5 of the Best Spring Skiing Festivals

Posted on March 29, 2013 by

There are few things better in life than enjoying a sunny spring day out on the slopes, followed by a refreshing beverage and live music. A lot of resorts have fun events lined up to celebrate spring skiing, and the epic combination of sun and snow. While all of these celebrations are worth attending, there are a few select resorts that commemorate the end of the season on an entirely different level. With costumes, crazy activities, and an atmosphere of pure bliss, these are 5 Spring Festivals that you do not want to miss:

Breck Spring Fever. Breckenridge, CO
March 17- April 14

Breckenridge doesn’t end its season with a week, or even two weeks, of celebrating. No, Breckenridge celebrates for an entire MONTH. Starting March 17th and ending April 14th, Breck Spring Fever includes the Bud Light Live Concert Series with free music every Saturday and Sunday. Other highlights from the event include the KSMT Beer Festival, Superpipe and Minipipe Competition, and extended Gondola operating hours.

Canyons Spring Gruv. Park City, UT
March 22- 31

If you like dressing up in crazy costumes and participating in fun activities, then Spring Gruv is the festival for you. Spring Gruv features two standout events: the Pond Skimming Contest, and Red Bull Shlittentag. Both involve extreme creativity, hilarious performances, and a great time for everyone involved. Whether you want to watch or participate, these events are insanely fun and followed by free music in the Resort Village!

Spring Back to Vail. Vail, CO
April 8- 14

Vail’s spring festivities are as extreme as its mountain terrain. With Vail celebrating its 50th birthday, the celebration  is sure to be at its prime. With three free concerts ( O.A.R, Sublime with Rome, and Jimmy Cliff), an awesome Pond Skimming competition, and tons of free giveaways and parties, Spring Back to Vail will have you wanting to come back every year.

World Ski and Snowboard Festival. Whistler, BC
April 12-21

Photo Courtesy of Jeremy Swanson

From the time you wake up until the time you are ready to go back to bed, this festival has something amazing every hour of the day. Start your day out with the World Skiing Invitation, The Monster Energy Shred Show, or enjoying the sunshine out on the slopes. After skiing, there are art shows, free concerts every day, and other fun activities like Mascot Mayhem and Whistler Dogfest. End your night with one of Whistler’s amazing parties and then get ready to do it all again the next day!

Sunsation. Copper Mountain, CO
April 13-14

This festival may only last a weekend, but with all of the activities and events available, one weekend is all you need! Highlights include Red Bull SlopeSoaker, a twist on the traditional pond skimming event, and CopperMan. CopperMan is a unique adventure race with crazy obstacles like a Hot Chocolate Pit and a Human Luge. Sunsation may just be a weekend, but it is sure to be a weekend you will never forget.

Whichever festival you decide to attend, the combination of sun, snow, music, and fun events will have you have you wishing that the resorts would stay open just a little bit longer.

Posted in Breckenridge, British Columbia, Colorado, Copper Mountain, Mountain Activities, Outdoor Activities, Outdoor Travel, Park City, Ski Vacations, Uncategorized, Utah, Vail, Whistler | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

5 Romantic Outdoor Activites for your Colorado Vacation

Posted on March 26, 2013 by

Colorado is one fit state. The only state in the U.S. with an obesity rate of less than 20%, it appears regularly on lists of fittest and most outdoorsy places in the country. Not surprisingly the dating scene in Colorado is notably rugged. If you’re trying to win a date in the Centennial State, plan something outside and active. Especially in the winter, the options for romantic mountain daytrips are many. Here are a few ideas:

1) Ice Skating at Evergreen Lake

Named one of the top ten ice skating lakes in the U.S. by Sunset magazine, Evergreen Lake provides a picturesque spot to glide around on ice while holding hands with your sweetheart. Have your camera ready for romantic photo ops in every direction: the ice with a mountain horizon, the cozy log cabin lake house, the cozy fireplace inside. Or stage an Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mindmoment capturing the fissures and textures of the ice by laying face-up on it and having a photo of the two of you taken from directly above.

