Let’s teach your 3, 2, maybe 1 year old kid how to ski. Whether barely-walking or already running around, it’s possible. We did it and we’re about to do it again with Isaac next year. Let’s go over the steps at a high level before we dive in.
Welcome to our newest blog post, parents of future skiers! If you’ve been following us, you know the Crawl, Walk, Ski Framework is the heart and soul of why we started this blog. It’s the same framework we applied with our daughters, Victoria and Charlotte, and now we’re excited to share our journey as we introduce our little Isaac to the world of skiing as he turns one. This blog will chronicle our steps, complete with updates and tweaks, as we navigate this thrilling path once again.
Behold. Below you’ll see the first-ever (!!) iteration of the Crawl, Walk, Ski framework. I can promise you that a lot of thought went into keeping this as simple but as real as possible. What I can’t promise you is that this won’t change over time — with your inputs, learnings from Isaac, more spurious thoughts, who knows?
C,W,S Step 1:
What’s Your Motivation?
Interestingly, the first two steps of the framework don’t directly involve your child. They’re all about you, their parents. Since formal lessons typically start when children are around 3 or 4, the early stages of ski training rest on your shoulders.
Before we dive into the practical steps, let’s start with the most fundamental question: Why skiing and why now? What drives you to want your child to learn this sport? We’ll delve deeper into this in future posts, but it’s crucial to ponder this as you join us on our journey. Start with writing this down in a place where you will see it often. Let it sink in, observe it, challenge it. It might change, and that’s OK. But you need to be comfortable with this step. This is your mantra, and it is what is going to keep you going when this gets tough, which it most certainly will at times.
C,W,S Step 2:
Parental Preparation
You, yes you, are going to be part of this experience. A big part. Without you, the parent, this is not going to happen. You are going to play a lot of roles, sometimes multiple at once, or switching back and forth between parent, ski coach, cheerleader, snack provider, or just being there to hug when it all goes wrong.
Practically speaking, you are going to be in control of their actions and speed when we get into steps 4 (basic balance), 5 (snowplow), and 6 (stability). Therefore, your confidence and skill being on skis are paramount. You need to be comfortable and controlled on the snow, mastering basics like balance and snow plowing. You certainly do not need to be an advanced skier to get into this, just comfortable enough to control your speed to eventually control their speed while learning. This preparation phase can start even before your child is born – it’s all about setting you up for success for your future adventures.
C,W,S STEP 3: PLAYING IN SKI GEAR
Next, step 3 is going to focus on making ski gear a fun part of your child’s life. This is all about getting your little one comfortable with the bulky ski attire and boots, and making it seem normal, in familiar environments, inside at home, outside in the yard, anywhere! It’s a play-centric approach, where dressing up becomes a game rather than a chore.
Remember, acclimatization to ski gear is as important as the actual skiing since your child’s attitude will be essential to their willingness to learn and put in the effort when they get onto the snow.
C,W,S STEP 4: BASIC BALANCE
When your child finally steps onto the snow, it’s a magical moment. We call this ‘basic balance’. At this stage, it’s less about skiing and more about getting accustomed to standing in ski gear, ideally on gentle slopes or flat terrain. Places like your driveway, local parks, or a ski resort’s magic carpet area are perfect for this.
If you don’t have access to snow, don’t worry – we’ll explore alternative environments in upcoming posts, as well as providing information about local ski resorts facilities, costs, operating hours, and more, so you can help plan your day. There are so many great spots that should not require you to spend too much time or effort getting to, that will help you progress to Step 4, where your child is now able to balance themselves and stand upright on their skis, on the snow.
Your kids will not be able to control their speed here, but will certainly get used to the motions and feelings of gliding down snow on skis.
Here at Crawl, Walk, Ski, we will be relying on the use of ski trainers here to build their balance with you, the parent, controlling their speed.
C,W,S STEP 5: SNOWPLOW
As your child’s leg muscles develop, which is different child to child, step five introduces the snow plow – a critical skill for independent skiing. This step is when they will begin to learn how to control their speed with their legs and is probably the first time that they will start to ski on slopes away from the magic carpet independently with your guidance and oversight. You’re going to see a lot of the use of the inside ski really engaging the snow with both legs.
This step can be challenging and tiring (there will be tears, we assure you), but it’s a game-changer for their skiing journey. The timing of this is going to be different for every parent, but we will look for what to keep an eye on to know that you’re making progress here, when to turn it up and when to turn it down.
This is a critical step and will take some time, but once you have it, you can begin to ski untethered (trust us, terrifying and exciting for parents!) We are going to look at some gear and activities which can be helpful to get to master the snowplow, and move onto step 6.
C,W,S STEP 6: STABILITY
Step six is where your child starts honing their stability on skis. They’ll learn to stay balanced and stable even as the ground changes or when they encounter different types of slopes. You might still be using a ski training leash from time to time, but you’ll notice a significant leap in their comfort and independence on the snow.
You may find and observe during this step that your child enjoys certain types of terrain, bumps, snow, and who knows what else! You’ll learn more as you explore more and different kinds of terrain that ski resorts offer.
C,W,S STEP 7: TURNS
With stability comes the ability to turn, marking the transition to skiing without a trainer device. This step focuses on controlling speed through turns, primarily using the inside edge of the skis., although sometimes getting on the parallel edges.
We’ll experiment with various exercises to refine their turning technique and help you become a knowledgeable, bootstrapped ski instructor. With time and experience, you’ll be helping other parents get through it.
C,W,S STEP 8: GET PARALLEL
The moment your child starts skiing parallel is an experience. It is a true milestone that will fill you with amazement. It’s this transition from wedge turns to fluid, balanced movements from one leg to another. You will now see both skis using the same, uphill edge, during turns and the ski will start to do a lot of the work instead of their inner legs.
This stage signifies a major leap in their skiing capability, opening doors to more challenging, steeper slopes and opportunities to explore new and exciting parts of the mountain. If you made it here, take out the camera and be proud!
Beyond the Steps: A Lifetime of Ski Adventures
Reaching parallel skiing is just the beginning of a lifelong skiing adventure. As a parent, witnessing your child confidently navigate the slopes is incredibly rewarding. From here, the ski journey evolves with your family’s unique style and preferences. This is when you can really decide what the next ski journey will be. For us, that meant getting into Alpine Racing, which will be a topic we’ll be talking about on Crawl, Walk, Ski.
Stay tuned as we explore each step in detail, share our experiences, and provide practical tips for your family’s ski adventures. Whether you’re a seasoned skier or a newbie, we’re thrilled to have you on this exhilarating journey with us! Skiing isn’t just a sport; it’s a bond, an adventure, and a treasure trove of family memories waiting to be made. Let’s hit the slopes together!
