Adviceforparents
- Werecommend to startskiinglessonswhen a childisatleast4 yearsold,ifhe haswelldevelopedmotoricskills.
- Beforetakingthefirstlesson, itisrecommended to let yourchild justwalk in buckledskiboots, atfirst on a non-slipperysurface, later on thesnow (pleasehave in mindthatuntilnow, yourchildwalkedonly in soft shoes, and suddenlyhe has skiboots onhisfeet). Ifthechildis OK withtheskibootsforatleastonehour (playing on thesnow, sledding), youcantrytheskis on.
- Withtheskis, thechildneeds to learn to slide on a flatsurfaceatfirst (untilthis moment, yourchildwasonlywalking, and so henaturallytends to make a walkingmovementalsonow), ideally on a carpet (so thathislegsdon‘tslipsideways.)
- Teachhimthesame on thesnow. A ski pole mightbehelpful: let thechildstraddle on a pole and pullhimalongasifriding on a lift; thechildgetsa feelingofsliding on a flatsurface...
- Makesureabouttheappropriatebootsize and lengthofskis (up to thechinlevel in caseofbeginners). Itisnotpossible to teachskiingif a child has twosizebiggerboots or shortskis. Itwouldbe awasteofyourmoney...
- Do notuseanyropes, skiingharnesses, etc. Yourchild has to learnhow to standupright on hisownfromthebeginning, itistheonlyway to keepbalance, and the centre ofgravity in thecorrectplace.
- Do not letyourkidsuseskipoles, theywill do without.
Tipsforparents:
Walking in skiboots and gettingfamiliarwiththem, athome, later on thesnow.
Alternateslidingmovementwithskis on kid’sfeet, atfirst on a carpet and then on thesnow.
Sliding on thesnowwithskis on kid’sfeet,legs areshoulderwidthapart, pullthechildstraddling on a ski polethatsupportshimfrombehind (thechildisstandingupright).
Stand on a flatsurface and lift atfirstonlya tailoftheski (whileski tip istouchingtheground/snow), later lift thewholeski (veryimportant, ithelpsyourchild to learnhowto shiftweightontothestandingfoot, whichis a foundationforlearningskiing).
In caseyourchilddisplayssignsofdiscontentaboutanyoftheactivities, do notcontinuewiththisactivity.
Never forceyourchild to continueskiingpractice, ifhedoesn‘twant to. Itmayresult in a disliketowardsskiing and thechildmightnotwant to skianymore.
