Photo by Kajetan Sumila on Unsplash

I know, you’re going to think it’s BORING going out on the hill with the grandkids.  But the truth I’ve witnessed is that it all depends on YOU.  

Even though it’s probably more fun for you to head down fast on your favorite blue or black trails, it’s much more fun for the little ones, when they’re getting started, to go down what they know.  And that’s the green and blue trails they’ve probably taken more than a couple group lessons on…private lessons if they’re super lucky.

Why?  In a word…confidence.  Confidence fights fear, and when confidence wins, heads spin with fun, excitement and happiness.  And the happier the kids feel, the easier it’s going to be to get them to try to ski “up a level” from what they know:  going from walking around on skis to greens, from greens to blues, and from blues to blacks, it’s all about that visible progress that helps the little ones realize they’re actually improving, they’re feeling more comfortable on their skis with less fear/anxiety, and then they will test themselves, and ski a bit faster, not much, just a little. Some may also brag a little when they’ve gone up a level AND had fun.  That’s confidence at work, it’s their friend, and it should always be your goal when skiing with the kids.  Why?

Because now, not only are they having more fun, they see their own improvement, bit by little bit: smoother turns, maybe sometimes the uphill ski slides down next to the downhill ski (WOW!).  All of these little improvements give them the confidence, so when you suggest trying a “Blue” run, and tell them they’re ready, now they might believe you, and might also WANT to try the more challenging run.  So choose WISELY!  don’t select the toughest “blue run”, purposely choose an easy blue.  Blue is blue, it’s more challenging than the greens.

When you get to top of your first blue run, ski over to the side somewhere it’s out of the way of “skier traffic”, and make the boy or girl stop.  Take your time!!  This is probably exciting for whomever you’re with, who’s trying their first blue.  The slower you take this run, the more fun your little one will have, since she knows it’s a fearsome “blue”, and she’s on it!  Take it pretty slow the whole way down the first time, speeding up maybe when you see the bottom in sight, and particularly if she wants to speed up.

At the end, ask her what she thought…did you like that?  Was it fun?  If you get a positive response, don’t be too pushy, but ask what she’d like to do next.  If she wants to do the same blue or another blue, congrats you hit a home run mom/dad!  If she wants to go back to green, no problem, go back to green!  She’s still got the memory of going down her first blue, and no doubt she’ll want to try it again before long.

Avoid as much as possible pushing your kids out of their comfort zone too quickly.  Remember, skiing is supposed to be tons of fun, and if it just always feels scary to your little one, you’re on a wrong-way street, where the sign at the far end might as well say: Goodbye skiing!  Instead, let your kids build their confidence at their own pace, and before you know it, you’re the one who will be having trouble keeping up with the kids.  What a wonderful and bittersweet day that is, because I know, I was there a long time ago with my own kids.