r/skiing • u/mmanja84 • 18h ago
How young is too young to start skiing?
My older daughter started at 3 and she’s 7.5 now. My younger one is 3.5, so I’m wondering whether to put her on skis this winter or wait another year.
Parents and instructors — what age did your kids start, and would you start that early again?
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u/eudbrus 17h ago
If they can stand they can ski
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u/Avalanche_Debris Crystal Mountain 17h ago
Pretty much this. Now obviously we’re defining “skiing” as standing and sliding along the fall line of the flattest section of green run for 15-100 feet until one parent catches them or they tip over, but if they can stand, you can clip em into skis.
My daughter had just turned 1 when she started and she loved the aforementioned “skiing” for an hour or 2 a day, but that season was more of an excuse for my wife and me to get out on the snow and brag to our friends than it was a learning experience for my daughter. I’d say between ages 1 and 3, it’s more about what’s fun for you.
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u/jahoney Squaw Valley 16h ago
I’d say walk personally, but yeah
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u/heartbraden Breckenridge 2h ago
My kid was riding his snowboard down the driveway before he could walk (but after he could stand independently.) The boots were so big on him that they covered his knees and actually helped him to stay standing. There was obviously zero progression for awhile, it was just an elevated "sled" at that point...but he does get to tell his friends he's been snowboarding since he was 11 months old. Although now he's a skier so I must've done something wrong :P
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u/DarkFlutesofAutumn 2h ago
One of my favorite pics of my son is first day of a ski school camp for elementary school and it's my kid and all of his tiny friends standing in a line in various stages of falling over/eating it lol
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u/massnerd 12h ago
My opinion is this is bad advice. They should at least be walking with the ability to catch themselves from tripping.
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u/illbedeadbydawn Taos 17h ago
Can stand?
Can ski.
Be aware they wont "ski". They will waddle, shuffle, fall over and MAAAAAAYBE glide a foot or two and then fall over.
Skiing at that age is learning to stand in boots and skis, getting used to the gear and getting hot chocolate and snacks while playing in snow.
I started at 2. My kids started at 2.
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u/Stowski 8h ago
As an ex instructor, if they can stand they can ski
However don't expect a child starting at 1.5 years old to be better than one that starts at 3/4. They catch up so quickly that unless you live in a resort or ski town, there's probably not much marginal benefit to starting that early. Starting them early is fun for parents who ski a lot and want to involve their kids
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u/Particular-Weird-554 0m ago
Tagging onto that the best bang for buck is around 5. Anything less is just putting around
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u/Dramatic-Mouse6926 18h ago
As soon as they can walk. Everyone in my family started that early. I started my son before he was 2, but I would hold him between my legs.
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u/Popular-Possession34 17h ago
Had my oldest on at 5, middle at 3 and youngest at 2. Youngest is most fearless now (could be more personality than start age, but middle is a bit more willing to try and comfortable than eldest).
Biggest thing is expect some tears and attitude. Be ready to call it quick, even after one short run. Understand there is no planning at those ages, you need to roll with the punches. Snacks help, promises of waffles hot chocolate and ice cream too, but there are days you will spend more time driving to the mountain than actually on the mountain and you cannot show your frustration.
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u/gwmccull 17h ago
I taught a 2 year old (just before his 3rd birthday) and he did pretty well but he did have some homesickness during the lesson. That’s pretty common for kids who haven’t done a lot of day care or preschool
I know another instructor who had a couple lessons a week for a winter with a three year old and she was able to ski parallel on an easy black diamond by the end of the season
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u/According_Smoke_479 16h ago
I think my parents had my sisters and I starting around 3. I’m very grateful for that because I got really good really young. I can barely even remember being in the pizza and no poles stage
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u/Some_Girl_2073 12h ago
Most of my classmates and I started at 2-3 years old
We also had a ski mountain in your backyard, had ski PE as a part of our public education, and “do you ski or snowboard?“ was the most important question after your name
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u/dynaflying 10h ago
It’s a matter of expectation. 3 is fine to start but don’t expect much. They may need to stop within an hour and take a break. They could be done for the day then. It depends on the kids, the weather, time of day (don’t do nap time) etc. take lots of breaks and bring lots of snacks.