Ice Skating at Evergreen Lake

2) Snow tubing at Colorado Adventure Park in Fraser

Get a kick of adrenaline with your date at Colorado Adventure Center, where you can rent inflatable tubes and freefall down a hill. Stick together by holding on to each other’s handles or opting for a tandem tube. If you skip the green and blue rated hills and go directly to the steepest black diamond run, you’ll find out in broad daylight just how brave your match is.

3) Snowshoeing to Brainard Lake near Nederland

Brainard Lake Recreation Area’s popularity as a Nordic ski and snowshoe destination is well merited. In close proximity to Denver and Boulder, it makes for a fun daytrip without too much time in the car. One you’ve reached the parking lot, the paths are well marked with signage. The highlight is reaching Brainard Lake, which opens up as a great white expanse with a fantastic alpine backdrop. Note: also an ideal spot for a first kiss.

Snowshoe Date at Brainard Lake

4) Winter Hiking a Colorado 14er

For exceptionally fit, well-equipped and experienced mountain men and women (not too hard to find in Colorado), take your budding romance to new heights on a winter ascent of a Colorado 14er. Trails to the peaks of Colorado’s many mountains that reach at least 14,000 feet of altitude are open year-round, and they’re much less populated during the winter months. Recommended beginner peak: Mt. Bierstadt. Check the weather carefully, opt for a summit within your ability level, dress appropriately, and you and your crush may find yourselves having a surreal moment alone together on what feels like the top of the world.

What better way to bond than while hiking to 14,000 feet?

5) Ice Castles and Hot Springs in Steamboat

For less walking and more sightseeing and soaking, head to Steamboat Springs. This year, the ice castle exhibition has moved from Silverthorne to Steamboat. For this fantastic display, a team of ice artists have been working for months to shape spires and structures that will transport visitors into a fantasyland of frozen water. Stay a night in Steamboat to justify the drive, see the castles illuminated in the dark, and sneak away to the hot springs of Strawberry Park.

After you are done with your fun and outdoorsy date, end your day in one of the romantic luxury vacation rentals available all over Colorado.

 

 

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Top Colorado Summer Festivals

Posted on March 21, 2013 by

As much fun as it is to visit Colorado in the winter months for some of the best downhill skiing on the planet, I love summer in the mountains because of its glorious weather – blue skies, low humidity and moderate temperatures. July through August also bring some phenomenal annual festivals to my home state. Here’s a peek at just a few of the most popular summer events in Colorado mountain resorts:

Food & Wine Classic in Aspen: June 14-16

Celebrity chefs and celebrated winemakers descend upon Aspen to toast all things food and wine to kick off the summer season in this chic resort town during the annual Food & Wine Classic. Grand tastings, cooking seminars, chef Q&As and a whole lot of parties mark the festive weekend.
Best for: Foodies, wine connoisseurs, over 21, for sure.

Telluride Bluegrass: June 20-23
Marking its 40th year, the Telluride Bluegrass festival brings outstanding performers and songwriters to the mountains for outdoor performances of live music. There are performances on the main stage all day, plus intimate workshops, songwriting contests, late-night events and surprising jam sessions.
Best for: Music lovers, free spirits. Children under 12 are free with an accompanying paying parent, though I’d talk to young kids about being “good listeners,” especially at smaller shows.

Crested Butte Wildflower Festival: July 8-14
The wildflowers peak in July in this charming high-altitude town, so it’s a great time to hike amid the meadows – and into evergreen forest and aspen groves. Festival-goers choose from among 80 different hikes, or attend photography classes, jeep rides or garden tours.
Best for: Artists, outdoorsy types. Children and teens under 18 must be accompanied by an adult..

Steamboat Springs Hot Air Balloon Rodeo & Art in the Park: July 13-14

Two fabulous family-friendly events take place in Steamboat Springs over one weekend in July. First, watch colorful hot-air balloons launch into a bluebird sky, then head over to a local park to check out more than 140 art vendors showing their work. There’s live entertainment, plus an interactive area for kids.
Best for: Photographers, art lovers, the whole family.

