If you and your spouse do not ski there is no point in teaching your kids to ski. Lessons only go so far, they need time "free" skiing to develop the skills. They can learn as adults if they want.

Skiing and snowboarding is really fun. That's why people do it. And you dress for the weather so even if it is negative degrees outside, if you have all the right gear you'll be okay. Plus, you are being active and working your body so that keeps you warm too.

The roads are often in good shape, unless the snow is actively falling. It's important to have decent tires and know how to drive in snow.

But it's very expensive. As a beginner, you are unlikely to have all that gear I was talking about, and if you and your DH do not enjoy it, it's unlikely that you will take the time and expense to take your kids often enough that they enjoy it.

No, they will not get made fun for not knowing how to ski/snowboard as they are older. It's a privileged thing to be able to do these activities and plenty of kids grow up not doing them. They can always learn as adults (on their own time and their own dime) if they are so inclined.

As for how long to learn, some kids can be decent after one day, if they are athletic and fearless and pick things up quickly. But my general advice for beginners is to give it at least 3 days. The first day may be miserable. But if you keep at it, the 3rd day is usually when you get go down a beginner trail without fearing for your life and that's when it's fun.

If you absolutely hate the cold though, there's no need to torture yourself and do this.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Op here. Thank you. I will look into the packages. Do I need to get a day pass, rental equipment and airlift package for myself if I plan to just stay around for them to take lessons? My back is not good, so I don't plan to skip or snowboard.

Not if they are in ski school or lessons. But they will need an adult to accompany them when not in school or lessons.

If you don't want to ski, you really need to find a ski school because it's very expensive to buy a lift ticket only for use during a 1-2 hour lesson.

If you are not skiing, you need boots that walk on ice and through snow to reach the ski school.

If there is a toddler Magic Carpet (conveyor belt for going up a hill), you can supervise a kid on that without wearing skis.

If you are not using the lifts as a rider, you do not need to buy anything. A ski resort is not like an amusement park. You don't have to pay to be on the property.

I didn’t know the bunny slope was free, that’s good to know. OP you could use that to try it out. You don’t need to be a little kid, beginner adults can use it. I don’t think every resort has free bunny lifts and especially magic carpet if there’s a lift you might pay reduced fee but it’s a great deal.

As an adult or teen you can teach yourself quickly to ski. That means no tricks, no going as fast as you can, but it’s easy enough to learn.

PP. I do not know the policies at Liberty specifically but I have been to several resorts where there are some free areas. I said toddler Magic Carpet since the ones I'm familiar with are about 4 car lengths long and the parents don't need to ride it. They just need to supervise. Like when you take your kid to the playground to the slide.

A longer Magic Carpet would require a ticket to supervise. You can't walk alongside a long one and go up and down the small hill in regular boots without getting tired. And you'd be in the way of the skiers.

Liberty has free lift tickets for toddlers (4 and under).

If you want to go to Nub's Nob in Michigan...the beginner hill and lift is free for all ages and leads to the ski school. It's 5 hours north of Detroit.

https://www.nubsnob.com/free-beginner-area/

Here is a county park about 30 minutes outside of Pittsburgh right near a PA Turnpike exit with hotels. I think it only has a single slope. But in the right weather, it might be a cheap place to learn. Weekend rates are $35 for lift tickets.

https://www.alleghenycounty.us/Parks-and-Events/Activities/Skiing-and-Snowboarding

Here's a small place I enjoyed skiing at as a teen. It's near Seven Springs and Hidden Valley in Western PA. Lift tickets are cheaper because it's small.

https://www.laurelmountainski.com/

Go to Bryce and book private lesson, as your 2 DCs can share it together and get all the attention, and go 3 days in a row then your DCs should be able to learn the basics. You buy the lift tickets and rent the ski/snowboard equipments there ( check if it includes ski helmet, it usually includes, we have our own so I’m unsure). Your DCs need waterproof insulated jacket, waterproof insulated gloves, thermal innerwear, another layer of fleece top, long warm socks, balaclavas and hand warmer/body warmers etc. You can also consider massanutten, also 3 day lessons in a row, driving or stay overnight, there’re more things to do like indoor water park, swimming pool etc. For ski liberty or whitetail, join group lessons, they have package that includes ski/snowboard equipments, lift tickets, and lesson cost ( if you buy lift ticket and rent equipments separately, it cost a lot more). We prefer whitetail since they have 3 shorter lift kids can go alone, while ski liberty doesn’t actually have, except the magic carpet, but only when it operates.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Op here. Thank you. I will look into the packages. Do I need to get a day pass, rental equipment and airlift package for myself if I plan to just stay around for them to take lessons? My back is not good, so I don't plan to skip or snowboard.

Not if they are in ski school or lessons. But they will need an adult to accompany them when not in school or lessons.

If you don't want to ski, you really need to find a ski school because it's very expensive to buy a lift ticket only for use during a 1-2 hour lesson.

If you are not skiing, you need boots that walk on ice and through snow to reach the ski school.

If there is a toddler Magic Carpet (conveyor belt for going up a hill), you can supervise a kid on that without wearing skis.

If you are not using the lifts as a rider, you do not need to buy anything. A ski resort is not like an amusement park. You don't have to pay to be on the property.

I didn’t know the bunny slope was free, that’s good to know. OP you could use that to try it out. You don’t need to be a little kid, beginner adults can use it. I don’t think every resort has free bunny lifts and especially magic carpet if there’s a lift you might pay reduced fee but it’s a great deal.

As an adult or teen you can teach yourself quickly to ski. That means no tricks, no going as fast as you can, but it’s easy enough to learn.

How old are they? Have they expressed interest in skiing?

Anonymous wrote:Op here. Thank you. I will look into the packages. Do I need to get a day pass, rental equipment and airlift package for myself if I plan to just stay around for them to take lessons? My back is not good, so I don't plan to skip or snowboard.

Not if they are in ski school or lessons. But they will need an adult to accompany them when not in school or lessons.

If you don't want to ski, you really need to find a ski school because it's very expensive to buy a lift ticket only for use during a 1-2 hour lesson.

If you are not skiing, you need boots that walk on ice and through snow to reach the ski school.

If there is a toddler Magic Carpet (conveyor belt for going up a hill), you can supervise a kid on that without wearing skis.

If you are not using the lifts as a rider, you do not need to buy anything. A ski resort is not like an amusement park. You don't have to pay to be on the property.

Anonymous wrote:Op here. Thank you. I will look into the packages. Do I need to get a day pass, rental equipment and airlift package for myself if I plan to just stay around for them to take lessons? My back is not good, so I don't plan to skip or snowboard.

If you don’t plan on skiing, you don’t need to buy anything for yourself. Just get some warm clothes.

Op here. Thank you. I will look into the packages. Do I need to get a day pass, rental equipment and airlift package for myself if I plan to just stay around for them to take lessons? My back is not good, so I don't plan to skip or snowboard.

It's a good skill to learn while young.


1) Roads will be fine, likely a mix of man-made and natural snow

2) How long does normally it take for a kid to learn ski or snowboard? A few sessions, but it probably depends on your kids. We have one who is a natural athlete and one who had to work at it. We took the kids when the athlete was in 6th grade and younger sibling was in 4th, because we wanted them to be comfortable going with their school ski club, where we also paid for more lessons. It wasn't outrageous because their are discounts packages for students (they know in order to have n adult audience, they need to hook the kids when they are young)

3) I am confused about those passes. Do newbies need to get airlift ticket? Everyone needs a lift ticket, get the rental and lessons at the same time, as there will be a package deals

4) how cold is it really up there? See the layers needed as above. My kids wear thermals (long underwear, not silk), and ski pants/jackets, as well as goggles, ski mittens, hat and gaitor. They will be fine. Come into the lodge to warm up and have hot chocolate when cold. I wouldn't go on a day like today ("feels like" temps in single digits and windy), but they will be fine.

