Improving Your Short Radius Turns

Good skiers know that the best snow late in the day on groomed trails is always right along the edge; however you need solid short radius turns to hang there. If you want to ski in the woods or bumps, it’s the same deal, you need those short turns. We don’t live in the land of the large open bowl, so if you want to be a good skier in the northeast, you need rock solid short turns.

Do this “corridor drill” in the morning when the groomer tracks are still fresh. Find a nice moderate pitch and make short turns staying inside the track of one groomer width. Work on keeping your belly button pointed downhill with your legs turning under a stable upper body accompanied by rhythmic pole touches.

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Skiing with a 3 Year Old

skiing with a 3 year oldOne of the questions I get asked the most is when to start a young child skiing. The answer requires some parental intuition. Does your child enjoy playing outside in the snow? How do your child respond to people he or she doesn’t know? What follows: our tips on skiing with a 3 year old.

At Whiteface, where I teach, children must be four years old to participate in a group lesson environment like our Play and Ski program. Younger kids learn best one-on-one.

The choice between using a ski instructor for private lessons and teaching your child yourself depends on several factors. How comfortable are you skiing in a wedge with your child?

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Ski Vacations with Kids

The holidays are upon us and for many parents that means an extended ski trip with the kids. After years of teaching and skiing with kids, I’ve learned some things about how to make the most of your child’s lessons and your family vacation.

Ski vacations with kids.

Take it easy that first day. I often see families who arrived late the previous night show up at the mountain the next day stressed or tired. Instead of trying to jam too much into that first day, you should relax and have fun. If your kids already ski and this is your first time out for the season, consider spending time with them on easy slopes and playing on the snow in the beautiful outdoors. Don’t overdo it your first day or you may be too sore to enjoy the rest of the week.

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