US Pro Cycling Challenge:August 19-25

There’s Nothing like Biking in Beautiful Colorado

This challenging multi-day professional road cycling stage race actually visits eight Colorado cities over the seven days. The course is grueling: nearly 700 miles with elevations reaching more than 12,000 feet. Opportunities for spectators to watch – and enjoy accompanying events, like expos and autograph signings – take place in Aspen, Breckenridge, Steamboat Springs, Beaver Creek, Vail, Loveland, Fort Collins and Denver.
Best for: Athletes and sport spectators; watching the race is free, just keep an eye on small children as the cyclists whiz through city streets and down steep mountain passes.

Tickets for some of the above events are already on sale, so if you’d like to attend, you may want to snag some before they’re all sold out. Of course, lodging is at a premium during these popular festivals, too, so it would be smart to book that sooner than later.

Posted in Aspen, Breckenridge, Colorado, Crested Butte, Fall activities, Steamboat, Telluride, Uncategorized, Vail | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Favorite Aspen Restaurants

Posted on March 18, 2013 by

While Aspen is known for its stellar ski slopes, hopping nightlife and upscale shops, the small town also delivers quite a punch when it comes to dining. From casual burger joints to intimate sushi restaurants (yes, excellent sushi in the mountains) to luxurious lounges, the array of dining options is plentiful. In fact, you could stay an entire week in Aspen and never eat at the same restaurant twice!

Here are just a few of my favorite restaurants, no matter what your eating occasion:

Hearty breakfast: Poppycock’s is not only conveniently located steps from Aspen’s gondola, it serves up amazing macadamia nut pancakes and a variety of different crepes and yummy smoothies. The location is small, and you might need to wait for a table, especially on the weekends, but Poppycock’s has been in business for more than 40 years for a reason – it’s good!

Family friendly: Families flock to Boogie’s Diner for the hearty portions of meatloaf, macaroni and cheese, burgers, milkshakes, and pie. Memorabilia on the walls (not to mention crayons and coloring pages) help keep kids entertained before food arrives. Booth seating is comfortable and casual.

Celebrate an occasion: If you want a special night out to mark a birthday, anniversary or any other sort of celebration, I’d book dinner at Element 47, The Little Nell’s new upscale restaurant is just off the hotel lobby. Its hip, sleek décor sets the scene for a sophisticated meal that focuses on only the freshest Colorado ingredients. Wine aficionados will appreciate the 600-bottle “wine wall” – but that’s just a portion of the collection, which actually numbers 20,000 bottles! The service from the staff and sommelier here is top notch.

Element 47

Delicious take-out: Next to the Silver Circle Ice Rink is CP Burger, a casual counter restaurant offering not only great burgers (including chicken, tuna, and falafel), but also the most delicious kale and Parmesan salad.

Late night out: Fill up on Mexican favorites at underground Su Casa restaurant, then take your pick of adjacent Eric’s Bar, Aspen Billiards, or the Cigar Bar. This is where you will find the late-night action on the weekends.

This list barely scratches the surface of restaurants in Aspen. Among my recommendations, I’d also add Kenichi for sushi, Gisella for Italian and Justice Snow’s for cocktails. Then there’s slopeside Ajax Tavern, beloved Pinon’s (another good “special occasion” restaurant), and upbeat Brexi Brasserie. Have fun making a culinary exploration of Aspen!

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Five Tips for a Perfect Spring Break Family Ski Trip

Posted on March 15, 2013 by

I’ve been skiing with kids for over a decade, since my oldest was three years old. While sometimes difficult, the rewards have been well-worth it: our family now enjoys a lifetime sport we can experience together. Skiing with kids can be daunting and expensive: here are five ways to save money, time, and hassle.

