It develops agility, co-ordination, sense of
balance and courage. It’s practiced outdoors and in pure and natural mountain
environments. But above all, it’s fun and exciting: skiing is a sport that’s
suitable for kids, who can spend a whole day on the snow, with other kids,
and ski with mum and dad. And with the help of instructors from the two ski schools in Oasi Zegna (used
to young skiers, who can learn on Bielmonte’s easy and sunny slopes), here are some
answers to the most frequent questions from parents of small kids ahead of the winter break.
When? The
recommended age to start is from 4 to 6, but even earlier is possible in the snow
playground, ideal for infants, with uphill moving walkways, flat terrain or
even uphill in the final stage so kids don’t gather too much speed and become
frightened. And then, in the Baby Park, there are games and other group
activities, and animators and instructors to watch over and reassure them.
With whom? The ideal
approach is to sign them up with a ski school. The charisma and professionalism
of the instructor give them an example to follow (small kids learn almost exclusively
by imitation) and the approach is different from that of parents, who often
risk doing the opposite of what they want, i.e. scaring their kids off skiing.
Individual or group courses? Our instructors
recommend individual lessons for infants (3-4 years old) or kids who feel insecure
on snow and require extra care and “tailored” instruction. For bolder kids,
group lessons are best: kids have more fun in the company of others of the same
age. It’s also important to remember that at the beginning skiing must be above all a game. Technique should only be taught from age 7 onwards.
Where? The best
places for very young skiers are small resorts with easy slopes that are sunny
and not crowded, like the ones we have here in Bielmonte, where kids learn the
ropes in complete tranquility and without suffering the cold too much.
Downhill, snowboard or cross-country? Downhill rather than cross-country is best for
kids. They have fun on chairlifts and aren’t interested
in the views or relaxing activities that appeal to adults. It’s best not to
start them on a snowboard before 5-6, when they have acquired better co-ordination
and concentration. And it helps if they’ve already skied before trying a
snowboard, as they’ll be used to sliding around with equipment on their feet, but
it’s not indispensable.
For all baby snowboarders however, the initial
learning phase can be a bit traumatic: snowboarding is all about balance and falling
comes easy. So it’s important to have an instructor who’s specialized in
teaching kids.
Safety. A helmet is
a must and it’s obligatory for the under 14s. But it’s also important for them
to learn from the outset how to behave on the slopes and have respect for
others.
Ski schools in the Bielmonte area, in Oasi Zegna:
