Panorama family fun

We had the chance to get away for a little family time at Panorama ski hill this weekend. What a great place for a family to spend a little time.

We stayed in a nice room that had a kitchenette and separate bedroom – perfect for travelling with a wee one. We did hull our own pack-n-play and other baby gear. There were no baby/kid items in the room, but we had all the gear we needed. Including this handy little chair attachment. It's called a SIT-seat by G-Baby Designs and attaches to any chair – we've used in many times and it's super handy to have tucked away in a diaper bag. Check out the independent owner of this little business. She has lots of great baby gear available.

Taynton Bowl

But outside of the limited baby items in the room the resort was super baby/kid friendly. All restaurants had high-chairs in them. And not just one, but many. The coffee shop/restaurant (the Picnic Cafe) where I ate a few times had 4-5 chairs. The pub we went to the first night, the T-Bar and Grill, where you might think kids weren’t welcomed, was more than happy to accommodate us until 8:00pm. In reality the pub had a lot of kids in it. And all places had kids menus and a variety of foods that kids enjoy. I had no problem finding food for a 12 month old. And my picky eater was more than happy to chow down.

Hiking to access Taynton Bowl

And the activities! Yes, there is skiing an amazing hill. The runs can accommodate all levels of ability. They even have a back bowl – the Taynton bowl. This is a super fun area full of black runs, that offers a variety of open bowls and tree skiing. A superb area for the more experienced skier. The front side has a great mix of runs for all abilities and can really be a fun time for all members of the family. We've skied there in the past with friends and had no problem finding runs that made everyone happy and gave us all a great skiing experience. And don't forget the all important magic carpet. It's interesting how ones perspective changes when they have a kid.  Not sure I ever would have noted this part of the hill before. It's right there, very easy to access and use for the little people in your group.

Beyond skiing there are lots of activities for kids and parents alike. There are ski and play programs – a half day skiing, the other half spent playing. With lunch included. There are heated outdoor pools – great for young and old. In the summer they have a little water park, including a water slide. They have tubbing and tobogganing. They have daily/nightly activities. I know when we were they they were offering a cupcake decorating lesson. There were art activities for all ages. On Friday nights they offer a program where kids can be dropped off to play while being cared for by experienced child minders   And parents can go have a little alone time. And they offer private baby-sitters as well. I could go on and on about all of the activities offered. And the ones I've mentioned are just some of the winter ones. They have summer specific programs as well.

In all, even though it was late season, there was so much to do and it was a great weekend away. I'm seriously plotting our next family trip there. Can't wait until the Kraken is a bit older and will will enjoy the experience.

Ski books for little people

As well as loving skiing I have a few other life loves. One of these is reading. The Kraken is coming to an age where we are reading to him more and more everyday. With that I wondered if there were kids books available that had skiing as a focus, kind of as a way to introduce and build an interest in skiing. With these thoughts in mind, I started my search for ski focused kids books. It's with pleasure that I can say I found one or two, but not very many. Check out the titles I found and my thoughts in these books.

Learning to Ski with Mr. Magee, by Chris Van Dusen

I really liked this book. Perfect for preschoolers and early readers. While each page has quite a few words, they are pretty basic. And better yet, they rhyme well. This makes it have a great flow as you read it aloud. The general plot of the story is of Mr. Magee heading out to learn to ski on a hill in his back yard. But having never skied before, trouble ensues, with the help of his dog Dee and a moose he meets along the way.  All ends well with Mr. Magee realizing the importance of taking a few lessons. Another highlight of this book is the pictures. Great details and colours. Enough to capture a kids attention and imagination, but also not overwhelming. I would definitely give this book a buy, I will for sure be adding it to our library.

Leo's Skiing Surprise, by Louise Leblanc, Illustrated by Jules Prud'homme

This is a book for a slightly older reader. More for kids that are reading independently and starting to get into longer chapter books. This books focuses around Leo and his friend Julio, a vampire. Leo wants to give Julio a Christmas surprise of a ski trip, so he can feel like a real boy. There are other characters that we meet along they way that play an important roll in making Julio's treat come true. I tried to read this with my 10 year old brain engaged.  I have to say that even with my adult brain off and trying to read it for the audience it was written for, I had a hard time with this book. The general concept of it was there. But I felt like it tried to cover a too many ideas in too few pages. I had to reread paragraphs as the story jumped from one theme to another with no warning and little transition. This made it hard to follow at times. And as a skiing book... not so much. Skiing was a part of the story, but I would not call it the main focus of the book.

