It is blustery and temperatures are dropping really quick. A group of four and five year olds who look like brightly colored penguins are lining up to march across what looks like the arctic tundra. They wobble awkwardly as they walk up a small hill with planks attached to their fairly unstable feet reaching.For most of them, this is their first ski lesson. When the little skiers reach the top of the hill, they turn, look down, and go. They are skiing. After just a few hours of instruction, they can cruise — somewhat gracefully — down the kiddy slope.
“Our main goal is to make lifetime skiers,” says Jenn Simon, programs coordinator of the Club Camp and the Ski and Snowboard School instructional programs at Mt. Snow ski area. The Ski and Snowboard is a multi-week youth development program.
Whether it is the kids’ first time on skis or not, this is a very popular program and is specially designed for children ages four to six.
Children are placed in small groups based on their age and ability levels so they will learn at the same pace as others. These groups ski together, take breaks together, and of course, have fun together.
“A lot of parents drop their kids off here — kids who have never skied before,” says Simon. “And within 10 weeks, they can ski almost the whole mountain.” The advantage of a ski lesson with a trained professional, rather than a family member or a friend, is fast progress.
“I think that me teaching her to ski was one of those dad and daughter things,” says Jeff, a local father trying to teach his 10-year-old daughter, Hannah, how to ski. “It was happening slow so I thought to try out Mountain Camp. All of a sudden when she is in another environment skiing with an instructor she doesn’t know... you can’t whine anymore. So I think the learning curve is a lot faster.”
Hannah is now in her second year of the Snow Camp program, and she has progressed five levels.Many young learners find the same success. During this particular Saturday session, first-time snowboarders are hitting the slopes to gain skills.
“I learned how to stop when I need to and I learned how to go faster and faster and faster,” says Cameron, six, as she sipped from a cup of hot chocolate. “This is my first day ever on a board and I’m making progress.”
A statewide initiative has been started by Burton’s Chill program this winter season to bring new snow riders to the slopes. Chill is an intervention project
for at-risk inner-city kids, ages 10-18. The program puts these kids on snowboards ones a week for six weeks. Participants receive lift tickets, instructions, bus transpiration and use of gear. Reaching these kids through schools and social service agencies, Chill gets more than 2,500 youngsters involved in 14 North American cities.
One product of Chill’s amazing work is 18 year old Stephanie. She has been in foster care since age 12 and came to Chill through the Salvation Army Social Services of Greater New York.
Before Chill, Stephanie said that she “didn’t care if I existed. I believed I had nothing left to live for. I felt I was nothing, I had nothing and nothing mattered.”
Now, “I’ve learned how to dedicate myself to tasks, to organize myself and get things don,” she said. She has learned to take leadership initiative for herself and enjoys working on the school newspapers. Most impressively she plans to attend college. When asked why she is so motivated to go to The University of Vermont, she replies with a great smile, “They offer snowboarding as a gym class!”
“The goal is to create core participants,” says Amy Ohran, director of the Ski and Snowboard School and Mt Snow. She ads that Snow has a new offering this year for novice skiers and snowboarders ages 6 and older called Ski or Ride in 5. The package includes five lessons with rentals and lift tickets and a free 12-day pass or season’s pass (depending on age) if participants complete all five lessons. Ski or Ride in 5 starts Jan. 4. Participants will also get future discounts on passes.
“It’s cheaper to do the lesson package than to buy everything separately,” notes David who was working inside with some of the kids during their hot chocolate break.
Most, if not all, ski resorts operate by the same philosophy: It is better to equip beginners with the right skills rather than have them fend for themselves. That is why novice lessons are the most affordable lessons offered.
“We know from experience that it is best to get them with our instructional staff and get them off on the right foot,” says John Judy, one of the instructors. “There are a lot of people that try to come up and do it on their own and they go away hurt, and we don’t want that to happen. We want our guests to have a good time.”
“Overall, I just enjoy seeing them (novices) struggle to begin with and then that moment where they get it — that’s where the magic happens,” says Olson, 25 and a five-year snowboard coach at Snow. “You know they are going to be riding for the rest of their lives.”
~Laura Kingston
Before Chill, Stephanie said that she “didn’t care if I existed. I believed I had nothing left to live for. I felt I was nothing, I had nothing and nothing mattered.”
Now, “I’ve learned how to dedicate myself to tasks, to organize myself and get things don,” she said. She has learned to take leadership initiative for herself and enjoys working on the school newspapers. Most impressively she plans to attend college. When asked why she is so motivated to go to The University of Vermont, she replies with a great smile, “They offer snowboarding as a gym class!”
“The goal is to create core participants,” says Amy Ohran, director of the Ski and Snowboard School and Mt Snow. She ads that Snow has a new offering this year for novice skiers and snowboarders ages 6 and older called Ski or Ride in 5. The package includes five lessons with rentals and lift tickets and a free 12-day pass or season’s pass (depending on age) if participants complete all five lessons. Ski or Ride in 5 starts Jan. 4. Participants will also get future discounts on passes.
“It’s cheaper to do the lesson package than to buy everything separately,” notes David who was working inside with some of the kids during their hot chocolate break.
Most, if not all, ski resorts operate by the same philosophy: It is better to equip beginners with the right skills rather than have them fend for themselves. That is why novice lessons are the most affordable lessons offered.
“We know from experience that it is best to get them with our instructional staff and get them off on the right foot,” says John Judy, one of the instructors. “There are a lot of people that try to come up and do it on their own and they go away hurt, and we don’t want that to happen. We want our guests to have a good time.”
“Overall, I just enjoy seeing them (novices) struggle to begin with and then that moment where they get it — that’s where the magic happens,” says Olson, 25 and a five-year snowboard coach at Snow. “You know they are going to be riding for the rest of their lives.”
~Laura Kingston
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