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Ski Idaho: Youth Passport & Programs

Amy McCaffree — Mon, 21 Dec 2020 09:54:18 +0000

The Ski Idaho association’s 5^th/6^th Grade Passport program provides free skiing and riding at Schweitzer, Silver Mountain, Lookout Pass, and other Idaho ski areas. The program is available to kids from Washington and Idaho. Apply at skiidaho.us with an $18 processing fee. Be sure to understand use restrictions, like blackout dates, and COVID-related updates.

Schweitzer Mountain Resort—Sandpoint, Idaho

Families can register for lessons with the Ski & Ride Center, whether it’s a private one-hour lesson for a child up to age 6 or a semi-private 2-hour group lesson for ages 4-6. For ages 3 and under, private lessons are available, and parent participation is strongly encouraged. Schweitzer’s Ski & Ride Center has 2-hour group lessons for ages 4-6. Schweitzer’s on-mountain day care, The Children’s Center, has limited availability this winter—call or email before arrival.

A limited number of day lift tickets will be available, sold in advance online, in order for local season-passholders to have priority access.

For full details, visit schweitzer.com.

PHOTOS: (TOP ROW) Landon McCaffree with 6th grade Passport skiers (and twin sisters) Ava and Zoey Lewis, off Schweitzer’s Basin Express chair (left); Skiing down the bunny hill (upper right) // Photos: Amy McCaffree; Night skiing on Basin Express at Schweitzer. (left) // Photo: Shallan Knowles; (BOTTOM ROW) Photo courtesy Schweitzer Mountain Resort (left); Family Go-Pro selfie on Stella. (right) // Photo: Judd McCaffree.

Lookout Pass Ski & Recreation Area—Mullan, Idaho

Private lessons for individuals, families, and self-organized small groups of family and friends are available with advance reservations. Call (208) 744-1234 and ask for the Ski School Desk.

“If a family or friends group is comfortable taking lessons together or having their children take lessons together, we will happily accommodate them,” says Lookout Marketing Director Matt Sawyer.

Because the Free Ski School is not part of Lookout’s professional instruction program, and taught by volunteers, the planning process is still being figured out for 2021. But according to Sawyer there will be a free lesson program this winter.

Check for updates and make reservations at Skilookout.com.

PHOTOS: (LEFT) Photos courtesy Lookout Pass; (RIGHT) Little Ripper Erin McElgunn. // Photo courtesy Stacy McElgunn.

Silver Mountain Resort—Kellogg, Idaho

Families can schedule private or semi-private lessons for all ability levels with 24-hour advance reservations required. Lessons for weekends and holiday periods must also be booked online, at least 24 hours in advance.

The Silver Kids lesson program, for ages 7-12, offers group sessions for “Never-Ever” (Level 1) and Beginners (Level 2) this season. Because the on-mountain daycare is closed, the Prospectors programs for kids age 6 and younger is cancelled. Plans have not yet been announced for Silver’s ALL Mountain Kids Club.

Find complete program details and updates at Silvermt.com.

PHOTOS: (LEFT) The Heston family at Silver Mountain. // Photo courtesy of Mary Heston; (RIGHT) Silver Mountain season passholders and three generations of the Lukes family. // Photo courtesy Janell Lukes.

To learn more about children’s snow sports and winter recreation opportunities in the Inland Northwest, click here: Family Winter Sports Guide 2020.

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Local Youth Ski Racing Programs

Out There Venture — Sat, 19 Dec 2020 03:13:52 +0000

Is ski racing a good fit for your child? If they already have basic ski skills and can get their skis off and on, ride the lift, and go to the bathroom by themselves and show an interest in taking their skiing to the next level by learning new skills, it just might be. Kids do not need to already be super strong skiers to get involved in a ski team. Dan Henry, executive director and head coach of the Mt. Spokane Ski Racing Team notes that it’s a great way for kids to learn new skills and become great all-mountain skiers.

Inland Northwest ski race teams will likely be making some changes to their programs to limit pandemic related health risks and keep kids and parents safe. Registration for these ski racing teams should begin as normal this fall but check in early to keep up to date on any COVID-related changes to each mountain’s ski race program.

Mt. Spokane Ski Race Team: Mssrt.org
49 Degrees North FAST Program: Ski49n.com/mountain-services/race-program
Lookout Pass Race Team: Skilookout.com/race-teams
Schweitzer Alpine Racing School (SARS): Sars.snowproportal.com
Silver Mountain Alpine Racing Team (SMART): https://www.silvermt.com/index.php/ski-ride/alpine-race-team

Kendal Brumet racing at Lookout Pass. // Photo by Matt Sawyer.

Originally published as “Ski Racing Programs Take Young Skiers to the Next Level” in the Family Winter Sports Guide in the Nov.-Dec. 2020 issue.

