Dress for Success: Warm, Dry Ski & Snowboard Gear Makes All the Difference

It takes trial-and-error experience to dial in the right mix of layers, depending on each child’s exertion levels and toleration of colder temps. Here are some basic elements to get your started with the right kids gear.

• Base layer: Look for tops and bottoms made of polyester-blend fabric (like fleece) and wool-polyester blend, calf-length socks.
• Mid-layer: For night skiing and sub-freezing days, a mid-layer fleece vest or jacket is a good idea if one is not already attached to an alpine jacket as an inner lining.
• Outer layers: A weatherproof alpine jacket is required, meaning it’s both resistant to water and wind to help a child feel warm and stay dry in variable conditions. Weatherproof pants with cuffed leg openings, whether bibs or regular style, stay snug and prevent snow from getting inside.
• Alpine sports helmet & goggles: Quality helmets come with a soft, cushioned lining and adjustable chin-strap. Ski goggles, worn over the helmet, provide warmth by shielding eyes from wind and snow and prevent injury during falls.
• Gloves or mittens: Choose a weatherproof style with fleece liners, snug openings, and a cinch-closure feature to secure the glove or mitten around the wrist. On cold days, a child should also wear a face gaiter that covers the nose, cheeks, chin, and neck and tucks into the jacket collar. The chairlift ride is the coldest part of skiing or snowboarding, so make sure they dress warm. Always pack a stash of hand and toe warmers just in case.

Baby Steps: Start Them on the Green Squares (Bunny Hill and Novice Terrain)

Making sure new skiers and riders progress by taking on terrain that matches or slightly challenges their skill level will make for a more enjoyable and productive experience. Tackle these green runs over and over until they are ready of something more challenging.

49 Degrees North (30% beginner trails)

• Bonanza/Chair 1 to Midway off-ramp: Tamarack or Beaver Slide to Portal’s long run back to bottom of Chair 1, or from Portal, head down either Knight or Bishop and meet up again with Portal as it traverses across, near the base, back to chair 1’s loading area.
• Chair 1 to Chewelah Peak summit: Silver Ridge-Beaver Slide-Portal (three connecting trails). Or from Silver-Ridge keep straight to Huckleberry Ridge then turn down on Big Bear which links to the end of the intermediate Bugaboo for a short while, and then the bottom of intermediate Alpine Road leads you to the Sunrise-Quad/Chair 5, which you ride back to the summit.
• Payday/Chair 3: Treasure Hill or Gold-Pan Alley to Chair 2; Easy Slide-Fool’s Gold-Gold Chute (three connecting runs) then take Treasure Hill back to Chair 3. Or take Easy Slide-Trolley Car (two connecting trails) to Gold Chute or Hans Highway back to Chair 3.
• Angel Peak/Chair 6: Quartzite Ridge-4800 Road-Silver Dollar (three connecting trails) to the base of Chair 1 – or turn off Silver Dollar to Easy Slide and return to Chair 6 loading area. Or from the base of 6, you can go down Hans Highway to the base of Chair 3.
• Note: There is a T-bar between the base of Chair 1 and Chair 2.

Lookout Pass (20% beginner trails)

• Idaho Side, Chair 4
• North Side, Chair 3/North Star to summit: Huckleberry Ridge to Grub Stake (on Idaho side) to Chair 1. (There are no beginner runs on the Montana side of the mountain.)

Mt. Spokane (26% beginner trails)

• Chair 5: Ego Flats
• Chair 3: Half Hitch-Cat Track-Ego Flats (three connecting runs); Pond Run-Northwest Passage-Cat Track to Ego Flats or Johnson’s Run back to Chair 3 or 5. 

Silver Mountain (20% beginner trails)

• Starting from the top of the gondola, go down Easy Street to Rose Run or Claim Jumper (both go under the gondola), and then choose from three trail options: Huckleberry, Bear Grass, or Dawdler; all end at the base of Chair 5.

Swap and Save: Tips for Saving on Ski and Snowboard Gear

Equip your family for winter sports on a budget by shopping at local ski swaps. These used gear swaps are essentially huge consignment sales for used and sometimes new alpine skiing, snowboarding, and Nordic ski gear. Swap’s nominal entrance fees (typically $5/person, free for children age 12 and younger) and consignment fees help regional ski patrol organizations raise funds to purchase new safety equipment. These tips will make sure you leave the swap with awesome gear in your bag.

