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THE SNOW PLAY GATEWAY How playing in the snow with your kids can grow into a life-long love for skiing or snowboarding. BY DERRICK KNOWLES COLE CAMPBELL IS ALL SMILES COMING DOWN THE SLEDDING HILL AT MANITO PARK. RIGHT: CORBIN BRIODY EXPLORES OFF TRAIL ON MT. SPOKANE'S KIT CARSON SNOWSHOE TRAIL. / PHOTOS: SHALLAN KNOWLES
WE TOOK OUR SON up to Mt. Spokane to ski for the first time when he was a month shy of his 2nd birthday. It was darling to watch him all bundled up sliding down the hill for the first time, but also a little terrifying when he took off down the hill away from us. We got a harness system to keep ahold of him after that. Thankfully, he seemed to have fun that first day and only cried when it was time to go home. Return visits were a mixed bag of fun and some tears, and we never pushed him. Now, at age 8, he loves skiing with friends and likes to go off of small jumps. WHAT AGE IS RIGHT FOR A CHILD’S FIRST DAY SKIING OR SNOWBOARDING?
When is the time right to introduce kids to the slopes? It all depends on the individual interest in snow and snow sports, tolerance of the cold and aptitude for physical activities. It also depends on at least one parent’s interest and ability to get their child set up with all of the gear and up to a local ski hill. In the meantime, playing in the snow with your child is the best way to help them to learn to love being outside and physically active in the winter. Eventually, all of that winter outdoor time may grow into a healthy, life-long love for skiing or snowboarding.
Before heading out in the snow, be sure you dress your little one warm enough for the conditions. Then get out there and enjoy winter together! 1. Play in the Snow: When kids are having fun playing in the snow and are dressed appropriately to keep warm and dry, they usually don’t notice cold, wet conditions as much. This time in the snow can develop a higher tolerance to the cold. Have a snowball fight, build a fort or igloo, or make a snowman or snow angels. 2. Visit a Local Sledding Hill: Walking up and sliding down a safe, age-appropriate sledding hill is great fun and exercise. It’s also a good way to introduce kids to how much fun it is to slide down hills on snow. 3. Go Snowshoeing: Hiking in the snow on plastic snowshoes can be done in any park or natural area when there is a few inches of snow. You likely won’t travel very far from the car as the experience will be more about playing in the snow along the way than covering distance. Many local outdoor gear shops sell or rent snowshoes for kids and adults, including Rambleraven, REI,
and Fitness Fanatics in the Spokane area. You can also check out snowshoes at some Spokane County Library locations. 4. Visit Your Local Ski Area: Before snow falls in town, there’s often plenty of the white stuff up at our ski hills. Take an outing to your favorite mountain with your child to find a safe and appropriate place to play with them in the snow. Then, show them people and other kids loading a chairlift and having fun skiing or snowboarding down the mountain. 5. Go Tubing at a Ski Hill: Silver Mountain and Schweitzer have tubing hills where you get to ride down fun yet safe tubing hills and get a ride back to the top (ticket required). If you go tubing at Silver, you also get to ride the famous gondola! Please note that Bear Creek Lodge on the way up to Mt. Spokane has new ownership and tubing will not be offered this season. 6. Try Cross-country Skiing: Cross-country skiing (also known as Nordic skiing) is a great way to introduce kids to sliding on boards strapped to their feet. It helps build strength and skills that make alpine skiing
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easier in the future. Cross-country skiing is a fun family activity that just about anyone can do. Mt. Spokane, 49 Degrees North, and Schweitzer have groomed Nordic ski trails and offer gear rentals. There are also lower-elevation areas closer to town that get groomed for skiing when there’s enough snow. The Spokane Nordic Ski Association also has a kids lesson program for ages 5-12 called Nordic Kids. 7. Go Ice Skating Outside: Downtown Spokane has a great winter skating rink and there are many small lakes and ponds around the Inland Northwest that can make for a fun, safe place to skate once the ice is thick enough. Skating helps build leg and ankle strength that translates well to alpine skiing or snowboarding. 8. Ski at a Local Park or Sledding Hill: Curlew, Wash.-based Altai Skis (Altaiskis. com) makes a kid’s Nordic ski called the Balla Hok that has a climbing skin embedded into the bottom of the skis. This allows kids to ski up mellow hills and then slide back down. You can get them with universal, free-heel bindings that work with normal winter boots too. Stick to mellow slopes well away from any avalanche danger.
