The Makings and Breakings of a
Family Ski Trip
This story was published in
the New England Ski Journal: October 2003
By Heather Burke
Fellow parents often ask me, “How do you manage ski trips with your
kids?’ Then they launch into tales of their horrific holiday on the
hill.
The
following events happened to real families, actual friends of mine.
Their ski sagas were confessed to me at a recent reunion. I have
withheld their identities to save them from further humiliation.
One Connecticut family booked a ski trip, but never reserved daycare,
so the family drove eight hours to the mountains only to find
childcare was sold out. Mom was stuck in the base lodge all weekend,
chasing her toddler as he bumped into skiers carrying trays of greasy
fries and steaming cocoa. An action packed weekend perhaps, but not
exactly family fun in the fresh air.
One Massachusetts family borrowed a condominium from “friends,” which
was 15 miles from the slopes up an unplowed precipice, which just
happened to be occupied by said friends’ fraternity alumni. Yes, the
condo certainly was “cozy.”
Another Massachusetts family decided to save a few bucks on costly ski
school by teaching their kids to ski. The results included crying
children who never want to ski again and Mom and Dad in desperate need
of chiropractics from lugging kids in full ski garb. They did get some
truly “priceless” photos.
I could write a book on our own misadventures, “Tales of woe from our
family’s trails on snow.” Or I could pass on a few tips for slopeside
success, and spare you a few pitfalls on powder days.
My first
piece of advice: Ask your friends about their tried and true family
resort finds. Almost every resort now claims to be geared to families.
Your challenge is to uncover the kid-tested, parent approved variety.
Fortunately, there are many right here in New England.
After seeking out a referral, check out the resort’s web site. Resorts
with a “Kids Corner” on their web site clearly pay some serious
attention to the littlest consumers.
Next, you need to call and speak to a live person at the resort. Ask
lots of questions about lodging, specially priced packages, childcare
and kids programs. Get the what for on what’s offered during what
hours and what’s included.
Book slopeside. If you only take one winter warning from me – take
this piece of advice. Yes, it does mean paying more up front, but
location can make or break your family ski trip. Waking up with a view
of the slopes is the best way to start the ski day. Being able to walk
to the childcare facilities and the ski rental shop make all the
logistics that much easier upon arrival and throughout your stay.
Skiing back to the condo for lunch is a treat, saves money and the
hassle of squeezing your family through the base lodge cafeteria crush
at noon, and dropping $50 on mediocre munchies.
But it’s the afternoon when the mountainside lodging really earns your
gratitude. When little Lucy is tired from her lesson on the slopes,
you don’t have to pack up the car and head everyone back to the
midpoint motel, therefore ending the ski day for the entire clan.
Après ski will reconfirm your positive positioning, when you can dine
in, and put your tired tigers to bed in preparation of another big day
on the slopes.
The
steepest challenge of the ski trip is getting the kids to grasp the
fundamentals of the new snow sport. Resist the urge to teach your own
kids to ski in the interest of on and off slope harmony.
My husband and I both taught skiing years ago (rather well, we would
like to think). We thought our “pro” skills would mean giving our kids
a few pleasant pointers and we would all be skiing side by side in no
time.
Our lofty expectations (and rookie kid coaching skills) resulted in
tension, tears and terse words, not to mention sore backs and lost
turns for us. This experience rated low on the family fun scale – for
all participants.
When we finally caved in and coughed up the dough (not cheap) for ski
camp, our two kids were all smiles, making new friends, sharing hot
cocoa breaks with Blueberry Bear or Mogul Mouse, and admiring their
new ski coach – who is totally unrelated and “totally amazing.”
Remember, a cool instructor and a posse of peers will inspire your
youngster to achieve greatness and impress their new powder pals.
We managed to assuage our parental guilt, making tracks on the ski
mountain’s true terrain. The family scrapbook is a much happier scene.
And the Visa card does recover from the ski camp expenditures.
Once your child learns the basic techniques, from properly trained ski
instructors, they will learn to love the sport and can join you on the
hill for years of fun and games. Ideally, things gel with your new
skier within a few well timed, well orchestrated ski lessons.
Be sure to reserve a spot in advance for your future snow slider in
the resort’s childcare or learn to ski program. Don’t get left out in
the cold. The resorts have fine-tuned child to instructor ratios, and
these lessons do fill up (for all the above mentioned reasons),
particularly during holiday weeks and weekends.
The same planning should apply to renting ski equipment. Reserving and
obtaining the necessary gear in advance means no lines, no waiting on
a prime ski morning. Also having the boots and skis for your little
ripper to try on and play with adds to the comfort and enthusiasm on
his or her first ski day.
These are just a few of our family’s experiences shared to help you
avoid downhill disaster. When you are spending the big bucks, and
introducing your offspring to your favorite sport, these tips can
avert the family nightmare on skis.