1. Inventory old gear. Identify what gear of your own you can sell at the swap. Have everyone in your family try on all their gear, head-to-toe, in early October to find out what still fits, what’s too small, and what’s worn out or uncomfortable and needs to be replaced. Take your undamaged and clean “experienced” gear to the public check-in event the Friday before swaps begin – determine your sale prices ahead of time. At the conclusion of swap, you’ll receive a check for your items sold, and this money helps pay for what you spent while shopping.
2. Do pre-swap research. Know what brands and sizes to look for. If you need help at a swap, ask the ski patrollers and any gear-shop reps on the sales floor. Since merchandise is non-refundable, make sure you’re truly confident with your final decisions. Bring your kids so they can try on boots, jackets, and pants.
3. Work as a team. Go with friends or other family members to divide and conquer. One groups goes to the “hard” gear section (snowboards, skis, boots, poles) while the other heads to the “soft” gear (ski jackets, pants, socks, helmets). Find the sizes you need, put multiple options in your cart, and have everyone try them on.
4. Attend more than one swap. Increase your odds by shopping around or attending the Sunday sale at Mt. Spokane’s swap when many items are sold for 25% off the original marked price – often a great jacket or snowboard is still waiting for the right buyer to come along. // 

The post Stay Warm, Go Slow, Save Money: Tips for Family Fun on the Mountain appeared first on Out There Venture.

Stan, 50, and Kristina, 47, live on 41 acres in the Pend Oreille Valley 30-minutes from 49° North. Nine children still live at home – three teenagers, 14-16; three kids in the 7-10 age span; and the two youngest, age 5 and 3. Two older children are married, and the Busbys have three grandchildren who are also learning to ski.

None of the Busby children took ski-school group lessons. Dad was their ski instructor, and worked for a time as an instructor for 49’s ski school. “We are a pro ‘Edgie-Wedgie’ and ‘racer-chaser’ family,” he says, referring to the brand name of the tubing device used by many to connect a young beginner’s ski tips together to help maintain the “snowplow” wedge position and the child harness-reigns a parent holds to prevent a child from skiing uncontrollably down a ski run.

“As far as getting kids started young, if you’re starting your kids at 3 or 4 years old, those are key years – they can be solid skiers by the time they’re seven,” Stan says. “Kids learn best by watching and doing. Their technique improves when they get old enough to ask questions about how they can do better.”

At least once a week, the Busby family alpine skis at 49 Degrees North. “We homeschool our children, so that makes a big difference – part of their learning time is being outdoors on the mountain,” says Kristina. The older children also backcountry ski with their dad, who has 26 years of experience as a backcountry ski and mountain guide for Climbers with Christ, a group of local guides who guide no-cost trips.

Prepping for every new ski season begins when the family gathers all their gear on a designated autumn day to figure out which kid gets hand-me-downs and who needs something new. “You don’t have to spend a grand to take a family of four out skiing – for everything, gear and chairlifts,” he says. The Busbys say they shop anywhere they can for cheap, high-quality gear. “I find tons of gear at thrift stores. We end up getting most of their stuff that way,” says Kristina. They also recommend local ski swaps and shopping during the off-season.

“We have a saying in our house, ‘Ebay and pray,’” Stan says, laughing. “Parents need to remember that kids don’t have to have brand-new gear every year.” Though they sometimes buy new, they prioritize frugality and taking good care of gear to make it last longer – which has made it financially feasible for their entire family to become skiers.

As long-time patrons of 49 Degrees North, they’re part of a group of dedicated volunteers who, during the summer, help with manual labor jobs and trail maintenance in exchange for season passes. There are other ways to get free or discounted lift tickets at regional ski mountains – kids age 6 and under are always free, 49 Degrees North offers free skiing during spring break, and night skiing is discounted.

Prioritizing an outdoor-oriented lifestyle has made their children mentally tough and more resilient. “Being outdoors in an uncontrolled environment forces us to build character and be resourceful,” says Stan. “Even ‘Frozen Finger Days’ – you dread them at the time, but the memories stick out.” Tasks like waxing their own skis and earning their own money to upgrade personal gear beyond the family budget have also helped the Busby children develop a stronger work ethic.

Skiing is also a foundational conduit to amazing alpine milestones. “It has opened the door to a lot of other outdoor opportunities – six of our kids have summited Mt. Rainier, and have skied down both Mt. Adams and Mt. Hood,” says Kristina. Just this past summer, three of the Busby kids – ages 12, 14, and 16 – climbed Mt. Rainier, committing themselves to months of training and organizing their gear. “We don’t make our kids do anything – they are in competition with each other,” says Stan.

