Taking the Kids™

Skiing For the First Time

The six-year-old couldn't quite grasp how he'd get to the top of the snow-covered hill.

"Do you fly up?" Max asked during the drive to the mountain. "Drive a truck?"

Any way he could get to the top of the hill, Max was determined to ski down. And just a day after putting on skis and boots for the first time at Okemo Mountain Resort in Vermont, helmet securely buckled, my little six-year-old cousin was riding a chairlift, practicing turns. “Look at me!” he yelled.

One-third of the slopes at Okemo (www.okemo.com) are earmarked for beginners, and the instructors there as elsewhere in the country, believe in getting beginners out on the slopes right away.

"It used to be that you couldn't let them go up the lift until they had perfect form," says Dan Bergeron, the director of Okemo's ski-school programs. "Now, we can take them up and teach them the skills using the terrain. The learning curve is quicker with today's skis. The sooner we can get them on the lifts, the more fun they have."

A lot of the kids who are new to skiing have taken part in other activities that emphasize balance, giving them a head start on the slopes.

Every parent knows that the key to family-vacation nirvana is making sure the kids have fun. Here’s how to make that first time on the slopes one that will make them beg for more:

• Choose an age-appropriate program. Resist the temptation to put younger kids with older siblings.
• Opt for a time when the ski school won’t be packed—during the week, for example, not during the holidays. A tip: Go midweek, before or after the holidays, to get the best deals.
• Rent their gear on the mountain so they’ll not only have the latest gear, but if there’s a problem, it can be quickly replaced.
• Make sure they’re well rested and well-fed. If you’ve just arrived after a long flight, give them a day or a morning to acclimate, visiting the ski school first.
• Outfit them properly with long underwear, moisture-wicking hiking socks, fleece sweatshirts, and waterproof pants, mittens and jackets, and goggles. Stash a power bar in their pocket “just in case.”
• Smear sunscreen on their faces and give them a tube to use at lunch. Stash lip balm in a pocket, too.
• Rent or buy a helmet to protect their head. Research shows that helmets can reduce the risk of brain injury by as much as 75 percent; for more information on helmet use, visit www.lidsonkids.org).

The worst mistake parents can make when introducing their children to snow sports is setting expectations too high, ski school directors say. Just remember, there's always next year.

By: Eileen Ogintz

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