Ongoing Kid Stoke [2011 and on...]

[MMP]

Opening day at Fenway. Top of 9th 3 run jack puts the sox down so the seats behind the plate opened up and our 13 yo and his 2 friends went to the screen. Our guy is standing in grey.

Papi hit into a double play and the wind was out of the rally.

[Sirshredalot]

Yeah. And now I ask for some advice. He does have parallel skills, except on the steepest terrain, but prefers resort to pizza. His instructor said that is likely because he is so much better at the wedge right now, and he was not too worried about it. In fact, he suggested that once on steeper terrain he would see the advantage of a parallel turn and make the switch. Instead he just perfected the pizza.

So I am trying to figure out how to get him to ski parallel more without me always skiing next him him saying "try parallel" and being ignored anyway. I want our time together to be fun, but I also want him working on new skills.

Do I just let it go and have fun? Or is there something that has worked for ya'll at this stage? For reference, he will be 5 in May.

AKB - that would be cool. I think the last time that Soul Searcher went you had a pass there. So returning might be good for the big lines as well. One of the things that is really fun about skiing there with the kiddo is he knows his way around the hill. I actually set him up with a intermediate friend. She chaperoned, and he guided. They had a great morning.

You probably don't want to hear it, but dial back the terrain. If he's linking parallel turns on mellower stuff, give him lots of mileage on it until those movements begin to feel more natural to him. Steeper terrain will come. Though I'm sure it feels like you've been waiting forever to get onto steeper stuff, the little guy isn't in kindergarten yet and can't have been skiing on his own for more than a couple years. Consolidate the skills he has rather than push him onto steeper stuff.

[~mikey b]

Agreed... Take them where they rip and let them rip. Don't try too hard to get them in steeper terrain where they'll be skiing defensively and developing bad habits.

[wyeaster]

my son is about to be 5 and he's nowhere near that far along after 6 trips a year for 3 years but my only concern is that he is laughing, happy and/or peaceful 95% of the time and the rest of it he's learning to be patient and get through some of the parts of being on a snowy mountain that aren't always fun for little kids so that he can ski.

he's going to be my ski buddy as long as i can physically ride and the last thing i want to do is make him feel pressure or any negativity toward the activity. he's only 5. he's got his whole life to get better. i hope he loves it as much as i do but my main goal is that he grows up seeing skiing as accessible and an activity for people of all walks of life if they make a commitment and that he enjoys it and has the option to do it for the rest of his life to whatever degree if he wants to. and also that he and i are good friends and partners who can work effectively together to accomplish things and have fun. that's what i'm working toward.

the part i love best riding with my son so far? he sings all the time when he's skiing.

[~mikey b]

Attachment 179122

Young Avery (age 5) photo slutting

They can't all do this at 5. It takes a lot of questionable parenting...

[wyeaster]

Edit for the grand parents. My son was super stoked to try poles for the first time and ride chair 6 for the first time on the same day.

I'm super stoked he is so much fun to ski all over the mountain with.

missed this will show the boy. he loves seeing all the kid stuff.

[detrusor]

I wouldn't say we pushed the 5 and 6 year olds, skied a TON of days with them. Sometimes one run, sometimes a day.

What seemed to help them transition to parallel was the concept of roll by the ski. Just standing on a flat surface we played the rolls big game, just getting them to angulate. Then doing it on a mellow slope.

Steep terrain is intimidating and if you push it the "jake braking" habit will take years to break. Start introducing the steeper terrain only on the best days. Soft snow so they have something to push back against the ski to control speed.

And skittles. Lots of skittles.

[~mikey b]

That is one cute sprout!

[GimpToo]

Love the dog keeping an eye on her . . . oh, and the binky too!!!!

[~mikey b]

http://youtu.be/CluFhIktvhE

[Ottime]

http://youtu.be/CluFhIktvhE

That is awesome. Bodie has a solid stance for sure. My kid was once reported as falling asleep during his lift rides one lesson that he ended up with a private. He was apparently so stoked on the way day they did 3 or 4 laps like that. Sometimes I wish I could nap on the way up.

[~mikey b]

Kid obviously has mad skills and a well developed vestibular system. See how he throws a hand up every now and then? Balance....

[detrusor]

/Users/Rick/Pictures/iPhoto Library/Masters/2016/03/30/20160330-100201/IMG_5040.MOV

Elizabeth learning the carve, just turned 5

[~mikey b]

Rocking the Bear Valley Slush Cup last weekend. Phat skis preferred over race skis due to the slush.

[TomCrac]

Dig your pics mikey. Nice form and a cool looking course.

[~mikey b]

http://youtu.be/d9aB372n78A

Old vid

[oftpiste]

He turns 18 in a couple of days.... does that mean I can't put him here anymore?
3rd in the IFSA North American Junior Champs. The best 55 15-18 year-old men in the country were invited. Came out 6th overall for the season too. Not a bad way to close out the junior career. Super proud of him.

[~mikey b]

He's your kid so bring it Dad!


Any folks down for a parent/kid backcountry day at Carson Pass this weekend?

[bobz]

From about a week ago, a nice warm day at Royal Gorge:




Mikey: We were going to hit Carson later that week, but that ended up being a kind of rainy day; can't make it up this weekend. I do have the May 7 weekend penciled in for taking the little guy up to Sonora Pass, which I'm figuring will be open just in time. He hasn't been there since three years ago (when he was 5):

[~mikey b]

From about a week ago, a nice warm day at Royal Gorge:




Mikey: We were going to hit Carson later that week, but that ended up being a kind of rainy day; can't make it up this weekend. I do have the May 7 weekend penciled in for taking the little guy up to Sonora Pass, which I'm figuring will be open just in time. He hasn't been there since three years ago (when he was 5):

Let's keep in touch.

[~mikey b]

This just in! A special news report from Krystal Kartwright at the local hair cut place.

[TomCrac]

Now thats a summer cut!

[robgoose]

from this weekend at Stowe (she's almost 9)



and....

[~mikey b]

[Ottime]

my son is about to be 5 and he's nowhere near that far along after 6 trips a year for 3 years but my only concern is that he is laughing, happy and/or peaceful 95% of the time and the rest of it he's learning to be patient and get through some of the parts of being on a snowy mountain that aren't always fun for little kids so that he can ski.

he's going to be my ski buddy as long as i can physically ride and the last thing i want to do is make him feel pressure or any negativity toward the activity. he's only 5. he's got his whole life to get better. i hope he loves it as much as i do but my main goal is that he grows up seeing skiing as accessible and an activity for people of all walks of life if they make a commitment and that he enjoys it and has the option to do it for the rest of his life to whatever degree if he wants to. and also that he and i are good friends and partners who can work effectively together to accomplish things and have fun. that's what i'm working toward.

the part i love best riding with my son so far? he sings all the time when he's skiing.

I was just looking at this thread with my son and saw this post for the first time.

Very much my sentiments. I try to just have fun. But I often wonder what and when to coach. My son had a few more lessons toward the very end of the season. He ended up with low ratios and very good instructors who really seemed to want to chat about skiing afterward.

My guy sings all the time as well. He likes to dance as well, and hence did not have a quit upper body. Holding poles has improved that, although
I kind of miss watching him dance wildly down the gullies.

Our Subaru died a few weeks ago. He was super sad about it. Then he blurted out through spittle and tears, "but how are we going to get to Squaw Valley???" I had promised him we would go, as KW closed so early. Tuned up the truck and we are headed up Saturday. I've done something right.