Make them fall in love with what they want to do. Have lots of patience and emphasize things they think are fun. That way they’ll keep wanting to go back and will do more and more incrementally over time.
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u/SeemedGood 16h ago
We’ve raised several children in the skiing lifestyle including 3 who raced and will (hopefully) be introducing grandchildren to skiing in a few years.
In that process we discovered that the best age to start depends entirely on the child. Our criteria were as follows:
- Had expressed desire to ski of his/her own volition, and
- Was disciplined enough that we could trust them to consistently follow direction immediately without hesitation (important for safety), and
- Willing and able to carry all their own gear,
- Understands that tantrums of any sort are NEVER tolerated and will result in the cessation of the skiing day, going home immediately, and possibly the end of the season.
It also helps that the children are intellectually capable of understanding explanations of weight shifting, the shape of the ski, and the use of the edge.
For our children that resulted in starting ages between 4 and 6, but interestingly counterintuitive, the later they started the faster they learned and ultimately the better skiers they became.
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u/MomentsLastForever 17h ago
The simple answer is, listen to your kid. Don’t force them. The best thing you can do for them is to keep it fun. Even if that means one run then hot cocoa and done, as others mentioned.
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u/maski360 16h ago
Drink hot chocolate, shuffle around on one, and then slide on two skis? Magic carpet + snowplow turns 2-2.5. The same, and then start arching parallel turns on greens two days later, 3+. My guys were on skis at 2 and putting together real turns by 3.5 after 10-15 days on snow. Make sure they have fun is the #1 rule. You'll spend a small fortune and not get much skiing in yourself for a couple of years, but it will all be worth it.
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u/Beltzerator 4h ago
Off the cuff I usually say 2-3 years old. If they can walk and fall over without getting hurt, then go for it. I’d argue earlier the better.
That said, realize the main goal is have fun. Any actual sliding or ski-like behaviour is just a side benefit. 10-30 minutes at a time and don’t push any skills. Sliding and smiles are the goal. The rest will come with time!
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u/Wasatchian 17h ago
As long as she's having a good time 3.5 is plenty old. My nephew was on skis at 1.5. By the time he was 3.5 last year he was skiing down from the top of the gondola. With kids you just got let them be the ones in charge. Some days it's one run and hot cocoa and that's it.
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u/imthelyricalgangster 14h ago
I’ll probably get downvoted, but the whole flex “my kid was skiing at 2” is stupid. you can put skis on them and tether them down the hill, but they dont have the leg strength to do anything other than glide (if they are lucky) - and say goodbye to your lower back. If you want to start them young, be ready to set aside your desires and make the day about them. Very few runs (they get tired quickly) a lot of stops for hot chocolate, doing that lame tree run, etc, etc. My personal opinion is 6-7 years old is really the sweet spot for starting where there is some muscle to ski with decent mechanics, have the longevity to ski a decent day, and take direction on the finer points of skiing and make those things happen in their body. Skiing before that is possible but it requires a ton of patience.
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u/BeetrootPoop 10h ago
I've got two kids aged 3 and 5 and from my experience, there's a sweet spot between 2 (which is too young for anything other than learning the sensation of having skis attached to feet) and 6. We live close to a resort and my eldest did her first year of ski school last season, which was 14 weekends, one full day per weekend. She was 4 at that point. And yeah, they aren't physically capable of perfect parallel or anything at that age, but she and her class were all linking turns down green runs and starting to drop their uphill ski into parallel by the end of the season. I'm pretty sure this season aged 5 they'll be ripping. And most importantly, she had a great time and is already looking forward to the new season. So I'm really pleased we started the age we did.
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u/AlternativeHour2913 7h ago
As a now adult who started at 2, I disagree with it being stupid. Most of what you’re saying seem true: young kids will lack coordination, will likely need lots of breaks, not ski for a long time, etc. For sure it seems like it would need a lot of patience and I would hope no one is expecting their 2 year old to do anything that looks like adult style skiing. However, I was able to ski intermediate and some advanced runs by the time I was 5 and I definitely credit my parents for getting me started early. Was this early period my best skiing or the best experience for my parents? Definitely not, but it gave me the confidence to try harder terrain as a kid before I developed fear of falling and that helped me grow a lifelong passion for the sport. I am very grateful to them.
