Bowl. Te following stories, tactics, and thoughtful tips can help turn young students and teens into accomplished skiers and riders who can confidently take on the mountain, park, backcountry, track or trail.
FOSTERING FUN IS JOB ONE FOR SNOWBIRD VEEP As vice president of resort operations at Snowbird, Utah, Dave Fields skis big terrain for a living. It runs in the family: His father instructed for 30 years at neighboring Alta, where Fields and his brother grew up skiing. “We always wanted our dad to watch us jump cliffs or ski big chutes and didn’t understand why he got nervous,” says Fields. “Now when I ski with my kids, it’s a whole different perspective.” Charlie, age 13, and Meredith, age 10, are – like their father did – growing up with a world-renowned resort as their playground. Fields has always been cognizant of keeping his kids excited about skiing. “When they were very young, we were on the kid’s timeline,” he says. “If they weren’t in the mood, or got cold, that was the end of the day. But to prolong a day, we’d get hot chocolate and that would buy us 3 or 4 more runs.” Fields quickly discovered the Mountain School program,
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Avid readers of 32 Degrees may recall my Winter 2014 article, “Confessions of a Ski Industry Mom.” In that piece, I admitted that I over-terrained my child in a moment of powder panic at Snowbird. I’m happy to report that, several years later, there is no lasting damage (though a future therapist may hear otherwise). My husband and I learned some valuable lessons and made a conscious effort to rein in our eagerness if it hindered our daughter Trinity's in any way. She’s now 10. Over these past few years, we have taken T-Shred (a nickname she earned from some of our friends) to incredible places known for big terrain: Crested Butte, Taos, Aspen Highlands, and Niseko, Japan. She doesn’t blink an eye at a cornice, steep chute, icy bump run, or powder field. Her room is peppered with ski maps, autographed ski posters, and ski hats. We have slowly worked up to the point where we ski the whole mountain as a family – even on powder days. When and how she surpasses us, or if she’ll ski big lines in Alaska, I’m not sure. But there’s the rub – and reward – with teaching your child how to ski big terrain. Te truth is, whether parent or professional, we all need some guidance on how to introduce children to big terrain in a way that will put them on the path to a lifelong love of skiing and riding. Tis season, for example, I learned that saving a buck by buying stiff, hand-me-down boots could hamper a child’s skiing experience, a point made by one of the experienced pros who shares his story here. Luckily my mistake didn’t effect T-Shred’s confidence in steep terrain – or hold her back during her first time hiking Highland
36 | 32 DEGREES • FALL 2016
where the kids found success through the different levels and programs. “Te instructors snuck technique in, but it was mainly about having fun,” he says. For Meredith, who is also a competitive rock climber, ski games and lunch with friends were the best part. For Charlie, it was all about the skiing. Charlie joined the freeride team at Snowbird, where he’s skiing tough terrain, learning avalanche safety, and meeting big mountain skiers like Sage Cattabriga-Alosa. Charlie entered his first big mountain comp last year at
Snowbird, with his father watching. “I see amazing skiers doing amazing things, but when it’s your son or daughter, there’s a level of anxiety,” says Fields. “But I trust their skills. All those ski days, lessons, and ski team coaching have gotten them to the point where they have mastered skills and can ski big terrain with total confidence.”
As a ski father and industry professional, Fields offers the
following three takeaways. Q Seek professional help: Kids respond well to someone
QOutfit kids with protective gear: I put my kids in beacons every day and I practice with them so they know how to use avalanche safety gear. Tey also have to be warm, because being cold kills enjoyment very quickly. Lastly, we had Charlie wear a spine protector from an early age.
else besides their parents teaching them. Te most popular instructors and coaches have one common element; they make it fun. Ski and snowboard lessons are also the best marriage counseling. A lot of us fell in love with our spouses on the slopes, so when the kids are old enough, drop them off and have an amazing ski day with your partner.
QDeal with consequences: Unfortunately, when kids ski big terrain, they can get hurt. A few years ago I heard on
KRISTA CRABTREE
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