Ongoing Kid Stoke [2011 and on...]

[Buster Highmen]

Thanks for the advice guys. I think I'm going to take her up to Baker this weekend and give it another try. Let her motor around on the flats then take a break and toboggan and shit like that. Make it more of just playing in the snow with skis instead of "skiing".

That was always my approach: make it a snow play time for short periods with lots of hot chocolate breaks. My goal and highest priority was to let them have fun and not worry about bad habits, etc.

Eventually, my efforts at formal lessons met with refusal to go. Again, the goal is fun.

[plugboots]

I couldn't get mine to do a race program, but I agree with the above about technique. Anyway, I posted these a long time ago. We were always so happy that she wanted to ski that we didn't want to jinx it with too much. She did take a zillion lessons at Jackson though.
2.5 years old behind our Alpine Meadows house:

Her 3 year BD in Jackson:

A few weeks ago dropping her off for her 1st day to instruct at Alpental:

[robgoose]

Pointers for a 4 year old?
He's cruising around the mountain pretty much wherever he wants to go (no bumps) . But...he's using a wedgie and turning/stopping by wedging.

My plan for this year was to let him do whatever he wants. No rules or instruction. Just ski around and laugh. But...now I'm starting to second guess that. I don't want to be developing bad habits that I have to correct later. But.....I sense that next year I'll be starting over with him anyway and can correct that stuff then.

He's probably not even strong enough to ski without the wedge.......

Thoughts?

At his age terrain is the enemy of form.... true parallel is probably a reach, but a steady diet of cruising down greens/ easy blues will keep him form develop a monster braking wedge that will hinder development down the road. I am not suggesting that you never up the terrain challenge factor. Just suggesting that he be given a chance to ski extensively on terrain where he can play with different speeds and feel comfortable switching into "french fries" between the turns

[robgoose]

Took my 4 year to the local hill today for her 1st one hour lesson. Didn't go well. She was happy to ski around on flat ground but really struggled once the lesson started. Lots of tears but we kept it positive. The last attempt at a slight pitch she seemed to start getting the pizza move down. Any suggestions on how I can work with her to get a better feel for her skis? Or do you guys think it may be best to leave that to instructors? I'm leaving the wife at home next time, she has a hard time not getting mad when the little one is freaking out.

try using a broomstick -- you hold one end, she holds the other (down a very slight pitch) - its way easier than using your ski poles, you get to ski next to each other, and you can feel if she's starting to pull down ("stand up"). Turns are easy, and she'll develop the wedge making turns with you.

[oftpiste]

Great post. I should do some timelines like that. Really fun. The best reward in raising kids to ski is when you realize it's something they really love and that they'll have it in their bones for life.

I couldn't get mine to do a race program, but I agree with the above about technique. Anyway, I posted these a long time ago. We were always so happy that she wanted to ski that we didn't want to jinx it with too much. She did take a zillion lessons at Jackson though.
2.5 years old behind our Alpine Meadows house:

Her 3 year BD in Jackson:

A few weeks ago dropping her off for her 1st day to instruct at Alpental:

[2ski2fish4ever]

my son on Steins closing day last year at Sugarbush

[plugboots]

Great post. I should do some timelines like that. Really fun. The best reward in raising kids to ski is when you realize it's something they really love and that they'll have it in their bones for life.

The videos are a riot. (To us only, of course.) Prolly they'll be a wedding thing some day. I have done a dozen trips down the animal trail at Jackson. The early trips were with 200 cm straight skis following her on those 60? cm. That was an equalizer.

[philth]

I couldn't get mine to do a race program, but I agree with the above about technique. Anyway, I posted these a long time ago. We were always so happy that she wanted to ski that we didn't want to jinx it with too much. She did take a zillion lessons at Jackson though.
2.5 years old behind our Alpine Meadows house:

Her 3 year BD in Jackson:

A few weeks ago dropping her off for her 1st day to instruct at Alpental:

Pure tgr stoke. Love it!

[AKbruin]

Attachment 174756

Attachment 174757

1st place U10 slalom

Dang, man. First place in Far West is really, really good.

My nine-year-old daughter got third in her first Tahoe League race this season, which was awesome. I tell her not to pay too much attention to results right now, but having some ostensible success (getting that medal and moment on the podium) is really helpful to morale. She's small and skinny--often 15-25 lbs. lighter than most of her competition--so it's not easy for her at this point. I tell her to focus on technique for now; hopefully she can catch up physically later.

[~mikey b]

First place Central Series, not Far West. Still very good results for him. He's one of the oldest U10 boys, and his times are up there with U12.

Far West championships are late March at Alpine Meadows. Owen will need to raise his game to compete with the big boys from Tahoe & Mammoth. He's technically very gifted, so he should hold his own.

+1 for a formal program. He digs the race team, and he free skis with a lot of folks in all kinds of terrain. Our family and friends are his freeride team.




We're just having fun.




Jamming at the cowboy's ranch tomorrow night getting ready for another open mic gig Thursday.

[oftpiste]

My nine-year-old daughter got third in her first Tahoe League race this season, which was awesome. I tell her not to pay too much attention to results right now, but having some ostensible success (getting that medal and moment on the podium) is really helpful to morale. She's small and skinny--often 15-25 lbs. lighter than most of her competition--so it's not easy for her at this point. I tell her to focus on technique for now; hopefully she can catch up physically later.

My kids went through the same thing as young racers, always a little behind the growth curve. At that age there are some BIG kids (winning GS & SG), some kids who don't have to try to win, and the smaller ones. It starts to equalize in the next couple of years as the smaller ones grow and improve, and the ones who win without trying take that for granted and don't work very hard. They eventually drop out because they're not winning anymore and never developed the work ethic, and are overtaken by those more committed. Tell her to hang in there, maybe focus on SL technique as weight/size has less impact there.

[Chugachjed]

You up today Bobby? My kids are off school and we're headed that way now.

[MagnificentUnicorn]

I couldn't get mine to do a race program, but I agree with the above about technique. Anyway, I posted these a long time ago. We were always so happy that she wanted to ski that we didn't want to jinx it with too much. She did take a zillion lessons at Jackson though.
2.5 years old behind our Alpine Meadows house:

Her 3 year BD in Jackson:

A few weeks ago dropping her off for her 1st day to instruct at Alpental:

Are you still in the Methow?

[skiballs]

I was going to take Jr to Mammoth. But they had some freestlye thing, I didn't want to deal with the crowd, so we went to Brian Head.

They reported 10" by Sunday. I was still skiing a lot of untracked Monday afternoon.

[parkmeister]

night skiing with the shorties:

https://vimeo.com/153467903

[~mikey b]

[~mikey b]

Vidiot

[~mikey b]

http://youtu.be/0LnwVs47Lv4

Ok so I'm not getting any sound from that video.

Any help?

[vt_ski]

STOKED! Took her out for her first "day" - all smiles the whole time! She'll be 2 in May.

[skiballs]

that fucking rules

[Chugachjed]

I've gotta take a video today. My two are taking off. Went night skiing at Alpy last night and said follow me and they cruised down their first black runs in challenging snow no less. I've definitely got ski buds for life.

[GimpToo]

Keep 'em coming . . . would be tough to pick a winner, but plugboots, that first pic is money . . . and, flowing alpy, you fail to dissappoint . . . all of you do, but dam!!! telemike, have been watching Owen since you carried him in the pack!!!

[wyeaster]

i did a lot of walking last season.

[uglymoney]

[::: :::]

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