LOCAL BEGINNER RUNS Resorts around Spokane and North Idaho make it easy to learn to ski or snowboard with lesson and rental packages, discount deals, and beginner-friendly terrain. Here are the best of the best local beginner runs to check out this winter! Important to know about trail ratings: ● Green circle = Beginner ■ Blue square = Intermediate level ♦ Black diamond = Advanced
The difficulty of a ski run is usually pretty straightforward, but difficult or changing conditions or even tired bodies can make a run more difficult. Plan accordingly when mapping out your ski days with your kids! Resorts all have a map with all of the ski runs and their difficulty rating on their websites, which makes it easy to plan ahead and get familiar with where the trails you want to hit are located.
MAPS COURTESY OF THE RESORTS
49 DEGREES NORTH (CHEWELAH, WASH.)
Surface Lift: Gold Fever, located near the lodge in the ski school teaching area. A great place for kids and adults to learn. Bunny Hill: 49 has some of the longest and most diverse bunny hill terrain of any local mountain that’s accessed via the Payday Lift (Chair #3). Give Easy Slide, Gold Chute, Fool’s Gold, Lower Gold Pan Alley, and the Hobbit Forest a try. Beginner Runs: 49 Degrees North is the second largest ski area in Washington State and has plenty of beginner-friendly slopes. Local favorites include Huckleberry Ridge and Big Bear located in Sunrise Basin; Quartzite Ridge off Angel Peak; and Lost Dutchman to the 4800 Road in the West Basin.
LOOKOUT
PASS
(MULLAN,
IDAHO)
Bunny Hill: Success Slope via Success Triple chairlift provides a slow, comfortable beginner chairlift experience for kids, parents, or anyone just learning, followed by some excellent low-angled practice slopes to help boost beginner confidence. Beginner Runs: Huckleberry Ridge to Grub Steak run. Get there via the Peak One Quad chairlift and ask the liftie to slow it down for the beginners in the group. The Huckleberry Jam Progression Park allows parents and kids to learn to ride on small terrain style features.
SILVER MOUNTAIN (KELLOGG, IDAHO)
Surface Lift: Prospector Adventure Lift (covered conveyor lift) located by the Mountain House. Bunny Hill: Easy Street—near the surface lift and Mountain House. Beginner Runs: Check out Ross Run, which follows the gondola line down to Dawdler, Bear Grass, or Huckleberry before ending up at Chair 5. Below the Magic Carpet, try Claim Jumper that leads to the bottom of chair 5 which runs slower for kids and beginners.
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MT. SPOKANE (MEAD, WASH.)
Magic Carpet: / Located just below Lodge 2 (main lodge) near the ski school building and bunny hill chairlift. Bunny Hill: Ego Flats via the Beginner’s Luck chair (chair 5). Beginner Runs: Northwest Passage, via Parkway Express (chair 3). Also try Half Hitch, staying skier’s right to avoid the terrain park or Jim’s Gem via Northwood (chair 6), which is a more challenging beginner run on the backside of the mountain that requires a long return to the front side and lodge via Northwest Passage.
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DIIIIING! The bell sounds, warning those nearby of an impending dousing. The large bucket suspended over Silver Rapids’ Cub Cove and Minor’s Island spends its day filling up with water and then spilling out all over youthful revelers in Idaho’s largest indoor waterpark. Natural light pours in from the massive skylights in the ceiling overhead. The steamy warmth and humidity lend a tropical feel to even the coldest of winter days here in the Inland Northwest, making it the perfect addtion to a ski vacation or snow tubing trip at North Idaho’s Silver Mountain Resort, or a standalone getaway the whole family can enjoy. Adults can float along in tubes on the Lazy River while kids try their hand at aquatic basketball in Hoop Lagoon or test their balance on Crossing, a series of floating stepping stones with a net overhead and water below. The extra adventurous can learn to surf on the popular Flow Rider surf wave, with expert instruction and safety briefings provided by facilities staff. Load your whole family onto a tube for a splashy ride down Moose Sluice. This waterslide, along with Gold Rush and Prospector Plunge, are such long and twisty-turny waterslides that they’re built mostly outside the building. The lines can be long, but the stomach-twisting thrill of crashing through a tunnel full of water and the shrieks of laughter are worth the wait. For a more laid-back experience, families can enjoy Warm Springs, a traditional hot tub that’s a little cooler than normal, making it suitable for small children and adults.
