Skiing 2014-2015

[Northendzone]

^ my daughter is embarassed that she can not ski as well as all of the other kids, so getting her in a group of her peers will ahve the opposite effect.

She was in a lesson at Nakiska and anotehr girl called her a slowpoke, that that has apparently scarred and traumatized my daughter.........

to make matters a little worse, my daughter is more the type that wants to wear her pyjamams all day and read a book rather than do physcial activity.......the seemingly missed out on the sports gene that everyone else in the family seems to have.....

[DownhillGoat]

Originally Posted by Huntingwhale

Thinking of going to either Kickinghorse or Louise this upcoming weekend. Anyone been to either yet?

Was at KH this past weekend. Freezing point was around 1800m most of the week. Bottom 2/3 of the front is so frozen you can't even break the crust on a hard turn, and bottom 1/3 is grass and rock. That being said the top was great. Powder on Friday, still soft tracked powder on Saturday. We ended up lapping Superbowl and taking the Catamount chair down to avoid the bottom, then lapped Stairway, and finished in Fuez. Although I heard Superbowl was closed on Sunday.

IMO I wouldn't bother unless they get some fresh snow over the week, or you can get a steal on lift tickets. By the looks of it they're getting nothing of note until Sunday, if you can trust the long-range, but at least temps dropped so it shouldn't melt.

[mrbanffgirl]

Originally Posted by Northendzone

so does anyone having any tips on how i can get my 9 yr old duaghter to overcome some of her fears and learn how to ski? she can handle the begginer area at nakiska.

i had been enrolling her in lessons at nakiska; however, she tells me that she feels left out when the rest of us go away while she is in the lesson.

i bought her one of those kids ski harneness - however, she is now worried that others will be laughing at her because she can't ski......

I would stay away from the harness. she may be a bit big for one any way. If you are a skier, the best thing to do is, go buy an 'edgy-wedgie' little rubber chord with clamps on either end that attaches to the tips of the skis. this will allow her to stay in a 'pizza' much easier, and also avoids the run away kid part as well.
grab one of those and go spend time on the green runs, lots of mileage helps with confident and muscle memory.
get her to 'pizza' with her hands on her knees and push on the outside knee when she wants to turn. once kids have the feeling of the skis turning when THEY turn them, the speed and confidence will come quickly.
Lessons are great, and they help ALOT with their skiing, but kids being kids, they can be brutal to each other. Keep her with it!!

[Sliver]

Originally Posted by Flamenspiel

I had seen pictures that made it look like the Chateau Lake Louise was at the base of the Lake Louise Ski Resort and always thought they were Photoshopped. I guess its a Captain Obvious moment but it turns out that is in fact the view from the other side of the lake when its clear in the winter!

Man, that's crazy. I thought those photos were shopped, too.

Just want to give a shout-out to COP and their snowboarding lessons. We're on week five of those for our kids (7 and 8). Holy crap, are we ever lucky to have such an insane facility in Calgary. The instructors are awesome, the magic carpets are great, and my kids are progressing super fast. We did lessons one year at Nakiska and there is just no point in doing that - COP is a better hill for beginners and so much less hassle.

[Huntingwhale]

Originally Posted by Northendzone

^ my daughter is embarassed that she can not ski as well as all of the other kids, so getting her in a group of her peers will ahve the opposite effect.

She was in a lesson at Nakiska and anotehr girl called her a slowpoke, that that has apparently scarred and traumatized my daughter.........

to make matters a little worse, my daughter is more the type that wants to wear her pyjamams all day and read a book rather than do physcial activity.......the seemingly missed out on the sports gene that everyone else in the family seems to have.....

When I was a kid, one thing that worked helped me be able to ski was being able to skate. I played hockey as a kid so when I put my first pair of skis on, it was easier for me as a lot of the motions were much like skating. If she's into skating, or you ever have the chance to go with her, I think her learning to balance on skates might help with the skiing.

Another thing that helped me was learning how to fall. As a kid (and even as an adult) falling was always something that I feared. But once you do fall and get back up, you realize it's not that bad. One of my instructors use to have us ski a little ways then fall to the ground to learn how to absorb the fall. Of course there are exceptions of course, but for the most part it's not dangerous. Confidence is everything for skiers.

[MacDaddy77]

Originally Posted by Sliver

Man, that's crazy. I thought those photos were shopped, too.

Just want to give a shout-out to COP and their snowboarding lessons. We're on week five of those for our kids (7 and 8). Holy crap, are we ever lucky to have such an insane facility in Calgary. The instructors are awesome, the magic carpets are great, and my kids are progressing super fast. We did lessons one year at Nakiska and there is just no point in doing that - COP is a better hill for beginners and so much less hassle.

We put our kids through COP lessons and I agree, they run a top notch lesson program there, it's super close and the instructors are really attentive.

Would HIGHLY recommend

[Northendzone]

my duaghter can skate ok......i'll look for the edgie wedgie thing - she might like that better than the harness.

i have told her that if she feels out of control to just let yourself go limp and crash - but that is not always easy to do........

i had to laugh as i was looking at how to teach a kid to ski as many sites suggested going for lessons and then gave no real advice other than that........i guess i was thinking that perhaps i could be a hoover parent during her lesson - of course i would advise the ski instructor that i am only there for my daughter to know that i am close by.....

[HockeyPuck]

Anybody have any recommendations for the hills around Provo/Park City? Thinking about doing a 5 day trip down to Utah.

[Flamenspiel]

^^Not that impressed with Park City, I preferred the areas in Little Cottonwood Canyon: Alta and Snowbird. Park city is more like an eastern resort that has a nice apres ski area in a little town, but the snow and layout of Alta and Snowbird is in another league.

Alta and Snowbird both have terrific free skiing areas away from the crowds and its mostly lift serviced. Park city is maybe more of a hard pack slalom skiing type of place and maybe a little bit better for lessons if you have kids. It may have just been the day i was there but if your in Utah, I think you have to go for that fluffy powder in the LCC.

[Northendzone]

so i dropped by the ski cellar yesterday to pick up an edgie wedgie thing for my daughter and Dan (owner???), starts asking me why i am buying this thing, and I explain my daughter is having trouble learning to ski - dan suggests shorter skiis for her and then offers to let me borrow a pair for a couple of weeks.

i am going to drop her boot off this morning and take advantage of this offer. thought that was very nice of him - although i do note we have spent a fair amount of money there gearing up the family....

[polak]

Originally Posted by Flamenspiel

^^Not that impressed with Park City, I preferred the areas in Little Cottonwood Canyon: Alta and Snowbird. Park city is more like an eastern resort that has a nice apres ski area in a little town, but the snow and layout of Alta and Snowbird is in another league.

Alta and Snowbird both have terrific free skiing areas away from the crowds and its mostly lift serviced. Park city is maybe more of a hard pack slalom skiing type of place and maybe a little bit better for lessons if you have kids. It may have just been the day i was there but if your in Utah, I think you have to go for that fluffy powder in the LCC.

I used to go to Utah every year to ski. Alta and Snowbird are great massive resorts. Note that Alta only allows skiers and that the chairs have no safety bars

Snow hasn't been anything special the last few times I went but that's just luck. Salt Lake City is also rather dull to stay in. Utah is super religious. I think there was 2 or 3 nightclubs in downtown SLC? Not a town to party in. Also the gas stations sell 2% beer! You need to go to a state liquor store for normal people booze and they have dumb hours. Pretty sure they close at like 5 pm and aren't even open some days.

[troutman]

Is Nakiska worth skiing yet?

http://www.skinakiska.com/conditions/snow-report.aspx

Conditions "variable". No snow in a week.

Snow is in the forecast for this weekend - come and get it while it is fresh!

Please note that terrain is limited due to early season conditions and access from mid-mountain to base area is from Lower Homesteader only.

[polak]

I went on Sunday and yeah... It's early season Nakiska conditions. The limited runs that are open are Icy and the glades have tons of exposed rocks and roots. Mine Field in there really. I don't think it's been snowing so its probably worse now.

I wouldn't go if you don't have a pair of rock skis.

[J epworth]

Originally Posted by Flamenspiel

^^Not that impressed with Park City, I preferred the areas in Little Cottonwood Canyon: Alta and Snowbird. Park city is more like an eastern resort that has a nice apres ski area in a little town, but the snow and layout of Alta and Snowbird is in another league.

Alta and Snowbird both have terrific free skiing areas away from the crowds and its mostly lift serviced. Park city is maybe more of a hard pack slalom skiing type of place and maybe a little bit better for lessons if you have kids. It may have just been the day i was there but if your in Utah, I think you have to go for that fluffy powder in the LCC.

Thing I found with Park City is that the quality of skiers is a lot worse than other places I've been. Went there a few years ago and right before we arrived it got a big dump of snow. A week later and I was still finding fresh snow everywhere in the trees, seems like everyone there just was either wanting to be in the park or run the groomers. Was pretty sweet for us as we got all the powder to ourselves!

[Northendzone]

My sone and I went to Nakisha today (Sunday), and we had a great time - well worth the $100 lift ticket.

Continuities were not bad considering the warm temps, some spots of the hill were icy, but my son was just flying. Trying to take little jumps and what not. Despite the fact he is still doing lots of pizza stopping, he is going fast.......he has still yet to really bit it though.

We are going to panorama after Christmas, can't wait.....

[bossy22]

Was in whitefish last week. It was pretty bleak, but they just got a foot of snow two nights ago, so it's starting to look up.

[polak]

I'm going to Kimberly for Christmas and they only have 3 runs open! Only 50cm of snow. Worst I ever remember it being.

I probably won't ski at all over the 4 days or maybe I'll go to Whitefish or Fernie for a day.

Sucks.

[Sliver]

I just said screw it to the mountains and took my kids riding at COP on the weekend. The snow was honestly really good. I'll be at Louise next week. God I hope it snows.

[DownhillGoat]

Originally Posted by polak

I'm going to Kimberly for Christmas and they only have 3 runs open! Only 50cm of snow.

Didn't they postpone their opening by a few weeks too?

[polak]

Yup they just opened on Saturday.