Like all parents who snowboard, I had visions of my daughter riding alongside me down black diamond runs at the age of three. We would rule the mountain together, rising at 5 a.m. and be first up the lift to carve gorgeous tracks on the world class runs of Mt. Baker. We would bond together as strong as Helen Keller and Margaret Sullivan. She would become Boardercross Champion of the World and dedicate her gold medal winning performance in the X Games to me, her mother and mentor. Then reality happened. It will happen to you, too.
You will wake up the morning of your highly anticipated first day on the mountain to driving wind and freezing rain. When you look at the mountain website for a report, it will be listed as “heavy precipitation”. The fog will be so thick you can’t see your glove in front of your face. The website will deem this, “low visibility”. Don’t give up, yet. This article will help you get prepared.
What Your Child Needs To Wear
Snow pants – It is not a Very Brady Christmas up there. It is cold, wet, and windy on mountains! Think Lord of The Rings where Aragorn has to carry the hobbits through chest deep snow in driving wind while battling Saruman’s will. That will be you in about two hours.
Helmet – It’s not called a brain bucket for nothing.
Waterproof Coat or Shell – You knew that, huh?
Goggles (Optional) – My daughter hated goggles and preferred to close her eyes while careening completely out of control down the slope. Some kids would just rather not; even if it means going blind.
Scarf or Face Mask – Because frostbite is really scary when it’s your own child.
Should I Buy My Child a Snowboard?
If you’re loaded, by all means purchase top of the line gear. For the rest of us, RENT! If your child has skied before, they may enjoy themselves today. Otherwise, at some point you can count on your child telling you they HATE snowboarding and they HATE YOU! Why make it worse by putting $600 dollars worth of gear on your credit card to remind you of the pain? On the flip side, if they have a super experience and LOVE it, I guarantee they will grow out of their boots within the hour.
To expedite the rental process, know how tall your child is and what shoe size they wear. Also, know which foot is dominant. Do they kick a ball with their right or left foot? Push them and see which foot they put down first. (Yes, this is the scientific method) Then trained professionals or sixteen year old ski bums will use their superior knowledge to get your child into the gear that fits them best.
Step 1: Teach your child the basics of the snowboard. Front, tip, and edges. Show them how their bindings work. Let them practice getting in and out by themselves. For a child younger than seven, count on assisting them for a while. Encourage older children to do this with their gloves on.
Step 2: Teach your child to “skate”. With their lead foot strapped in, show them how to scoot then step, scoot then step. It’s just like walking. Hips forward, scoot board, and then step with free foot. Repeat. I like to pretend we are pirates with wooden legs. Arrrgggh, matey.
Step 3: The most important lesson your child will learn. HOW TO STOP! Have your child skate up hill about 25 feet. Then demonstrate how to ride the snowboard down with the back foot resting on the stomp pad area. Finally, show them how to put pressure on their lead toes in order to swing the snowboard perpendicular to their line of descent. I use my hand to show them how the foot should press down, like “stepping on the gas. Make sure your child puts their foot completely on the stomp pad. If they drag their foot, they will fall for certain.
Once your child can stop the snowboard on their toeside, have them practice this same exercise by lifting up on the toes (letting off the gas) and swinging the snowboard around on their heelside.
Now, you’re ready for the lift!
Oh, Boy…THE CHAIRLIFT
The chairlift can be intimidating for child and parent. So, take a deep breath and use your best Charlie Cheerful voice here when talking about it. First, have your child take a moment to watch other children load the lift. When ready, proceed to the loading area. The dude running the controls (aka: The Lifty) is going to be your new best friend. You are going to tell him, “Hey, got a first timer here!’ and he is going to A) Slow the lift down if necessary and B) Assist your child into the seat with a boost if it looks like your child isn’t going to make it. Next, enjoy the bonding conversation that occurs on long chair rides. Okay, quit bonding and prepare to unload.
Unloading for the first time is the scariest part of teaching your child to snowboard. I recommend preparing your child by watching others unload and describing their actions while they do it. You have to talk fast here because you only have seconds until it’s your turn. “Okay, snowboard forward! Board on ground! Foot on your stomp pad! Stand UP!” I say it as I’m doing each action. As you unload, be ready to hold your child up and glide off.
When (and I say when, not if) your child falls down, drag him to safety. If you both fall down, keep being Charlie Cheerful and encourage your child to “Scoot! Scoot!” out of the way. If your child and you have become a hopeless tangle of arms and legs, The Lifty will shut the chair down and allow you to crawl out of the way of incoming skiers/boarders. Stay positive and laugh like you’re having a great time. If your child is discouraged, remind them that everyone falls down the first time.
Warning: Make sure your child gets off the lift! My daughter was so frozen with fear at the prospect of unloading that she hung to the pole and refused to jump. I had to pry her off the chair when they stopped the lift and apologize to everyone. If this happens, no worries. Most people understand.
Going Down?
Skate to an area away from the main take off point. Make sure your child is strapped in first. I prefer to keep one foot out for the first run, to make sure I can maneuver back up the hill if there is a problem. Only do this if you are VERY skilled! Otherwise, you’ll end up in the hospital and scar your child emotionally.
Once you’re strapped in, make sure your snowboard stays perpendicular to the mountain. Stand up, bend your knees, and begin sliding down the hill on your heels. Ask your child to try to copy you by sitting in their “chair”. This is called a slip-slide. Your child may be more comfortable doing this on his toes.
Slip Slidin’ Away
Next, while slip sliding, tell your child to push on the gas a little bit. By pressing down on their lead toes, the snowboard will begin to slide in that direction. Then, have them let off the gas. Then press down the gas on the other foot. They will begin to slide the other direction. This is called the “falling leaf” because you resemble a leaf see sawing to the ground in a back and forth motion. If your child has a hard time going one way, have them point and look in the direction they want to go. It will help them watch where they’re going and subconsciously shift their weight correctly.
These two skills will get them to the bottom of the hill alive. You may have tears, tantrums, and bruises but you did it! Celebrate with your child on completing their first run. If they’d like to take a break, do so. Get some cocoa, go potty, and warm up. Emphasize how “cool” that was to “ride” together and how awesome they did. Do this even if your son was a total crybaby. The key here is to instill how much fun snowboarding is.
These skills are plenty for your child’s first trip. Ages 12 and up may progress a little further, but don’t be upset if they don’t. Let them spend the entire day on the bunny hill. It’s no fun for them if they are constantly falling and being pushed to “keep up” on bigger runs. I use the time to practice riding goofy and doing surface one eighties. (Aerial stunts are frowned upon on the bunny hill, go figure) This allows your child to have fun and you to feel like a pro rider when your child admires your sick tricks.
Tips To Avoid Tears and Frustration (Both of You)
– Make sure you and your child are well rested. Younger children tend to be more energetic in the morning so don’t show up at naptime and expect a lot. However, tweens do well during night sessions. Less people mean fewer onlookers. This means less embarrassment for them. Plus, it’s cheaper.
– Try not to arrive at the rental shop during peak hours. Call ahead and find out the best times to get good attention.
– Go to the restroom upon arrival, before putting snow pants on, and before getting on the lift. Trust me.
– Use common sense when dressing your child. Do it in layers and pay attention to changing conditions. If your child is too hot, remove the four shirts you made him wear this morning.
– Bring lots of snacks. Mountain food is expensive and your child will need to eat.
– Bring water. Its hard work and you or your child will get dehydrated even if it’s freezing outside.
– Know your child’s learning style. In this sport, it’s okay to push an older child a bit. After watching video games and the Olympics, children get the idea that a snowboard is a magic carpet ride. It’s not! Snowboarding is a sport and it requires hard work. However, if your child is really crying and really hurting, STOP! The goal is to teach them how to have fun, not torture them.
– Discuss limits beforehand. Explain to your child that they are not allowed to just take off down the mountain at 100 mph.
– Be willing to play. Your child will enjoy themselves more if you are having fun, too. Lie in the snow and make snow angels. Sing and yell. You’re outdoors on God’s great mountain! So, enjoy it together and make memories, dammit!
– Be realistic in your expectations. How many days did it take you to master connecting turns? Okay, then…
I do not recommend teaching a child who is younger than five to snowboard. They are not ready to execute the mechanics that snowboarding requires. The exceptions to this rule are A) The child has skied A LOT before, or B) You are a VERY proficient rider with a GOOD grasp of the mechanics involved or have previous instruction experience.
Now you should be ready to teach your child to snowboard. Have fun, relax, and don’t be disappointed if your child isn’t the next Shaun White. My daughter has been riding for seven years now, and still only does the falling leaf. I couldn’t be more proud, even if she refuses to get up at 5 a.m