1. Have the right gear. Quality outerwear and equipment can be expensive, but families can reduce the cost by attending ski swaps and participating in ‘grow with kids’ gear programs at local ski shops. Renting gear on the mountain can be less hassle if families reserve skis or boards ahead of time and have them delivered directly to their lodge room or condo. (If your ski resort doesn’t offer this service, check to see if a local ski shop does.) Warm gloves, jackets, and socks can make the difference between a fun day skiing and a miserable one. Consider it an investment: after paying for lift tickets and lodging, do you really want to hear whining all day? Of course not!

2. Stay close to the mountain. Ski-in, ski-out accommodations  may seem like a luxury, but if you’re skiing with young kids, consider them a necessity instead. Getting kids out the door and to the snow can be the most challenging (or downright frustrating) part of a family ski vacation. I’ve broken a sweat in sub-zero weather trying to wrestle my ski-suited preschoolers to the snow! The proximity to the slopes will ease this burden, allowing everyone to start their day smiling. Slopeside accommodations also allow parents to stop mid-day for their kids’ naps, or simply eat lunch in their own condo kitchen.

3. Ski half-day. If you have young kids or beginners, it can be worth the loss of ticket value to ski or ride half-day. Start out late if your family has a hard time getting going in the mornings: rushed ski mornings take their toll. Or if you’re all early-risers, plan to ski until lunch, then return to your lodging for a dip in the hot tub and an afternoon playing board games by the fire. Maybe if your resort offers night skiing, the family will be ready to hit the slopes again after dinner.

4. Have a rest day. Ski resorts offer so much more than just skiing! One of our favorite days during a ski vacation to Lake Tahoe was our afternoon snowmobiling with Zephyr Cove Resort. On another trip, we loved our day ice skating and roasting marshmallows in Northstar California’s cozy village. Smuggler’s Notch features an entire indoor playground for kids taking a day off the slopes, and Keystone Resort entices families with events in Kidtopia.

5. Be flexible. Luckily, lift tickets have become more flexible, allowing families to choose which 2-3 or 3-5 days they want to ski or ride, allowing parents to be more flexible, too. If the weather is terrible, will the kids have fun on the slopes anyway? Only you know. If you wake up for another day of skiing and everyone is cranky, should you opt to sleep in? Maybe one kid is anxious to return to ski school, but another is not…a great family ski vacation is made by keeping the itinerary flexible.

 

 

Posted in California, Colorado, Family Travel, Keystone, Lake Tahoe, Mountain Activities, Outdoor Activities, Ski Vacations, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Inside Northstar California’s Big Horn Lodge

Posted on March 13, 2013 by

When it comes to Tahoe ski vacation lodging, a prime location is key. But why not enjoy luxury and location? Northstar California’s Big Horn Lodge is located in the heart of the village, directly across from 1 Gondola Place, where skiers and snowboarders depart for the slopes.

Beautiful Big Horn

Condo layout:

A two-bedroom condo at Big Horn easily slept our family of five, with a large, luxury kitchen, two bedrooms, a pull-out double sofa bed in the living room, and two large bathrooms with jetted tubs. And the best feature of a Big Horn Lodge condo is—wait for it—a full-sized washer and dryer in each unit! During our stay, we also enjoyed the gas fireplace, the balcony overlooking village life below us, and the building’s ski locker, which housed not only our skis but all our boots. During morning ‘rush hour’ the narrow ski locker can get crowded, but it’s also a great time to get to know your Big Horn ski vacation neighbors.

The full-sized kitchen meant we could eat leisurely breakfasts in instead of bundling up

Big Horn Interior

early to grab something to go, and that we could make dinners in our condo after long ski days. Because skiers at Big Horn can ski directly to their condo at the end of the day, they enjoy the first samples of Northstar’s traditional s’mores, available right at the lobby of Big Horn. Also adjacent? Big gas fire-pits and plenty of après ski dining options. Basically, you’re right in the heart of the action.

Roasting S’mores at Big Horn

 

Hot tubs and recreation:

There isn’t a hot tub directly in Big Horn Lodge, but guests have access to several directly across in Catamount Lodge. This is really the only negative of a Big Horn stay: that chilly walk back across the village street to your condo after a dip! Lockers and a comfortable changing area do exist at Catamount, but if you have kids who don’t want to be slowed down by a post-soak shower and change, be sure to bring cozy (and well-covering) bathrobes for everyone.

