Ski Schools for Kids

I love to ski. There’s nothing so elevating and euphoric as breathing in what feels like freshly poured mountain air while speeding down a trail engulfed in nature’s winter beauty.  It’s a sport that can be embraced by everybody at every level.  But there are some rules in learning how to ski that come even before your first snowplow.

1. Never learn to ski from a boyfriend or girlfriend. You will most definitely break-up.
2. Spouses of different ski skills looking for something to do together should try a pottery class instead.
3. Parents who think they’ll save money by teaching their children, will spend triple later on in therapy.

Yes, when it comes to learning to ski it’s best left to the pros as the learning curve is steep and it can be a very frustrating few days.  But when taught the right way from the beginning, you will have a lifetime of wonderful memories ahead of you.   Here are some great ones…

 Stowe, Vermont

Stowe is a perfect place to start your future skier or boarder off on a lifetime of schussing.  While it caters to skiers of all ages, the school has a separate area specifically for 3-year-old kids, called the 3 Ski Center.  This program concentrates on fun and lets the kids learn the basics of skiing in the beginner only area of the mountain.  I always get such a kick out of watching little ones without poles shredding the mountains.  Stowe is a great environment for your kids to learn and develop their skills.

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 Winter Park, Colorado

If you’ve missed the critical 3-year-old window and have children of varying ages that are aspiring skiers or boarders, Winter Park in Colorado may be a great choice for you.  Winter Park has long been known for its ski school and offers a wide variety of terrain to challenge new and intermediate skiers   One (helicopter parenting) feature that Winter Park offers is a GPS device called a “Flaik” that all students are equipped with while they are on the slopes.  At the end of the day parents can log onto a site with a child specific code and see how many vertical feet they traveled that day, as well as where they skied. Giving parents one more reason to boast how above normal their kids are!

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Alpine Meadows, Tahoe City, CA

My new mom friends assure me that I won’t be sleeping much in the next four years, let alone finding any time to hit the slopes.  My boarding skills may get a bit rusty, but when the time comes that I can get back on the slopes again, I believe it would be money well spent to attend an Alpine Meadow’s women-only 3 day “camp” to get me back on my feet and to keep me off my backside.  The program promises small groups includes morning yoga to make sure you’re limber enough for the slopes and promises fun après ski in Tahoe.  I wonder if there’s a discount when making reservations for their 2016 season?

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Attitash Mountain and Wildcat Mountain Resorts, New Hampshire

Alpine hopefuls with physical or developmental challenges should consider the AbilityPlus’ program at Attitash Mountain and Wildcat Mountain Resorts in New Hampshire.  This is a not-for-profit organization that provides instruction and specific rental equipment for those that are physically, emotionally or developmentally challenged, providing everyone with a chance to learn to participate in various winter sports such as downhill skiing, snowboarding and snowshoeing for very reasonable prices.

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Where is your favorite place to take the kids skiing/snowboarding?