Saturday, December 24, 2016

Join the World's Largest Group Lesson

It sounds crazy, but it's true! On January 6th, 2017, you can help set a new world record for the Largest Ski and Snowboard Group Lesson.  

Photo courtesy of PSIA-AASI
Skiers and boarders in the US and Canada are welcome to participate. All levels are welcome to take part in what is bound to be a fun day to make history! Quite a few eastern mountains are hosting, and you can find one close to you with this list and interactive map of US locations. The Canadian Ski Council has a list of Canadian areas that are joining in.
 
The organizers tried this last year, but evidently they didn't have sufficient proof of the 6,000 or so students who took part. So, they have called for an official do-over.

 All lessons will take place simultaneously in seven different time zones:
9 am Alaska time
10 am Pacific time
11 am Mountain time
12 noon Central time
1 pm Eastern time
2 pm Atlantic time 
2:30 Newfoundland time

This colossal event is being coordinated by the Learn to Ski and Snowboard Initiative, the National Ski Areas Association, Professional Ski Instructors of America, SnowSports Industries America and SNOW Operating.

Wednesday, November 30, 2016

Staying Dry = Staying Warm

If you are like me, you have struggled to keep those pinkies and piggies warm when Jack Frost comes to visit. Whether you are on the slopes, at the ice rink or out for a wintry walk, you can fend off frozen footsies with a few simple rules of thumb. I'm not saying you won't eventually get too cold, but you can at least extend the fun.

Stay Dry
This is the most important, and perhaps the most difficult. In fact, any other rules lead back to this one. Once your mittens and socks get wet, your extremities will start to get cold. Here are some tricks I've learned over the decades -- and I use them on my kids, too. Good snow gear isn't cheap, but it is worth the extra money if everyone stays dry and warm.

NO COTTON:
Nope. Nada. None. Anywhere. You are just asking to be cold if you wear cotton. 'Nuff said.

Strong elastic on the bottom of ski/snow pants: Don't skimp here. Buy snow pants--especially for kids-- with strong elastic on the boot cuffs. You need something strong so that cuff can go over the top of a snow boot and STAY. Otherwise, snow will go inside the boot.


Tall boots:
You need boots that are tall enough for the pants liner to cover. The taller the better for keeping snow out.




Velcro on ends of sleeves:
Again, the key is to keep the snow out and the mittens on. I always tuck my gloves inside my sleeves. For kids, you can buy mitts with long sleeves that go up to the elbows. Fleece cuffs inside the jacket sleeves also help keep out snow. 

Fleece inside the collar:
For those windy cold days.


Powder skirt:
Some jackets have an elastic waist the snaps in the front to help keep snow from going up inside when sledding or yard saling. Weak elastic doesn't do any good here.


Removable hood:
It is good to have the option to remove the hood for warmer days.

No short jackets:
I loved my blue corduroy short-waisted CB jacket from the late 1970's. But I also got a lot of snow up my shirt and down my pants whenever I wiped out skiing (which was a lot). Get a jacket that covers the backside--at least partly.


Pit zips:
For me, this is a must. Zippers under the armpits provide ventilation so I don't soak my inner layers. I unzip on the way down and zip up on the lift.  New jackets may have mesh to help keep out snow in case of a face plant. Not many kid jackets have them, probably because it is one more thing to manage. 

Nifty extras:
Snow pants and jackets often have a plastic loop or nob near the waist for a lift ticket so it isn't flapping in the face.  Inside pockets are handy, too, for tissues, ipods or phones. Also, a lot of kiddie outerwear has a "growth ring" that can be let out to extend boot cuffs or sleeves to accommodate growth spurts.

Glove and sock liners:
My sweaty hands get cold instantly when I stop moving. Glove liners--inside my mittens--are the only things that keep them warm enough for me to keep skiing. I bring an extra pair so I can change them at lunchtime. Sock liners are hard to find these days (I tried in Banff last year). A thin silk sock does the trick, though.


Gloves v mittens:
You may have to experiment to see what works best for you and your kids. Mittens are generally warmer than gloves, though. I usually wear mittens, and I can wear gloves only on warm, sunny days. I have old mittens with a zipper on the side (I think so you can slip in a heat pack) that I use as a vent. I can also squeeze my hand out to use my phone, etc. without taking off my mittens. E-tip glove liners also help w/ answering the phone and snapping pics.  

Either way, I usually carry a backpack with a change of gloves, mitts and liners for me and my kids. I might throw in some extra socks, too.  

