Category: Ski

5 Tips for Spring Skiing with Tots

I know for most of the world winter is over. Everyone’s thinking about spring and enjoying the sunshine. But at our home we still love the snow, especially since I know we only have a week left to enjoy the downhill slopes.

Spring is the best time to teach young kids to ski because the weather is sunny and warm, making the snow soft and slightly slushy. Next to powder skiing, it’s my favorite time on the slopes too. The crowds are nonexistent since everyone except the serious skiers are caught in spring fever. The weather is either warm and sunny or pounding fresh powder in a spring storm. It’s the best time.

A few weeks ago I wrote about taking two-year-old little g on the slopes for the first time. After that dismal beginning I vowed not to try it again, but being cooped up inside while the snow melted outside inspired me to take the risk again. It was worth it.

This time Little g, in the smallest skis and boots available at the rental shop, laughed and squealed with delight as we went down the slopes, instead of crying the whole time like last time. 
I positioned my skis on either side of hers, controlling our speed and direction while holding her up with my arms. “Faster  mama! Weee!” she cried as we slid down the slope. My attempts to have her slow herself down or even stand without leaning against me were futile. 
She did not grasp the idea of making a triangle or pizza slice with her skis (turning the tips toward each other to stop) and all she wanted to do was “GO!” Although her ski abilities continue to be sketchy at best, we were able to do three runs with me hunched over her, carrying her, and finding the safest path down. 
I consider it a triumph that we could even go at all. skiing with one young kid is tough enough, but two is extra difficult. It is only possible because Big E took a lesson at the beginning of the season and through practice is now able to handle any challenge a beginner or intermediate run can dish out. Since he can handle his own stopping, starting and shuffling all I have to help with is jumping onto the chair. 

Skiing aids can help. I forgot our Edgie Wedgie which would help little g’s skis stay in good position. Next year I’m looking forward to using a hula hoop to teach her self balance, assuming I could learn how to ski backward well enough that she could hold one side of the hoop while I ski in front of her down the mountain. You gotta remember, I’m a snowboarder at heart. 
Of all the skiing aids available, however, my favorite is candy. I bribe my kids to get their skis on, or do a good run or stop crying, whatever it takes to keep us all happy.

Mostly I want my tots to have fun skiing. Having children is a constant lesson in patience, but I’m okay with little g taking it slowly as long as it lets me get out and enjoy the outdoors. 
Tips for Teaching Tots to Ski
  1. Go when the weather is warm and everyone is happy. I like teaching kids on sunny spring days after we’ve all eaten and taken any necessary naps. 
  2. Invest in lessons. My first time skiing with Big E left both of us tired and frustrated. After a lesson he was able to stop and go on his own, leaving both of us much happier. Little g is too young for lessons this year.
  3. Skiing aids can help. Edgie Wedgies, hula hoops, child harnesses can all keep kids from careening out of control, but don’t forget the easiest of all ski aids – bribery. My kids like chocolate.
  4. Focus on fun. Forcing someone to do something they don’t enjoy is torture for everyone. Have the number one goal be for everyone to have fun.
  5. Take it slow. Skiing with tots takes more time and patience than skiing alone. Sometimes taking a break to have a snowball fight or eat a snack is the fastest way down the mountain. 
Here’s a link to a similar post I wrote last year.

Team Utah/Sundance Resort Banked Slalom Snowboard Race

This last weekend I competed in my first ever snowboard race. Sundance Resort and Team Utah host a banked slalom event every March and this year I was one of the ninety nine participants.

Banked Slalom is similar to boarder cross races, with banked turns, jumps and features to maneuver around. The difference is that in banked slalom you must pass each flagged gate and boarders run the course one at a time instead of in a pack of four or six.
I don’t know why I was surprised to feel nervous. It was my first snowboard race after all, but my tight chest, quick heart, and fear caught me off guard. Feeling anxiety is not something I experience in my daily life and although I didn’t like that I DID enjoy the race. 
After falling on the icy track three times during a practice run I realized my strategy would have to be GO SLOW AND DON’T FALL. Unfortunately going slow is not a great strategy for winning races. Although I did not place in the top three women racers, I was able to complete the course without falling and improve my time from 90 seconds to 82 seconds. That’s good enough for me.
The race ended with an award ceremony where I won a cool sweatshirt (Thanks Nitro!) just for participating. I met some cool people, tried something new and realized I may not ever make it to the Olympics. Oh well!