It's fun, for real. And, there are things that we think kids should know how to do: swim, ride a bike, ski, ice skate, golf, ride a horse come to mind. Neither kid is an expert in any of these things, but can hold their own. Both kids have since been invited to do some of these things with friends, and have felt confident to do them

These sports were invented by people who lived in cold climates. Even in prehistoric times, they had natural materials that did a decent job of keeping people warm (google Otzi's shoes).

See if you can find a ski club through the YMCA or your school. If your kid can go with others, you might not have to drive in the snow. Or if your kid has any friends who do it...ask the parents if you can join them on a same day trip when driving conditions are good. I agree with sending your kids to the onsite ski school and lessons. And you should rent equipment onsite the first few times. That way you can easier exchange anything that's not working (boot size, etc.).

Living in Maryland, your kids don't need to learn these sports. I learned to ski elsewhere. As a grownup living in Maryland for 8 years, I went skiing once...a brief weekend to Canaan Valley, WV with my boyfriend.

To my mind, only swimming is essential training. Because of the safety aspect and greater likelihood of being around water.

Teach skiing (first) over snowboarding. It has more transferability to things like#skating and water skiing. Resort skiing also transfer better to cross country and back country skiing where you are not depending in a lift. Cross country skiing can be done where ever there is snow which can make it very accessible.

More than anything, snow sports teach dynamic balance — eg how to be comfortable when slipping and sliding. It’s important to learn this when you are young.

They wear waterproof layers:

-base layer (like silk long underwear)
- ski pants
- ski coat
- ski gloves
- ski socks
- helmet
- goggles


Until you know your kids like it, get 2nd hand things at someplace like Play it Again Sports.

Wear sunscreen

Start them in ski school, typically the lesson includes a lift ticket and learning how to get on/off the lift is part of the lesson


Tip your instructor in cash at the end of the lesson.

To get proficient they will need to do more than one lesson, most likely. And it builds their confidence:

Kids start skiing or snowboarding at all different ages. It doesn’t take long at all to be able to go up the big mountain. This is recreational skiing not like the parents who dream of Olympics and start at 2 years old.

I like skiing but I can leave it easily. Whatever your kids ages are they should pick it up with a couple of basic lessons and practice.

I and DH do not ski or snowboard ever in our lives. I don't understand how other people can stay in the cold outdoor for many hours and we would rather stay indoors enjoying the heater or fire. Some familie a around us have talked about taking their kids as early as preschooler age to skinor snowboard every winter. They put their young kids to classes at the ski resort. The closest one to us is liberty resort. Our kids have never skiied or snowboarder because of me & DH. DH has zero incentive, and I would only consider to do that only for the benefits for my kids. I am afraud that they would be laughed at if they dont even know how to ski or snowboard at older age. I had a stupid rookie questions below

1) if i drive there which is one hour away, how's thr road condition? Are liberty resort man-made snow or real snow (thd whole mountain covered in snow, includes roads)? I am not good at driving in icy weather.

2) How long does normally it take for a kid to learn ski or snowboard? A season or a few seaons? I assume that ski is easier than snowboard, isn't it? I can't ski or snowboard. How much are the classes we are talking about? Kid ages are 6 and 10. Do people stay overnight or come every single weekends?

3) I am confused about those passes. Do newbies need to get airlift ticket? I assume that we can rent snow gear outside for a cheaper price? Do we need to get season pass?

4) how cold is it really up there? I am scared of cold weather. My 2 kids nosebleed often due to dry weather. One kid has low BMI, and feel cold in summer pool swimming. I don't want them to end up going to hospital at thf end of day. How do kids stay warm up there?

Thank you!