Pants v bibs:
Bibs are good for kids to keep out the snow since they do tend to fall down a lot. For grown ups... bibs are probably a good option for a beginner, but they do look a little weird on adults, sort of the way footie PJs would look. I wear ski pants with a longer jacket (shell usually) that doesn't have a lot of wiggle room for snow to get in.

Long johns:
Comfy non-cotton tights or long johns and a long-sleeved top are perfect for a base layer. Like glove and sock liners, this layer will help whisk moisture away from your skin. A turtleneck is a good option on a cold day. You probably don't need another layer except ski pants on your legs. If your pants are just shells, wear fleece tights underneath on a cold day.

Middle layer:
On top, I wear either a fleece vest or a thin fleece t-neck sweater with a zipper.  

Don't overdo: 
Wear enough layers to keep you warm, but not too many that you can't vent moisture once you start to move.

Stay hydrated:
I tuck a water bottle or two in that backpack of extras. It is a good idea to stay hydrated even if you are cold. 



Helmets:
Wear a helmet to ski or snowboard. Put helmets on your kids. Even if it's warm. Adjust the chin strap properly. You just never know.








Tuesday, November 29, 2016

Ski Bums for 2017

I couldn't resist a post about this recent find for the holidays--although some may say the topic is not entirely "family friendly." 

If you are like me, you still use a paper wall calendar. Instead of animals or nature scenes for 2017, I'm going with ski bums -- literally!

The World Cup Dreams Foundation, a 501 C3 Non-Profit organization, is selling the Under the Suit: Bodies of the Ski Team 2017 calendar that is chock full of nude racers. Why? Proceeds will help support travel, training and competition costs for unfunded US Ski Team athletes.


According to the web site, "Athletes on the [National] Ski Team who are below the A-Team level have to pay for their travel expenses. This can range from between 15,000 - 35,000 dollars per year."

The calendar goes for $60, or a bundle of 3 for $120 or 5 for $200. True ski fans can buy one of 10 limited-edition copies signed by Ted Ligety for $750.








Tuesday, November 22, 2016

To Ski School or Not to Ski School...Is There a Question?

When I was a kid, it never occurred to my parents that ski lessons would be helpful for me and my brothers. We were pretty much left to our own to figure out what to do -- with short lace-up boots and wooden skis at Big (it wasn't) Rock Candy Mountain in Speigletown, NY. For us, skiing was as much about surviving the rope tow and T-bar as it was shear luck that we didn't seriously hurt others as we careened en masse toward the bottom of the hill.

Then in 1991 I moved to Jackson Hole, Wyoming. I became a kids ski instructor--chosen most likely because I was a short, young woman. Through training sessions and teaching, I practiced the basics of skiing over and over... and over. After 15 years or so of skiing, I had
photo: (c) PSIA-AASI
FINALLY learned how to ski, and I could ski slopes that I had never imagined heading down.

"The mountain experience is what skiing and riding is all about. There is so much more than the beginner hill or intermediate run out there," says Jeb Boyd, who manages the national team for the Professional Ski Instructors of America – American Association of Snowboard Instructors (PSIA-AASI). "The more skills you have, the more of the mountain you can access with confidence. "

Start 'em Right
I started both of my kids on skis when they were three years old. Today's tall boots, magic carpets and tiny, shaped skis make skiing a lot easier for wee ones today than in the 1970s. But there are still moments when gravity takes over, and their little brains panic and forget all about making pizza slices with their skis to stop. (That's what helmets are for, right?)
(c) Family Snow Time!

Even though I have solid tools to teach kids to ski, once they were old enough I signed up my girls for lessons. Why? Besides the fact that it is a form of babysitting, a good lesson gives kids fun, new ways to learn how to turn and stop. (Plus, my kids are more likely to listen to someone else than to Mom!)

" A lot of resorts have 'adventure terrain' for the kids," says Boyd. "Sometimes there are little surprises like animal cut-outs around the corner, and there are some secret trails. Those areas are controlled and safe. There may even be a story associated with the space, and it becomes a little adventure for the kids."

Beware the Clueless
Lessons help keep everyone safe on the mountain. "There is a responsibility code that is sort of the rules of the road for the mountain," he says. But unlike the actual road, you aren't tested before you can hit the slopes. 

