I never took advantage of the snow activities growing up in Mn but would like to let my son and cousin (he's in my care) venture out. My son is 2 and my cousin is 5. are there any special considerations I should know about?
2006-10-27 21:27:43 · 9 answers · asked by Mindiwe 2 in Sports ➔ Winter Sports
I have skied all my life, and have two daughters. I had them on the fake plastic skis when they were 3, but not the real stuff until 4. In my opinion, 2 is way too young.
Their bones are not solidified and set yet, and skiing is fairly stressful. It is just an unnecessary thing to take a kid that young. Drag them around in a sled, they will enjoy that much more!
Aged 4 or 5 is fine for skiing (I don't know about snowboarding). The good news is, at this age, you can really do it yourself without an instructor, if you are a very patient person. You must listen to the kid, and the minute they aren't having fun, in you go! You will want two things to be successful:
1) a harness (even at the age of 5 or 6).
2) edgie wedgies (the little things that clamp to the tips of the skis to hold them together.
It is a terrible idea to hold them between your legs, because they don't master their center of balance. They rely on you to hold them. I see parents do that all the time. Bad, bad mistake.
Some parents ski backwards holding the tips of the skis together. This is fine for the kid...however, I feel sorry for the back of the parent. Plus they might run into something!
Enter harness:
The kid wears it like a vest, and a nylon webbing hooks to it. What you do is thread one end of the webbing through the left side D-hook, across the tummy of the kid, and latch it to the right side D-hook.
Then you take the other end of the webbing, run it through the right side D-hook, across the kids tummy, and latch it onto the left side D-hook.
What this does is let you aid in turn initiation by tugging. If you tug on the left, this will force the hips of the child to steer to the left, because it pulls the right hip in that direction. Walla: turn!
Info on raising kids to ski (check out the first paragraph for an example of why it is bad to hold the kid between the legs):
http://nwskiers.org/article/stories/raisingkids/index.htm
Link for the harness so you can see a picture:
http://www.outdoorreview.com/Channels/OutdoorReview/images/products/Product_111416.jpg
Link for the edgie wedgies:
http://www.alpinesportsoutlet.com/pc-404-73-edgie-wedgie-ski-tip-connector.aspx
You can google search any of this stuff for yourself...
Have fun on the slopes with the kids!
2006-10-28 16:35:21 · answer #1 · answered by powhound 7 · 1⤊ 3⤋
I grew up in Steamboat Springs, Colorado and have been skiing since I was 2. You can put a kid on skis as soon as they are old enough to walk, you just need to be careful about it. Use a harness and start slow.
I would recommend waiting a little longer before putting them on a snowboard--at least 4. It would be hard to harness in a kid if they're snowboarding, and it's easy to catch an edge. Kids can always do the "pizza pie" to stay slow while skiing.
2006-10-29 12:51:55 · answer #2 · answered by bettyboarder55 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You are are great person to allow these two children to benefit from these sports...
1. the most important thing is to get them into lessons, they will teach and you two little ones will learn the fundamentals of the sport from a pro and not just hear say from friends...I have seen to many broken bodies because people just don't know what they get into...
2. Make sure they wear helmets if they learn to ski and snowboard
3. Any age you are comfortable with...it's up to the parent...I started when I was 5 but and worked as a ski instructor for many years.
4. make sure your two children take advantage of both sports especially when they are young, their bodies are more limber when they are young and can learn to manipulate their ski's or snowboards easier...
Good luck and be safe ex ski patrol
2006-10-27 21:36:34 · answer #3 · answered by joy ride 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I started my daughter skiing at four. I think she could have managed it earlier, but not without one of those kid's harnesses. However, snowboarding is a differnt matter. It requires differnt motor skills. I've seen 5 year old children learn, and would suggest this as a lower limit.
As with other answers: make sure they wear a well fitted helmet and get lessons.
2006-10-28 02:06:23 · answer #4 · answered by iav8_eh 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
8-10
2006-10-27 21:30:07 · answer #5 · answered by captain_candy_cane 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I started skiing when I was 3. I live in Minnesota, so the hills are tiny, and very safe. 4 is a good age
2006-10-28 01:52:52 · answer #6 · answered by Skidude 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
two isn't too early but unless you have the patience to be with him all day he is going to need a lesson (it is more like preschool on the hill) 4 to 5 I think is optimal though, because by that age kids are developed enough to have balance and athletic prowess ...
2006-10-28 02:36:13 · answer #7 · answered by ninja cat 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The younger the better.Take them out with you and ski with them slowly holding them between your legs.Start at the top,they'll love it.
2006-10-28 06:57:29 · answer #8 · answered by Nemophilist 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
my son started his kids between 3-4 on the bunny slopes and they are excellent skiers now at 10,13 and 8...........
2006-10-27 21:31:52 · answer #9 · answered by ladynamedjane 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