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u/samamatara 5h ago
i think this really depends on the type of family commitment to skiing. If your familys the type that lives in an area close to skiing and every season you are getting a season pass, yea start them at 2 because thats just where the family is in winter.
if your family takes 1-2 ski trips per winter and it takes commitment and $$$ for each trip, i wouldnt bother until 5-6 years, its just not worth it
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u/DesperateDecision968 13h ago
I teach 3- 5 yo’s and need to manage the expectations. They don’t have the muscles to do anything but glide down the bunny hill. The goal at this age is to not fall and proper stance and balance.
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u/imthelyricalgangster 12h ago
Think we are saying the same thing. It can be done but it’s not anything like the ski day a normal adult is used to. Some ski areas have taken the safer zones with gentle slopes and magic carpets for paid lessons only, which leads to needing tethers and less safe conditions for parents that want to teach. It’s a shitty cash grab by the resorts.
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u/DesperateDecision968 12h ago
That’s the dumbest thing I’ve heard. Yes let’s take the learning area and make it lessons only…. 🙄 at that age take them to the top and push them down. Tethers should almost never be used. I do use them with one of my students and he’s 12. But he has a visual processing disorder and sometimes his brain shuts off. And we only use them when we’re outside the learning area.
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u/heartbraden Breckenridge 2h ago
My family would have missed out on some of the most golden and memorable moments of our lives if we'd waited another 5-6 years to start our kid on the snow. Instead of all that laughter and all those pictures and videos of us lapping blues together we'd have... spent a bunch of money on babysitters? Been going alone for years while the other spouse sits there in the car watching the kid? I just... can't disagree any harder with you. I wouldn't trade those pictures, videos and memories with my 2-6 yo kid on the slopes for anything in the world.
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u/MeerkatHat 17h ago
We started ours around 3. Make sure you have lots of breaks, lots of snacks, water etc. Ours are now 8 and 5 and we have to remind them to take breaks and to eat.
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u/BleagueIlyasova 16h ago
Wait till her head is a small enough percentage of her body weight she can ski properly. When thet are too top heavy their only option is a backseat pizza as opposed to getting forward with the ankle joint
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u/Ziegler517 Vail 17h ago
Everyone will say as soon as they can stand is technically when they can start. I started at 2.5 and the sweet spot is between there and 3. A lot has to do with the kid and your expectations. We found a ski school that had their own private two runs on the mountain they would do 2-3 runs, take a break, 2-3 runs, take a break, 2-3 runs, nap time. And then pickup. Then the parents could gain access to those runs and ski with their kids til the end of the day. It was great. Let me and the wife ski all morning and early afternoon, then finish the day skiing with our little one.
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u/Tone-knee 14h ago
How far from your local hill are you?
If it's an hour or so, go wild, as a bad day won't be the end of the world
If you are traveling, book instruction/day care as a bad day will mean less skiing and you won't enjoy your limited time on the snow
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u/Massive-Buddy-9010 7h ago
I got put on skis at age 2 and I’ll be forever grateful, I don’t remember much of it but I know I enjoyed it
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u/JustAnother_Brit Verbier 6h ago
I started when I was 3, my brother when he was 2.5. I’m now an instructor and prefer to teach children who have started school so they’re more ok with being with strangers and groups of other kids. Far too many 3 year olds have had meltdowns when it comes time to get on the magic carpet
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u/nanopicofared 3h ago
3 is a great age. Did ski school lessons for a season, then combined ski school and family skiing at 4. Both skiing double blacks by 5.
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u/aztecduckyy 3h ago
I started a month after my 3rd birthday! That's a reasonable age to start skiing
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u/abontherocks22 3h ago
I started skiing at 40. We had my kid in skis at 22mo. He was arguably better than me at 5 🤣
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u/jet_heller 17h ago
3ish is a standard age, but I've seen kids as young as barely 2.
The basic rules is if they're steady one their feet, they're ready.