I'm not sure that I would make this a first buy for someone, but I can see that for the right kid this could be a good introduction to chapter books. If you’ve read this book and have a different perspective I would love to hear it.

Pee Wee's On Skis, by Judy Delton

This is a beginner reader chapter book and part of the Pee Wee Scout series. I quiet enjoyed this book. There was a good story line with enough background details to get the characters since the book is part of a series. The general idea of the book is that the scouts are off for a trip to the local ski hill in the hopes of obtaining a ski badge. There is a good give a take between the characters, including some good natured teasing and peer support. They even have a bit of skiing details in the book. Although you can tell the book is a little older as they talk about making the skis into a “V”, no mention of “pizza". One complaint I would have is that the instructor shows up in a hat and all the drawings show the kids in just hats. No helmets... A bit disappointing when you consider the audience reading the book and trying to encourage safe skiing and helmet wearing.  Outside of this concern, I really enjoyed reading the book, so I can only imagine how it will appeal to the audience it was written for. And then there is a whole series if your young reader gets into the book. I would give this book a buy for sure.   

Squirrels on Skis, by J. Hamilton Ray
I've yet to get my hands on this book, but I'm super excited to do so.  I'll update this posting as soon as I get the book and have given it a read.  If you have this book, send me an email with your thoughts on it.  

Let's try skiing, by Susa Hammerle
I got my hands on this book today.  And it's a great little book. Perfect for putting a young mind at ease as you introduce them to skiing.  Simon is heading on a ski trip with his family and learning to ski.  He spends a few days in lessons, with some ups and downs, but does better every day and by the end of the trip is having a great time and can ski the big hill.  A great added feature of this book is the ski elf.  He pops up on many pages, offering encouragement or helpful tips.  And the last page is little tips to help your new skier.  A perfect book for getting a little one excited to try skiing.  Oh, and the illustrations are great.  Plus you can have your child spot the ski elf as you read it to them.  I will be adding this book to out library for sure.  

So while there are limited kids books out there focused on skiing, there are a few that are quiet good and well worth adding to your home library when your kids hit the appropriate age.  Enjoy and let me know of any books you have for kids with a ski theme.  

When can my little person hit the slopes?

While the Kraken is way too young to ski, it has not stopped Chris and I from talking about when he'll be ready. Maybe next year, but lets be honest, they are the ones that let us know when they are ready. For those wondering how young you can start a child skiing, please read on.

The first thing you have to remember is that skiing in the beginning is about fun. Not the number of runs, not how steep the hill is, not if they are skiing by themselves, but that it is FUN! Without the fun factor they wont want to ski.

Before you can begin, you need to have ski gear. Many ski shops now offer junior packages. These packages come with skis, boots, and bindings and then offer you the ability to trade them in the following year, because chances are you will have to. I know our local shop has an offer where you can trade in junior gear and get 50% of the value to put towards the new gear within 2 years of original purchase. You can continue to do this swap until around the age of 12 years. What a great way to keep them in gear that fits.

Of course, you will need snow pants, jacket, mittens, etc, but please don't forget the helmet. When looking for a helmet make sure it fits properly. Don't buy a helmet thinking they can grow into it or that a certain price is too much to spend. This is your little persons brain after all. Can you really put a price on that? If you're not sure what to look for in fit, be sure to stop in at your local ski shop, they will talk you through it. I'll also try to post a helmet fitting blog soon.

Once you have them geared up, it's time to take them outside. This is not about giant steps, it's about making them comfortable and making it FUN! So take it slow. Let your little one walk around the house in their new boots. Take them for a walk, pulling them along in their skis. Let them play in the backyard with their skis on. Take them to the local park to experience a little hill in a safe setting. Anything you can do to encourage them to be comfortable in their gear and see skiing as fun.

