Any parents ski/snowboard with their toddlers? Looking for advice

[PeanutButter]

Is two years old too young to ski?

I'm traditionally a snowboarder because it was "Cooler" in highschool, but I feel it's easier for kids to learn to ski.

Any RS parents out there have any tips in regards to what age you started your kids and any pro tips in regards to how to keep them engaged on the mountain.

Thanks!

[hud 91gt]

I ski’d up and down at 2 years and 5 days. T bar and everything. You better believe I’ll be attempting the same thing with my kid. These days they even have those easy escalator mats instead of the T bar. Giver!

[westopher]

I started skiing at 2 years old. Taking my daughter up this month at 13 months on a snowboard.
I've been towing her around the house to get her used to standing on the board and she loves it. Best advice I've gotten is just let them roam. They aren't going to have the focus to really be serious about it off the bat. Let them roll in the snow, throw some snowballs with them and don't put too much pressure. Relax, let them relax and it's more likely their passion for it will build with the positive experience with you.

[Great68]

The earlier you can get them into balancing skis, ice skates etc the better.

One of my very few regrets of moving to Victoria is how much more difficult it made ski mountain access to be able to get my son into it.

I only learned to ski at 25. I suck, I can hack my way down a black diamond but god help me if it gets mogully. But being up on the top of the mountain on a nice day is one of my favourite things in the world. I really wish my parents put me in ski club when I was a kid.

[Hehe]

Ski is doable at very young age. I've seen kids as young as 5-6 hitting side hits like a pro.

Snowboard, I had difficulty teaching my son at age 3 to snowboard. And when I inquired a buddy of mine, who's a CASI Level 4 snowboard coach for some tips, he said although it's not impossible, his experience is that it's usually not something easy to do until age 5 when their muscle control on certain specific ones needed to really crack snowboarding. His best suggestion would be just getting the kids comfortable balancing on the board, but don't be frustrated if they can't get it. It's just hard for them.

[underscore]

I started at three and a half and that's when I started my oldest too. The main thing is remember you're there to have fun. So far she loves it, but if she's ever not having a good time I won't force it. The gas is spent either way so if she decides she wants to head home early then we'll head home early.

If it's been a while since you learned to ski or board maybe go up on your own once ahead of time and think about what you're doing with your body to make the motions happen so that you can tell them. I don't consciously think about what I'm doing when I'm skiing so it took me a minute to sort out what to be telling her.

If they're on skis get an Edgie Wedgie, it's super helpful.

I have a Sklon harness for her too and it was great for teaching her initially because there's no chance of them getting away from you and you can gently encourage shifting their hips to turn. That really saved my back over the old "between your legs holding a ski pole" thing my parents did. After a couple days she no longer needs the straps but I'm keeping the harness on her because the handle at the top is so handy. It makes it easy to pick her up if she falls and it's a great backup when getting on and off the chairlift.

Also if you can go with another person that's helpful too, that way there's someone for them to chase and copy while there's still someone uphill of them holding on.

[PeanutButter]

Never heard of the edgie wedgie or sklon harness. I will get those for sure. Thank you!

Thanks for the tips RS!

I just checked out Mt. Seymour and they have a four day lesson pack starting at age 3 for $329 + $60 for rentals. I'll definitely do that and implement the tips you all mentioned. Thanks!

(https://mtseymour.ca/winter/lessons/baby-bear-ski)