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Tips for Keeping Kids Warm Outside

Amy McCaffree — Sat, 19 Dec 2020 02:34:38 +0000

Make sure your children stay warm while playing in the snow, whether they’re skiing or snowboarding or tubing. “Layer-up in synthetic clothing—children can always take layers off if they get too hot,” says Mt. Spokane Ski School Director Katrin Pardue. A phrase to remember is “Cotton Kills, and Jeans are Mean.” A base-layer made of merino wool or a synthetic material like polypropylene will insulate as well as wick away sweat. Fleece makes a great mid-layer, like a vest or jacket.

Outerwear coat and snow pants should be both waterproof and windproof—what’s typically referred to as being “weatherproof.” In addition, provide your kids with handwarmers; choose mittens rather than gloves, especially for younger kids; and secure the cuff or mittens or gloves either under or over jacket sleeves-cuffs. “Make sure children drink plenty of water…and use the bathroom right before lessons,” says Pardue. “Eat a good breakfast and have something warm during lunch…to heat up their little bodies.”

Urban park snow tubing in Spokane. // Photo: Amy McCaffree

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Little Ripper: Libby Collins at Silver Mountain

Amy McCaffree — Thu, 17 Dec 2020 14:00:00 +0000

Skier – Age: 12
Home mountain: Silver Mountain; also trains at Mt. Spokane and Mt. Hood (Oregon).
Favorite runs at Silver: Tall Paul, SOB, the race course.
Learned to ski at age 2: “I was taught by my mom and dad, which helped me to become the skier I am today. By the time I was around six I started ski racing.”
Loves skiing because: “It’s a very motivational sport, and it tests your limits. You have the choice to push yourself as hard as you want. There are endless things to work on while you are skiing because you will always have room to improve.”
Ski Racing: Silver Mountain Alpine Race Team (SMART) since 2014. Coaches include Andru Miller, Halli Densley, and Kosuke Imamura from Silver Mountain, and Dan Henry from Mt. Spokane.
Ski Buddies: Mom because “she is an amazing skier and always makes it fun,” and SMART teammates.
Greatest accomplishment: “Coming back strong after being out for over a year with several injuries.”
Most memorable ski days: “Going to Mt. Hood for the first time; shredding powder all day during a massive powder dump; and night skiing with friends…Although those were all really fun, one of my favorites has to be sleeping in the lodge on Silver Mountain with the ski team and staying up late hanging out.”
Other recreation: Hiking, biking, camping, swimming, softball, volleyball, ski racing camps during summer and fall, and doing CrossFit “to get stronger.”
Future ambition: Become a member of the U.S. Ski Team and compete in the Olympics.

Ski racer Libby Collins. // Photos courtesy Jessica Croston.

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Little Ripper: Landon McCaffree at Mt. Spokane

Amy McCaffree — Tue, 15 Dec 2020 14:00:00 +0000

Age: 10
Home mountain: Mt. Spokane; dual season passholder at Schweitzer and Mt. Spokane, 2018-2020.
Favorite runs at Mt. Spokane: Jump Hill, Big 200, Gates Park, Smuggler’s Notch.
Learned to ski at age 2: Parent-taught, no ski school.
Loves skiing because: “It’s fun to get out onto the mountain. I like the thrill and adrenaline of going fast. I like skiing in the trees because there’s often lots of powder there. People typically go on the same paths, but Daddy and I go where people haven’t skied and we sometimes find a foot of powder.”
Ski Buddy: “My favorite person to ski with is my dad because he taught me how to ski and he’s a really good skier. I was 5 years old when he first took me down Whiplash, a double-black diamond run at Schweitzer. I’ve gone down almost all the double-blacks now at Schweitzer.”
On being the son of a ski patroller: “It’s fun to help out by ‘doing sweep’ with my dad at closing time (at Mt. Spokane), and my family gets to hang out in the patrol lodge.”
Greatest accomplishment: “Jumping off a big rock, 8 feet, into powder on Siberia at Schweitzer. The second time I went much further, about 12 feet, and did a somersault into the snow and lost both my skis.”
Why he free skies and doesn’t race: “I enjoy free skiing because I can go on all the runs I like, can go wherever I want on the mountain, and ski with Dad on the weekends. When I ski, I like to relax and not worry about anything.”
Other recreation: Fly-fishing, soccer, biking, and camping.
Downtime during winter: Building motorized chairlifts with LEGOS.
Future ambition: “Get better at jumping off big rocks and go skiing at other big mountains.”

Amy McCaffree is Out There Kids columnist and has been writing for OTO long before motherhood. She learned to ski with her junior high Ski Club, in western Washington. She married a ski patroller and committed to a lifetime of skiing as much as possible, and loves being a Ski Family with their two children.