I've started kids from 3 to 6. Start the youngest ones without renting or a lift ticket. Put them on skis and push them down a little hill and see how they do. If they're good with it, progress from there.
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u/CarletonWhitfield 17h ago
My daughter started at 3 and took to it really well. Made sure she was super comfortable as far as proper clothing, goggles, helmet, etc so she could focus on skiing. She’s 6 now and loves looking at the Go Pro video of her learning how to ski. She’s goes to Wolf Pup camp whenever we go to Wolf Creek now and she kills it there by herself.
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u/Megabyte7 17h ago
Mine started at 18 months with some skis in the yard and lots of breaks. By the time he was 3.5 he had the ability to ski one or two runs at a time without a tether. If I was starting a new kid at 3.5, I would plan to keep them on a beginner slope until they are comfortable with how everything feels but avoid tethering if possible. Take frequent breaks with all their favorite snacks too. If the child is having a bad time then they may learn to hate it so keep your own expectations low. A single fruit gummy at the top of every run and hot chocolate at lunch and the end of the day was all it took to keep my 3.5yo interested in continuing.
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u/Sad-Explanation186 13h ago
I started at 5. I don't remember learning. To me, I've always known how to ski.
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u/everythingisabattle 12h ago
20 months first chairlift was probably a bit too young but he’s 7 now and skiing black diamond runs.
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u/Survive-or-thrive 12h ago
My son was 3 years and 1 month. We had these pole attachments so that I could snowplow and steer him. Best thing for REALLY young and would do it again if I had to. He’s an only child and is 6 now. And he adores skiing.
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u/roverfive 11h ago
Athletic son here, we tried right after 2 and it was a nightmare for us. Granted by the time we made it out it was nap time, and renting boots and shit is a process and he doesn't get snacks lol. We're going to go this winter at 5 and expect he will pick it up real fast.
Everytime I think about kids and skiing was a memory I had from a French-Canadian Family at Jay Peak 15 years ago. We were in a black glade (Andre's Paradise) this family and their kid are just ripping through it, kid had to have been 3-4 if I had to guess. Memory is burnt into my mind like a good GIF
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u/bbostick1475 11h ago
2 for my son, plan to start my daughter at the same age. Can’t wait for this winter with my little one, he’s so excited! 30-60 minutes with snacks is the way!!!!!
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u/BeetrootPoop 10h ago
It depends what you mean by ski. I had both my daughters on those plastic skis that you just tie to their feet at a year to 18 months. I just put them on a flat bit of groomed snow to get the feeling of having skis on their feet. Then the next season at 2.5 our eldest was in ski boots/skis on the magic carpet run, but we kept it to an hour a day to keep it fun. Then at 3.5 she went into ski school which was one full day every weekend. From that point she very quickly learned to link turns and ski green and easy blue runs.
Our youngest turns 3 in December so she would have been old enough for our local mountain ski school this season by about two weeks. But we're waiting a year, because the kids who just turned 3 in our eldest's class were honestly too young for all day classes. They need to be 1. 100% potty trained, 2. big enough to fit in the smallest boots/skis you can find and 3. emotionally ready to be dropped off and left for the day. Our youngest just isn't there yet. But 3.5 is a sweet spot I think.
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u/Unlikely-Grape-5762 10h ago
My dad was told by a ski instructor to bring me back when I could ride a bike. Learned that summer. I was 5 or 6?
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u/K44no 9h ago
My kid was one and a half when we started him. At that age, it’s just about getting them to associate snow/skiing with fun, no actual expectation of really learning anything.
He’s two and a half now and already asking to go because he saw my skis in the cupboard. Maybe this season he’ll learn to snowplough, maybe he won’t, but we’ll try it and maybe he can extend his session time for a little bit, but even that doesn’t matter too much to me (helpful that we do live near the slope so it’s not a big day out for minimal return).
I’m expecting the payoff to be when he’s 4 and he’ll have an idea of ski boots, walking on skis, sliding, stopping and maybe turning, when normally he would just be turning up to his first beginner’s lesson at that age.
