Have you taken an (almost) 4 y/o snow tubing?

[TheLittleRoo]

All the ski slopes seem to have an age minimum of 4 or 5 years to go tubing. I'd like to take the kids (13, 7, and almost 4) for a day of tubing but I can't find a single mountain within driving distance of DC that allows under 4 kids.

Some have kiddy tubing, but only with a parent. I'd be taking the kids myself so if I'm with him, I'm not with my DD7 or DS13. The only other option would be to put DS3 (turns 4 on Mar 7) in ski daycare or ski school. He wouldn't like that too much, I'm afraid. He doesn't separate really well. But he is a dare devil, so I think he'd like tubing.

I have to figure something out b/c it's not fair to the older kids that they don't get to do fun stuff because their little brother can't.

 

[Darsa]

The one time I went tubing I took my DD13 when she was 11. I wouldn't take a child that young, at least to the one I went to anyway; it's DANGEROUS!! There could be others that have it situated more safely, but the one I went to was like crossing a busy intersection at 5:00 on a Friday...

 

[momsully]

We go snow tubing alot and it is dangerous. Part of the problem with a younger child is that since they don't weigh as much they don't go as far in the tubing path. When they stop they can (and often are) hit by another tuber. Depending on the number of tubing lanes the child then has to cross several lanes to get to the exit to go back up to the top.

My kids always wear their ski helmets when they tube as do DH and I. Two years ago for DS 8th birthday we were tubing. I was holding DS6 tube so we were joined together (little kids go further this way). As we were coing down, I went up the side of the lane, realized I was going to flip and pushed DS and his tube out of the way down the lane. I ended up on my head and was taken off the tubing hill in a backboard. Not a very fun way to end the day.

I still tube, but I am more cautious now. The resorts are also getting more cautious which is why the age limits are in place.

 

[TheLittleRoo]

We go snow tubing alot and it is dangerous. Part of the problem with a younger child is that since they don't weigh as much they don't go as far in the tubing path. When they stop they can (and often are) hit by another tuber. Depending on the number of tubing lanes the child then has to cross several lanes to get to the exit to go back up to the top.

My kids always wear their ski helmets when they tube as do DH and I. Two years ago for DS 8th birthday we were tubing. I was holding DS6 tube so we were joined together (little kids go further this way). As we were coing down, I went up the side of the lane, realized I was going to flip and pushed DS and his tube out of the way down the lane. I ended up on my head and was taken off the tubing hill in a backboard. Not a very fun way to end the day.

I still tube, but I am more cautious now. The resorts are also getting more cautious which is why the age limits are in place.

Oh wow. I wasn't thinking of lanes at all. I was thinking of a ski run that you tube down. Or like a hill where you wait in line and go down one at a time.

Maybe I should ask: what is it really like? 8 side by side lane racing doesn't sound like fun to me.

 

[mickeyboat]

We go snow tubing alot and it is dangerous. Part of the problem with a younger child is that since they don't weigh as much they don't go as far in the tubing path. When they stop they can (and often are) hit by another tuber. Depending on the number of tubing lanes the child then has to cross several lanes to get to the exit to go back up to the top.

I also wonder what kinds of lifts the tubing resort has. Some of the lifts might be difficult for a 4 year old to manage on his own.

Would it be possible to bring along another adult? The two of you could take turns on the tubing and kiddie tubing hills, so everyone could have a chance to tube together on the kiddie hill, and then the older kids could take turns with an adult of the regular tubing hill.

Don't discount ski school, either. Most of the kids I have seen in ski school absolutely love it!

Denae

 

[momsully]

Oh wow. I wasn't thinking of lanes at all. I was thinking of a ski run that you tube down. Or like a hill where you wait in line and go down one at a time.

Maybe I should ask: what is it really like? 8 side by side lane racing doesn't sound like fun to me.

The resort where we tube has five lanes, each a little faster than the other. You wait at the top until the person in front of you has passed a certain point then go. There are cut out in the lanes at the bottom to walk back to the lift. The lift is like a magic carpet (conveyor belt in the snow). The tube sits on it, you sit in the tube and it pulls you up.

 

[DrCavin]

We went this weekend to Brandywine in Ohio, http://bmbw.com/plan-and-buy/snow-tubing-polar-blast, they have no minimum age. They have dedicated lanes for each "group" of tubers, you can go down the hill as a group or single. I didn't see anything dangerous with how this one was ran. They have workers at the top of the hill that wont let you go until the group ahead of you is out of range. Once you stop sliding, you walk straight down the rest of your lane & then head to the right to go again. Then you get on a moving sidewalk that takes you up the hill.

It was a blast, not inexpensive $25 pp for 3 hours but was a great time & will go again.

