

^^^
to the above question...

My son is a rather tall 7 year old but rocking 115cm Moment Carson at the moment.

And my 4 year old daughter is ready to shred...new 88cm K2 luv bug (thanks Ebay!) Her older brother hand me downs weren't 'pink enough.'

[pointemstraight]

A few thoughts on teaching our kids to ski. I don't like the harness arrangement's, I think the constant backward pull is just the opposite of how they should learn, which is weight forward. Having taught two sons plus a granddaughter who at five is skiing Catherines plus the High T at Alta I know this works. Ski along side the child with a ski pole against their chest to control speed. They put their hands on their knees so the pole is between their arms and chest, they do not hold the poles. This gets them in the right position and you can release the poles without them even knowing they are skiing on their own. You are along side so not only do you have control but they feel more confident knowing you are right there. With a harness you are not in their sight which can add to anxiety. As they progress you just release the poles on easier terrain and not on steeper terrain. I will admit that it can be tough on your back being constantly bent over. If you have an adjustable BC pole use it so you can extend it to get you far enough away so you have room to wedge without interfering with their skis. Skiing along side they can see exactly how you make the "pizza" and how you straighten them out to go faster. Our Granddaughter started at 2 1/2, and by the end of the first day she could ski an easy slope top to bottom with her hands firmly planted on her knees. Was not turning yet but was having a blast which is half the battle.

Sage advice here - one other suggestion - instead of using a ski pole, grab a piece of bamboo. Gives you plenty of reach and then you don't have to ski right next to them. Great teaching tool!

[uglymoney]

I agree with all of this but get the harness for the bad ass handle.... easily lifting them onto the chairlift and hauling them around with gear on is money. We used ours all of last year even though it was Sage's third year on skis and she was skiing most everything.

[Danno]

I agree with all of this but get the harness for the bad ass handle.... easily lifting them onto the chairlift and hauling them around with gear on is money. We used ours all of last year even though it was Sage's third year on skis and she was skiing most everything.

I agree. We don't use the harness for skiing, we use it for the handle (lifting on to the chair but also gives you something to hold on to while on the chair; I get tweaked on chairlifts because I know my kid does stupid shit).

I used the straps around the ankles to control my kid. She couldn't see me so probably didn't rely on me, but I could control her speed at will.

[PlayItLeo]

Another vote for the harness handle. Total necessity when trying to load a lift with two kids. I've used the ski pole technique to teach two of my three kids to ski, but thinking of switching to a hockey stick this year for kid three. A little longer so I don't have to bend over as much, plus I can hook her if she starts skiing away with too much speed.

[philth]

What is this harness handle. Pics...manufacturer?

[PlayItLeo]

I have this one, the Lucky Bums ski trainer. Allows you to pick your kids up like a couple of six packs.

[uglymoney]

^^^Lots of those on EBAY selling cheap.

http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_nkw=...sPageName=GSTL

New version

http://www.amazon.com/Lucky-Bums-Gui...rds=lucky+bums

New version with pouch. Remove the leashes and use the pouch to stash goodies.

http://www.amazon.com/Lucky-Bums-Tra...rds=lucky+bums

[Underoos]

Thoughts on strapping the kid to the chair? Biner and some webbing attached to the harness?

[~mikey b]

We did it for a while. Allows you to let go for the chair ride. They'd prefer it, and it's easier on your shoulder. Also gives confidence to friends that want to help you and roll with the kid.

My friends with seizure disorders use a system like that too.

[Game Over]

Steepy Jr. wearing his vintage Ingemar Stenmark shirt from Are '77

[bobz]

If the kid has a harness (and we kept him in one for a little while after we weren't leashing him any more, for this reason) it's easy to hold onto the back of it while on the chair, easier than holding onto the actual kid. Of course, the one time we had a chairlift incident with him, it was just before dismount (he pushed off the chair just as the quad chair slowed down, which was also just after I let go of him, and just before there was lift station under his skis; oops, he was OK, and he's much more careful now).

A couple of shots from this past weekend, Bear Valley XC and Bear Valley downhill (poking around in the sticks and rocks off-piste, natch):





And, since I've never posted it here, this is from two seasons ago when he was 6:

[~mikey b]

Nice! How was BV?