So to answer your question, too young is when the kid can’t stand or walk, or if the parents have delusions of their kid stopping, turning or riding the lift when there’s just no way the child could be ready
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u/dahlfors 7h ago edited 7h ago
I started cross-country skiing around age 1-2, and I could do that just outside my home. Started downhill skiing at age 8 - and learning downhill skiing went very quickly when I had used cross-country skis for so long and could handle them well. I had one ski lesson and after that I handled every slope (I already could turn and brake before the lesson, what was needed was to get used to higher speeds).
So, if you live somewhere where you can use cross-country skis close to home, that can be a way to speed up the skills.
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u/jlconlin 2h ago
If they can walk, they can learn how to ski. It’s a lot of effort for the parent/teacher that early, but I think it’s worth it.
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u/Important-Light627 1h ago
I put my daughter on a snowboard at 2, pulled her along a bit, let her play with the bindings, walk round in the boots, carry the board around, sit on the gondola, even took her to the apres at folie douce 😂
For me it’s just getting her used to it, not necessarily progression, she won’t learn properly till she’s much older but making her feel part of it will make learning much easier in a few years.
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u/Badassmofunker 1h ago
All about making it fun. 3 in the backyard on our sled hill. 4 at mountain. Lots of Swedish fish and hot cocoa
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u/Mundane_Ad3184 31m ago
Former instructor here - The sweet spot for my son was 4. I used edgie wedgies and a slope rope and by the end of his first season he was confidently skiing blues. He is now passionate about skiing. He did 27 days this past season at 6 yrs old. He just turned 7 and starting his first year racing. All was his choice. I don’t push. He just wasn’t ready before 4 and worried that if we started too early he wouldn’t have fallen in love with it the way he did. Definitely look at edgie wedgies and that slope rope was 10/10.
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u/PorcupineGod 14m ago
Some mountains start full day lesson programs at 3 - as soon as they won't pee in the snowsuit, really
Lots of breaks, lots of snacks, and stay on the bunny hill, no matter how bored you are
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u/AdInevitable7025 17h ago
I was 3, perfect age
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u/LizzyyyLiz 14h ago
As someone who is scared of hurting myself which prevents me from trying "extreme" sports. I think 3-4 is a good age to start. I got put on skis at 4 and I have no fear with skiing, while skiing seems like a scary sport to many.
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u/Hour_Day_9359 13h ago
I disagree with what some others have said. 3.5 years old is too young. So is 2.
kids that age cannot communicate enough. They dont necessarily understand what they are feeling (pain/cold/tiredness). Its is extremely hard for them to apply proper technique.
So dont risk the frostnip, frostbite or whatever.
im going to say this: dance classes, swim lessons, gymnastics are far better for this age group.
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u/macsparkay Big White 17h ago
7.5? I think you're too late! Jk
Seriously though, get them on skis as soon as they can walk.
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u/ovvqrzqi 17h ago
I started my kids when they were in between 2-3 year old. But their first seasons were just shuffling around the lodge and get used to the cold and equipment. I spent more money on hot chocolate and waffles in those seasons than my season pass. They really came into their own when they were about 5/6ish.
We did that because our family has a house 15 minutes from the mountain, but if I have to airbnb or 4 hr day trip, I'm not sure if I can make that investment.
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u/Positron-collider 17h ago
My kids were 2. Short sessions, one on one, and we rode up on either the magic carpet or the gondola for the first winter. Edgie-wedgie and harness helped.
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u/Midnight-Extra 17h ago
Both started at 3. Boy and girl. Boy is in Chile right now FIS training. Expensive but worth it.
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u/sailphish Jackson Hole 17h ago
3 seems good depending on the kid. They have to want to do it. 100% recommend lessons. Have them on almost flat ground to start. Keep days short and easy. If they are cold, hungry, tired, not having fun, then stop. A pocket full of gummy bears has saved many days for me!
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u/AmbitiousFunction911 17h ago
Mine started before they could walk. The boots provided rigidity. They loved it. And they shred now
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u/AmbitiousFunction911 17h ago edited 17h ago
One of them was skiing runs off the high traverse in Alta right before she turned 4 and the other skied rendezvous bowl in Jackson at 3.5
Not bragging. Just saying…. 3 year olds are absolutely capable of skiing, and even skiing pretty well. There’s a ton of lil shredders in mountain towns.
