Can I pick your brains on the right age and method to introduce my daughter to skiing. She is a fearless girl and has seen videos of me skiing and says that she wants to have a go. I have taken her to Chill factor to see people skiing and she wanted to have a go. We live in Huddersfield and can get to Castleford and Chill factor in 40 mins, so either is an option.
What age is the earliest to get her having a go?
What is the best way to introduce her? I dont want to scare her off.
Many thanks in advance
Smag
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
smagsmith, ...I started both of my chidren at 2 and a half - they messed around on a slope outside a restaurant in Switzerland for around an hour at a time (then three hours off to have hot chocolate and do some tobogganing). We'd plod up the slope and then they would ski down maybe 30 metres to another adult waiting to catch them/chivvy them on/tell them to turn more. It was then made more interesting by having to turn round poles, but again, same plod up (often carrying them), short run, and only a few minutes rather than half a day out. Once they had enough confidence and an initial grasp of technique they had tuition, with mastering button lifts being a key priority. We did this for a couple of years - from 2 and a half to age four. They really started skiing with earnest when they were 4, at which point they could go over most of the mountain. The last season was the first when we could all ski, all day, all over the mountain together - they are now 5 and 7. Top tips - good clothing for them, good quality skis (and keep them short), and never going out when they don't want to.
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?
smagsmith, Take her along to a snowdome and get her into one of the kiddies classes with one of their instructors. Little ones learn differently to adults and ive seen many a little one put off skiing by parents (usually dads ) getting upset that they 'cant do' things they think should be easy.
Between Chill and Castleford I would choose Chill every time for beginners lessons as the nursery area is much better and from what i have observed the instruction at chill is better (and the snow quality is better)
smagsmith, as kevindonkleywood says; get them along to a kids class; make sure it is a small group; young kids learn best in small groups as there is "just enough" peer pressure to urge them on.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
No problem with a well balanced/coordinated 4 year old - although I've seen less athletic 6 year olds still struggle. You know your own child better than we do but as a rule of thumb I'd say that if they can mange peddling and steering a bike (even with stabilisers) at the same time they're probably ready to start skiing. But keep your expectations low - little and often, and let them dictate when they've had enough/when they want to move on.
This has been posted here before - but when this video was taken our youngest was just 22 months, which just shows that it's perfectly possible to get pre-schoolers skiing (for purposes of comparison his older brother was 7 when this was taken).
Everyone else... thanks for the advice. I will take her to Chill factor to see what they have on offer
cheers
Smag
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
smagsmith, To add a little more; if you can; book the little one into a small group lesson (ours are max 4 per instructor at Welwyn during the ski club); a little bit of peer pressure will help your Daughter to be motivated and she may make new friends for life. We have some families who's kids met in Kindergarden lessons and now race together!
After all it is free
After all it is free
smagsmith, I highly recommend the instructors at Chill Factor e, they are a great bunch and very good and experienced with little kids. I would try their Infant Ski Academy for ages 4-6, saturday mornings 1 hour a week for 3 weeks per block. My son started off with them too aged 4 and had a superb grounding before holidays, he race trains now but only when he feels like it Oh and one more thing, go now whilst it is relatively quiet rather than in the run up to and during the season
FAQ
Poster: A snowHead
) getting upset that they 'cant do' things they think should be easy.
Oh and one more thing, go now whilst it is relatively quiet rather than in the run up to and during the season 
