We often get asked out on the trails how to have a successful and fun skiing adventure with your littlest skiers. So here are a few quick tips to get them to do some basic ski techniques. Remember at this age it’s about exploring, failing, and trying again so just go with the flow!
The Turtle
When they fall and are tangled up, tell them to turtle. Which in simple terms is get on their back and lift their skis up in the air. They may need to take their poles off if they are new to using them. Then when everything is untangled simply tell them to roll to their side and get up. It is that simple.
The Pizza Slice
No kid knows what fishbones patterns look like so it’s easier to explain herringbone technique as making pizza wedges or slices. Tell them to make pizza when they reach a hill they cannot go up. If pizza slices are not working, try to get them to walk like a duck. Practice on the flats first!
The Dinosaur Stomp
While we are not huge fans of stomping on your skis sometimes kids will need to think about stomping their skis to get up a hill while doing the pizza slice/duck walk. Pretend to be a dino making pizza or do a dino duck walk!
The Tow
When you get to an uphill that is too steep simply take off one pole and give them the strap end to hold and you can ever so easily give them a bit of extra balance and stop them from slipping back. When they are going well you don’t pull on the pole or provide any help. This will prevent them from falling and build uphill confidence. It is much easier than trying to push or support the child although there are limits to the size of hill this will work on.
French Fries
Kids love fries so when the hills get big (which you should just avoid if you can) you can introduce the sidestep. All we do is a quick demo of us walking sideways and we tell the kids we are making French Fries. They will pick up on the rest.
I love this video because it looks like it was recorded in the kichen.
The Pizza Slice – Downhill or Snowplow
Snowplow is a technique we don’t teach, we just let the kids figure by doing a pizza wedge the other way in the right terrain! Or, if the conditions are right, to try and be a snowplow with their skis. Put kids in the right terrain with these simple instructions and they will get it on their own most of the time.
The Power Boost
Everyone loves a power boost! When you are on a gentle downhill ski up next to the child and give them a push on the back to increase their speed. You need to tell then to tuck their poles in if they are using them and to keep their knees bent before the power boost! This teaches balance and makes them comfortable going faster on skis. It can also allow them to experience more gliding time which is important for future skill development. And yes, they will find this lots of fun!
Make it fun
Kids will love being outdoors and skiing if they are having fun. Going for a long ski in the ski park might not be their initial idea of fun. So, embrace the terrain park, kids’ area, ski playground, or even that little hill by the lodge and let them pick where they want to go at least some of the time. Make it an adventure and be sure to pack lots of great snacks!