Last year at Campgaw Mtn in NJ, a man with no apparent skiing ability was on the bunny slope "teaching" his daughter to ski. They both fell down a lot, and he didn't know how to explain to his kid how to stop--or turn--at least in an effective way. The girl ran into poor Ellery and knocked her over--three times in one bunny run!  There was no escaping them because they didn't have the skill to keep themselves away from us. Ellery wasn't seriously hurt, but her tears were filling up her goggles. 

"There are always some difficult situations. They were breaking the skier responsibility code," says Boyd. "If they were running into you, that is a safety concern."  The rules are also just common sense. The first item listed on the responsibility code is "Always stay in control, and be able to stop or avoid other people or objects." 



Building Confidence at Any Age
As with so many things, having the skills to control our own experiences builds confidence. And confidence generally translates to having fun. Whether you are eight or 48, a lesson helps at any age and any stage.

"Skiing and riding are lifetime sports, but for most people, their confidence level is their threshold," says Boyd. He explains that even though the equipment today practically has turns built into it, you still need to know how to move and control your body to get the ski or board to do what you want in changing conditions and situations.

A few years back, my husband and I took lessons down some of the chutes at Jackson Hole and around the monster bumps at Mad River Glen. The lessons helped me get a feel for my new skis and gave me knew ways to think about how to handle whatever is in front of me, which helped me regain some confidence that I had lost over the years.  

Meanwhile, now that our daughter Cyane is snowboarding, lessons are a must to teach her beyond the most basic skills. With the help of instructors at Okemo, Campgaw, Lake Louise and Sunshine Village, Cyane went from barely boarding the bunny hill to tackling toe-turns on Blue slopes in one season. She's thrilled that she gets to ride the chairlift and get up to the top of most mountains--as long as there is a Blue run down. 

photo: (c) PSIA-AASI
School's In Session

There are a lot of ski and snowboard instructors out there, but are they all good? According to PSIA-AASI, as of 2014-15, there are more than 32,000 certified "snowsport professionals," which means they have taken training courses and passed knowledge and skill requirement tests. As Boyd explains, many resorts hire instructors that may not be PSIA-AASI certified, but the instructors themselves go through in-house training to insure they have solid basic skills and the ability to communicate with their students. 

"An instructor needs three things," says Boyd. "First is technical ability. Next is the ability to create an experience so students can get a result. Third, you have to be a good people person. You can be the best skier, but if no one likes skiing with you, you won't succeed as an instructor." 

Boyd, who is based at Cannon Mountain in NH, has been a member of PSIA-AASI for more than 30 years. He says that the best time to take a lesson is whenever you are at the mountain! Some resorts offer lesson and lodging packages. You might learn about some parts of the mountain you didn't know about before or might not be brave enough to explore on your own. Plus, you get to skip the lift line!
 

Family Fun
(c) Family Snow Time!
Lessons don't have to last all day, and afterward, your kids will love to show you what they have mastered. Last season, Ellery couldn't wait to show us how she could maneuver through the trees on a secret kids trail that she used during her ski lesson at Sunshine Village. She even knew the way back to the gondola.  Her lessons had given her the confidence to have fun, relax and find her way through the trails. That translated to a fun family experience for all of us. Money well spent!


Some Resources

PSIA-AASI has information about instructor certification
   
Kids on Lifts has tips about chairlift safety

National Ski Areas Association has some ski and snowboarding tips.

The Ridge Report has some helpful tips on starting kids on the slopes.




Sunday, November 20, 2016

SNOW in NJ...and elsewhere?



It snowed! It's just a dusting, which will be gone in an hour most likely. But there was officially snow on the ground when I walked the dogs through our neighborhood at 7:00 this morning. 

Despite the cold wind blowing in my face, I reveled in the fact that ski mountains would soon be making snow. 


According to Hunter Mountain's recorded message, the mountain is currently closed for winter operations, but they hope to open Friday Nov 25th, weather permitting.  




Hunter, located in the Catskill Mountains, NY, plans to make more snow through Tues eve as long as temperatures stay low enough. Meanwhile, the weather report looks promising, too! 

 A little further north, Jiminy Peak in Hancock, MA also plans to open on Nov 25th. Personally, I would much rather have a White Friday than a Black Friday after a day of ritual gluttony. (If I still fit into my ski pants, that is!)

More norther mountains, such as Sugarbush in Warren, VT, advertise Weds, Nov 23rd as opening day.  "Sunday River in Newry, ME, tweets: Opening Day is planned. Wednesday Nov 23, but if we can open before, we will!"