Guests at Big Horn do also have access to a community fitness center located at the end of the village by the main parking area. This is a beautiful facility, with exercise equipment, a heated outdoor pool and hot tub, and fun game room with pool, foosball, and the like. Towels are available, as well as lockers. Again, the only caveat is the walk back, but guests can take the chill out of it by showering and changing right at the center.

The first morning of our Big Horn stay, we clocked our time from stepping out our condo door on the top floor of Big Horn to the moment we were catching our first high-speed quad chair at the base of Northstar: 12 minutes. Not too shabby considering we needed to access our skis and boots in the downstairs locker (heated, of course), put on our gear, carry our skis across the street to the gondola, ride it up to the base, and load. In fact, Big Horn boasts some of the easiest ski-in, ski-out lodging we’ve experienced!

 

Posted in California, Family Travel, Lake Tahoe, Outdoor Travel, Ski Vacations, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Keeping Kids Comfy – and Skiing – When the Temperature Dips

Posted on March 7, 2013 by

You won’t hear me complaining about cold when I ski – I long ago accepted that skiing is a winter sport, and I’d much rather see low temperatures paired with snow and wind than high ones accompanied by rain clouds. And since a cold snap can hit at any time, even later in the winter (we experienced two extremely cold and windy days over the 2013 Presidents’ Day weekend in Vermont) it’s good to be prepared for one when you’re planning a ski trip. Especially when that trip involves your entire family.

Here are my top tips for keeping kids safe, happy, and if not warm than reasonably comfortable, while skiing on very cold days.

Layer, layer, layer. On really cold days I add extra layers to my kids’ ski outfits. We start with a wicking shirt, long underwear, and ski socks; follow that with a turtleneck or long-sleeved t-shirt, then a fleece, then a double-layered ski coat with a hood. Balaclavas – those handy items that cover your neck and go up over your head underneath the helmet – are a must, as are ski mittens (better than gloves). On really cold days, I encourage my kids to pull their neck-warmers up over their mouths and their goggles down over their eyes and I put the hood of their jacket over their helmet. This leaves as little skin exposed as possible.

If your kids protest, remind them that if they get too hot, they can always remove a layer. Mine never do once the temperature gets below 20 degrees.

Invest in hand and feet warmers. These handy self-warming packets can usually be purchased in the equipment shop, but I save money by buying them in cases in advance and keeping them in the ski bag. Some ski mittens have a separate zippered pocket to put them in; but if not, you can just stick them in the tips of your child’s gloves.

Take a lot of breaks. This may seem obvious, but it bears repeating: On cold days, it’s important to go inside and warm up. If the temperature is well below freezing, and especially if there is wind blowing, you may need to go inside after every one or two runs. Consider packing a diversion like a trivia game or a pack of cards in the ski bag so you have something to do while you warm up.

Sign kids up for lessons. If you’re skiing on a cold day that also happens to be a busy one (say after a big snowfall on a holiday weekend) than you’re likely to have to stand in lift lines. After the waiting and the ride up you may find your child is too cold to enjoy the ski down. But if you put your children in ski school on very cold days, not only will they get some personalized attention, they’ll be able to skip the lines and keep moving.

Ski in the middle of the day. Don’t rush to be the first on the lift on very cold days and stop skiing earlier. If you’re staying close to the slopes, you might plan to cook a big brunch in your condo, ski from 10 to 2, and then return for a late lunch.

Vermont skiing can be cold well into March, although hopefully it will be warming up there sometime around the middle of the month so that the maple sugar season can begin. Visit Sugarbush on March 16 for their Sugaring Festival, which will include a maple syrup scavenger hunt on the mountain.

