Anonymous
Post 12/23/2025 07:20     Subject: Re:Ski or snowboarding
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:From OP’s post and comments, I suspect her kids are at a very expensive private school.

She and her DH are not interested in skiing at all. She is inquiring about it because there are school ski trips and she doesn’t want her kids to be the few who don’t know how to ski.

So it’s the wrong reason for why her kids should learn how to ski. Just don’t have them go on that particular school trip or put them in ski school for that trip and they can decide if they like it or not even.


There is a right reason to learn to ski?

DH and I made an effort to teach our kids to ski (via ski school, not us personally) because we never learned growing up and it was a distinct social disadvantage when we became young professionals. Our large peer/professional friend group were skiers and they could ski very well. There were multiple ski trips a year, before kids of course, and we went along but weren't able to fully participate. So, we made sure to introduce the sport to our kids at a young age so they would feel more comfortable. One absolutely loves it and the other is fine with it but at least can handle the basics competently and with confidence.

The one who loves it now has a sport that he loves to do and is good at doing. And we made sure he learned it because of our own social pressure a long time ago. The reason doesn't matter at this point. Only the result.


The entire Kennedy clan skis. Need I say more?


+1
Anonymous
Post 12/22/2025 15:43     Subject: Ski or snowboarding
Anonymous wrote:Op here. After reading all these comments, I think skiing or snowboarding may not work for us. DH has an injured shoulders which he can't risk to get injured again from sports and I dont think I am capable to learn to ski or snowboard. Ot sure if it is similar concepts, kids have tried ice skating, and one kid does a bit better than other on balancing but both are not good at them. They have not tried roller blade or skateboard due to concern of the balancing challenges. I thought ski may be easier because one fall on soft snow, isn't it? I hear of middle school bus trip to ski ( probably through privatd vendors) , that's why I want to take them (esp. the older one, 4th grader) to give it a try in case he may get teased that he has never ski or snowboard before. We live in dmv area.


I am a lifelong (well, since age 5) skier and I'd concur with others that this isn't the sport for your family. Nothing about it seems to work - it is a cold weather sport (although it's rarely that cold in this area), it is physically demanding which sounds like it isn't a good fit for you or your kids, and one of the best things about it is that it is a family activity. We still ski as a family and my kids are adults. Lessons are great, but young kids really should be skiing with adults or buddies. Sending your 2 kids out on their own is not a good idea, even if you are at the base lodge.
Anonymous
Post 12/22/2025 15:32     Subject: Ski or snowboarding
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Don’t do it if you haven’t started yet, waste of money and time sink



They could end up seriously injured. Or worse.


Skiing is not without risks. My nephew broke his leg last winter at 5 because my sister took him on the blues when he was not ready and also tired at the end of the day. We know another family who all wanted to learn to ski and their 5 year old son broke his leg skiing. They never skied again after that.

So best is lessons to learn and then practicing with parents and skiing with parents who are good skiers. I don’t see how safe it is to put a kid in lessons and then just let them go at it on their own. That is a recipe for disaster IMO.

If you don’t ski, you could put your kid in a multi-week developmental program and they might be competent but that is a lot of time, money, and commitment. They will never be great because you really need to ski more challenging terrain and that entails going out west where the real challenge happens, not these small local mountains.


Don’t risk it.
Anonymous
Post 12/21/2025 23:15     Subject: Ski or snowboarding
These are some weird responses. OP is not looking to get her son into competitive skiing. You guys just want to be snobby about REAL skiing and whether it’s even worth calling it skiing unless it’s “out west.”

OP - I grew up “out west” and my parents drove me up to the mountain and we took one day of lessons with an instructor. We did the rope thing, bunny hill. We stayed overnight and skied again the next day. That’s it. You can do that again later in the season or just do it once a year. Your kid will know enough to not be at the bottom of the ski totem pole. You don’t need to put your kid in ski school for 5 weeks every year and fly o it to Colorado to learn to ski! Sheesh.
Anonymous
Post 12/21/2025 22:57     Subject: Ski or snowboarding
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Don’t do it if you haven’t started yet, waste of money and time sink



They could end up seriously injured. Or worse.


