 Poster: A snowHead
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Hi
I’m taking my 7 and 4 year old on their first ski trip in March. We’re only going for 3 days skiing so I was looking at joining the local dry slope to get them used to it before we go.
There aren’t any lessons available (2 year waiting list) so it’ll be up to me to teach them something - however I haven’t been for 10 years and it was another 10 years before that. So, any tips on how to teach them the basics would be much appreciated.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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2 year waiting list?! Whereabouts are you?
Our dry slope (in common with all others AFAIK) doesn't allow teaching unless you're qualified. You may want to check that before putting much effort in.
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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As @snowdave says, I doubt you're allowed to teach them yourself, that was certainly the rules at Gloucester when I was teaching there, and any other artificial slope I've been to including snowdomes. Anyone that tried was politely kicked off.
If you are allowed to teach them, and it's a big IF, then something along these lines is the usual sort of method:
Teach them how to put skis on
Get them sliding around on the flat getting used to the feeling of skis sliding.
Get them to stand on the flat in a snowplough (pizza) shape, have them turn full circles clockwise and anti clockwise, this will get them used to the movement to go from standing across the hill to pointing down.
Get them to side step a few metres up the slope.
Shuffle towards the middle of the slope, using the same movements as the circle turns, have them move to point down the hill with a big snowplough shape to stop them from sliding.
When they're stable, slide down the slope, hands on thighs/knees, straight skis, getting used to the feeling of sliding down the hill.
Once they've done this a few times, have them sing/perform heads shoulders knees and toes on the way down. This will get them used to the feeling of having to balance whilst moving.
You can also try little bunny hops on the way down the hill, again to help with balance.
When they're used to sliding down, get them to try and create a snowplough shape as they're getting towards the bottom of the slope.
Move the snowplough up the slope, see if they can stop halfway down.
Move on to a gliding snowplough, trying to go down the slope as slow as possible in snowplough whilst continually moving. This is good for their snowplough control.
That's nigh on a couple of hours worth of work there.
Once that's sorted, start getting them to try small turns, just little wiggles down the slope, and progress that in to bigger and bigger turns.
When it comes to the snowploughs, you really need a decent snowplough yourself, as you'll need to demo it to them. Key things that crop up are keeping knees apart, not just trying to create a snowplough by pushing their knees together. Think of having a balloon between their knees, and they can't burst it.
Also important not to tell them to create a snowplough by pushing their heels out, we'd say this as a very last resort, but actually the movement is created by rotating the entire leg and foot starting from the top of femur where it joins the hip.
Good luck, I don't advise it for someone that has barely skied in the last 20 years.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Interesting. I took the older one for a taster day there a few weeks ago and they were pushing for us to join as members so would have known he needed to be taught. I’ll definitely check what the policy is before we do anything though.
Thanks for the rundown @swskier, exactly what they did for the taster but they didn’t get onto snow plough so that’s really useful.
Don’t get me wrong, I really don’t want to teach them and don’t think I should but as we’re only going for a few days I thought it would be worth getting them both used to having skis on before get on snow.
I’ve looked at chill factore too but was hoping to do something a bit more economical 
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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Don't teach, have fun. Enjoy falling over and laughing......
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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@Tea_please, I would have thought that if they could snow plough down the baby slope that would be something. You don't need to teach, kids will copy you. Can they rollerskate?
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Surely the slopes don’t mind a parent coaching their kids?
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No skates here although they did enjoy ice skating last year. Maybe a good Christmas present? I’ve wanted inline skates since I was 14 so maybe this is my chance 
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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| ster wrote: |
| Surely the slopes don’t mind a parent coaching their kids? |
They absolutely do, probably for 2 reasons:
1. Insurances, they're not covered for non instructors teaching on the slopes.
2. Loss of revenue when you could be paying them for lessons.
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| swskier wrote: |
2. Loss of revenue when you could be paying them for lessons. |
I doubt this is a real loss, as if the parent wanted to pay they would. Or they would wait and just do it on the slopes during the trip.
But this 2 year waiting list seems crazy, does the business not see the unfulfilled demand?
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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It’s all volunteer run so I assume they don’t have the capacity to do more than they already offer. But they also seemed desperate for membership money.
