Over the past decade of skiing, I’ve noticed my attention being drawn to the poof balls of puffy jackets, oversized helmets, and comically-tiny gear that adorns little kids on the slopes. Watching them shuffle to the magic carpet or bunny hill lift and scoot on, with parents doting to keep them from falling, is adorable […]
First Time on the Slopes Read More »
We’ve all seen them. Super kid skiers swishing down runs, carving turns like it’s nobody’s business, out-skiing timid adults snowplowing down the mountain. Little rippers share a common backstory: They started alpine skiing with their parents at a young age and practice regularly throughout each season. Viktor Torvik, age 8, is a weekend regular at
Little Rippers: Inspiration from the Next Generation Read More »
Whether it’s awakening early enough to be at the mountain by 9 a.m., keeping track of and carrying one’s own gear, or standing up from a precarious fallen-down position without assistance – these types of challenges help children acquire essential skills such as responsibility and perseverance. But also much more. I’ve brainstormed more than 20
Learning from a Mountain: Grit and Resilience Read More »
“Hey, kids, want to float on some deep snow?” This question should get them excited for snowshoeing, one of the easiest and least expensive winter recreation options. Beccie White, of Spokane, and her husband, Chris, started snowshoeing with their two children four years ago, when the kids were 9 and 7 years old. As an
Family Fun on Snowshoes Read More »
Skiing or snowboarding with your children anywhere other than the bunny hill is an adventure in itself. A big mountain of new terrain awaits you on those intermediate runs and eventually black diamond ones. A great, and sometimes frustrating, aspect of skiing is that it requires continuous learning, with new challenges for every new run,
Take Your Kids Skiing in Two States at Lookout Pass Read More »
Like other team sports, ski racing requires serious commitment and support from both children and their parents. Out There Monthly interviewed Teri Tucker and Paul Ainsworth, whose two sons – Hayden and Owen, both age 11 – will soon begin their sixth season as members of the Spokane Ski Racing Association (SSRA), to share what
What it Means to be a Ski Racing Family Read More »
Dollars add up quickly when taking multiple, always-growing children to the mountain year after year to go alpine skiing or snowboarding. While it’s not as cheap as some other outdoor activities, there are ways to save money and rein in costs. With strategic and careful planning, including taking advantage of the below opportunities, families can
Family Skiing Doesn’t Have to Break the Bank Read More »
Where exactly Big White Ski Resort is located was pretty much a big mystery to me before our first trip to the resort earlier this winter. I knew it was near Kelowna, B.C., a few hours north of the border, and that they often open early and get huge powder dumps when other regional areas
Big White Ski Resort: Re-defining Family-Friendly Fun in B.C.’s Okanagan Country Read More »
There are quite a few options for introducing your kids to skiing or snowboarding, ranging from teaching them yourself to taking advantage of group or private lessons or other special programs that resorts offer. Out of all of the options, the 5th Grade Passport and the EZ Ski/Ride 123 programs promoted locally by Ski the
Learn to Ski Programs Make It Easy for Kids and Parents Read More »