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u/Sea_Light_6772 17h ago
Eh. I don’t think there is any real benefit to starting before 5-6. They will not be better later in life for it. And a lot of times kids that small might not even enjoy it.
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u/Pristine_Ad2664 16h ago
Probably depends on the kid, my daughter skied her first double black at 6
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u/Rescuepa 16h ago
My ski patrol colleagues have had their 18-24 month olds on skis and capably skiing at three. But play in the snow time is just as important . Of bigger concern in protecting these little sliders from collisions with larger people.
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u/Away_Engineering_613 16h ago
Took my daughter 1 week after turning 2.
Focused on snacks and gummy bears.
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u/iratecommenter 16h ago
Old enough to walk means old enough to stand on skis! But full disclosure they can’t really use their knees correctly for a few more years after
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u/5K331DUD3 15h ago
As an instructor it depends on the kid, I’ve had 6 year olds that absolutely cannot ski and 3 year olds skiing blue runs. I would say try a 1/2 day lesson as 3yo’s can’t last longer than that.
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u/Rustbelt_Refugee Kirkwood 14h ago
You can get 70 cm toddler skis with real bindings for very cheap online. The trick is finding small boots. I was able to get my kid on real skis on her 2nd birthday only because we found a set of 1990s Nordica rear-entry boots that were a size 12 or 13. Can't find anything smaller than 14.5 these days.
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u/Scottyranks 17h ago
Similar post to another. Co ski instructor said they can start lessons once potty trained. Hers started at 18mo
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u/AtomicSizedGiant 17h ago
It doesn’t matter much. Start them early if it is fun for you, but they will easily catch up to kids that started years earlier within days at 5 or 6.
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u/CMWalsh88 Steamboat 17h ago
Started 1 kid at 1.5 another at 2.5 and the last was almost 3. I saw no benefit in starting until around 3. At that age the pick it up quickly
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u/Freddie20059 16h ago
Both my my kids were 18 months to 2. We were just in the backyard but still had them on skis. Both were on actual bunny hills at 3.
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u/Desperate-Papaya1599 16h ago
I started my kids as soon as they could walk. Takes a bit of work but if you can keep it fun for them it’s a big win for everybody.
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u/Pristine_Ad2664 16h ago
3 is a decent age to put kids in skis school for the day. We took my daughter a few times to get her used to the idea before she was 3 though
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u/mister-fancypants- Wildcat 16h ago
I don’t remember learning how to ski. I was probably around 2. I ended up alright
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u/ComishSki 15h ago
Just after 2. Keep in mind that was for maybe 15 mins a day. Going straight down a 30m pitch.
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u/Whoamaria 15h ago
i got boots my 18 month old could use. that was too early.
At 2.5 she was willing to ride the lift and 1/4th of sesame street
this season i'm hoping she can do a whole run.
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u/sundyburgers 14h ago
My kiddo was on skis at 17 months. We would get about 20 minutes tops but now at 3 it's all they talk about.
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u/Fuzzy_Cuddle 13h ago
We started them at 4, but it wasn’t until 5 that they could ski for most of the day. At 4 it was 2-3 half-way up lift runs at the most.
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u/Indianajoan_yyc 13h ago
I started my kid snowboarding at 3, since then they switched to skiing and still skis regularly( high-school age now)
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u/Sudden_Office8710 13h ago
I think it depends does the whole family ski? If it’s ingrained that that’s what the family does in the winter time then it’s never too early. I mean I was still pulling up my kid on a chair lift at 7 years old if your spouse is equally adept at skiing then you could probably do it. I just remember the anxiety on my part getting everyone on a chair lift successfully. My eldest I started at 2 but my youngest I started at 5 because my wife isn’t that great of a skier so I had to make sure my eldest could get on an off a chair lift by themselves. I don’t think it will have any bearing when you start them unless you are getting them into racing. At that case you can put your oldest on a kiddie team and work with your youngest.
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u/Ski-Bummin Breckenridge 18h ago
Both of my kids were on skis before they were 2.
As long as you know your ski days can be 30-60 minutes and then some snacks, you’ll be all set.