Ski Trips: Five Things Every Parent Should Know

We primarily ski at a mountain which markets heavily to boy scout troops and youth groups. What I have witnessed is the stuff of parental nightmares: Non-skiing scout masters or chaperones knocking back beverages while their unsupervised hoard of charges careens insanely down black diamonds; kids on black diamond slopes with their coats unzipped, bare-headed, their Velcro boot straps flapping in the wind, hunched over in a lock kneed snowplow; kids without helmets and little or no skill skiing in the glades (trees).

I confess, I am preaching what I did not initially practice. Simply put, I didn't know what I didn't know and I turned my two sons loose on the slopes with no forethought and no plan. I rather passively figured if ski resorts sold lift tickets for kids, skiing must be safe and simple. And while statistics show that skiing is actually relatively safe, there are myriad risks. Some of them are huge. More often the consequences are financial or merely inconvenient by comparison.

Now that I know better, I am outlining the approach we take with my 12 year old step-son. The following five tips can assure the fun is preserved while the risks are substantially mitigated.

First, know this: Your adolescent child does not suddenly get struck with common sense when stepping into the bindings. This is the same child that has to be reminded to close the car door and look before crossing the street. Add peer pressure and a lack of supervision and you have the makings for disaster.

1. Before signing a permission slip, find out about the plan for supervision. Is there a plan for lessons and supervision or is the "plan" to simply turn the kids loose on the mountain for a good time and to sow a few concussions? How many chaperones will actually be out on the mountain with the kids? Keep this in mind: You are the one paying the medical bills or facing liability for reckless acts of your child.

2. Have a direct discussion with your child on your expectations that they ski/ride safely. You don't have to be a skier yourself to know the basic elements of "safe." Simply think safe driving. Would you send your unaccompanied child out onto the roads before they know how to start, stop, and turn their vehicle? Should they be able to avoid obstacles and understand the rules of the road? Should they know how and when to yield and and pass/overtake slower drivers? Make it clear they are not to advance to blue (intermediate) or black (advanced) slopes until they can demonstrate to an adult that they can do all of the above.

Safe Driving, Part II: Would you send them out in an old beater car with no brakes and without wearing a seatbelt? Do you let them ride a bike or motorcycle without a helmet? A long-term study at Sugarbush Mountain in Vermont found that the average ski or snowboard speed is 27 mph, far faster than the average bicyclist. And bikes have brakes. INSIST they wear a helmet (buckled, please). Even if your child is an accomplished skier, remember that others aren't. I wear my helmet primarily as protection from others and I have been grateful for it many times over.

3. Understand that no matter what you say, your children will be deeply tempted to succumb to peer pressure. Explain the consequences for lapses. This means developing with them a plan for consequences. My recommendation is that if you or the chaperone sees your child pulling a Figure 11(skiing straight down the mountain at a high rate of speed, unable to turn or stop safely), pull them off the mountain. No ifs, ands, or buts. Have a written contract with your child and enforce it. Provide a copy to the chaperone.

4. Discuss that resorts have posted rules and failure to obey rules can result in the loss of the lift ticket. Many kids fail to understand that their lift tickets can be revoked for skiing out of control, on closed trails, or for cutting in lines. Most resorts prohibit the use of earphones which would preclude the rider from being aware of oncoming skiers or shouted warnings. Observe the tenet of "lead me not into temptation." The iPod stays home. Period. Trust me, they can survive the trip to the resort without an iPod stuffed in the ear holes. They might even have, like, a real conversation.

5. If rental gear is lost or stolen, you are responsible to pay for it. (Many rental places do offer insurance to coverage damages and breakage. Take it. ) I can't tell you the number of abandoned poles I see littering the slopes under chair lifts. Somebody is paying for those. One of the easiest ways to spot newbie skiers on the lift is watching them knock their skis together to remove the snow. Bindings are set to release under pressure. Bang too hard and there goes the ski. Most lifts have difficult to inaccessible terrain underneath so recovering is not always possible. The effects of gravity seem particularly enhanced at ski resorts. Gloves, goggles, sunglasses, and stocking caps seem particularly affected. Remind your child to adjust or change gear before or after riding the lift...or the replacement cost will come out of their allowance.

Most resorts have adopted the following code. Your child should know and understand it.

Your Responsibility (Code officially endorsed by the National Ski Areas Association)

• Always stay in control, and be able to stop or avoid other people or objects.

• People ahead of you have the right of way. It is your responsibility to avoid them.

• You must not stop where you obstruct a trail, or are not visible from above.

• Whenever starting downhill or merging into a trail, look uphill and yield to others. • Always use devices to help prevent runaway equipment.

• Observe all posted signs and warnings. Keep off closed trails and out of closed areas. • Prior to using any lift, you must have the knowledge and ability to load, ride and unload safely.

KNOW THE CODE. IT'S YOUR RESPONSIBILITY.

It's not enough to know the words, your child should be able to tell you what it means, and have an idea of why these rules exist. Don't take for granted that they intuitively understand the risks they pose to others when they ski out of control. Millions of skiers can testify to the thrills and joys of skiing while holding true to the Responsibility Code. We would appreciate not being put at risk by those who don't and your efforts are deeply appreciated. See you and your kids on the slopes!