|
Getting Kids Into The Backcountry
..My two all time favorite
personal ski photos are simple pictures, not bad ass air, not
killer powder action shots, just a couple of snapshots of my
son Neil, at eight years old. In one he is getting ready to drop
into a place we call "the slide area" on Mt. Pinos
in So. California, the other is taken a few minutes later as
he is skiing the slide, with our dog "Buddy" chasing
after him. No matter where I go or what I do, nothing will ever
top the thrill of skiing the backside of a powder coated mountain
with Neil. Nothing.
..A
great way to start kids out is to make a return to the nordic
roots of tele-skiing. Getting the family out on some easy cross-country
trails is a lot of fun, it helps the kids develop balance and
coordination on skis. It teaches them the basics of being out
on the snow, things like keeping your gloves on so your hands
don't get cold, the value of staying dry, etc. In other words,
a lot of important stuff that is easier to learn in the more
relaxed and non-threatening cross country environment, than in
the hustle and bustle of a resort.
..These
early forays can begin at a very young age, as early as two or
three. Make it as much fun as possible, hot chocolate and other
special treats can go a long way in this regard. We used to bring
a sled to carry extra stuff, and to play on once we got out to
the meadows. We would set up a base camp and have snacks, ride
the sled and make some little turns on our skis on a small hill.
...In
my experience, as kids get older getting them out to the local
ski area to learn downhill skiing is a key part of the progression
in teaching kids backcountry skiing. Learning the fundamentals
of skiing through lots of vertical at a ski area, gives kids
a solid base to build telemark skills on later. I started Neil
at five, though many kids start alpine skiing much earlier. Laurie
started her son JT at two but says that it was pretty much a
waste of time until he turned four. The gross motor skills required
for this type of skiing don't really develop for most kids until
at least late three or early four. Some alpine instructors we
know disagree, and one we respect a lot has started kids before
their second birthday but we both feel that it is better to wait.
...
My advice is to get them out there learning downhill as soon
as you think they are physically and emotionally ready. Be prepared
though, the first day or two is usually a disaster, with lots
of tears and frustration. You can skip a lot of this with lessons,
and very often your kids will learn faster. Professional instructors
have the tools to get them up to speed quickly, and the kids
will perform better for people that they are not used to being
able to manipulate. There is a trade off here though, lessons,
especially private lessons, are expensive, money that could buy
a lot of vertical, also valuable! Perhaps a good compromise would
be some lessons and a lot of time on the hill with Mom and/or
Dad. If you are up to the challenge though, teaching your kids
to ski yourself can be a very rewarding experience. There are
some good books available on the subject that can help you with
exercises and drills.
...Once
your kids have become reasonably proficient alpine skiers, it
is time to think about getting them out into the backcountry.
Please, don't take them out on crummy equipment, they won't have
any fun and you will have to buy them better stuff later on anyway.
I saw an article in a magazine a few years back on this
subject and the author recommended teaching kids to telemark
in cheap leather boots because "they will just grow out
of them anyway". This is terrible advice, you can't expect
your kids to have fun on gear that you wouldn't have fun
on. ( I'm sorry to say that I have seen this logic applied to
other family members as well, like wives, "oh my old E-99's
will be good for her" and then we wonder how come they didn't
have fun and don't want to go again ). It is true that a child's
feet grow fast, and tele boots are very expensive (although the
Garmont kids boots helps a lot here) so it can
be a dilemma. My solution was to buy a pair of alpine touring
bindings and mount them on a pair of 110 cm alpine skis. Neil
was able to use his alpine boots which he was familiar with,
loosened for uphill touring, then he could lock down his heel
for the descent, also a familiar feeling. Telemark turns could
wait, and they would be all the sweeter for the waiting.
The AT bindings Neil used were wonderful.
As his foot grew and we replaced his boots we were able to adjust
the bindings accordingly. He had a secure rig that he felt comfortable
making turns in. He continued to use his regular alpine bindings
at the ski area. I bought a pair of kicker skins, which were
cheaper then full size skins, but plenty long for his child-size
boards. This set-up resulted in Neil being able to access the
backcountry bowls with the big boys, and to see what it is all
about at a very early age. That AT rig took him through several
seasons.
An option now days would be a touring
adapter such as the Alpine Trekker. I would still choose the
AT binding, the touring adapter, when clicked into an alpine
binding, raises the boot up off the ski substantially, and uphill
touring for kids is enough of a challenge without having the
boots three inches or more above the ski. Also, the AT style
binding is much lighter.
....Descents
with young kids should be planned to take as much advantage of
"free" vertical as possible. Car shuttles are a terrific
way to accomplish this. Try to find places where you can get
at least some of the uphill without climbing for it. For most
kids, even a short climb can seem like an epic slog. Spring time
bootpack climbs used to find me carrying Neil's skis as well
as my own, this was tough going at 10 to 12,000 feet in the Sierras,
but I know he appreciated having his own personal mule-dad, and
the pay off for me was watching him rip turns in the bc, grinning
ear to ear.
...On
those spring climbs a pair of crampons can add to parental peace
of mind, but don't forget to teach the kids how to self arrest
if you go this route, crampons can easily allow you to get in
over your head and it is mandatory that a climber of any age
know how to stop a sliding fall. The arrest has to be done quickly,
so practice this until it becomes second nature. Choose your
climbs and exposure with the possibility of a fall in mind.
...While
on the subject of safety, don't forget to practice with your
avalanche beacons, fortunately, kids think this is fun. Kind
of a high tech form of hide and go seek. Remember though, that
they have a limited ability to dig you out. Be even more
conservative then usual in making avy decisions, but I didn't
need to tell you that, did I?
...Now
of course, being dedicated tele-heads, the eventual goal is to
get the kids telemark turning. Once they have learned how to
make alpine turns in a variety of conditions, climbed a few hills
in AT gear and seen the ski partners having a ball telemarking,
they will be ripe for the next step. By this time the gross motor
skills are cranked up, the basics of edging, angulation are in
place and they should be confident on the snow.
...Unfortunately,
the feet are still growing fast and it will be tough to keep
a pair of boots for more then one season. Shop the sales and
the swaps, get the best boots you can find and afford. Make your
compromises with skis and bindings, but get good boots. You will
be surprised how much money you can recover when you go to sell
modern tele boots after a seasons use. Plastic boots can hold
their value quite well.
...With
all the fundamentals of skiing already learned, taking the next
step into telemark should be no problem. Bringing your kids along
the path to tele bliss will be the most rewarding part of the
journey. Again, get them out to the resort for lots of practice
and free vertical, and when it comes time to skin out to an old
favorite place they will love the freedom of the heel! And for
a parent, there is nothing finer than sharing the backcountry
with a son or daughter. Every day is like an epic pow day.
Neil ripping the fresh at 8 years old
|