Category: Ski

Book Review: Freestyle Snowboarding Tricks

For Christmas I got two great gifts from Mountain Dad. The first is a book titled Freestyle Snowboarding tricks, skills and techniques by Alexander Rottman and Nici Pederzolli. It’s a How-To book with detailed instructions on performing all sorts of snowboarding tricks.

The best part about this book is not the writing on each page, although it is informative and easy to read. What’s really interesting is the photography. It is awesome. Each skill presented is documented in split second sequences so you can imagine every movement needed to successful accomplish the trick. For example, the page describing a backside 180 on the snow shows the rider at each step of the rotation from riding in, putting weight on an edge, jumping off the tail, rotating in the air and finally landing. Even for those non-snowboarders out there Freestyle Snowboarding is an interesting book because the photography is so compelling.

The second great Christmas gift was the DVD 20 Tricks: An Instructional Video by Transworld Snowboarding features famous snowboarders explaining everything from Ollies to backside 900s. My favorite video is Jamie Anderson describing a Tailslide 270 out, which is a rotation off the end of a snowboard box, for those non riders out there. Each skill is its own short snipit on the DVD which allows for repeated watching of whatever trick you’re working on. I was inspired to try out some tricks because the professionals on the video make it look so easy.

Now, as you readers know, one of the 30 goals I made for my 30th birthday was to do a 360 on my snowboard. Well, I’ve been practicing and reading up in Freestyle Snowboarding and watching 20 Tricks.
I am happy to report that last Saturday I successfully completed the sloppiest, ugliest 360 you could imagine! It wasn’t great, but I did it!

I know what you’re thinking. It’s mid-March. The sun is shining, the weather is warm and I don’t have to wear snowboots everywhere I go. So why is Mountain Mom still talking about skiing and snowboarding?
Well, I just can’t help it. I love snowboarding. I LOVE IT!

Get your kid ski lessons!

I wrote my previous post about debating between kids ski lessons and self teaching before I actually skied with Big E. now that I have I take back any doubt I had before. Get your kid ski lessons! His improvement was jaw droppingly amazing. He could stop, turn a little, go fast, go slow, and he only fell three times on the whole run. This is light years beyond where he was. Go Big E! Oh and a big thank you to the makers of Edgy Wedgies! They help a ton.

Tips on Teaching Children to Ski

UPDATED MARCH 12, 2018

To lesson or not to lesson?  It’s a question that any parent comes across when teaching children to ski or to learn anything new.

Sometimes the answer is easy.  For example, if I wanted Big E to learn how to ride a horse I would put him in a lesson, no question, for the very simple reason that I don’t know how to ride horses.  But when it comes to skiing at a 4-year-old level, that is something I think I can do.

Teaching a five year old to ski

Continue reading “Tips on Teaching Children to Ski”

Big E’s Big Skis

Living at Sundance Ski Resort kinda requires you to love skiing.  As a mom I want my kids to love skiing as much as I love snowboarding because I’ve felt so much pure joy on the mountain. Who wouldn’t want to share that kind of joy with their kids?  
Now, I’m not a downhill skier, the last time I tried it was 10 years ago. I do cross country ski a little and snowboard, a lot. You may ask, “Why not start Big E on snowboarding, if that’s what you love?” Well, in my short stint as a snowboard instructor a few years ago, there was a general rule that kids under seven are just too young to snowboard.  The problem is muscle control.  It’s not easy to hold your feet and ankles at the right angle to keep from falling on your face or backside, as an adult. As a young child with minimal muscle strength in the lower leg, it’s just frustrating.
Even with my lack of downhill ski knowledge I wasn’t too worried to introduce the sport to E, I snowboard religiously after all. I’m comfortable on the snow, and even if I’m not a pro skier at least I can get my son comfortable on the snow too.
We borrowed the neighbor’s boots and skis and hiked down to the resort. Kids under 6 ski free at Sundance and everyone has access to Sundance’s free tow rope. E was a little nervous, as he is with all new things and places.  I showed him how to put on his boots, lock into the skis, how to make a snowplow and how to move.  Since I didn’t have my own skis he was a little reluctant to try things out. For his first time, I think he did great. 

After the initial trip down the slope we headed for the tow rope. My expectations were low. He liked WATCHING the tow rope. He got in line for the tow rope, but alas he never actually attempted to ride the tow rope. Part of the problem was that I did not have skis on, and therefore could not have him ride with me.  Most parents tuck their tots between their skis the first time and the both go up together.  Since I didn’t have skis on he would’ve had to hold on himself with me running up behind.

Bribery was useless in getting him to try the tow. I was practicing my motherly patience and didn’t want to make a big deal about it, I want skiing to be a positive experience for both of us after all. But I couldn’t help feeling a little annoyed at him not even being willing to try the tow.  

After sliding around for about an hour, eating a whole pack of bribery starbursts and only falling once we decided to head back home.  I’m glad I wasn’t expecting too much from him.  I just wanted to get him in skis, on the snow, and having fun.  I think those things were all accomplished, even if he didn’t try out the tow rope. Overall it was good, not great, but not bad.