NOTE: Although I wish I looked as cool as the people in these photos, they are not me. 

Believe in Steven Nyman Post

I recently had the opportunity to write this post for Sundance Mountain Resort on Steven Nyman, three time Olympic skier. Enjoy!

This post originally appeared at www.sundanceresortblog.com.

Steven Nyman — From Sundance to Sochi by Susan Strayer

Watching the Sochi Olympics this year has reminded me how lucky I am to live close to Sundance Resort. One of my favorite athletes to watch was Sundance native and three time Olympian, Steven Nyman who competed in Downhill Skiing. I caught up with his dad, Scott Nyman at Nyman’s Ski and Snowboard Shop, to ask him about Steven and his favorite winter sport.
Skiing apparently runs in Nyman blood. Steven’s parents, Scott and Becky Nyman currently own Nyman’s Ski and Snowboard Shop. Before that, they lived and worked at Sundance Resort for more than twenty years. Scott was in charge of the Sundance Ski School while Becky taught ski lessons and supported her boys on the Sundance Ski Team. Steven’s older brother Michael used to be on ski patrol, and younger brother Blake has appeared in free skiing magazines and videos. Even the next generation of Nyman’s are hitting the slopes, as the Nyman grandchildren, ages 3 and 10 months, were out skiing with their mom, Lindsay, during our interview.
IMG_4757
Future Olympian“
We have lots of fond memories of living at Sundance,” Scott said. “It was the boys’ mountain playground.” No doubt that mountain playground gave Steven a good skiing foundation. His mom taught him to ski starting at age two. At age seven he joined the Sundance Ski Team. In 2002, he was named World Junior Champion in Slalom and World Junior Silver Medalist in Combined. Since then he has been a member of the US Ski Team, a two time National Downhill Champion, two time World Cup champion, and has competed in three Olympics – Vancouver, Torino and now Sochi. Even with all his world travel, Sundance is still home. “Steven loves Sundance,” said Scott. “He’s skied at resorts all over the world and Sundance is still his favorite place to ski powder.”
Steven for NBC, age 8 skiing with family @ Sundance
Skiing with the family
The Downhill race, in which Steven competed in Sochi, regularly clocks skiers going more than 80 miles per hour. “Downhill is the scariest discipline thanks to the icy track and high speeds,” Scott said. Steven was up for the challenge, finishing within three seconds of the winning racer. “We’re really proud of him,” said Scott. A family friend coined the phrase “Believe in Steven” years ago and it seems his family and friends have done just that.
 Nyman_steven

Teach a two year old to snowboard … or don’t

Our Mountain family loves winter sports, so it makes sense to start our kids early. I’ve heard other people say they started skiing at age two, which I always thought was ridiculous, until I tried it with my two year old. Now I know it’s ridiculous.

Parents know their kids, and I know little g well enough to sense that she would not enjoy skiing, yet my compulsion to do outdoors activities propelled me to try it out. My expectations were low. We went to the tow rope area at Sundance Mountain Resort (which is free for anyone by the way). I’m not above bribery so most of the time, little g sat on the side and ate candy or sucked on her highly regulated pacifier.

When I finally forced her to stand on my snowboard and ride up the tow and down the bunny hill she cried as much as her pacifier would let her. She did not like the feeling of sliding on the snow, did not like standing on my board and really just wanted more candy. Once was enough for both of us so we headed home after that.

This experience taught me something about myself – I enjoy the outdoors for my own sake and mine alone. My tots would be happy playing video games, legos and make believe all day, but I need daily time outdoors to feel good. The monumental effort it takes to pack, lug, comfort, encourage and man handle my children into an outdoor activity isn’t always worth it. But for those few minutes I get with the sun on my face, and introduce my tots to something new and fun, it is.