Being a ski family also helps the Busby children to “focus on each other” instead of being connected to electronics and separated in different rooms at home, says Kristina. Moreover, it has made them more kind, helpful, and selfless individuals. “That’s not how it initially starts out, but over the years our children have learned that,” adds Stan. “When you go as a family, that’s what has to happen.” //

Save Money—Lease Kids Gear 

• Spokane’s Alpine Haus ski and board shop on the South Hill offers a junior ski and snowboard lease packages starting at $149.95. More info: 509-534-4554, thespokanealpinehaus.com.
• Traverse Ski & Bike on Pines Road in Spokane Valley also has a huge selection of youth ski gear for lease this season. More info: 509-381-5068 or find them on Facebook.
• Ski Shack in Hayden, Idaho, has youth ski and snowboard lease packages. More info: 208-772-3112, haydenskishack.com.
• In downtown Sandpoint, Alpine Shop is leasing youth ski gear again this season. More info: 208-263-5157, alpineshopsandpoint.com.
• The organization Climbers for Christ also has some gear available through a no-charge gear loaner program for families. Email questions or requests to climbersforchrist@hotmail.com.

The post Ski Family Profile: The Busby Dozen appeared first on Out There Venture.

Learning to ski as a gangly teenager, following my same-aged cousin down the mountain at area resorts was tough. Her parents had her on skis when she was four and her dad was a ski instructor. The early start and lessons gave her a considerable advantage, meaning I often watched her take off down the slope effortlessly while I struggled. As soon as we had drivers licenses, season passes were in the works for Christmas, and every weekend was spent exploring new parts of the closest resort to our house, Silver Mountain. The added expense of passes and gear was a wise investment for our parents; there’s little time for getting into trouble when winters are filled with long days playing in the snowy mountains.

By the time we were adults, the familiar good times on skis still called, but life’s to-do list was longer than ever. Weekends that were once dedicated ski days were filled up with other things until over the last few years I could count the number of ski days I’d had on one hand. A testament to just how busy adult life can become, I hadn’t thought about how much fun I was missing until our son was born. Soon day dreams of teaching my own little one to ski had me once again looking forward to winter on skis.

Given our son’s intense, energetic personality, we assumed he would be ready, like my cousin, to hit the slopes at an early age. Last spring, two months shy of his 2^nd birthday, we figured we would give it a try and see how he liked it. Not wanting him to get cold or leave something we might need behind, we loaded up a vast pile of gear: his tiny skis and boots leased from Spokane Alpine Haus; a puffy snow suit; two pairs of gloves; two hats; extra pants and sweatshirts; snacks and drinks; hand warmers and extra socks; a harness and rein set-up for teaching little kids to ski that we had no idea how to use; a giant orange ski helmet that barely fit; and other random things we thought we might need.

Off we drove to Mt. Spokane, well before naptime, to see what he could do. At the top of the bunny hill, we struggled to figure out how to hold him up while still letting him test out his legs that were strapped to slippery skis for the first time. Then we started sliding down the mountain slowly to show him how it was supposed to work. (We had watched a few videos of little kids skiing together, so we think he had a pretty good grasp on what was happening.) Several seasoned parents stopped to offer encouragement and give us welcome advice, and we finally settled on hooking our poles under his arms and snowplowing him down the hill. It was the best thigh workout I’ve had in years, and my face hurt from laughing. At the bottom of his first run, we checked in to make sure he was still smiling and then awkwardly lumbered onto the chairlift for round two. Then round three and four. On what turned out to be the last run of the day, he took off on his own after asking for a push. And the nervous yet proud parents of an almost two year old tucked himself down a good 15 yards before gently falling over. At the bottom of the hill, after we told him it was time to go home, there were tears for the first time that day. He wanted another ride on the chairlift.

It may be a few years before we venture off the bunny hill, but I am already looking forward to racking up more ski days than I have in years teaching my son to ski. //

Ski Programs for Kids and Families

5th Graders Ski or Snowboard for Free

The Ski the Northwest Rockies association offers a “5th Grade Ski or Ride Free Passport” at the four association resorts (49 Degrees North, Lookout Pass, Mt. Spokane, and Silver Mountain) that allows 5^th graders to ski or snowboard three days free at each participating ski area. Some ski areas even offer specials for parents or siblings. Head up with your 5^th grader and learn and play together as a family. Details at skinwrockies.com.

Learn to Ski as a Family

The four Ski the Northwest Rockies resorts (49 Degrees North, Lookout Pass, Mt. Spokane, and Silver Mountain) have a 3-visit “learn to” ski or snowboard package at an incredible price called EZ Ski/Ride 1-2-3. The package includes three lift tickets, three rentals (all equipment included), and three lessons for adults and kids 7 and older. Details at Skinwrockies.com.

