Ski Tips for Kids

From first tracks to blue runs, an essential and entertaining guide to teaching kids to ski. Print edition available now at:

[Ski Tips for Kids @skitipsforkids]

"Using ski poles might seem awkward at first. Make sure the poles are helping and not hindering your balance. If it's more fun skiing without poles, then just ski without 'em. Fun is more important than poles."⁠
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#skitipsforkids #skikids #firsttimeskiing #firsttim…

[Ski Tips for Kids @skitipsforkids]

"The pole tapping should happen along with your turns. Try this for the first time on easy terrain. When you ease into the turn, it's the downhill hand that does the tapping."⁠
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#skitipsforkids #skikids #firsttimeskiing #firsttimeskier #learntoski #familyski #litt…

[Ski Tips for Kids @skitipsforkids]

"The next step is to try what everyone calls the pole plant, though that's a crummy name because all you're really doing is just touching or tapping. It's a quick gentle motion. The tap should go ping and not thud!"⁠
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#skitipsforkids #skikids #firsttimeskiing #fir…

[Ski Tips for Kids @skitipsforkids]

"The first step is just holding 'em while you're skiing, without even worrying about tapping the snow. Just like always, keep your hands up front on the steering wheel. No need to hold them up way up high, the poles can skitter on the snow as you ski."⁠
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#skitipsf…

[Ski Tips for Kids @skitipsforkids]

"If you've got a good handle on all the fundamental skills so far, you can add poles into the mix."⁠
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#skitipsforkids #skikids #firsttimeskiing #firsttimeskier #learntoski #familyski #littleskier #kidsskiing #babyski #kidsski #kidswhoski #kidsonskis #skiwithkids #…

[Ski Tips for Kids @skitipsforkids]

"Ski boots are like a mechanical fruit juicer. Imagine putting your favorite fruit between your shins and the front of the boot (the tongue). When they make turns they should be opening and closing the juicer, smashing your fruit into juice! Slowly open the juicer to release…

[Ski Tips for Kids @skitipsforkids]

"The smooth slipping in this game is a great introduction to the skidding moves used in the beginner parallel turn. Not only that, but sometimes side slipping can get you out of trouble. Side slipping down a short steep section of slope may be all that's needed to get smooth…

[Ski Tips for Kids @skitipsforkids]

"The smooth slipping in this game is a great introduction to the skidding moves used in the beginner parallel turn. Not only that, but sometimes side slipping can get you out of trouble. Side slipping down a short steep section of slope may be all that's needed to get smooth…

[Ski Tips for Kids @skitipsforkids]

"With just a little practice, you'll be able to control your speed as you slip, but make sure you don't let your uphill ski get stuck in the snow! At first you'll have to concentrate on keeping it next to your other ski. Pretend that your ankles are tied together with a stro…

[Ski Tips for Kids @skitipsforkids]

"This simple exercise will set you up with a whole slew of skills required for nice smooth French Fries (parallel) turns.⁠
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Start in the mountain stance with your skis across the fall line. Most of your weight will be on your downhill ski while your eyeballs and the jacket …

[Ski Tips for Kids @skitipsforkids]

"Skills that look pretty good on the Green slopes can quickly fall apart on a Blue run. Faced with a steep intimidating slope, kids that aren't ready will revert to huge Pizza wedges and lean way too far back. This power wedge won't work on steep slopes. These poor skiers wi…

[Ski Tips for Kids @skitipsforkids]

"Garlands are sometimes called "chicken out" turns because you aren't fully turning in a new direction. You'll get the feeling of doing a real parallel turn in a nice controlled rhythm without having to deal with picking up speed in the fall line. This is a real confidence b…

[Ski Tips for Kids @skitipsforkids]

"No need to do everything at once. Spread your moves out over the whole turn. Turn your feet and legs little by little, move between TALL and SMALL the whole time. Tip on and off your edges bit by bit. Find a flow and soon it'll feel smooth and graceful. When you feel good w…

[Ski Tips for Kids @skitipsforkids]

Once your little skier can stand and take their own weight, a ski trainer like @SlopeRopes is a great next step. Slope Ropes sit at your child's waist, putting them in the perfect position (nose over knees over toes). The length is perfect - long enough to allow you to make …

[Ski Tips for Kids @skitipsforkids]

"Start out with nice wide graceful giant S curves on easy terrain. Remember all the basics: keep your hands out front, look where you're going, get TALL at the beginning and SMALL at the end, balance over your outside ski, and use big toe-little toe to get the edges to bite …

[Ski Tips for Kids @skitipsforkids]

"It's a great accomplishment when you can move beyond the Pizza wedge and start turning with French Fries. From here on out, you can use this advanced skill for pretty much all your skiing. If you have taken plenty of time to have fun with all the stuff up to this point, the…

[Ski Tips for Kids @skitipsforkids]

"This is by far the coolest way to stop! Start out by making a bunch of J turns. Each time you do one make the bottom of the J shorter and shorter. The stopping will get quicker each time. Keep at it and you'll eventually stop so fast that you'll shoot a rooster tail of snow…

[Ski Tips for Kids @skitipsforkids]

"J turns describe the big curved J shape of the track you'll make with your skis in the snow. It's a fun way to introduce kids to the parallel stance, and it's another way they can stop.⁠
Start out by skiing in a gliding Pizza straight down the slope, right in the fall line.…

[Ski Tips for Kids @skitipsforkids]

"Your jacket has a zipper that should be used like the laser guidance system for your whole body. Think of your pants and jacket as two distinct halves, and they each move differently. Your skis down at the snow will be moving back and forth with each turn, but your upper bo…

[Ski Tips for Kids @skitipsforkids]

"The steeper the slope, the more the C shape helps you stay in control."⁠
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#skitipsforkids #skikids #firsttimeskiing #firsttimeskier #learntoski #familyski #littleskier #kidsskiing #babyski #kidsski #kidswhoski #kidsonskis #skiwithkids #toddlerskiing #babyskier #k…