Situated next to the Lazy River, Warm Springs provides a chance to lounge and warm up after a rowdy float with the littles. If kicking back with a beverage to watch the activities is more your speed, the Trestles Surfside Grill and hot tubs are for you! This spa, with a much warmer temperature than Warm Springs (on average of 100-104 degrees) provides the perfect soaking experience to go with a cocktail or craft beer. In addition to food and beverages available at the grill, the waterpark also offers cabanas for rent. These cabanas, cordoned off from the rest of the indoor space, give groups semi-private space to relax, watch TV, and visit with family and friends. There are also lockers available for storing valuables during your visit. Only steps from the Silver Mountain Ski Resort Gondola, ferrying winter skiers and snow tubers up and down the mountain, Silver Rapids is the perfect family getaway with a little something for everyone—all the way from the Pollywog Pond for toddlers, to adult beverages and relaxing hot tub soaks for moms and dads. Access to the waterpark is included when booking lodging directly through Silver Mountain at the resort’s Morning Star Lodge, which is located in the Gondola Village. Pricing and availability vary. Tickets must be booked in advance online at Silvermt.com or over the phone at 866.345.2675. Silver Mountain Resort, located in historic Kellogg, Idaho, is a quick hour-and-fifteen-minute drive from downtown Spokane.
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7 SKI AND SNOWBOARD TIPS These bits of advice from an experienced instructor will help kids and parents build their skills together this winter. BY ADAM GEBAUER
LAUREN D'ARIENZO LEADS THE WAY. // PHOTO: SHALLAN KNOWLES
I HAVE TAUGHT SKIING and snowboarding for over a decade now. Writing that makes me feel a bit old considering I didn’t start teaching until my 30s. Over those years, I have found myself repeating some of the same bits of one-liner instructions to students young and old for a reason—they will help anyone at any age become a better skier or snowboarder!
Look where you want to go! If you look down at your feet, you will end up there. If you look across the slope, down the slope, or through a turn—you will get there. Your eyes and brain work really well to get your body to where you want it even if you haven't mastered your turns. Remember this in the trees and in crowds: look between the obstacles.
Drive with your legs! Your lower body is where you want to focus when learning. Ski poles help time and engage turns, but that comes after learning to drive your skis. Rely on poles to keep you upright or for stopping and you will generally end up on the ground. This is true on snowboard too (not the pole part). Learn to drive the board with your knees and hips, not your shoulders or those swimming arms. Lean downhill! On skis, press those toes in your boots and square your shoulders down the slope. On a board, think of your front knee and hip as your steering wheel. It is a little scary at first to lean downhill, but you will have much more control and spend less time on your butt. Get out more! Taking one or two lessons a year is a good start, but to really let those lessons sink in and build that muscle memory, go more and practice. A lot of drills and techniques can come at students during a lesson. Take one or two of those and go out to practice yourself or with your child in
between lessons. Find others to help push limits. It’s a delicate balance to get out with people who will push you or your child without pushing too far out of that comfort zone. Trying to match someone's turn or speed can help you know how to engage more difficult terrain or hit that next jump. Get out of a rut. We all have our favorite conditions; it could be a foot of powder, perfectly groomed corduroy or the same comfortable run over and over. To improve your riding, mix it up and get into snow or on runs that are a little bit unfamiliar or challenging. This will improve balance and response and will also help the body react to something new and make it familiar. Be playful! Skiing and boarding are supposed to be fun. Try new tricks. Ski one legged. Both of these will improve balance and edge awareness. It’s so easy to get frustrated when learning something new. Did you learn to ride a bike the first time? Wipe the snow out of those goggles. Take a break if needed. Then get back out there.