Posted in Family Travel, Mad River Valley, Outdoor Activities, Outdoor Travel, Ski Vacations, Vermont | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Highlights of The Springs Condominiums at Keystone Resort

Posted on March 4, 2013 by

During one of the coldest weekends on record in Colorado earlier this year, my family and I stayed at The Springs condominiums at Keystone Resort. In fact, it was so cold – it barely reached above zero degrees Fahrenheit on Saturday and Sunday – we didn’t even venture out to ski Keystone’s slopes! (We did however, brave the temperatures for one fun afternoon of tubing at Adventure Point.)

Since we did not end up leaving our condominium complex as much as we thought we would over the weekend, we were so pleased we were booked at The Springs, since there are so many amenities to enjoy on the property. Here are the highlights:

Spacious accommodations

Our three-bedroom unit was plenty roomy for the six of us: my husband and I, my two kids, and their two friends. While the children shared a bathroom, the grown-ups had a master suite with its own in-room bathroom. We enjoyed the full-sized kitchen, as we’d brought groceries to whip up eggs and bagels one morning. The dining room table was put to use for an intense Monopoly game, and the kids played cards on the living room floor. Meanwhile, I did yoga (I’d brought along my own DVD) in the living room one morning. There was lots of space for my downward dog.

Full Kitchen at The Springs

Great location

The Springs condos are some of the closest units to the Keystone Resort gondola; it took us less than 5 minutes to walk from our room to the ticket window at the base of the mountain to pick up our tubing vouchers. Similarly, we just had to walk down a short pedestrian path and cross a bridge, and we were smack dab in the middle of River Run Village, with its plethora of shops and restaurants.

Underground parking

Especially in the frigid temperatures, we wholly appreciated the convenient underground parking garage. Not only was our car plenty warm when we packed up to leave on Sunday, but we didn’t even have to put our coats on to go down to the car to retrieve items we’d forgotten to bring up to our room on our initial trip up the elevator!

Year-round pool and hot tubs

The outdoor pool area at The Springs is stellar – even in the wintertime! The pool has a fun waterslide and waterfall for the kids to enjoy, plus the water was really warm for a cold January day. Two toasty hot tubs and a small zero-depth entry splash pool for toddlers offer soaking options for the whole family.

Hot Tub at The Springs

Fitness center and steam room

Just before you exit the condominium complex to go outside to the pool area, you’ll find a small fitness center and steam room. While I didn’t use either, I did see other guests working out and enjoying a hot steam.

Pool table, media room and kids’ play area

My tweens totally took advantage of the pool table (no cost to play) and small media room decked out with a large-screen TV and comfortable, plush seating. They found some DVDs to borrow, and loaded one to watch the morning before we left Keystone. While they were a bit too old to enjoy the playhouse and toys in the kids’ play area, again, I saw some preschoolers and their parents in the colorful, sunny room.

Pool Table at The Springs

In all, I wholeheartedly recommend The Springs condominiums for the reasons stated above. When you visit The Springs with a group of friends or your own family, I wish you warmer temperatures than we had!

 

Posted in Colorado, Family Travel, Keystone, Outdoor Travel, Ski Vacations | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

A Grand Dining Experience: The Solitude Yurt

Posted on February 27, 2013 by
Solitude Mountain Resort Yurt

Solitude Mountain Resort Yurt

A few weeks ago three friends and I strapped on snowshoes for a half mile hike to the Solitude Yurt for dinner. Working in the ski industry I spend a good amount of time at ski resorts, but never at night walking up through the trees to get to a yurt. Joe, our chef and Ann, our guide and chef’s helper, did everything in their power to make sure it was a first-class evening.

According to Wikipedia, yurts are “traditionally used by nomads in the steppes of Central Asia,” have stoves in the middle and a door that faces south. According to Ann, our yurt was built by ski bums. Although yurts have been around for 3,000 years, this was my first experience in one and upon entering I was immediately filled with a sense of comfort. Perhaps because I didn’t fall on the way up like several in our party did and arrived fairly dry, but probably more because I knew there was good food and good wine in store. And I was right.

