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.