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Unstructured play outdoors is essential to the health and wellbeing of all children.
Since 2018, Greenplay Northwest has offered nature immersion programs for children aged 3-7 in Spokane.
www.mtspokane.com
Our all-outdoor programs support children as they learn through play, build resilience, and foster a life-long connection to the natural world.
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GEAR UP TO STAY WARM & HAVE FUN ON A BUDGET
YOU CAN GET THE WHOLE FAMILY up on the mountain skiing or snowboarding with all of
the gear you need and still stick to a budget. One of the most well-worth-it benefits will be more time outdoors together. Here are some tips to get geared up for a winter of skiing or snowboarding at an affordable price.
GEAR TO KEEP KIDS WARM—LAYER, LAYER, LAYER You don’t need to have the latest, greatest gear, but having multiple layers of clothing that you can put on, take off, zip, or unzip to meet the weather is critical. The chairlift ride is the coldest part of skiing and snowboarding, so make sure kids (and parents) are wearing enough layers for that ride up the mountain. Here are the recommended warming layers to have on hand for any skier or snowboarder: • Base layers: tops and bottoms made of polyester, wool, or a blend. • Wool or synthetic socks to match the temperature outside. • Mid-layer fleece or wool jacket or sweater. • Fleece pants or sweatpants. • Waterproof or water-resistant jacket and pants. • A thin warm hat that will fit under a helmet. • Goggles (for snow and sun) • Insulated, weatherproof gloves or mittens. • A ski mask/head sock to protect faces.
BUYING QUALITY SKI & SNOWBOARD EQUIPMENT Buying all of the things for your family to get out there skiing or snowboarding can take a lot of time and money, so here are some tips to save a little bit of both. • Lease skis or snowboard gear from a local shop like Spokane Alpine Haus so you don’t have to buy new gear each year as kids grow. • Buy used gear at a local ski swap. The SARS Sandpoint Ski Swap is still coming up Nov. 11, 2023. • Buy used gear from a ski/snowboard shop like Rambleraven Gear Trader in Spokane that sells both new and used equipment and gear for kids and adults. • Shop the sales at your local ski and snowboard shops. • Check Facebook Marketplace and other online sources for quality and safe modern used gear.
RENTING SKI & SNOWBOARD EQUIPMENT If you’re not sure how committed your child or teenager is going to be with skiing or snowboarding and are hesitant to invest in a full equipment set up, renting gear at the resort or from a local ski shop may be the least expensive and easiest way to go.
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KIDS' LESSONS MADE EASY 3 steps to find the right ski or snowboard lessons for all ages, abilities and budgets. boarding is one of the best things parents can do to help kids develop a life-long love for winter sports and being healthy and active outside in the winter. Here in the Inland Northwest, we are fortunate to have multiple, affordable ski and snowboard areas right in our backyard, but with so many resort and lesson options to choose from, deciding what type of ski or snowboard lessons are right for your child and family can be a bit overwhelming. These three simple steps will help simplify the process of finding the right lessons at one of the four Ski the NW Rockies association resorts—49 Degrees North, Chewelah, Wash.; Mt. Spokane, Mead, Wash.; Lookout Pass, Mullan, Idaho; and Silver Mountain, Kellogg, Idaho.
group lessons to more expensive yet focused private lessons as well as multi-day and multi-week lesson programs. Consider these options: • Choose single lessons just to give it a try once or twice, or schedule single lessons throughout the season whenever you can make it up to the mountain. • Multi-week lesson programs or holiday camps give your child more instruction, friendship opportunities and a more immersive experience. These programs also give parents time to hit the slopes on their own or read a book or get some work done in the lodge. • Multi-day first-timer packages that include 3 days of lessons, rentals, and lift tickets (see EZ Ski 123 sidebar for more info).
STEP #1: Think about what type of lesson would be best
STEP #2: Decide on which ski area you want your child
INTRODUCING THE NEXT GENERATION to skiing or snow-
for your child and your family’s budget and schedule. There are a lot of options from each of the resorts, from
to take lessons from. This choice may be an easy one if you have a favorite (or season passes) at a specific resort.
