Basic Game Play with Young Skiers

Follow the Leader

Skiing should always be fun. But if you're teaching kids to ski for the first time, a frustrating breakdown or trauma inducing fall may be just around the next turn, making your dream day on the slopes feel more like work.

With the right game plan, however, making skiing fun and easy can be the name of the game — literally. Turning a beginner's first turns into a playful game can change the entire mood of the day. The right mix of games distracts kids from their failures while giving them an extra incentive to do things right. Structuring goals like linking turns, quick stops and parallel turns into the games keeps kids attitudes positive and prevents them from being overwhelmed when frustration creeps in.

Here are some recommended games to start with, whether in a group or one-on-one, that will bring out the smiles and quickly improve basic skills.

Building a Staircase and Simple Relays

Skis can be clunky, annoying and downright immovable at first, especially with young ones who may be a little uncoordinated. Proving the wisdom behind the fundamental skills kids need before they point the skis downhill can be difficult. Using stair exercises and relays will get them comfortable with the new sticks on their feet before they pickup speed.

Have the kids start with one ski — it's easier. On a fairly flat slope, walk uphill from them about 10 to 15 feet, showing them how to step with their ski up the mountain. Move to two skis as soon as possible. After a couple of kids make the trip, the staircase will start to form in the snow if it's soft, helping the kids see how moving up the hill really can feel like building a staircase.

If you have a group, flatland relays are a good introductory game too. Split the group into two teams and have them run relay races holding a pole or any extra piece of equipment. Start with walking, but quickly try to teach the basic of gliding and skating with inside edges. Either way, the drill teaches basic ski management and the new sensation of moving with skis attached to their feet.

Red Light, Green Light

Learning to stop and be in control at all times can mean the difference between a 4-year-olds undesired kamikaze mission down the bunny slope or a possible end of the day trip to some unexplored blue territory. Almost all kids have played a version of this game before, and again, it's simple, fun and useful with groups. If you can, ski backward facing your kids about 10 feet apart. Hold your hands low for the green light, and raise them high for the red stop signal.

The pizza plough is a great beginner method to shed speed and feel in control. However, a game like this should push your kids to begin using the "hockey stop," or the quick turn stop with skis parallel. In between the reds and greens, teach the basic of transferring weight to uphill edges to stop momentum. The faster a hockey stop becomes second nature, the faster the entire mountain opens up.     

For the first round or two down the run, have fun with the kids and don't penalize anyone for failing to stop when the red light is yelled. When the kids improve, start eliminating kids that fail to stop quickly or in control. Stopping is an important skill and needs to be mastered as soon as possible.

Follow the Leader

The timeless classic is as simple as it sounds on skis. Pick a nearly flat or mild slope and explain to the kids that they need to stay in your tracks as much as possible. Put the weakest skiers closest to you.

Kids are very direct learners and many will learn just by watching your movements The kids should do their best to mimic your every move, so make sure to exaggerate the fundamentals of turning by leading with your torso, shoulders and head. Slowly initiate wide turns down the hill, paying attention to the progress the kids are making each run.

Keeping the right pace is also important. Never get too far ahead of your pack, but make sure you are creating enough space to make the kids feel comfortable and on their own. Try to vary the degree of the turns from swooping wide-angle to a little quicker once the kids seem to get the hang of the game. Follow the leader can also be played on any type of terrain, so don't be afraid to take it to the bumps, trees and bowls as your students improve their skills.