slimeypete 0 Posted March 5, 2003 Share Posted March 5, 2003 Do you think its best for children to start learning how to ski/board early, or wait till they are a bit older, like 10 years or something? I'm wondering what is best. Link to post Share on other sites
2pints-mate 0 Posted March 6, 2003 Share Posted March 6, 2003 When do they start in Japan then? Link to post Share on other sites
Fattwins 0 Posted March 6, 2003 Share Posted March 6, 2003 As soon as they can enjoy it let them do it. Saw a 7 year old kid doing well in dynalands super pipe the kid was good and so small. Link to post Share on other sites
BagOfCrisps 24 Posted March 6, 2003 Share Posted March 6, 2003 Yeah, when they're ready - whenever that is. Link to post Share on other sites
dane 0 Posted March 6, 2003 Share Posted March 6, 2003 i started when i was fairly old (i dont remember the specifics, but definitely >12 probably more) and i truly wish i had started younger. my guess would be that kids could ski at a decent enough level to not be supervised when they are around 7 (however that isn't to say they should have supervision, but i mean they can hold their own on the skiis) Link to post Share on other sites
barok 0 Posted March 6, 2003 Share Posted March 6, 2003 do you have alot of experience skiing, slimy pete ? I started when I was maybe 12 or 13, and I loved it right away. I wished I could have started younger. I was jealous of the younger kids who had started early and ripped. If I have kids I won't force them to ride the snow, but I can remember when I was a kid, I always wanted to stand up on my sled (never worked) so I think snowboarding at a sledding hill, combined with sledding is a good start. kids packages are sooo cheap, and you can use a slightly bigger than necessary board, and slightly bigger than neccessary boots (extra socks) for a few seasons. Link to post Share on other sites
nekobi 0 Posted March 6, 2003 Share Posted March 6, 2003 the earlier the better. i started skiing when i was about 5 during a vacation with my parents. they just plopped me in ski school all day long while they enjoyed going off on their own. i loved it- had a great instructor and it was fun being with other kids my age. Link to post Share on other sites
dancing_barefoot 0 Posted March 22, 2003 Share Posted March 22, 2003 I wish I had started real early. Link to post Share on other sites
Fattwins 0 Posted March 22, 2003 Share Posted March 22, 2003 If they can walk then get them on the snow. I would think 3 or 4 and they could get around a bit. Just getting them out there with you is best. I plan to spilt the ski day with my wife. one looks after the kid the other skis. Link to post Share on other sites
snobee 0 Posted March 22, 2003 Share Posted March 22, 2003 Definitely younger the better - but they shouldn't be forced esp. if they seem scared. Playing in the snow is OK. My 4yr old daughter began snow-ploughing this year after 2years of sleds and games. She had 2 great days of lessons early season at Arai, which set her in the mode. Afterwards at other resorts she pestered us about going on lifts with us, so we finally gave in. Now at the end of the season (only 12 days spent) she can negotiate a 1km course, follow a snaking line and stop all with good control. No one taught her to turn. She just followed me and did it. Oh to be young. This was a successful approach in our case. SO I think - Have some LESSONS, give them some LEEWAY, teach them on-course NOUS (necessary for self preservation) while keeping an eye on them ALL the time. Bit of a big ask, but Feral kids on slope = disaster waiting. Happy Daze. Link to post Share on other sites
Glen Falting 0 Posted March 23, 2003 Share Posted March 23, 2003 Seems to be a preference for teaching kids to ski first and then maybe boarding after the get the hang of sliding on the snow. I've seen a couple of 3-4 yr olds on snowboards, but they didn't seem to understand what was required. Seems there is no min age for skiing though. Some of the kids at Iwappara looked like they were just of out nappies. Link to post Share on other sites
frizzled 0 Posted March 24, 2003 Share Posted March 24, 2003 I think they start them too young here. Skiing in nappies. Link to post Share on other sites
enderzero 0 Posted March 24, 2003 Share Posted March 24, 2003 What do you guys think of the reigns people sometimes use to teach little kids to ski? Kinda a harness device with two leashes coming off the back. The parent holding the reigns really must know how to ski though. I saw one Otoosan at Cortina on snowlerblades trying to harness his child. Poor kid kept getting knocked over and hung up by his father's insistence on try to carve on the blades. Link to post Share on other sites
Shatterhand 0 Posted March 24, 2003 Share Posted March 24, 2003 I've never seen one, but it sounds safer than them being completely free to get out of control. Link to post Share on other sites
Ocean11 0 Posted March 25, 2003 Share Posted March 25, 2003 I don't see the need to start so young. There are plenty of other things for kids to do, and resorts are not particularly safe places one way or another. A leash is no substitute for innate common sense. Plus it must be a real bore for the parent. Link to post Share on other sites
master-spud 0 Posted March 25, 2003 Share Posted March 25, 2003 My kid is 5 now and I took him out on a snowboard last weekend, he did really well considering Link to post Share on other sites
IceEiji 0 Posted March 26, 2003 Share Posted March 26, 2003 I think young is good, but not too young - when they can enjoy it. Link to post Share on other sites
hide 0 Posted April 1, 2003 Share Posted April 1, 2003 I don't like it when I see parents taking out the kids just out of nappees. I think it is too early, and the kids don't seem to be enjoying it. Things like snowboarding or skiing is all about fun, and I think iti should stay as that. Link to post Share on other sites
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