SKI SEASON’S COMING!
OUR GUIDE TO SKIING WITH THE GROMS (YOUR KIDS)
It’s time to wax your planks because Ski Season is right around the corner!!! Lots of us have young kids these days so I thought I’d give you guys my playbook on how to have fun skiing with the family this winter.
Ski Pass Deals For Kids In Elementary
Epic School Kids Colorado Pass – This pass is FREE and includes several days for kids K-5 at each of the vail resorts (Vail, Keystone, Breckenridge etc.).
Colorado Ski Passport – For 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th grades. This pass is $59 and includes several days at other resorts including Steamboat, Winter Park, Copper, Loveland, A-Basin, Telluride, Monarch, Eldora etc.
Best Mountains to Go To with the Family
Copper Mountain – Has a great spot for kids to learn, Kids 4 and under ski and ride free…and you get to ride the ski bus which blows Rob’s girls’ minds.
Mary Jane – Best Deal Ever…you can ride the galloping Goose as much as you want no matter what age you are. The fall line isn’t perfect, but did I mention it’s FREE? Bonus points for being close to the parking lot.
Snowy Range WYO- Kids under 5 ski free here…passes for adults and Groms are cheap. No Traffic to get there…whats not to love!
Eldora – On a Weekday (weekends busy) has 3 nice lifts ranging easiest to little harder separate from rest of mountain so good for kids.
Monarch – No Denver Crowds – Independent Mountain – Kids Program Series (for example Saturdays for 5 weeks lesson and their season pass) $299
Kids Gear
This is where we see lots of parents fail! If your kids aren’t warm, or arent’ using well-fitting gear they will say things like “I HATE SKIING,” “I’m Cold,” and you can kiss the dream of family ski day goodbye! Also make their first few days FUN (don’t worry about skill or anything else) so they’ll want to go again.
Christie’s Sports – offers affordable Season Long Ski Rentals for all ages. Sign up soon!
The Edgy Wedgy – This thing worked wonders for Navah and the Triplets! Kids legs may not be strong enough to keep the skis together.
Ski Harness – This helps a ton at first especially as they are learning to stop. You can slow them down a bit, and even turn them a tiny bit.
GEAR TO MAKE MOM & DADS SKI DAY BETTER
This Grill – Buy one of these bad Larrys and you’ll be a ski lot legend! Plus you get to work on your dad bod while skiing…what’s not to love?
The Hot Chocolate Thermos – This is a necessity. Don’t be Lame, give your kids Hot Chocolate. They will love you for it. A Stanley Thermos has total dad vibes and will keep water at a temp that is sure to burn your children’s mouths all day.
(Pro-Tip Stanley makes a great flask for special drinks too)
Shred Snacks – ALSO a NECESSITY. Keep your pockets full of fruit snacks M&M’s and lots of Treats which we call Shred Snacks. We eat them on the lifts, and the kids love to give them to the Liftys which is super fun! Every run usually requires a snack…
The Gear Hauler – If you have young Kids you will for sure be carrying gear to and from the parking lot…and often them on my shoulders. You want a backpack with lots of straps to strap skis on so you can keep your hands free. Here’s the one Rob uses and love. (Also a great backcountry ski bag)
Here’s the one Rick uses (designed for lift riding NOT backcountry)
YOUR MINDSET
Fix Your Mindset – young kids don’t want to ski for a long time…they just want to hang out with you and have fun. So don’t push them. Sometimes we only ski two runs, sometimes we ski 10. One of my kids thought it was great riding the moving escalator and just skied down to ride it again… but had fun. As long as they are having fun they will grow to love it!Happy Shreddy season!
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