around the neighbourhood so she gets To get started, leave the poles at complete with a chocolate treat and a
used to longer distances. home: Nordic skiing is actually a fairly wood stove to warm up. On mild days,
And it was obvious with the older complicated sport. You’re moving legs we’d take off the skis and play in the
child that you had to get her good and arms and balancing from your snow or watch the chickadees at the
equipment. There’s nothing worse than core. Make it easier for the kids by just bird feeder before heading home.
trudging all the way up Fortune hill only focusing on legs. Once the child has Bring friends. Kids have a blast skiing
to have to trudge back down again. We mastered weight transfer, you can – and playing hide and seek, and talking,
bought skis that really glide so she could introduce the poles. and generally fooling around – with kids
zip downhill fast, fun all the way. Boots? Have lunch in a cabin. Having a their own age. Sometimes we brought
Warm, well-fitting. Period. goal that she herself chose helped adults who were beginner skiers and
We chose waxless skis, but lightly motivate our five-year-old on the home our daughter loved teaching her uncle
waxed them anyway with grip wax so stretch. Shilly Shally cabin became our and grandmother how to ski fast, and
she could climb hills with less effort. daughter’s favourite lunch destination, showing off improved her technique.
Gear for kids without boot back and you can buy new or used Bloch-Hansen says waxable and
breaking the bank
boots in the child’s current size at a cut waxless skis are a toss-up with most
rate. Kunstadt Sports, Tim’s Used Sports parents. Either way, he recommends
Kids under 12 ski for free in Gatineau and Tommy and Lefebvre all offer 50 sizing kids’ skis this way. “For children
Park. But they’ll have a better time with per cent store credit towards another ski under six, I like to see parents choosing
gear that actually works. Think of asking boot when the child grows out of the a ski that’s the same height as the child,”
grandparents to hold off on the plastic original boot. Play It Again Sports offers he says. “The next year, the skis will
toys and instead contribute to the ski 40 per cent store credit on anything. probably be down to the child’s eyes
equipment fund. According to Chris Bloch-Hansen, ski and he or she can get another season
Trailhead and Fresh Air Experience manager at Fresh Air Experience, when out of them. Buy the skis too big and
offer ski boot exchange deals. To buy your child graduates from the boot your child will be falling all over the
in, you pay full price for the first boots exchange program, they receive a credit place.” Once the skis are beneath the
your child wears. Next season, bring that towards adult ski boots. child’s chin, it’s time for a new pair.
BeRVAL LAke OuTfiTTeRS
Just 20 minutes from Mont tremblant and
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• Cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, alpine skiing
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nearby and onsite snowmobile trails
• Fishing year round, no cost for kids <16
514-991-1247
• Housekeeping, electricity and wood stoves
www.pourvoiriedulacberval.com
• We love Ottawa couples and families!!
www.ottawaoutdoors.ca OTTAWA magazine fall/winter 2009/2010 27
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