Skiing is not without risks. My nephew broke his leg last winter at 5 because my sister took him on the blues when he was not ready and also tired at the end of the day. We know another family who all wanted to learn to ski and their 5 year old son broke his leg skiing. They never skied again after that.

So best is lessons to learn and then practicing with parents and skiing with parents who are good skiers. I don’t see how safe it is to put a kid in lessons and then just let them go at it on their own. That is a recipe for disaster IMO.

If you don’t ski, you could put your kid in a multi-week developmental program and they might be competent but that is a lot of time, money, and commitment. They will never be great because you really need to ski more challenging terrain and that entails going out west where the real challenge happens, not these small local mountains.
Anonymous
Post 12/21/2025 21:24     Subject: Ski or snowboarding
Anonymous wrote:Don’t do it if you haven’t started yet, waste of money and time sink



They could end up seriously injured. Or worse.
Anonymous
Post 12/21/2025 13:54     Subject: Ski or snowboarding
Don’t do it if you haven’t started yet, waste of money and time sink
Anonymous
Post 12/21/2025 13:32     Subject: Ski or snowboarding
It's a lot of fun for kids. Especially if they get to go with a group of friends. It's worth getting your kids started if they are interested.
Anonymous
Post 12/21/2025 08:11     Subject: Re:Ski or snowboarding
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:From OP’s post and comments, I suspect her kids are at a very expensive private school.

She and her DH are not interested in skiing at all. She is inquiring about it because there are school ski trips and she doesn’t want her kids to be the few who don’t know how to ski.

So it’s the wrong reason for why her kids should learn how to ski. Just don’t have them go on that particular school trip or put them in ski school for that trip and they can decide if they like it or not even.


There is a right reason to learn to ski?

DH and I made an effort to teach our kids to ski (via ski school, not us personally) because we never learned growing up and it was a distinct social disadvantage when we became young professionals. Our large peer/professional friend group were skiers and they could ski very well. There were multiple ski trips a year, before kids of course, and we went along but weren't able to fully participate. So, we made sure to introduce the sport to our kids at a young age so they would feel more comfortable. One absolutely loves it and the other is fine with it but at least can handle the basics competently and with confidence.

The one who loves it now has a sport that he loves to do and is good at doing. And we made sure he learned it because of our own social pressure a long time ago. The reason doesn't matter at this point. Only the result.


The entire Kennedy clan skis. Need I say more?
Anonymous
Post 12/20/2025 23:01     Subject: Re:Ski or snowboarding
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:From OP’s post and comments, I suspect her kids are at a very expensive private school.

She and her DH are not interested in skiing at all. She is inquiring about it because there are school ski trips and she doesn’t want her kids to be the few who don’t know how to ski.

So it’s the wrong reason for why her kids should learn how to ski. Just don’t have them go on that particular school trip or put them in ski school for that trip and they can decide if they like it or not even.


There is a right reason to learn to ski?

DH and I made an effort to teach our kids to ski (via ski school, not us personally) because we never learned growing up and it was a distinct social disadvantage when we became young professionals. Our large peer/professional friend group were skiers and they could ski very well. There were multiple ski trips a year, before kids of course, and we went along but weren't able to fully participate. So, we made sure to introduce the sport to our kids at a young age so they would feel more comfortable. One absolutely loves it and the other is fine with it but at least can handle the basics competently and with confidence.

The one who loves it now has a sport that he loves to do and is good at doing. And we made sure he learned it because of our own social pressure a long time ago. The reason doesn't matter at this point. Only the result.


I’m the PP. Why force your kids to learn a sport for social pressure? So what if friends ski but they don’t. You don’t need to keep up with the Jones.

The right reason is if they like the sport and want to continue learning it.

Anonymous
Post 12/19/2025 13:29     Subject: Ski or snowboarding
If you don't do it, then don't worry about it at this age. I am an avid skier and we ski here and out west. Kids learned in 3 days in ski school around age 5. My DH doesn't ski so it a me and kids activity. Once they learned we spend time on the slopes together. Otherwise it had to be ski school every time they are out there, skids can't just ski on their own. If they want to Keene as teens they will be able to. It's an expensive hobby so why invest if it's not something your family already enjoys.