6 Things to Keep in Mind When Skiing with Your Kids for the First Time.

For the last few years, the hubs & I have wanted to take the girls skiing. The hubs taught me how to ski when we were dating… 17 years ago. Oh yeah. We’re old. We do love to ski and wanted to share that with our kids.

Living in Michigan provides a limited number of ski-days… especially last year, when we barely got snow at all!

This year, we were DETERMINED! I snagged a Groupon for a northern ski-resort, where kids under 8 ski & eat for free… what more did we need?

Well, beer, first and foremost. Lots of beer.

Here are 6 things I learned… the hard way.

1. Ski boots suck.
   When forcing a nearly 5 year-old into ski-boots for the first time, be prepared for the tears. Wait, tears? There’s no crying in skiing! Screw that, my 5 year old wasn’t too happy about them either. 
2. You will need a drink before you strap your skis on.
   Maybe that’s just me, but between getting 2 kids & myself dressed in all the ski-gear… I was a sweaty mess by the time we were outside. I forgot my friendly flask, and wished I could’ve strapped one of those double beer-helmets. I think those beer-helmets were invented for skiing… not football. I’ll be bringing one next time.
3. If you are teaching your kids to ski, may God have mercy on your soul.
   I can barely hold my own on skis. I’m not a beginner… but I’m definitely not a teacher. The hubs is a fantastic teacher, but I don’t think he was prepared for just how helpless both of our daughters would be. And the fact that the hubs & I would never really get a chance to ski at all. 
4. Just… walk. 
   I own an old pair of skis, but I had to rent boots. They didn’t work together, but I didn’t realize that until I was outside, struggling to keep my two kids standing up on skis for the first time while I fought with the bindings. Then the hubs tells me I need to get them adjusted. Really? I said fuck that, returned my ski-boots and put on my every-day boots. What a relief. Then I could pull my nearly 5yo and the hubs could pull the nearly 8yo since, ya know, he doesn’t fall as much as I do. 
5. Beware of obstacles.
   Crystal Mountain has “Magic Carpets” instead of tow-ropes, you just slide right on & off and they dump you on a super easy bunny slope so you can practice. However… there is no warning about what is at the end of these Magic Carpets… especially if you aren’t wearing skis. I went to step off the carpet to help my 8yo down the hill after a couple of runs with the hubs — and my entire leg disappeared under the 65″ of packed powder! I didn’t feel the bottom. I’m just happy it was one leg. I don’t know what would’ve happened if both of my legs landed into the hollow… but I’m trying not to think about it. 
6. Be proud of whatever you accomplished. 
   Our first ski-outing was an experience. Was it successful? Well, both kids DID get down the hill a few times. Would we do it again? Not without a ton of alcohol… and a ski instructor for our kids while the hubs & I enjoy a few adult runs.