The five course meal started with an apple vegetable puree soup, with a hint of cinnamon and jalapeño.  Joe explained that he used very little cream or butter and that the flavor mostly came from the other ingredients through a process that sounded labor intensive — I was impressed. Next was a mizuna leaf salad with seared ahi, almonds and avocado, followed by a blue goat cheese- topped mini beef wellington surrounded by a light and flaky crust. Joe called the beef wellington our “appetizer” which I found odd since it was the third course. Maybe I need to dine in places other than pizza shops and sushi restaurants more often.

After the appetizer and prior to the main course, Joe and Ann ushered us all outside for a quick break and a fire twirling exhibition. Joe apparently has many talents. It isn’t every day that you can say your chef twirled fire for your dining enjoyment.

The main course was a spiced pan-seared duck with creamy polenta. Honestly, by the time it got there I was already full, having shown no restraint in downing all the other courses. But the few bites I had were delicious; the duck was full of flavor and very tender.

The meal ended with chocolate bread pudding that both gave me a sugar high and simultaneously filled me with joy. I am a bread pudding aficionado and this was an excellent version. The yurt dinner at Solitude is something I’ve encouraged all my friends to try not only because of the outstanding food, but also the chance to meet new people. We sat with Peter and Stacey from the Catskills and very were entertained by hearing about their first time in Utah and why they choose Solitude. They were raving about their great trip and left us glowing as proud locals.

The yurt at Solitude is now on my list of all-time favorite dining experiences. Whether with friends, for romance or just as an interesting alternative to pizza night, it is well worth both the cost and the hike.

The yurt is open both winter and summer and more information can be found at www.skisolitude.com.

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What To Do When Your Child Doesn’t Like Ski School

Posted on February 27, 2013 by

We often joke in my family about how my younger son (now seven) got “kicked out” of ski school when he was four. We had signed him up for an age-appropriate group lesson, but once he was dropped off, he chose to practice passive resistance, lying on a snow bank, licking the ice off his mittens, and refusing to go up the rope tow. After several days of this behavior it was gently suggested to us that he not return to the group lesson the following day. Which suited him just fine, as it meant more time to play in the ski area’s daycare center.

My husband and I were mortified, of course, but also wondered what to do since the remaining members of our family loved to ski. Would this be the end of our family ski vacations? Just what are the options when you’ve got a less-than-enthusiastic skier in your family?

Switch to a half-day program. Most ski schools offer both a full and half-day option. Younger children, or those who are resistant to learning to ski, might prefer the half-day approach. Is your child a morning person? Sign up for lessons before lunch. Or, if your child perks up in the afternoon, wait until then to leave him or her with a group.

Try a private lesson. If your child isn’t doing well in a group setting, you might try signing him or her up with an individual instructor (ask for one who specializes in working with kids). At some resorts, you can take a parent-and-me lesson where you, your child, and the instructor go out together. This can be helpful in showing you the kind of things to say to your child and also how best to help him or her improve.

Offer some one-on-one attention. Some children don’t like skiing with other kids or instructors but enjoy going up the mountain with parents and siblings. You may not feel qualified to teach your child to ski, but if you have any experience with skiing yourself you can probably at the very least help him or her get down the mountain. The positive experience of one-on-one time may mean your child’s attitude about ski school changes.

Take a day off. Your child may just not be in the mood on a given day to go skiing. Take a day off together and try something different like ice skating, snowshoeing, or even just hanging out in your condo playing some board games.

Don’t insist – but don’t give up. If your child is really not happy out on the mountain, don’t continue to insist that he or she try skiing. But don’t assume that he or she will never like to ski either. And don’t feel like you have to cancel your trip or skip skiing yourself. Most ski areas have a day care center or babysitting service – if your child doesn’t want to ski, take advantage of one of these options.

We used a combination of these approaches with my son: He had a few private lessons that first year, and he spent a lot of time in daycare while the rest of my family was outside. But we didn’t assume that he’d never like to ski, and put him back in half-day group lessons the following year. Gradually he came around, and now, he can’t wait to get up on the mountain. In fact, he proudly skied his first black diamond trail this winter.

Posted in Family Travel, Outdoor Activities, Ski Vacations | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments