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Are you interested in knowing what is the best way for your kid to learn how to ski? It’s the dream of every ski enthusiastic parent to see his or her child skiing down the slopes with a big smile on their face. Our 5 tips & tricks can solve the most common questions parents have when their children take to the slopes
Yes, it’s true, kids learn to ski much faster than adults but when exactly is the right time for them to start skiing?
Choosing the right moment to introduce your kids to skiing is crucial to whether they will start loving to ski or not. The first skiing experience will make or break your kids’ love for this sport. We’d like to help your kids learn to ski while having the time of their lives on the slopes.
A professional ski instructor will help your kids learn to ski in no time at all
In general, all instructors will tell you that the younger you start, the faster you learn. That's why the recommended age for learning to ski is 4. For snowboarding, the minimum age is 8, as it is advisable to already be proficient at skiing before tackling snowboarding. So, the earlier your child learns to ski, the easier it will be for them to learn to snowboard.
However, for some children, 4 years old may be too early. And that's perfectly normal—every child develops at their own pace. Before learning to ski, young skiers must first meet certain conditions. First, you need to assess whether your child is ready. Parents know their children well and will be able to judge whether they can stay in a class for several hours, for example. In addition, physical condition is very important: if children are active, enjoy running, climbing, etc., then skiing will not be a problem for them!
Even if little ones don't feel quite ready to start skiing, some ski areas have snow gardens where children can discover the world of skiing through games in the snow.
Translated with DeepL.com (free version)
Most ski-enthusiastic parents can’t wait to teach their kids how to ski but teaching your kids yourself is only recommendable under 2 circumstances: you are an excellent skier and you have the skills and the patience to teach your kids something new.
What parents often forget is that the main goal of a kid’s first time on skis is to have fun in the snow and to get used to the ski gear. As long as it’s fun your kids will gladly learn and practice the basics of skiing. Unfortunately, not everyone can teach kids how to ski in a playful, patient and understanding way. It is not uncommon for both children and parents to get frustrated and stressed after a few less successful moves on skis. Professional ski instructors, on the other hand, are trained to meet your children’s needs. They know exactly when it’s time for a break from practising, a motivational game to keep the kids’ spirit up or a helping hand to improve the skiing technique.
Group lessons are a fun way to learn to ski
Whether you should choose group lessons or a private ski instructor to help your kids learn to ski should first and foremost depend on your kids’ needs. Are your kids complete beginners? Are they happy to mingle with other kids or do they usually need a bit more time to adapt to a new situation? Especially for small kids, we recommend trying out group ski lessons since they will have the most fun learning to ski together with other kids of their age. One thing’s for sure: It will never get boring in the group lessons.
When time is an issue you might want to consider getting a private ski instructor to help your kids learn to ski. For instance, if you’re planning a rather short ski trip it might be difficult to find a group lesson for your exact travel dates. Private ski instructors, however, have more flexible schedules. The starting time, the duration and the meeting place can be arranged individually. Moreover, the ski instructor can focus solely on the pace, the level and the needs of your children which means that they will improve their technique even faster.
After just a few days of lessons, children can explore the easy slopes of the ski area.
Learning to ski takes time since kids learn to ski in different ways and at their very own pace. Our experience has shown that most kids feel quite safe on skis after 3 to 4 days of ski lessons (à 3h).
During their first ski lessons, your kids will get used to the ski equipment and will start practising the snow plough and basic turns as well as how to stop independently on flat terrain. As soon as your kids feel completely comfortable with the basics they can participate in intermediate lessons.
The focus of those lessons is to start doing parallel turns and to be able to ski down blue and even some red slopes. Advanced lessons are meant for kids who already have some experience in skiing, mostly do parallel turns and can easily tackle black slopes. If you’re going on ski holidays only once a year it is recommendable to let your kids participate in a couple of ski lessons to brush up their skiing skills.
The right ski gear is important to have fun and stay safe on the slopes
The standard ski equipment consists of a ski suit (jacket/trousers/gloves), skis, ski boots, ski sticks, a helmet and ski goggles. In order for your kids to enjoy their skiing lessons, you should make sure that both helmet and ski boots fit perfectly. Picking well-fitting ski boots will ensure that your kids’ first ski lessons won’t turn into a bad experience. The right helmet, of course, is important to keep your kids safe at all times.
When it comes to your kids’ ski clothing there are 2 aspects to consider. The clothing should be warm and water-resistant. When kids learn to ski they spend a lot of time playing in the snow. You will want your kids to stay dry and warm during their ski lessons, so investing a bit more money in the clothing will be worth it.
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Article by Marie-Liesse
English