Photos: (left) Landon at Mt. Spokane with his cousin Matthew Richey. // Photo: Amy McCaffree; (top) Jumping off a rock cliff last ski season. // Photo: Judd McCaffree; (bottom) Landon with his Ski Patrol Dad at the summit of Mt. Spokane during a Friday night sunset. // Photo: Amy McCaffree

Read stories about other Little Rippers from the Inland Northwest.

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Little Ripper: Oliver Peck at 49 Degrees North

Amy McCaffree — Mon, 14 Dec 2020 19:50:58 +0000

Skier – Age: 5
Home mountain: 49˚ North.
Favorite run: Hobbit Forest
Learned to ski at age 1.5: Parent-taught. First day on skis at 1½ years old; first ski full season at age 2, going 1-2 times a week throughout the season. “We don’t have our kids in lessons [yet], because we both have a deep history in ski education,” says Oliver’s dad, Nate, who formerly worked as assistant director of 49’s ski school and director of training for Stevens Pass. (Ollie’s 2-year-old sister started skiing last season.) Ollie’s mom, Carrie, was a ski instructor at 49. “I think going forward we’ll get Ollie involved with instruction from other people.”
Enjoys skiing because: “It’s on snow and I like it. I like going through the forest.”
Ski buddies: Uncle Reuben and friends Takoda, Maddi and Fiona, Mason, Caleb, and his sister, Maple.
Greatest accomplishment: “Going down from the top of the mountain,” says Oliver. Dad says, “I’m really proud of how he’s very methodical. He takes risks but he’s very calculated…as he makes his way down the mountain. [Last spring] he just started skiing by himself (without support), top to bottom, on all green runs. And he can handle some blue runs.”
Most memorable ski day for Dad last spring: “Ollie had taken a big fall and was pretty rattled. But he [got up and] skied the run, which was a little out of his comfort zone, and then he kept going after it again, after another lift ride. He had determination even though it was hard—and probably above his skill level—rising to the challenge and learning on the slope, applying what he knew to skiing on more difficult terrain.”
Other recreation: Swimming, climbing, bike-riding, hiking, exploring nature.
Future ambition: “I want to go off very, very big jumps!”

Photos courtesy Nate Peck.

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Family Winter Sports Guide 2020

Amy McCaffree — Sat, 12 Dec 2020 17:04:07 +0000

By Amy McCaffree & Derrick Knowles

This winter may present more challenges than normal for getting your little ones out on the slopes, but at the same time, it may be the most important winter season ever for you and your family to spend time outdoors together. Out There Venture’ annual Family Winter Sports Guide is the resource for parents looking to get their kids involved in winter sports. Our guide includes inspiration and information to get more kids out developing a lifetime love of skiing, snowboarding, and playing in the snow.

Special thanks to the Ski the Northwest Rockies (SNWR) association and affiliated resorts—49 Degrees North, Mt. Spokane, Silver Mountain, and Lookout Pass. Their partnership with Out There Venture on our shared mission to engage the next generation of skiers and riders here in the Inland Northwest makes this guide possible!

Be Safe & Have Fun Out There This Winter

Guide Contents:

Advice for Teaching Your Kids to Ski: Tips from a former ski instructor and dad teaching his own two young kids to ski.
COVID Safety Tips: 7 Ps for the Ski Mountain: Ways to be safe and responsible on the mountain this season.
Ski Programs for Kids & Families This Winter: Overview of ski school program offerings, both private and small group lessons, from all the Ski the NW Rockies affiliated mountain resorts.
Cross-Country Skiing for Kids: New COVID-safe instructional options from Spokane Nordic Ski Association (SNSA) for families in lieu of the traditional Nordic Kids program.
Ski the NW Rockies Association 5^th Grade Ski Free Passport: Program perks and registration information.
Little Rippers of the Inland NW: Profiles of four young skiers who tear it up at local SNWR mountains.
6 Tips for Budget-Friendly Skiing: Ways to make an outdoor winter sport more financially feasible. An investment in outdoor recreation during this hard time of winter 2020-21 is more important than ever for children and adults’ physical and mental wellness and to help cope with the stress of the COVID era.
5 Ways for Kids To Play In the Snow: Ideas for having fun outdoors this winter that’s not downhill skiing or snowboarding.
Tips for Keeping Kids Warm Outside: Expert advice from a local ski school director and instructor.
Local Youth Ski Racing Programs: Inland NW regional teams help take young skiers to the next level.

