kids on boards

I'd like to take my son out for some snowboarding. He is 6, weighs about 60
lbs.

Any advice on a board, equipment, teaching techniques, etc is welcome and
appreciated. I've flexed a few boards and they all seem very stiff,
relatively speaking, so I wonder how well they turn for a rookie boarder.

What I would like to avoid is a bad experience which sours him on the sport
for a long time.

Thanks
Mike (in Maryland)

My main suggestion is to just send him off on a group lesson package
to start off. I find that sometimes kids feel uncomfortable being
taught by their parents - they feel self-conscious and pressured -
even when the parents are just trying to be encouraging. I find that
it helps if the parent is not the instructor starting out because as
an instructor you sometimes have to criticize the student and children
can often mistake criticisms from you as their "instructor" from
criticisms from you as their "parent."

After the first few lessons, he will will most likely addicted and
then you can spend time with him.

Rental gear are not the best... but they will suffice in terms of
quality. Fit is another matter... make sure the boots fit him (that is
the most important point for any snowboarder), the board should be in
the 115 range. Most places rent helmets too now. Obviously custom
fitted gear is the best, but also the most expensive as he will
quickly outgrow most of it - so I suggest only getting it when you are
sure he likes snowboarding.

Just my generalizations, each person is different and individual cases
will vary greatly. I mean if you son specifically wants you to teach
him personally, then go ahead - overall just let him had fun... at 6
years old, he's going to become an incredibly talents snowboard even
without much instruction so long as he keeps it up.

"Mike" wrote in message ...
I'd like to take my son out for some snowboarding. He is 6, weighs about 60
lbs.

Any advice on a board, equipment, teaching techniques, etc is welcome and
appreciated. I've flexed a few boards and they all seem very stiff,
relatively speaking, so I wonder how well they turn for a rookie boarder.

What I would like to avoid is a bad experience which sours him on the sport
for a long time.

Thanks
Mike (in Maryland)

My main suggestion is to just send him off on a group lesson package
to start off. I find that sometimes kids feel uncomfortable being
taught by their parents - they feel self-conscious and pressured -
even when the parents are just trying to be encouraging.

I agree. If the lesson doesn't go well you can always suggest that he
try again with a different instructor - that's much harder to do if
you're the first teacher. (Easy to make someone else the scapegoat -
nearly impossible to make yourself the scapegoat!) Group lessons also
have the benefit of camaraderie!

At 6 years old, he's going to become an incredibly talents snowboard
even
without much instruction so long as he keeps it up.

I wish I had started so young! Well, my one year old daughter already
looks longingly up at the snowboards on the wall I am actually going
to pick up a set of old skis and spend a few days this season and next
re-learing that so that if she wants to ski I can do that with her when
the time comes. (Kids can generally control a set of skis at a younger
age/smaller size than a board).

Mike T

Something to think about is snowblades/skiboards.

I was talking to an work aquaintance recently about them, and she
thinks they're the greatest things ever. She never got past the
initial falling down day on boarding or skiing, but was able to keep
up with her friends right from the start on the blades. I've not
ridden them, but from what I can see, the technique is extremely
intuitive, like riding inline skates: just lean feet sideways.

So that looks like the easiest way to get a young kid on the hill and
having fun. But mostly, just let the kid do what he/she thinks is fun
.

Anyhow, I've been thinking about them as approach skiis in far
distance plans of exploring around Mt Hood a bit, so found my way onto
www.skiboards.com. They've got a lot of hype and product information.

Good suggestions on the group lessons, probably a wise investment. I
should probably rally a bunch of his pals & get a group lesson package to
make it even more fun.

I bought a board - Lamar Super X 115. Couldnt resist the Nineteen dollar
price tag on a new board at Sports Authority.
It feels kind of stiff for its length though. Any thoughts on old school
ways to make it a bit more limber? It's a wood (poplar) core. I seem to
remember that old XC skis could (actually required) be 'tuned' with blocks
to adjust/preserve camber.

I used to ride alot circa 1987. Went out for the first time in years last
winter and got hooked again. If I can get him hooked too I will be a very
happy man.

I'm also open to advice steering me not to do this - e.g. if 6 year olds
don't have the oomph to turn the board on a bunny hill I'd just as well give
him some time, try the tubing hill, skiing, etc.

"Mike" wrote
I'm also open to advice steering me not to do this - e.g. if 6 year olds
don't have the oomph to turn the board on a bunny hill I'd just as well give
him some time, try the tubing hill, skiing, etc.

I would say that it is a minority of 6 year olds who would be able to
learn to snowboard. Most would be better off on skis. If your son is
naturally athletic and already rides a skateboard, go for it. If he
is average or less than average athletically he may have more fun on
skis. Whichever way you go, absolutely hand him over to an instructor
rather than teach him yourself. They have lots of tricks to help kids
learn and have way more patience than any sane person should have.

Whichever way you go, absolutely hand him over to an instructor
rather than teach him yourself. They have lots of tricks to help kids
learn and have way more patience than any sane person should have.

One more thing to add on the lessons - two hours tops for the first
lesson or three. My wife used to teach snowboarding and she would get
4, 5, and 6 year olds in private all day lessons. In all cases the
groms petered out well before the lesson was over and she wound up
building a snowman with them or something. These all day privates were
not cheap. Remember how tiring your first day on skis/ board was? No
different for them. I suggest a morning lesson, then pick him up, give
him some time to rest and then if he's interested, let him show off his
new skills to you!

-Mike T, looking forward to taking his daughter to the slopes in a
couple of seasons.

I'm also open to advice steering me not to do this - e.g. if 6 year olds
don't have the oomph to turn the board on a bunny hill I'd just as well give
him some time, try the tubing hill, skiing, etc.

Something I should have mentioned before is: teach em how to fall
properly. This past season I unfortunately saw a kid I'd guess was
around 8 years old right after he snapped his wrist by falling forward
on his palms. Kid's do that and heal quick, but at the same time,
teaching them to fall on their forearms instead of their palms could
save them a cast.