Last Updated29 February 2024

Real World Teaching Children covers the differences between what happens in the real world versus the ideal world. Dive further into how to adapt the pathway to suit children, discover how to keep everyone safe on lifts and with the right equipment.

Lift Riding & Equipment

Lift Riding

Safety is paramount when guiding an experience in the mountains and lift riding is no exception. Instructors are responsible for the safety of the children in their care and properly coaching them how to ride the lift responsibly and safely. Knowing the specific lift riding procedures at the snowsports area will help with this.

New Zealand conditions mean that often there is rime, or ice build up on the seats making the seats slippery. Children may need help hopping up onto the seat of the chairlift. When this is deemed necessary it is always a safe idea to ask the lift attendant to slow down the lift and help from behind.

New Zealand has a lot of surface lifts, which pose their own challenges and should be used only when appropriate for the stage of development and skillset of the student.

Things to consider when riding lifts:

Skiing slowly and in control when entering the lift maze
Grouping up before entering the maze
Focusing on safely loading the lift
Being proactive and asking lift operators for assistance, if needed. Let students know that it’s OK to ask for help

Using the restraint bar, holding onto the lift
No horse play on the lift
Safely unloading from the chair
Grouping at the top

Equipment

Tips for parents of beginner to intermediate kids.

Renting Equipment

Clothing

Layers are key as too many can always be removed and set aside. Renting waterproof outerwear is common and better than not having it when weather is inclement. Waterproof gloves or mittens are important (mittens for younger children are warmer and easier to put on and off). Eyewear and sunscreen are important also. Goggles are better as they keep children warmer, stay on better in a fall, and get lost or broken less often!

Helmets

Firm fit but not so tight it’s uncomfortable. Ideally no hat, or only a thin one if need be.

Skis

The ski length should be between the child’s chest and nose. The shorter end of this spectrum is better for younger skiers and beginners. The upper end is good for better intermediate skiers and older children. The skis should be more traditional in shape – meaning wider at the tip and tail and narrower underfoot with some camber. Ideally softer in the flex and not a twin tip, race or powder (fat) ski.

Boots

Same size as footwear – larger than this is too big and will prevent them from advancing as quickly. They should be firm (but not cutting off circulation!).

Poles

For younger children, it is often best for poles to be added once they are skiing parallel on blue runs. Older children can have them anytime. Length can be determined the same as for adults- holding under baskets with elbows at their side and bent at a right angle, the handle should be touching the floor.

Edgy Wedgey

Great for younger children (six-years or under) until they can make a wedge independently! This allows them to gain independence and experience success faster. It also teaches them the muscle memory to be able to make a wedge on their own and allows them to be safer without an instructor having to be so hands on.

Buying Equipment

Clothing

In addition to the above, many brands have stitches in the clothing that can be released to “grow” with the child.

Helmets

In addition to the above, make sure it’s snowsports specific (or multipurpose including snowsports). A dial adjustment, or similar feature, is good as it allows for growth. Lighter is better too due to the higher centre of gravity. A goggle clip that closes over the goggle strap is good so the goggles stay on in a fall or when carried.

Skis

In addition to the above, for the sake of growth and advancement it would be better to aim between chin and lower forehead in length.

Boots

In addition to the above, keep them in a softer flexing boot if possible until they are intermediate and looking at becoming more advanced. For preschoolers a single or two buckle boot is fine. For younger school age children, anything from a two or three buckle boot is good, and for older children a three or four buckle boot.

Editorial acknowledgement to “PSIA – Teaching Children Snowsports – 2021”.