Tuesday, November 15, 2016

Great Deal: 4th & 5th Grade PA ski/board pass

While I am not sure why this is limited to 4th and 5th graders (and not younger kids) I will pass along the info. 

You don't even have to life in Pennsylvania to take advantage of the deal. 
Go to Ski PA (skipa.com).  

There is a $30 processing fee before Dec 1st. $35 after that. 




Adventures are what you make them...

What does 'adventure' mean to you?

It's the sort of question that gets the gears clinking in the brain and the blood pumping through the veins a wee bit. This question was also the raison d'etre of the SHE VENTURES event in New York on September 28th at the Impact Hub. 



The audience, about 40 or so (mostly) women from the New York City area, were all ears, soaking in the opening statement: "We want to light a spark in all of you to figure out what adventure means to you. That's your journey." 
 

In this series, I will feature each speaker from SHE VENTURES NYC in a separate post, starting with a New York-based adventurous spirit.
    

Urban--and not so urban--Adventures
 
A local New Yorker, Sarah Knapp, founder of OutdoorFest was first in the line-up of the TED-style talks. "OutdoorFest," Knapp explained, "is a community of urban dwelling outdoor adventurers." Knapp then recounted her journey into the rabbit hole of urban adventures... by way of an impromptu surfing lesson on chilly March afternoon at Rockaway Beach in Queens. "I chose to get into the ocean, and it was cold, and I didn't know what to expect," she said. " I chose adventure."  

But Knapp didn't stop at her own adventure. She founded OutdoorFest to help people in NYC have outdoor adventures of their own. It began in 2014 as a 10-day festival of fun activities and speakers, from rock climbing and yoga in Central Park to a headlamp 5K to a family nature exploration with the Prospect Park Alliance.  As the web site describes, "Think: "Restaurant Week" for outdoor recreation." In 2017, the OutdoorFests will take place in Washington, DC in May and NYC in June. The group also sponsors meetups called Mappy Hours (for the over 21 crowd) to encourage folks to gather and plan adventures together. 


No Car? No Problem!

How do you get outdoors in NYC, especially in the winter? To follow Knapp's example, you choose adventure! Knapp also runs offMetro.com, a site dedicated to promoting outdoor fun without a car. "When it snows, it is nature inserting itself into our lives," says Knapp in a phone interview. "Physically, snow changes how people think about their surroundings, and there are so many ways to play in the snow in New York." 

The first thing she mentions is sledding. Central Park, Prospect Park and a lot of the other New York City parks have great sledding slopes, especially for young kids. Knapp also notes that, "Ice skating rinks are really fun and accessible and have the holiday spirit that families can really enjoy."

Beyond the Five Boroughs, Knapp says that there are a lot of day and weekend trips to ski areas for skiing and snow tubing fun. For example, hop a bus to Hunter Mountain, a local favorite for skiing, boarding and tubing for a day trip. 

If you have more time, go for a weekend up to Gore Mountain in the Adirondacks. There is also Whiteface in Lake Placid. I can personally attest to the monumental fun you'll have riding the Olympic bobsled run! (More on that in later posts.) 


You can also take a bus to Jiminy Peak in Hancock, MA. I grew up skiing on this mountain, and now my kids get to enjoy it, too. Plus, they have a mountain roller coaster!

Please stay tuned for more posts about hitting the slopes and other winter fun activities throughout the Northeast.

Even if you don't "do" a winter sport, that doesn't mean you have to lose your connection to nature just because it gets cold outside. Put up your hood and go for a walk when it is snowing. There are few things as magical as the muffled sounds of snow falling and the glistening of snowflakes all around you. New York City also has nature centers that have activities for all ages. 

You'll see the world in a whole new way in winter if you just get outside to enjoy it. As Knapp says, "Always choose adventure, because you don't know where it will take you, but it is always worthwhile." 












Monday, November 14, 2016

It's Snow Time!

WELCOME! If you live in the Northeastern US and want to get outside in the snow with your family, you have come to the right place. I'll be sharing tips and information about skiing and snowboarding with kids in the Northeast... and beyond!


"Mom, I hope it snows soon!" 
Those words, exclaimed last week by my eight-year-old daughter, were music to my ears! Yes, snow would be awesome. But there is nary a flake of it to be seen in NJ -- not since the huge dump back in January, I think. I told Cyane that I thought it was snowing somewhere in the world. And now it's time for snow here in the Northeast!

Digging Out