LIFE ON THE MOVE
discover
CREATING LIFE-LONG FANS
SIX TIPS FOR TEACHING YOUNGSTERS TO SKI (OR BOARD) WHILE HAVING FUN
DAN DAVIS, VAIL RESORTS
P
arents of the under-five crowd can attest that if the kid isn’t happy, no one is happy. Nearly anyone who has spent much time near a group of ski school kids has seen both sides of the kid coin: The happy-to-be-here, let’sgo-fast-youngsters, and the I’m-coldI-want-my-mommy variety. So what are some things you can do, as a parent, to ensure your 3-to-5 year old has a great experience learning the sport? We talked to Jim Kercher, who began teaching skiing in 1976 and is now the director of Beaver Creek’s ski school (and still gets out on the slopes to teach) to find out his secrets for success. – CARAMIE SCHNELL
DRESS FOR SUCCESS: “One of the most important things, if the child has never been skiing before, is having the right clothing for them,” Kercher says. Be sure and dress your child in layers and don’t skimp on accessories — warm gloves or mittens and a neck gaiter is key. Also, don’t forget sunglasses or goggles and to put sunscreen on your child before sending them out on the mountain.
S P R I N G 2 014 ✧ VAIL LIFESTYLE
67