Question about managing kids on slope

[yeahman]

I'm not buying the blocking kid from view tangent....

Ever heard of the Skier's Responsibility Code? Don't stop or stand anywhere the view of you is obstructed from uphill. That's exactly where you're putting your kid--in a blind spot.

[SnowMachine]

Relevant to the topic if not to the OP's specific question--for parents of small kids just learning to ski, avoid the temptation to guard them by skiing close behind them and mirroring them. You've taken an 18 in wide obstacle which is easily visible and which most people will stay as far away from as possible into a 15 foot obstacle with the kid you're protecting partly hidden from view. The width of the obstacle will force other skiers and riders to come much closer to the kid than they want to. It's ok to do this on the pure bunny slopes where other users will be going just as slow but once you graduate to harder slopes, which are often the runout of blue and black runs the kids should be able to get up on their own and otherwise manage the situation without you on them like glue. Trust me--even the most entitled, self absorbed skier doesn't want to hurt a kid. They'd much prefer to take you out.

I ride behind my youngest in congested places like mountain run at PT. Because I'm heavier than he is I have to check my speed the whole way down. I've found that I can make some smaller carves behind him and keep a path about 10 feet wide clear. We've also had a lot of conversations about being predictable. We don't cross trail because we see a side hit we want to jump. Stay fall line when possible.

Now, the flip of that. I got absolutely smoked by a ~8 year old girl last weekend. I was skiing slowly off the side of the run waiting on my smallest and she hit me from behind. I never saw her coming. When I got my skis back on and caught her at the chair her parents were nowhere to be seen. Kids need to learn pretty early on not to ski out of control. If I had been a snow gun she would have gotten worked. Luckily I was a nice soft landing for her. Definitely check on your kids once in a while to make sure they are skiing in control when they're out there solo. I like to find them on the hill without them knowing and follow for a couple of laps to see what they're up to.

[bob@skidynamics.com]

One risk to consider when letting your little ones go off on there own is tree wells. Tree wells have claimed many lives--even expert adult skiers.

Kids love to adventure into the trees. A tree well can be inescapable. At my local area one day I saw a young kid, probably under 10 years old venture off into the trees beside an easy green run and disappear head first into a tree well. I pulled the kid out by the ankles.

[bob@skidynamics.com]

One risk to consider when letting your little ones go off on their own is tree wells. Tree wells have claimed many lives--even adult expert skiers. We lost an ex-president of our local racing club to such an accident.

Kids love to adventure off into the trees. One day at my local area, I saw a young kid, maybe 10 years old, venture off an easy green run and disappear head first into a tree well. I pulled the kid out by the ankles.

[old goat]

Thanks bob.