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Published
in the January 2003 issue of Travel Smart
Your
Child's First Day on the Slopes
 If
your taking a youngster skiing for the first time this winter, there are a
number of things you can do to make day one a great success. We
asked Scott D. Lafferty, who started skiing at Mount Snow, VT when he was
eight, to give us some tips.
Gearing
Up
Begin
by renting equipment. Brand new gear is not necessary for brand new
skiers - and your child may or may not take to the sport. Ask
a staff member at a ski shop to fit your child for the proper length of
ski and boot size. Don't try to do it yourself unless you are
experienced. Skis should reach your child's shoulders and the boots
should fit snugly yet have room for wiggling the toes - critical for
circulation.
Skip
the poles - they're not recommended for the first few times on the
mountain because they get in the way and are just one more thing for a
beginner to think about; contrary to popular thinking, they are not
necessary for learning.
Proper
clothing is absolutely essential, not only for health reasons but also
because it can make or break your child's skiing experience - kids who are
not warm enough inevitably get fussy, they can't focus and they quickly
lose interest in the sport. The key to warmth, of course, is
layering. Start with long underwear (tops and bottoms) and ski
socks. Select socks made of a wool and nylon blend. Blends
provide considerably more warmth with less bulk than pure wool and they
keep feet drier. The wicking moves moisture from the foot to outside
the sock. (Wicking is the process whereby the fibers in the cloth
draw perspiration away from the skin and up to the surface of the
fabric.) Smartwool's ski sock designed specifically for kids is sold
at most ski shops or at: www.SmartWool.com
(The site also lists local outlets.) The
next layer should consist of sweatpants and a turtleneck followed by ski
pants that have a wide enough leg so they fit over the sweatpants.
The top layer should be a pullover made of fleece then a ski jacket. Tip:
Pick brightly colored pants and jacket so you can identify your youngster
on the hill. Wear something distinctive yourself. Other
essentials are a neck warmer, mittens with waterproof material on the
outside (not gloves - mittens keep fingers warmer), a helmet and goggles. Have
a member of the ski shop staff fit the helmet and goggles. Leedom or
Boeri helmets are excellent; Smith and Scott goggles work well. Caution:
Cheap goggles have a smaller range of vision and scratch easily.
Bottom line: If your child wears goggles that are too small and
therefore block his vision, he will be very uncomfortable on skis.
It could ruin the entire outing. Finally,
purchase plenty of self-activating hand warmers. These 2" by
3" packets are filled with coal that when shaken provide heat for
three to six hours. They're available at most ski shops or
from: www.hothands.com. Before
Climbing The Mountain Prior
to rushing to the slopes, call the ski area regarding programs for
beginning children. How in-depth a learning experience you want to
start out with depends to some degree on your child's age and energy
level. However, lessons are absolutely essential for beginners -
just as driving lessons are essential for teenagers. Don't try to do
all the instruction yourself. Some
resorts have full-day programs that combine day care with skiing
lessons. Many have half-day "learn-to-ski" packages as
well as group hour-long lessons and/or private lessons. Most
programs include equipment rental. At
The Top Arrive
early, ideally before 8:30am; it will be less crowded and less
intimidating for your child who may be a little frightened at first.
Stay by your child's side until he/she is safely in the hands of the
instructor. Keep
in mind that when a child says that he is cold, unlike adults, it does not
mean that he is getting cold; it means that he IS cold. Keep an
eye on his exposed skin. If the skin is pink and then turns white,
it's very likely the beginning of frostbite. If there are obvious
patches of white skin, take him inside immediately so he can warm up
naturally. Do not try to warm him up outside by placing your hands
on the affected area and never rub the skin. Freezing,
warming and re-freezing can cause permanent skin tissue damage. Tip:
An easy way to prevent frostbite is to take plenty of hot chocolate
breaks. Plan to go inside and warm up at least once every 60 minutes
or so. If
your child falls down continuously and either struggles to get up or cannot
get up without help, don't force him go continue. Children's
muscles are not as developed as those of adults and they tire more
quickly. Lunch Feeding
a family at a ski resort is inevitably expensive. So, why not bring
your lunch? Many areas ban large coolers now for security reasons, so
instead use soft insulated lunch coolers, such as those made by Arctic
Zone or Rubbermaid. You'll find them at most KMarts, WalMarts and
grocery stores. When
to Quit A half
day of skiing may be long enough, particularly for the first four or five
times. So, have alternative activities in mind, in case you don't
have a budding Jonny Moseley or Picabo Street in your family. Kids
often find tubing, skating and snowshoeing much easier. Some would
rather go to the movies or stop in the local library where you can read
them a story about skiing! For
More Information A Parent's
Guide To Teaching Skiing by Paul McCallum (F&W Publications,
phone, 800-289-0963) is available at many public libraries. ### |