Or you might want to make the decision based on other factors like where friends of your child might be taking lessons or if there’s a specific lesson program at one of the resorts that seems like a perfect fit. If you are still not sure, move on to Step #3 and explore the different resorts’ lesson options. STEP #3: Visit resort ski school/lesson web pages to
find the right lesson program. Now that you have an idea of what type of lessons you want for your child and hopefully know which resort you want to sign them up at, visit that resort’s lesson page below with your schedule and budget in mind. Next, find the right age-andskill appropriate ski or snowboard lessons. Many lesson packages and camps fill up, so don’t wait! If you’re still not sure which resort or lesson package is right for you, visit each of the resort lesson QR links below and do more research.
EXPLORE LOCAL RESORT LESSON PROGRAMS LESSON HIGHLIGHT: ADVENTURER’S MULTIWEEK PROGRAM LESSON HIGHLIGHT: LOOKOUT PASS FREE SKI SCHOOL Lookout Pass has been offering its Free Ski School for over 80 years. Available for kids ages 6-17, the lessons range from beginner to advanced. While the lessons are free and include lift access during the lessons, rental equipment and a lift ticket/ season pass for the rest of the day is not included.
(ages 5 - 13) A sequential lesson experience for skiers or snowboarders that includes four full days of coaching at a bargain price at 49 Degrees North. The full day lessons (in January or February) will help improve your child's skills in small classes grouped by ability with the same coach and students, creating opportunities for better group connections and learning.
LESSON HIGHLIGHT: MINI MITES (skiers ages 4-6)
With patience, kindness and a lot of fun, instructors keep these littles safe while helping them develop skiing skills and hopefully a life-time love for the sport. Class sizes are kept small for extra oneon-one attention. Choose from multiweek sessions or consecutive day holiday camps at Mt. Spokane.
LESSON HIGHLIGHT: SILVER KIDS (ages 7-12) The Silver Kid's program at Silver Mountain allows your kids to improve their skills in a group atmosphere. Packages include a lift ticket, rental and lesson from either 10:30 a.m.-12 p.m. or 1-2:30 p.m daily.
SCAN FOR FULL LESSON PROGRAM OPTIONS!
MORE SKI RESOURCES! KIDS & PARENTS CAN LEARN TO SKI OR RIDE IN 3 DAYS
SCAN TO SIGN UP
The EZ Ski or Ride 1-2-3 programs makes learning to ski or snowboard for the very first time affordable and easy for kids and parents. All four Ski the NW Rockies association resorts offer a three-visit package to firsttimers at an incredible price ($175 and up) that includes three lift tickets, three rentals (boots, poles, skis or snowboard), and three lessons (ages, prices and details vary by resort).
5TH GRADERS SKI OR RIDE FOR FREE!
The 5th Grade Ski or Ride Passport allows any 5th grader from any state to ski or snowboard three free days at each of the five participating Ski the NW Rockies resorts (49 Degrees, Lookout, Loup Loup, Mt. Spokane and Silver). Ski Idaho runs a similar program for 5th and 6th graders. To participate in the 5th grade passport program, submit your application with the one-time $23 processing fee and you will be emailed the passport that you can print or pull up on your phone at the ticket office. Details at Skinwrockies.com
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If you’re in the 5th grade, no matter where you live, you can ski or ride for FREE at participating ski areas with the 5th Grade Ski or Ride Free Passport Program. The Ski or Ride Free Passport Program is the best way for you to experience winter recreation with your family and friends.
HOW IT WORKS: The passport allows you to ski or ride for FREE* three days at each participating ski area. Some ski areas include special deals on equipment rentals, lessons, and other activities in the passport! Just present your passport at the ticket window, it’s that easy! *$23 processing fee
The Fifth Grade Passport is accepted at these locations:
Mt Spokane Ski & Snowboard Park Spokane, WA
49 Degrees North Mountain Resort Chewelah, WA
Scan to apply!
Silver Mountain Resort Kellogg, ID
Lookout Pass Ski & Recreation ID/MT Border 1-90
or visit 5thGradeSkiPassport.com SPONSORED BY