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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@Tea_please, to be clear - they are getting lessons when they go in March?
And you are just looking to get them some experience before they go?
Dry slopes and fridges are a nice to have but it's not a biggie. And certainly if you have budgetry constraints I would put the money into trips/the trip to the mountains with lessons. They will make rapid progress in that environment.
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Just be aware that your dates might not fit into the ski school week for group lessons. Depending on where you go, and when, you will probably need to book private lessons and availability might be limited. For a few days a private instructor is ideal, but of course that's more expensive.
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You know it makes sense.
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@Layne, yes and yes. I’ve booked lessons for when we’re away. I just thought it might help them get a bit more out of it as we’re only skiing for 3 days.
I guess worst case if the dry slop doesn’t work out I can chuck the 4 year old in a single lesson at the fridge so he’s at least put a pair of skis on and it’s not a complete shock.
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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@Origen, I realised this after I’d booked. Probably should have done more research before leaping in never mind!
I’ve booked private lessons for them together although the school has acknowledged that the older one will probably progress quicker than the small one. 3 private lessons cost as much as a week of ski school but hopefully they’ll get a lot out of it and next time I’ll get a week in.
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Poster: A snowHead
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@Tea_please, it would help but as I say it's a nice to have.
When I learnt to ski (I'm old, so a long time a go) I did a handful of dry slope lessons beforehand. But being on real snow in the mountains was different gravy.
We taught our kids ourselves (as by the time we had them me and the wife were experienced skiers and coached in other sports) but in the mountains from day 1. Most ski areas have a 'moving carpet bunny slope' to get started on.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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@Tea_please, Privates should work out ok while you are there. If you want to get a head start on mountain lessons work out if you can get to an indoor snow centre before March for a day or two, they will have tonnes of availability.
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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Well I took the kids to the dry ski slope this morning. The club was fine with them being on the slope as total beginners but I think I’ve exhausted my teaching ability at an hour.
I’ve achieved what I wanted though. The little one has had a mess about with boots and skis and doesn’t hate it (said he had the best day) so I think he’ll be a lot less apprehensive about lessons when we’re away.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Sounds like that was a worthwhile hour, @Tea_please! 
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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As someone else said, get them skates. And yourself if you fancy it. If they can balance on skates then skis are much easier. If they have inline skates they can even get a feel for carving/ turning. And it's just fun.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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| B. wrote: |
| As someone else said, get them skates. And yourself if you fancy it. If they can balance on skates then skis are much easier. If they have inline skates they can even get a feel for carving/ turning. And it's just fun. |
I taught a private lesson at Gloucester dry slope to two sisters who were total beginners, but did a lot of roller blading. The best beginner students i've had, picked it up really quickly, small snowplough turns within an hour.
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| swskier wrote: |
| B. wrote: |
| As someone else said, get them skates. And yourself if you fancy it. If they can balance on skates then skis are much easier. If they have inline skates they can even get a feel for carving/ turning. And it's just fun. |
I taught a private lesson at Gloucester dry slope to two sisters who were total beginners, but did a lot of roller blading. The best beginner students i've had, picked it up really quickly, small snowplough turns within an hour. |
I had a couple of Czech beginners for private lessons just before Covid hit, the guy in the morning and his wife in the afternoon (they had a small baby so couldn't ski together). Immediately we started I could see the guy had much better ability than average and thought it came from skating so I asked and it turned out he played recreational Ice Hockey so armed with that information I changed the schedule and we skied all of the beginner slopes in perfect control in the first 2 hours. His wife was also a skater and had exactly the same progression. The next day after a few drills both were skiing red and black slopes with full control and competence.
They both knew the difference between engaging and disengaging edges and how to rotate their feet to achieve a very good basic parallel turn with full speed control. The exact same thing can be achieved with Rollerblades, fair enough the skidding to control speed is a more advanced skill but at least pointing your feet in the direction you want to travel in becomes ingrained.
When my kids were young and racing we used to do dry land training on Rollerblades with a slalom set up on a local slope of about 10%.
Basically if skiing is not available Rollerblading is a good alternative but don't let them do crossover turns and remove the brakes on the heels when it is safe to do so.
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