When you feel they are ready for the real hill, we're talking bunny hill really, it's time for the real adventure to begin. With little ones just starting out, you will be physically supporting them and ensuring that they are maintaining a safe speed. Most of the time when kids start skiing, especially if they are at a very young age, they will not have the strength, or knowledge, to turn and slow themselves down. This is where you come in. In the beginning you will be skiing with them between your legs, helping them. You will help them slow down, stay upright and turn. At the same time you will be coaching them and providing words of encouragement.

Again, this is about maintaining fun. You might get one run in, you might get five. But take whatever you can get. Don't push, simply accept what your little one can give you. By remembering that this is a life long passion you are creating, you will remember to take the small steps and work to ensure that you make the whole thing fun. Notice that I keep coming back to the idea of “fun”?

You might be on the bunny hill for a long time. Be prepared for this. But you have to progress through all of this a the rate that you child is ready for. Don't push, but encourage.

With all of this you will notice I have yet to give you an number. That is because each child is different. Some are more daring than others, some are very active and athletic. A good rule of thumb for the lower limits of when a child is ready to ski is that they must be able to walk, run and jump with confidence. Another “rule” I've heard is that if a child can jump off a step, couch, etc. and land, supporting their own weight, then they have the strength to ski. But you know your child best and are the best determinate of what age they are ready to begin the adventure.

Have fun! I would love to hear stories of your first outing with your little one.

Tag Team Parenting

Chris and I have been working on our Tag Team parenting skills. The Kraken is too young to be placed in day care at the ski hill and still needs me for most of his meals during the day. So we are necessitated in taking him with us to the ski hill and trading off parenting. We have a great system going right now, that seems to work for us and for the Kraken. We have tried our method with friends around and when skiing on own our – true tag team parenting.

The gist of our system is that we load the little man into his Ergo carrier (I love it!).  I tend to use it as a side sling when schlepping all my gear and his gear for the day. Our home hill tends to be Sunshine Village in Banff, Alberta. So we take a short trip in the gondola – the boy loves watching the sights go by, or staring at others that we share the ride with. I then head into the hotel restaurant and get settled. They have great sofas in front of a fire place and make a wonderful home base. Chris takes a few runs while I get things settled. He then comes in and gives me the opportunity to head out. Since the lifts are very accessible to the hotel it makes trading off in this manner work really well. We each tend to take 3-4 runs and then relieve the other and parent for a short period. At lunch I feed the Kraken while Chris takes a few runs and then we take a brief break to eat together and continue the afternoon in a similar manner.

The only issue we've run into is nap time. But so far we've been lucky, Chris seems to have some magical skills that can get the boy to sleep in the middle of a busy restaurant. Don't ask me how, but he does it!

This method only alters slightly when others are around since we have kind friends that will often take a shift of care giving, thus allowing Chris and I to ski together.

The best thing is that the other day we had the chance to spend the day with another set of parents who were tag team parenting. They were trying a different method – they traded half days. In their case, the dad skied for the morning, came in for a late lunch together and then the mum headed out for a chunk of the afternoon. I can totally see the benefit of this method as well. It would work much better at hills where a home base is not as accessible to the runs that one is wanting to ski. But could also make for very tired legs or a very tired parent from trying to entertain an active child for so long.

Later that same day we met parents who had spent the day tag team skiing as well. Twice in one day! They even took it one step further and were sharing skis! We really liked meeting and chatting with others taking their little one to the hill so early.

I think the best part is the support and encouragement that we've received from everyone around us. Here's to maintaining a passion while raising a young one. If you have another method or ways to make ours better please let me know, I would love to hear ways to tweak my method to make the day even better for everyone.

Morning routine

We've all arrived at the ski hill only to discover that we've forgotten a needed piece of ski gear.  This is where having a pre and post routine really becomes important.  Even more so when you are working with little people and all their necessary items.

Chris and I have had a little routine going for a long time now, mainly related to how we roll after a day on the hill.  My brother has watched this in action, and while he made fun of us during the first round, he saw the benefit the next morning, when we were prepping for a new ski day.

