phillycore
03-21-2005, 07:10 AM
Well yesterday I took my 10yr old skiboarding for the first time.
He was really excited about going for starters. So excited in fact that even though I have a case of the flu and it was raining I took him anyway.
I was able to rent him a pair of alpina 77's (he's 4'8" / 83lbs. / turned 10 Feb. 28th) His biggest fear upon arriving the mountain was the lift. He's afraid of heights and getting him on anything 2 feet of the ground is a challenge in itself. Since we went to Jack Frost, I felt I had this problem in the bag. For those that don't know JF, you start at the top of the mountain so by the time he's down he has only two choices.... walk, or ride the lift. Noone is walking a hill in skiboots when a lift is an option (unless they are a major wuss, or a health nut of some sort) We started off just on flat ground, so I could get him used to the feel of skating on them. (I didn't get him poles as I wanted him to learn the right way, instead of relying on them like I did at first being a skier prior to sb's) Once I felt he was comfortable enough on them to move around we went to one of the green beginner hills. On his 3 time down he was making it down only falling once, then on his 5th time down he made it without falling at all. He wanted to get something to eat at this point, and I told him if he made it down without falling he could call his mother. So on the way up the lift, he tells me he wants to leave the bar up. I was shocked, but was like sure. We did the whole ride up, which is a major accomplishment for him. So then we ate (after he spilled his $5 soda all over the table), and called his mom (my wife) to tell her the good news. We then went back at it, and he was making it down all the 3 beginner hills without falling. We then attempted a blue hill which he didn't do so hot on, and we made a few more attempts at various easier blue hills (3-4 attempts) and he simply didn't have the confidence for them yet. I could see the ability was there, but whenever he'd gain speed and couldn't snowplow to a stop he would bail (intentionally for the most part) We then went back to the beginner hills where we finished the day.
For a kid who's not really athletic by any means, and afraid of heights. I'm really proud of what he accomplished. He's pretty much hooked, and even asked to go next weekend and wants his own pair of skiboards now as well. So looks like I'll be shopping for a new set of skiboards next season, but not for me.
Next up.... the wife!!
John
He was really excited about going for starters. So excited in fact that even though I have a case of the flu and it was raining I took him anyway.
I was able to rent him a pair of alpina 77's (he's 4'8" / 83lbs. / turned 10 Feb. 28th) His biggest fear upon arriving the mountain was the lift. He's afraid of heights and getting him on anything 2 feet of the ground is a challenge in itself. Since we went to Jack Frost, I felt I had this problem in the bag. For those that don't know JF, you start at the top of the mountain so by the time he's down he has only two choices.... walk, or ride the lift. Noone is walking a hill in skiboots when a lift is an option (unless they are a major wuss, or a health nut of some sort) We started off just on flat ground, so I could get him used to the feel of skating on them. (I didn't get him poles as I wanted him to learn the right way, instead of relying on them like I did at first being a skier prior to sb's) Once I felt he was comfortable enough on them to move around we went to one of the green beginner hills. On his 3 time down he was making it down only falling once, then on his 5th time down he made it without falling at all. He wanted to get something to eat at this point, and I told him if he made it down without falling he could call his mother. So on the way up the lift, he tells me he wants to leave the bar up. I was shocked, but was like sure. We did the whole ride up, which is a major accomplishment for him. So then we ate (after he spilled his $5 soda all over the table), and called his mom (my wife) to tell her the good news. We then went back at it, and he was making it down all the 3 beginner hills without falling. We then attempted a blue hill which he didn't do so hot on, and we made a few more attempts at various easier blue hills (3-4 attempts) and he simply didn't have the confidence for them yet. I could see the ability was there, but whenever he'd gain speed and couldn't snowplow to a stop he would bail (intentionally for the most part) We then went back to the beginner hills where we finished the day.
For a kid who's not really athletic by any means, and afraid of heights. I'm really proud of what he accomplished. He's pretty much hooked, and even asked to go next weekend and wants his own pair of skiboards now as well. So looks like I'll be shopping for a new set of skiboards next season, but not for me.
Next up.... the wife!!
John