 

[All American]

I live in Utah, and I see really young kids tubing/sledding ALL the time. At first, I just wondered if you could find a park and realized winter doesn't = snow everywhere. As for safety, I can see why an area would want a parent to chaperone the younger kids. I don't know why they have to be at least 4 except for liability reasons. My 2-year-old nephew went sledding over Christmas with my sister's extended family, and between him and the 80-year-old grandparents no one got hurt. If Mom and Dad are watching, the kids should be fine. Honestly, I think the danger lies with the teenagers acting dangerously and being stupid.

That's my thought, but if the area has rules, what are you going to do. Ski school is a good idea. I've heard the younger the kids start the better they do, and if your little one is a daredevil, it's worth a shot. If you are worried about the separation issues maybe you could watch from the sidelines (fun, I know). The kids learn pretty quick and he'd probably be able to tackle the bunny hill with you before you know it.

ETA: About the teenagers, the older ones are usually fine, it's the younger ones and the "almost" teens trying too hard to be cool (not all are like this jsut some). Of course oblivious parents don't help.

 

[luvmy3]

Where we go there are 5(or 6) lanes at the top and you wait for the person in front of you to go all the way down. There are also people who work there who pull you, so they are actually starting you down the hill, you do not do it yourself.
My 5 year old does not really like it but he'll do it. They do link the tubes together (only 1 person per tube isallowed) but he is so light that sometimes his tube actually lifts up on top of the snow bank that separates the lane.
The lift here is not a conveyor belt under the snow, it is like a pulley system with hooks, you hook the strap from the tube on, you can ride up in the tube if you want.

Personally, I wouldn't take someone under the age requirement to do it, there is a reason they have it. It can be dangerous and I wouldn't risk it.

 

[LisaNJ25]

Wait till its warmer and take them all river rafting.This way you wont have to split up and they will all enjoy it.

 

[LuvOrlando]

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[designermv]

Whitetail Resort--have you checked with them?

 

[Enchanted_Mama]

we're taking my kids (6 and 3) to Big Boulder in a few weeks (Poconos). There isn't an age limit, but a height one (36 inches).

 

[roliepolieoliefan]

We have a local tubing place here. 6 lanes and a tow rope.

My kids have been tubing since they were both 2 years old. First time they went down I thought my heart would drop, it is scarey watching their little bodies go down that big hill, but both of them absolutely loved it.

They are now 10 and 5 and have been asking to go, but even though we have snow its been so darn cold.

The place we go to has you sit down in the tube and they hook the strap on for you. At the top of the hill it kind of throws you off the hook and you slide down a small small slope before having to walk over to the big hill. First time they let the kids ride with DH up the hill, 2nd time they did it themselves.

 

[eh24fan]

We went tubing in North Conway, NH last march at Cranmore Mtn...it was my then 14 month old, 7 yr old, me, DBoyfriend, mom and stepdad. We loved it! There were only 3 or 4 lanes open, and we took turns watching from the bottom with the baby. Until the last run...I decided that we would go ahead and take the baby since I had seen a kid who was about 2 go with his mom. Well...I wouldn't do it again. We had 3 tubes together, my stepdad and boyfriend on either side of me holding onto my tube and I had the baby. He had NO clue what was going on and didn't seem to care one way or another. Me on the other hand...I was praying we got down to the bottom safely. It scared the CRAP out of me!

We are planning on going to Ski Roundtop to tube next month and the 2 year old will be staying here in Delaware. They have a kiddie run but then one of us would have to be there, so it's just not going to be as much fun.

 

[aprilgail2]

we're taking my kids (6 and 3) to Big Boulder in a few weeks (Poconos). There isn't an age limit, but a height one (36 inches).

We went there a few times- lots of fun. We also went to Shawnee and Camelback. I forget which one but one had these little duckie tubes for the little ones to go in. My friends daughter was 3 when we went and she would take her duck tubes and go over to her lift (ducks hill was smaller) and sit in her tube, the guy would hook it up to the pully (just like the regular lift) and the then at the top she would jump out (just like the regular lift ) and the guy would take the tube off and hand it to her. She would go to the top and they person would point them where to go, she would sit in the tube that had a ducks head on it (like a pool tube looking duck) and they would hold on to the ducks head while they tubed down the hill- she loved it .

 

[mamamary]

We went snow tubing yesterday in York, PA at Avalanche Express. I can't say that I saw anyone as young as 3. Maybe some 4 and 5 year olds. The tow rope was actually a little hard to manage at this place. There was a huge ice bump at the top where people were literally getting knocked out of the tube. From what we did yest. I'd never let someone that young go but maybe there are some other places where it's not as "wild".