Stöten Magazine
How do you ski slalom?
Introducing your children to skiing is both fun and challenging. But how can you best do this? In this article, we thought we'd share our top tips for teaching your child to ski downhill.
Stöten in brief
- Stöten has been voted for several years in a row as Sweden's best ski resort of Freerides readers
- There are 50 slopes with different levels of difficulty
- There are 45 kilometres of cross-country ski trails, 3 km of which are lit
- Stöten is home to Sälen's longest descent - Morsmor's 3060 metre plunge
- Pisten Älvan has previously been voted Sweden's best piste
- Stöten has been awarded Sweden's best ski resort for families with children
When can you start skiing?
All parents are probably a little nervous about their children's first introduction to skiing. They might be worried that they're too young and fragile to take to the slopes. When you can start skiing is of course highly individual, but generally speaking, most children can start at the age of three.
Generally speaking, most children can start at the age of three
This is because by this time most children have developed the coordination and muscle strength required to stand, brake and turn on skis. However, as mentioned earlier, this can vary and some children may need to wait a while longer before taking to the slopes. Even if children have the right strength and coordination, it is ultimately a question of will. If they don't want to learn to ski, it will be very difficult.
What to consider when travelling for the first time?
The most important thing to remember the first time your child tries skiing is to give it plenty of time. Do not rush. Even when it's time to put on the equipment, it should be done calmly. Let your child familiarise themselves with the boots. Start by just getting them used to the feeling of wearing the boots and walking around on the floor. Once they are familiar with the boots, the next step is to get them comfortable with standing on the skis. Attach the ski boots to the binding and let them stand on the rack. You can also try pulling your child on flat ground using a pole, rope or similar. This will give them a feel for what it will be like on the ski slope.
At this point, it is important to check how your child reacts. Is it fun or do they feel scared and unsafe? Remember that in the end, it is all about willingness. It is important not to force your child to continue if they do not want to. If the child enjoys skiing and thinks it's fun, the next step is to try it on a very gentle slope. It is best to have two adults at this stage. One who stands with the child at the start and one who stands a few metres below to receive. See if they can keep their balance on their own and if they find it fun. Then increase the distance as they go. Once they have learnt to balance and ride straight ahead, it's time to start practising braking and turning.
Ski school - a good option
Something that is usually very beneficial at this time is to let the child go to ski school. Partly because they get to learn from experienced skiers, but also because it's a lot of fun for them to socialise with other children. Something that tends to give them a positive experience and faster learning.
Ski school - for a positive experience and faster learning
When visiting us at Stöten in Sälen, everyone has the opportunity to participate in our popular ski school. Regardless of previous skiing experience and age. The groups available are:
Renting or buying equipment?
When it comes to equipment, it usually pays to rent skis and ski boots. At least in the beginning when the children are small and growing a lot. Of course, it also depends on how much time you spend on the slopes. If you spend two to three weeks or more on the slopes every year, it might be more profitable to buy your own equipment. As you can see, there are a variety of things to consider when introducing your child to skiing. However, it usually turns out to be a lot of fun, especially afterwards when you get to ski together. If you want to have an unforgettable ski holiday - visit us at Stöten in Sälen. See you on the slopes!
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