Photos:

(top row, left-right) Playing in the Snow // Photo: Shallan Knowles; Tubing // Photo: Amy McCaffree.
(second row) Skiing at Mt. Spokane; Little Ripper Landon McCaffree. // Photos: Amy McCaffree
(third row) Little Ripper Kendal Brumet (left) // Photo: Courtesy Brumet family; Little Ripper Oliver Peck (middle) // Photo courtesy Nate Peck; Drinking hot cocoa at Mt. Spokane’s summit Vista House (left). // Photo: Amy McCaffree
(bottom row) Little Ripper Libby Collins (left) // Photo courtesy Jessica Crosten; First turns for Little Ripper Landon at age 2 ( right). // Photo: Amy McCaffree.

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Nordic Kids Make the Most of Winter

Brad Thiessen — Fri, 13 Dec 2019 23:00:35 +0000

Looking for a way to get your kids out on the snow this winter? Try Nordic Kids cross-country ski lessons! On seven Saturdays in January and February, 150 kids ages 5-15 are up at the Mount Spokane State Park Nordic Ski Area, laughing, stretching their legs, and learning new skills. They learn in teams based on age and skill, using games and drills that give them a love of fitness and the outdoors. Many build friendships that last a lifetime.

Once kids get familiar with the basics of Nordic (cross-country) skiing, they move beyond the flat learning area to the rolling trails. After a few sessions, many groups will venture off-track to explore the forest or head out as far as the Nova Hut for a break in front of the warm glow of the wood stove. The season is capped off with a Snow Carnival of games and food. The cost for the program is $80 per child with financial aid available. More details are available at Spokanenordic.org.

Mt. Spokane Nordic Kids group lesson // Photo courtesy of Brooke Foley

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All-Mountain Kids: Ski Teams of the Inland NW

Amy McCaffree — Fri, 01 Nov 2019 16:39:42 +0000

Hoping to win an Olympic medal someday is not why kids join a ski team.

“It’s a great way to learn how to ski well. Most parents put their kids in this program, not to become great ski racers, but to become great all-mountain skiers. And by the time the kids are done, the parents are having a hard time keeping up,” says Dan Henry, executive director and head coach of Mt. Spokane Ski Racing Team (MSSRT), previously known as SSRA, or Spokane Ski Racing Association.

Athlete on Mt. Spokane Ski Race Team turns around a slalom race gate on March 16, 2019 // Photo courtesy of Tom and Nancy Falter

A misconception about racing is that a kid must already be a strong skier in order to join. “That’s our job—to develop them into strong skiers,” says Henry. In fact, kids as young as 5 can join.

“As long as the kid can get on their own gear, load the chair by themselves, and get down the hill by themselves, they can join,” says Henry. “The primary goal with Youth Ski League is to become great all-mountain skiers, whether it’s moguls or powder. It’s not about fast—though they’ll naturally go faster when they’re proficient. Fast is a byproduct of skiing well.”

Within two hours of the Spokane-Coeur d’Alene metro area, there are five club members of U.S. Ski & Snowboard (formerly known as USSA), each affiliated with a home mountain that take turns hosting competitions for the Emerald Empire Youth Ski League (EEYSL)—the Eastern Zone of the Pacific Northwest Ski Association (PNSA). Race series participation is optional.

Young skier at Mount Spokane Ski Race Team Holiday Camp 2018 // Photo courtesy of Tom and Nancy Falter

“We have multiple programs that are designed around the commitment level of the parents, not the ability level of the kid,” he says. All the local teams offer one-day programs. Traveling for competitions is not required. Some local teams also offer Holiday Camp sessions, which provides an introduction to the sport.

“There’s not a lot of difference between what a ski school does and what we do as far as ski skills taught,” says Henry. “But we spend a lot more time on the mountain—on skis with a coach and peers—and kids progress rapidly.”

Check out these Inland NW Ski Racing Teams:

49° North Alpine Ski Team: Intro program (ages 5-11); youth ski league (ages 5-8); U14 (ages 12-13, elite team option); U16 (ages 14-15); Holiday Camps in December, January, & February.

Lookout Pass Ski Race Team: League (ages 6-11, 1- or 2-day program); junior program (ages 12-16, 2-day program); and Holiday Camp in December.

Mt. Spokane Ski Race Team: Intro (ages 5-11); youth league, YSL Team U8-U12 (ages 6-11); U14 (ages 12-13); U16-U19 (ages 14-18); IFS Team (ages 16+); Inland NW Mid-Week Training (ages 6-18, gate training offered to all regional racers); masters (age 21+, including parents who want to try ski racing); Holiday Camp (ages 6-11).

Silver Mountain Alpine Race Team: Silver Sliders (ages 4-8), race team (ages 5-17).

Schweitzer Alpine Racing School: Youth league includes STARS (ages 5-6); 1-day development program or 2- or 3-day competition program (ages 7-11); junior ski racing program (ages 12-19, includes U14 Team, U16 Northwest Cup Teams, and FIS Team); junior Freeride program (ages 12+; big mountain competitions); masters (ages 21+); Holiday Camp.

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