Ski school at Keystone Mountain Resort, Colorado © 2016 Karen Rubin/goingplacesfarandnear.com
Is a ski holiday on tap for this year’s winter vacation? To insure the trip goes well, the snow pros from the Professional Ski and Snowboard Instructors of America (PSIA-AASI) National Team (the best-of-the-best ski and snowboard instructors in the country), suggest these simple tips to get kids ready for the slopes so your readers can make the most of their family winter vacation together:
- Be active as a family before your trip
Skiing and snowboarding are sports that require some physical fitness, so start an exercise program for you and your family. Whether it’s enrolling kids in soccer or another sport, to taking walks together as a family, it’s important to get moving.
- Do your homework on the weather
Most resorts have mountain cams and temperature updates. Know what the weather and temperature is like on the mountain and where you are staying, so you can dress your child appropriately for conditions. At some resorts temps vary greatly from the town versus the mountain.
- Try on ski/snowboard clothes and equipment before you go
For younger children getting used to putting on ski or snowboard equipment and clothing helps them adjust to the mountain environment more easily. You can make it a game and help them see their ski/snowboard clothes and equipment as something fun to play in versus something strange or bulky to wear. For older kids, it also helps to check to make sure everything still fits and is working properly before you arrive on the slopes.
- Invest in lessons for your kids
Having your kids learn from an expert can make their ski/snowboard experience more fun and also gives you time to enjoy the slopes. Set the expectation that the lesson is more like a sports practice than going to school and that they’ll have fun while getting to learn new skills.
- Watch ski/snowboard movies or videos to get everyone excited
Use media to motivate your kids and set expectations of what their experience on the mountain and lessons will be like. There’s an array of ski and snowboard clips on YouTube to videos on the PSIA-AASI YouTube Channel here.
- Pack the right gear
You don’t have to spend a fortune on kids’ ski and snowboard gear. Just make sure they have a good snowsuit that’s wind/snow resistant along with goggles, long socks pulled up below the knee, snow gloves and insulated layers. If they become more involved in the sport then you can invest in wicking base layers and more expensive jackets when they will be out on the mountain for longer periods of time.
For more travel features, visit:
goingplacesnearandfar.wordpress.com
travelwritersmagazine.com/TravelFeaturesSyndicate/
goingplacesfarandnear.tumblr.com/
instagram.com/krubin0830/
‘Like’ us on facebook.com/NewsPhotoFeatures
Twitter: @TravelFeatures
GoingPlacesNearAndFar's Blog 