When Diamant Skiing reached out and asked me to review their Weekend Warrior Boot Bag, I immediately thought, this company must have heard the many years of parental pleas… as in, “please create a product that makes it easier for us to haul ALL our gear!” Turns out they did, from their own ski and snowboard parents and chose to respond with, “challenge accepted!”
Read MoreLET’S BE REAL… WE KNOW WHEN WE TAKE OUR FAMILIES ON THESE FABULOUSLY FUN SKI VACATIONS, WE ARE ALSO ENTERING AN INHERENTLY RISKY ENVIRONMENT. ADD TO THAT, A RISKY ENVIRONMENT COMPLETELY NEW TO YOUR FAMILY, FULL OF UNKNOWNS AND YOU’VE GOT A RECIPE FOR ANY PARENT TO BE TOSSING AND TURNING THE NIGHT BEFORE.
Read MoreALL THOSE RUNS SPENT IN A PIZZA START TO CHANGE YOUR MUSCLE MEMORY. DON’T THEY? I ASSUMED I HAD REACHED MY MAXIMUM SKILL LEVEL AS A SKIER… I WAS MAYBE EVEN REGRESSING.
Read MoreAS MUCH AS WE LOVE THEM… SKI SWAPS ARE CHAOTIC AND ANXIETY CAUSING. HERE’S MY FOUR BEST TIPS TO GET YOU IN AND OUT WITH THE GEAR YOU NEED.
Read MoreON THIS EDITION OF THINGS THAT ARE GOOD TO KNOW… THERE IS NOT A UNIVERSAL SKI TRAIL RATING SYSTEM
Read MoreMinimalism is the lifestyle of choice for me and my family, so when it comes to recommending products, I am one tough cookie to please. When I do discover a product I love, I am genuinely excited to share it with the people I know will benefit the most. The three products I’m sharing today are guaranteed to make any outdoor mama happy, meeting my mandatory criteria below:
Read MoreDon’t get me wrong… there are perks to Spring skiing but, I won’t lie… it is NOT my favorite time of year to get out on the hill with lil’ rippers. WHY? Because right around the time we have mastered the art of bundling up and finding our comfort zone with Winter… Spring rolls around the corner and throws all new variables into the mix, and I’ll tell you what’s NOT fun… sticky skis and overheated kids!
However, I’m never quite ready to give up skiing and I’ve discovered that with a little extra forethought, we can enjoy family skiing, through Spring break and beyond.
Read MoreReading and reciting the words of that age-old Skier Code is one thing… but, putting those skiing rules into practice and turning that practice into habit, teaches our little rippers good ski etiquette.
Read MoreLet’s talk about ski sizing for kids. Everything you could possibly want to know before you buy kids skis. I mean how the heck do we know if their skis are too long or too short? Does a kids ski length really matter anyway?
Read MoreMy experience has been that it’s hard to find everything you would expect in premium adult outdoor gear, made specifically for your kids. High performance materials, construction and special features are usually saved for those who fit adult sizes. But, if you are a Mama who gets your kids outside in all conditions, you know there is no such thing as bad weather… UNLESS your kids don’t have the proper clothing.
Read MoreToday we’re going to talk about getting on and off the chairlift. The goal always being to teach your lil’ ripper to be as independent as possible. Not hard if you encourage the following habits from the very beginning...
Read MoreMy son is 3.5, LOVES skiing, averages about 3 days a week and is doing really well. Thing is he’s adamant about us skiing next to him holding a ski pole horizontally so he can hold onto it. We’re barely holding on to it and he is basically doing all the work but he’s REALLY adamant about it. I know it’s a “security blanket” thing. He’s always been adventurous yet super cautious. Do you have any tips or specific games to build his confidence so we can lose the pole?
Read MoreMy family and I are a strange breed. When most full-time RVer’s head south for the winter, we head north. To the snow! We’re skiers…enough said. Truth be told, the first season we suffered unnecessary woes…growing pains you may call them. Now, as we roll into our third season of growing delightfully buried in the snow, we’re confident we got this down. Winter is a cinch when you prepare your traveling home for the elements.
Read MoreTrying to outfit growing children every season is hard for most families. Single income family here, we get it! Being the youngest, he most often has worn hand me downs and learned to make do, even when the sleeves were too long or the pant legs hung down over his boots. Yes, he has worn bibs that I have stitched up several times because we have found that most affordable children’s gear is just not made to last the years and vertical miles we put on it.
Read MoreI always recommend you start your child off learning to ski without ski poles. In fact, don't bother introducing poles until your child is good and ready. This can be at different ages for different children, it's more about ability and comfort level. If they can stop in control and use their turns to control their speed, than they may be ready but, always check in with them and gauge their interest level first. There is no rush. Introducing poles too early can cause frustration and ultimately create bad habits. Truth bomb - the best skiers can ski without their poles anyway.
If your child IS ready to start using ski poles, these 5 tips will get them started off right!
Read MoreThis film is dedicated to the Mamas who take their kids skiing and snowboarding every Winter. To the Mamas who venture to the mountains for self-care and are teaching your children to do the same. Never afraid to take on all that winter gear, the cold weather or the mood of the day. They are the unsung hero's of the ski industry! Making the best family ski trips happen.
Read MoreYou have the benefit of already knowing how your child works, what drives them and what triggers set them off! You already know what motivates them, how far they can be pushed and their physical strengths and weaknesses. You may even know their learning style. A good Ski Instructor will spend the majority, if not all of a full day lesson gaining this information about your child, so they can cater the lesson to their individual needs.
Read MoreAs a family of 5, we have always lived off of one income (often below the poverty level) and yet we have skied every season. Over the years I’ve had to get real creative to make this happen and along the way I have discovered how to save thousands of dollars when it comes to skiing with your family. Here's what I've learned...
Read MoreI get this question all the time: “Should I sign my child up for lessons?” The A-typical answer is "Yes, wait until they are old enough for group lessons (usually 4+) and then sign them up to learn, at least, the basics."
But, I’ve never been A-Typical, so my answer to this may surprise you…
Read MoreTeaching tools are not used to teach kids to ski as much as they are used to keep them safe. So from this point on, let me just call them what they are, safety tools. My best advice for safety tools; don’t over do it!
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