Learning to SKI - when did you teach your LO?

[Gippie]

HI there.   We have a nearly 1 year old and I have some friends that are getting thier LO's on Ski's at about 15 months - just standing up and shuffling perhaps...but I am so excited to start as well.   Anyone have some experience to share?  I DID have her tell me it is not "true" hard boots and all....but still want to know what others have done.

Thanks

[Katie]

HI,

we have been away fron snow for 5 years  very sad but we were living on a side of Australia where it dosent snow anyway.... this year we moved back to the other side and 1 of the first things we did was go skiing        Tiahnee was2 and a half and she went to ski school and absolutly loved it she had the tinest skis i have ever seen  but she was going down a little hill and starting to learn to snow plow etc very very cute! anyway i dont know if we would have taken her earlier because we wernt around snow and here in Aust they are supposed to be 3 before starting ski school but she was alowed cause she was toilet trained. I guess there would be others on the board who live near snow and probably would have more idea but i just thought i would share our experience! We now plan to go skiing every year as a family holiday... We LOVE snow  hehehe

[Chantel03]

I was wondering the same thing.  Tanner is 2, and I thought why not start him now, since we live 2hrs from the slopes, and will b up there a lot.  I did call the slopes, and they said 3, but that I could take him up on my own...  So I guess its just up to u.  If u want to spend a lot of time on the bunny slopes, teaching ur lo to ski, go for it!  I think I'm gonna wait tell next year.  We r gonna bring a sled, for him. When we get there if he's into it,i might rent him some ski's.

If u do take ur lo let me know how it goes!!!!

[maggieruth]

i know that where we lived when i was a kid, as soon as kids could stand their parents would often get them some skis, get a little harness and do some snowplowing with the lo inbetween their legs down the little runs.
the kids loved it!  i used to babysit lots of kids who skiied regularly.
dunno how the parent's backs held up tho...
i would love to take Ethan but am pregnant now so i spose he will hafta wait... i miss skiing!

[yaya]

i learnt when i was 3. I heard that before that age its really quite bad for the bones in their legs!

[maggieruth]

oh! 
i didn't know that...
but one of the little boys i used to babysit did make the canadian olympic ski team (how old does that make me??)

[notenoughshelfspace]

My husband was skiing when he was 18 months old; I think that is not for me. His mum was an excellent skiier who took him with her but as I am stuck with normal ski school I will wait till the X-mas after her second birthday. She will be 2years 9 months by then.

[Gippie]

MMMM - good feedback about the bones...I will read more about that.    I started young as well...but as with all things - that was then.... (cough gag - 34 years ago)!!!!!!!!

[potlaura]

We are going to take Tom in 2008 so he will be just short of three I cant wait x

[MamaC]

Is it really bad for their bones?!  We were thinking of taking the lo this winter and he'll be only 18 months!

[Gippie]

Lets check this out and report back.