We are lucky enough to have a spacious laundry room/ back hall.  When we roll in from a day on the hill we take 5 minutes to run through our routine, and it really does pay off.  Chris deals with skis and we both unload the car. All our clothes, helmets, goggle, etc. are brought to the back hall.  We use our helmet bags to corral all our bits and bobs, so we basically just have to unpack the bag.

Helmets are pulled out and placed on the bag.  Goggles are pulled out to allow for drying.  These are placed on the goggle bags, remember how I said earlier that Chris has a thing for proper goggle care...  Gloves are pulled out and placed on the clothes rack to dry.  Since I'm a bit of a princess about being warm, I wear a liner toque under my helmet and a face mask.  These too are pulled out to dry.  All is placed within about a 2 foot area.  

Chris always pulls the liners out of our boots.  Ever smelled the boots of someone that doesn't pull the liners?  Well, I'm happy to report that neither of our boots smell, and pulling them apart is a big factor in this.  Pulling the liners from the boots allows for proper air flow around the liner and ensures that it dries completely.  This is really important if you are skiing back to back days.  The benefit of pulling boots apart is that it also gives the shells a chance to dry.  I'm sure many of you have seen small bit of snow get into your boots.  And skiing hard can make feet sweat.  So always, always, always take the minute to pull your boots apart.

Finally , pants and jackets are hung so that they too can dry.

And this is our post ski routine.  Not much, but it makes sure that when we go skiing the next time, everything is within a confined space.

So when we are prepping to ski, we just grab the gloves, bag the goggles, toss both into the helmet and toss the helmet into the helmet bag.  The boots are right there, so we quickly put them back together.  Grab our pants and coats and off we go.  The only thing not stored within this realm are our ski socks - these too get tossed into the respective helmet bags.  Maybe I'll make a basket for these too...  I have to say that with this system, neither of us has forgotten a needed item on ski gear in ages (touch wood).

I can see that this system will become even more important as the Kraken gets older and joins us in our skiing endeavours.  It will help ensure that in the craziness of getting a young one out the door, nothing will be forgotten that could ruin a day of skiing.  With this systems even the Kraken will be able to help with the unpacking and prep from a very young age.

I know this seems like such a silly thing for me to go on about, but I really can't say enough for how easy it makes skiing and there is no searching for needed items.  Find even a small space, set it up for your ski gear and give it a go a few times.  Hopefully your pleasantly surprised by how easy it makes getting ready and will help ensure that you forget


nothing.  

Child care - Ontario east

As promised here is a list of ski hills east of Ontario and details about their child care offerings.  As a Nova Scotia girl, I have to admit I'm a little saddened by how few hills in NS and NB offer day care.  Maybe those that ski in these areas live their and have family to care for the pre-skiers?  Either way, here are the listings for you, again far from all inclusive, but a great start I hope.  Happy skiing!

Ski Hill	Ages Accepted	Price	Lunch included	Other details
Snow Valley	6 - 36 months	$30.00 for one session		9:00am – 12:00pm & 12:30 – 3:30pm
Blue Mountain	18 months - 5 years	$70.00	lunch and snacks included	9:00am – 3:00pm
Horseshoe Resort	Not offered
Le Massif	2 years and up	$39.00 $89.00 during the week, when regular day care is not open	$9.50	9:00am – 4:00pm
Mont Blanc	2 years and under	$39.00	$6.00	8:30am – 4:00pm
Mont-Sainte-Anne	6 - 24 months 2 years and up	$69.95 $57.95	$10.99	8:30am – 4:00pm rates increase at peak times
Tremblant	1-6 years	$99.00	Included	8:30am – 4:30pm
Stoneham	12 - 24 months 2 years and up	$69.95 $57.95	$9.99	rates increase at peak times
Crabbe Mountain	Not offered
Mont Farlagne	Not offered
Poley Mountain Resorts	3 months - 10 years	$25.00	Not included closed from 12:30 – 1:00pm, kids must be picked up	9:00am – 12:30pm and 1:00 – 4:00pm picked up
Wentworth	Still awaiting email reply.
Martock	Not offered
Marble	Still awaiting email reply.			Details on website are slim.
White Hills Resort	Still awaiting email reply.

