Bringing the Kids Skiing: Part 4 – Q&A

Why do I recommend skiing over snowboarding?

The reason is because skiing is super cool and way more fun than that silly sideways board sport. If you want an answer not based on my opinions, basic snowboarding skills require more refined motor skills and better balance than skiing. Children don’t normally have those skills without a lot of practice. I recommend having your kids ski till they are six, then if you want them to snowboard you can bring them over to the dark side. At six children begin to be coordinated and have enough muscle development to make decent progress on a snowboard. If your child has skiing experience, they will have already conquered the natural fear of sliding on snow which will lead to an easier learning experience.

Why don’t I like the leash but recommend the edgie wedgie?

They are both a crutch and both should be thrown out as soon as possible. The leash teaches your child that you will always be there to protect them. That’s great sentimentally but is dangerous when it comes to skiing. It will be difficult to get a child to drop the feeling of safety the leash offers. Every time I’ve used an edgie wedgie the kids couldn’t wait to get rid of it. The reason to use it is to create the muscle memory of using the pizza. Once your child has had enough practice using it, they should be able to stop without much notice.

What do I know about teaching skiing?

I’ve been skiing for almost 25 years and I taught skiing for 6 years. During my time as a ski instructor, I was PSIA certified and specialized in teaching children.

What’s wrong with sending my kids to ski school?

Nothing, they can learn in ski school. In my experience the first day ski lessons for kids under 8, unless private lessons, were a waste of time and money. The kids would spend 90 minutes falling over each other and have no time to actually learn anything. Also, most resorts don’t allow children under 4 to take a lesson so, if you want to start them young you’ll have to teach them. I’d recommend if you want your children to take a lesson to teach the basics first, then they can actually go out and learn something in a lesson.