 Free Ski School at Lookout Pass

In its 77^th year, the famous Free Ski School at Lookout Pass has introduced 75,000 kids to skiing and snowboarding. The lessons run every Saturday morning between January 6 and March 10 from 10 a.m. for kids age 6-17. Lessons are free, but a lift ticket or season pass is required for kids to keep skiing or riding after the lesson, and gear rental is not included. Load up the family ski-mobile and enjoy learning to ski with your kids. Register at Skilookout.com.

Build Skiing and Racing Skills Together

The Spokane Ski Racing Association is a non-profit ski team operating out of Mt. Spokane Ski & Snowboard Park with programs for kids (ages 5 and up) and adults who want to become expert, all-mountain skiers and learn to compete in the Olympic disciplines of alpine ski racing. Learn more about getting into ski racing as a family at Gossra.org. // (OTM)

The post First Time on the Slopes appeared first on Out There Venture.

Viktor Torvik, age 8, is a weekend regular at Mt. Spokane Ski & Snowboard Park. Skiing since age 3 with his parents, Tom and Natalya, Viktor joined the Mini Mites ski school program when he was old enough. Now in second grade, he’s in a Kid’s Club advanced group. “I like going fast and jumping. I also like getting trained, so I can be good at skiing,” says Viktor. “My favorite run is Secret X, because I like to go through the fluffy powder between the trees.”

For children who are new to alpine skiing, Viktor’s advice is to “first learn making a pizza shape with their skis. Once they get better, they can turn back and forth. When they get even better, they can do a hockey stop [turning left or right with skis together]. Once they get better at that, like me, they can go really fast and do fast turns. They should also get a cool teacher like Andy [Viktor’s Kid’s Club coach].”

Because his father is a volunteer patroller with Mt. Spokane Ski Patrol, the Torviks arrive at the mountain by 8 a.m. “Viktor started to help the Chair 5 crew set up for the day. This would entail wiping down chairs, setting up crowd control nets, and grooming the loading ramp,” his parents explain. “As time went on, he started to help by scanning passes, closing up lifts, and helping to direct people into the correct line for loading. Several of the mountain employees appreciated his enthusiasm, and they rewarded him by teaching him how the lifts work. This year the mountain management offered to silk screen his coat with ‘Jr. Staff’ on the back along with the Mt. Spokane logo. Along with being proud to wear this coat, he truly loves his mountain family.”

In addition to benefitting from appropriate risk-tasking and physical challenges, Viktor’s mom says, “He wasn’t immune from disappointment when he started, but improving in his skiing ability helps him to understand that persistence, practice, and following directions pays off. Participating in the Mt. Spokane kids’ programs and volunteering has [given him opportunities] to understand teamwork, comradery, making friends, and practicing courtesy and compassion.”

At Lookout Pass, another impressive young skier is eight-year-old Erin McElgunn, who tears it up every weekend and during school breaks. Now in third grade, she, too, has been skiing since age 3. “Erin likes that it is challenging and that she feels good when she goes on runs that were once hard or scary for her. She likes skiing with friends and family, and it’s like having a cool playdate with friends when she’s on the mountain,” says Erin’s mom, Stacy McElgunn. “She has a fair amount of freedom at Lookout.”

Erin’s favorite run is Montana Face. “It looks steep from the top and it’s really fun,” she says. To improve her skills and meet more ski-kids, Erin and her older sister joined the Lookout Pass ski team. She’s now in her second racing season, participating in “a few [Giant Slalom] races per year,” her mom says. “I’ve seen Erin take more risks. New things sometimes make her nervous, and she has become braver about trying things that intimidate her.” Erin offers up some advice for other children: Although skiing “can be scary at first, you’ll love it and be happy. Start on blues [intermediate runs] and greens [beginner runs] and then try harder things because you’ll probably be able to do it.”

With more than a month left in this winter’s ski season, and lots of children having completed ski lessons the past few months, expect to see even more kiddos confidently cruising down the mountain on skis and snowboards. Give an encouraging shout-out – “Looking good!” or “You’re doing great!” – and tell those parents snowplowing with their toddlers and holding on to harnesses, “Keep it up!” They, too, will be skiing the pow in a few years. //

Amy Silbernagel McCaffree writes our Out There Kids monthly column.

The post Little Rippers: Inspiration from the Next Generation appeared first on Out There Venture.