Question for skiers...

[Liberty Belle]

My son (turning 14 in May) wants to go on a ski trip with his youth group. I'm worried about letting him go because he's never skied before and I've heard horror stories. He says he mainly wants to snowboard - I don't know if that's safer or more dangerous.

I'm afraid he's going to try something too difficult for him and get hurt.

Do you think I should let him go? Do they restrict beginners to easy slopes or is it up to him to do that?

I'm just really nervous about it. I haven't told him yet if he can go or not, but he knows I'm concerned.

TIA

 

[goodeats]

He'll be spending so much time on his butt that he won't be able to attempt anything dangerous!

I'm a relative beginner skier (I still take lessons each time I go), but in my experience they can't really stop you from trying the more advanced runs. They might stop a totally clueless person from getting on a chair that takes you to an advanced area, but once you're up the mountain it's up to you to use your noggin. But like I said before, he probably won't be able to get much passed the bunny slop for his first few days on a snowboard.

I think you should definitely let him go (provided it's well supervised of course). Just make sure he takes a lesson and knows to avoid the blue squares (intermediate) and black diamond (advanced) runs!

 

[lindalinda]

Let him go. I'm sure they will have lessons available, including snowboard lessons. I would recommend skiing lessons to start tho, snowboarding can be very frustrating, and kids usually get the hang of skiing pretty fast.

Its a really fun sport, my son is on his schools ski club (they are going tomorrow). I know what its like to worry, but have a talk about safety and I'm sure he will be fine.

I dont know of any that restrict which runs you can go on, but you should tell him to stick to greens until hes very comfortable. If its a trip for several days I wouldnt be surprised if he was on blues after a couple of days.

Make sure he takes advantage of any lessons that are available. Sometimes once kids can get down the hill they think they dont need them anymore, and they can learn a lot from the lessons.

 

[salmoneous]

If it's me, and the trip includes a package deal with a lesson every day, I'd let him do it. If the plan is for his buddies to teach him, I wouldn't.

Note - in general, they don't peg you as a beginner and force you to stick to the easier slopes. However, most places do sell a beginner lift pass that only lets him go on the easiest slopes. But he'll be ready for more after a day or two of competent lessons so you can't keep him on those the whole time.

 

[lindalinda]

I just noticed youre from Ky, is he going to Paoli or Perfect North?

 

[christineann]

I would let him go - surely they will have a class for beginners. My daughter is a freshman in college, and she is at her snowboarding class right now (PE!). She has never been in real snow before, and she said that she had a hard time at the beginning of her first class, but she got the hang of it after a little while and is having a great time.

 

[horseshowmom]

My daughter went for the first time a couple of years ago. She did the snowboarding (lessons) and was the only girl in her group (of about 10, I think), so apparently the guys are really into it. Everybody else (her girlfriends) did the skiing, because it is easier than the boarding, but she said she was glad she went ahead with the boarding. She hasn't had the chance to go back since then though.

 

[chyam]

If he wants to go learn snowboarding then let him do that especially make him take some lessons. Younger people like snowboarding better and quite honestly the techniques in skiing are very different from snowboarding, although skiing may seem easier it isn't to anybody who has surfed or ridden skate boards.I have skied for years and tried snowboarding and spent much of my time on my bottom in the snow! It also depends on where he is going on how steep and fast the slopes would be. And no they do not restrict where on the mtn. you can go unless you only have a specific lift ticket. I have seen 3 year olds on the slopes, the younger you are the easier it is. Let him go and at least experience it.

 

[Liberty Belle]

I just noticed youre from Ky, is he going to Paoli or Perfect North?

Perfect North. Any Tips?

 

[lindalinda]

Perfect North. Any Tips?

Good. Do not worry. The setup is great at perfect north for beginners. They have a lot of short runs, both blue and green. Also , at the bottom there is room to stop and turn (paoli doesnt have much room and theres a fence). There is also a long green run that goes from the top along the left. The instructors are also very good. This is truly a good place for beginners. You can literally watch a beginner all the way up a couple of the short runs. The bunny slopes are small, mostly just used for the lesson. If he stays on the left slopes he will be fine. (thats his left when he gets to the top) Tell him to avoid the one narrow trail that branches off to the right on the green trail (trees). Everything at the bottom is wide open. You can check out the web site www.perfectnorth.com and they have webcams. Look at the trail maps. You will see where the blues and greens are.

Dont worry.

 

[lindalinda]

Okay, that long one on the left is a blue. Seriously tho, its an easy blue. There is one short blue thats right in the middle called audition. Its a blue I think because of a big bump, my son loves it.

 

[marydmjj]

I say let him go but make sure he takes a lesson and wears a helmet - especially if boarding. I started boarding 2 years ago and I'm so glad I wore one. I fell and cracked my head a couple of times.

 

[#1MMFan]

Yeah, I'd let him go. I started snowboarding a couple of years ago and it was great fun in the lessons initially, then I reached a point where I was trying to link my turns where I was constantly falling (took some hard knocks on the dry ski slope) but then went on snow for the first time and haven't looked back. I'm fortunate tho' because I have an indoor REAL snow slope just 25 minutes from me.
I would suggest if he is going to snowboard that you check availability of (or purchase) some protective gear such as helmet, knee pads and padded shorts. If you go on www.redprotection.com and look at the R.E.D. gear you'll see what I mean.
Also, be prepared for him to love it, and for you to be splashing out hundreds of dollars on apparell, and hard goods such as boots, bindings and the board itself! Tell him he'll LOVE it.