Your family ski days don't have to end in tears! Skiing is such a fun family activity when it's done right. Here are some tricks I've learned from many years of skiing with kids in Whistler:
1. Choose short runs
Just like the rest of us the longer the run the more tired their legs get and the more tired their legs get the grumpier they become. Keeping the runs short keeps things fun and by the end they want more instead of wanting to go straight home.
2. Bring snacks
Keeping snacks (especially gummy bears) in your pocket (or theirs) helps motivate them and keep them energised. You can even stop for a picnic on the hill or snack in the gondola to make things even more exciting.
3. Take breaks
Kids (and adults) need breaks. Lift tickets are expensive, I know, but let's be honest, building a snowman on the side of a run, having a family snowball fight and jumping in the deep powder stashes are going to be some of the best memories you leave with and it's all part of the ski experience.
4. Visit the Treefort and Magic Castle
Take a break at the Treefort on Whistler Mountain or the Magic Castle on Blackcomb. This is the perfect way to break up those long runs with a quick stop to play on the slides, have a rest and head back out again.
5. Do the side hits and family tree runs
Forget about technique for awhile and just have fun! Jumping the side hits and skiing in and out of the trees are some of the best parts of skiing. So leave the teaching to the instructor and just have fun with your kids.
6. Play games
Try follow the leader letting your kids go first, pretend to drive race cars, be bunny rabbits hopping down the hill, try skiing backwards or marching like soldiers. Silly games help keep skiing fun, especially at the end of the day when legs are tired, it's a great distraction from the long ski down to the bottom.
7. Hire an instructor
Take a family private lesson or put your kids in ski school. Instructors have a ton of experience with kids and families and know all the secret runs, kid zones and side hits that are sure to make your ski day unforgettable.
At the end of the day, the whole point of skiing is to have fun, so anything you can do to make it fun (even if that means taking a break to build a snowman or to eat some gummy bears) is going to help create amazing memories for your kids.
Need help choosing the best runs for you and your family? Send me a message!
Do you have any other tips for skiing with kids? Share them in the comments below.