Skis hills and day care

I was having a little conversation with a friend the other day on how hard it is to ski with a baby in tow.  This got her asking if ski hills offer day care.  I was happy to let her know that many do and decided to undertake a little project for all of you. I have been scouring the internet and sending emails to compile a list of hills that offer day care and some basic details on their offerings.

I have completed the list for Alberta and BC and wanted to share it.  I'm still working on Ontario east, and will share it as soon as its done.

Hope this helps you get out to the ski hill...

Ski Hill	Ages Accepted	Price	Lunch included	Other details
Whistler	18-48 months	$89.00		Offer complimentary TELUS pagers Drop off between 8:00-10:00am
Big White	18 months – 5 years	$72.00	Great menu options, changes daily.	Offer package deals. Voted “Best Place to be Abandoned by Your Parents” by Ski Canada Magazine. Great details on website
Kimberly	18-35 months 36 months – 6 years	$76.95 $63.75	$9.99, bring a bag lunch or pick up for lunch	9:00am - 4:00pm, closed Christmas day
Fernie	18-36 months 3-6 years	$69.95 $57.95
Panorama	18-36 months 37 months – 5 years	$65.00 $60.00	$7.00	9:00am - 4:30pm
Silver Star	18 months – 5 years	$74.00	Included for full day care.	Offers reduces rates on consecutive days. Offers day care with an hour of ski lesson, this costs more. 8:30am - 4:00pm
Sun Peaks	18 month - 5 years	$71.00	Included for full day care.	8:30am - 4:00pm
Castle	18 month minimum	$50.00		Only open weekends. Max of 6 kids.
Sunshine	19 months – 6 years	$53.00	$10.00, pick up at noon for 30min, or bring bag lunch	8:30am - 4:00pm little website info, but very prompt email reply
Lake Louise	18 days – 19 months 19 – 36 months 36 months – 6 years	$63.50 $52.95 $49.95	$8.75	8:30am - 4:30pm reservations needed for infants
Nakiska	19 months – 3 years 3 years and up	$69.95 $57.95 rates increase at holiday times	$9.99	9:00am - 4:00pm Thursday to Monday. Must pre-booked.
Norquay	19 months – 6 years of	$49.00	Included snacks also included	9:00am - 4:00pm

This is by far not a complete list of the hills out there, but I think it's a good start at some of the hills in Alberta and BC.  If there are other hills you want me to add to the list, please let me know!

Best laid plans

Adventures in parenthood.  You might make the best plans and have all the details worked out, but somehow the little ones can have other plans.  Our big idea for the weekend was to hit the ski hill on Saturday as my husband was working a Rossi demo.  What a great opportunity for me to test out a variety of skis.  Today, Sunday, we planned to head to Lake Louise to watch some world cup ski racing.  The FIS Would Cup Super G is taking place today, yesterday was the Men's World Cup Downhill.

But all of that was before the little man decided to get a high fever this week.  It looked promising for our weekend of ski based activities on Friday when the fever broke.  Then came the rash...  A very unhappy little man resulted in a trip to the hospital overnight and three very tired humans in our house.  Our little man is fine, just a virus.  So love and time are what he needs right now.  He has defiantly been earning his nickname of "the Kraken" this week...

The race taking place at Louise is the first race for the men for the 2013-14 race year.  The women are in Beaver Creek, CO, USA right now.  Next week they change places, so the women are at Louise for a downhill race on Saturday, and a Super G on Sunday.  Two great weekends to watch some amazing ski racing if you are looking for something fun to do. You can always take in the races and make a few turns as the ski hill is open to the public during these races.  Lake Louise has made a few upgrades over the summer that are worth checking out.  A big one is upgrades done to the Temple lodge, located on the backside of the hill.  This will allow those enjoying the terrain back there, to stay there for lunch and needed warm beverages.  I'm interested to get there myself to check out the improvements that have been made.

Right now I'm off to get some needed sleep, but will post more later on the new Rossignol skis out for this year and let you know some of my husbands thoughts on them.  I will do what I can to get out on these skis in the coming weeks, so I can give my female stamp of approval on his picks.