Teaching kids to ski when I snowboard...?!

Sports and Hobbies
1
Hi all,

Just wanted to ask your opinion, perhaps someone went through the samething.

My son is 4 and I want to teach him to ski but I'm a snowboarder. I'm playingwith the idea of learning to ski but it's not my preferred option. Do you thinkI can put my son in for a couple of lessons then be able to look after him onthe slopes whilst being on a snowboard?

I think 4 is too young to learn to snowboard and want him to just have funand be upto speed as quick as possible so we can ride the slopes together.

Thanks,

L

2
Get him into lessons definitely, but he will need more than a couple of lessons. With 4 year old, in my experience, don't try to go too fast- patience will really pay off in the long term. Learning to ski first is much better- it is easy then to pick up skiing later, much harder t'other way round.

3
My two boys had a few ski lessons before we went exploring. I board and it was no problem to keep an eye on them whilst they were learning to ski.

4
Why not use the fact your son is completely new to the sport as a good chance for you to learn with him and bond at the same time. I would of thought watching daddy learn, fall, get back up etc would be good for his taking to the sport, rather than watching you being flawless on completely different equipment which he may wonder why he is not on.

Then again, he is 4 and maybe I am totally over thinking it. I am sure he would still have a blast either way. But stick him in lessons for sure, several in fact. Most resorts have the little kiddie beginner lessons. Or Ace1 could be along shortly to recommend his advice, I know he is a teacher but not sure if caters for kiddies, but his school might.

5

We went through exactly the same thing. My son started skiing when he was four and I was a (bad) snowboarder.

He was taught to ski by the ladies who ran his Hort but has had a few formal lessons as well - especially in the last couple of years (he's nine now)

He's faster than me but we often go together.

When we first started, my main job was to ensure that he did nothing stupid on the slopes and to dig him out of the steep snow when he bailed.

I have no experience with skiing and so could not (and wouldn't) explain anything to him on the skiing side of things but was able to make him aware of other aspects of the slopes such as not stopping in the middle of the slope or below the crest of a ridge and of not going too fast for the conditions.

So, yes it has worked surprisingly well for us on the slopes but I've left the instruction to someone else and I think a lot more than a couple of lessons are needed, especially if you're not able to give technical advice yourself.

6
"Teaching kids to ski when I snowboard?" as per the title.... then no. Kids learn by watching and copying which they can't do if you're on a board.

Looking after them and riding with them may work.

However, he will still need to have regular lessons, as he won't improve much if just skiing with you on a board, he needs time with a good skier to follow and copy. So I'd say ski lessons, and riding with you inbetween to practice.

7
I would think that kids and adults don't learn the same, and the kids go a bit slower (or maybe that is just how it is when you send them to ski school for the week). Our son did his first week of ski school last year at 3.5 and at the end of the week he could ski down a very slight slope. Sortof.

I would definitely send him to a ski school and if you want to ski as well, great, but I don't think you would be in the same class as him unless you got a private instructor.

Are you looking to just go every now and again on the weekends, have a week's trip planned or...

BTW, I sound like a broken record here, but the Serfaus ski area in Austria is fabulous for kids and families...in case you are looking for family friendly resorts.

8
At 4, children are taken into ski Kindergarten or PiouPiou- and they will not really not learn to ski formally- but glide, go through hoops and minor obstacles (animals usually) on a flattish ground. They won't use lifts or sticks- but will learn to use a magic carpet, btw- so s/he won't be ready to join you on the mountain for a while. Be patient- any attempt to rush things at this stage can be really detrimental.

In StFoy (France) 2 years ago, a young Dutch girl was in the same ski kindergarten as grand-son, aged 4. She was 'dumped' there screaming, screamed and kicked on the floor/snow for the whole day, and was still screaming when they picked her up. They b*****ed off skiing- but will have to pay the price of a child who will HATE skiing for ever and ever, amen. With a bit of patience - you'll enjoy years of fun on the snow together.

9
Thanks all, I think the advice of not learning a poor technique from me is crucial.

Will put him in some classes and give him the time.

10
Certainly they don't learn in the same way. I'm not sure I'd agree that kids 'go slower'; whether you mean speed of travel or speed of learning some kids will be as quick or quicker than many adults. But there's no general rule for either - some adults will take fully three or four times as long to pick up even some of the most basic techniques (than others).

For the OP: Yes, of course the child needs to be in lessons with others of the same sort of age and ability. I do suggest that you also learn the basics so you can practice together outside of the lessons, but that you don't try and learn together. Hopefully you'll be quick enough to get to the stage where you can move around enough to pick up the child when it falls, which at that age will be very frequently, but until you have got there on skis you really need someone else around who can do so.

11
Some things I picked up along the way that may help the OP.

(I appreciate others may disagree)

Drag-Lifts

A tall adult on a snowboard will find it excruciatingly painful going up on a long T-Bar with a four year old. All the pressure will be on the side of one knee.

If it wasn't busy or on unmanned ones,, I'd put him on the one before me so if he came off, I could get off too and we'd go down together.

If it was busy, he'd usually get paired with a skier anyway and I'd go on the one behind again.

Pistes

I'd always make the boy ski in front. That way, when he crashed out, I could quickly snowboard down to him to help.

Walking back up isn't fun.

Losing each other

It's not likely but possible that you miss each other in a queue or there is a misunderstanding so give him a tag with your name and mobile number on it and attach it to his jacket. And then carry your mobile.

The lift operators expect children to have this information and will look for it.

Toilets.

Little boys get a bit carried away with all the skiing and insist they don't need to go when a toilet is available.

You'll end up washing out ski boots that evening.

So, drag them to the loo even if they say they don't want to go.

Clothing

Kids get cold - colder than you so ensure they're wrapped up warm.

Tiredness

Kids get physically exhausted before their enthusiasm wanes.

You may want one last run but they may be just too tired to be in full control and end up hurting themselves.

12
Spare gloves is also a good idea seeing as they spend most of the waiting time picking up snow or wiping the slushy stuff off the end of their skis/everyone else's skis.

Even the bestest Gortex-est gloves give up after a while.

13
The main problem being snow ingress via the hands, rather than through the material. Young children in particular are prone to having gloves dragged off when they fall, and even just pulling them (the gloves) back up by the cuffs will let water start to seep in via the lining.

14
Good advice above.

I'd also say, never attempt a lift or a slope you have not done yourself first, including on that day. What seemed fine in lovely snow last week-end, maybe a nightmare today on ice.

And make it fun- be very patient. Kids are easily put off for life by over eager, over pushy, and over +++ parent/s. Taking time at first will pay huge dividends in the long run- and years and years of shared fun.

ACE1 beat me to it - kids learn much much faster than adults- as they have no fear. Strangely enough, experienced skiers who also snowboard will tell you that the technique is actually very much similar for both.

Enjoy

15
Good evening all,

I wonder why OP didn't teach 4 years old to snowboard? Do you think ski is better for small children?

I'm in a similar situation and wonder shall I send my daughter to ski school, or have her learn snowboard with me. [Daughter is 5, I snowboard and I'm begginer in skiing (not more than 14 days skiing)]

Happy to hear from you,

Cheers!

16
Ah- how long is a piece of string? lol.

Probably will show my age here- but personally I'd always want a child to become a good skier and then pick up snowboarding later. Much easier to transfer skills that way then t'other way round. But there is no 'wrong' decision here. What does your kid think about it?

Teaching a toddler to ski or snowboard is much better done by someone else, honestly, same as driving- it takes all the heat out of it. Then you can have a fabulous time having fun together - children rarely have tantrums and melt-downs with other teachers. Perhaps your child never has those?

17
To be honest my question should of been;

Is 5 year to young age to snowboard? I read that only 8y and above should snowboard. I find this strange. Sport is a sport.

Agree on tantrums and melt-downs, but still choose having fun together... more less like we've learn to ride a bike.

18
4 year old kids who ski for the season because their parents live in the mountains, will often ski better than their parents by the end of the first season, probably better to start them as soon as they can walk.......

Total nonsense that 4 is too young, I posted a link to Phil Smiths 3 kids aged 4 & 5 some time ago, they could skin bumps & off piste with great skill.

19
Was talking about ski lessons with French or Swiss ski school here- for kids on a one week holiday. Very different for kids on live in the mountains- I was on skis and getting on with it when I was about 3 - but lived 'skiing' every day. At 2, I skied between my parents legs at first, who were both good skiers.

No problem with a kid learning to snowboard at 5- if you can get good equipment for his/her size and weight.

20
Why don't you take some private ski instruction with your son and learn with him? The tips that the instructor will give you can also be used on your 4 year old. If you get a good instructor they can give you a few pointers so you can safely ski with him aswell. You can also then use the information from a board to teach your son.

ive done it many times

best,

Lucas