The author's little rippers have fun on the track [Emily Shoff]
In his spare time, Scholtes helps coach the Snow Leopards, a local Nordic ski group for school-age kids. The only drill he鈥檒l sometimes run is one in which kids remove one ski. This helps them to build balance and to learn how much power they should get out of each glide. Otherwise, during practice, they usually just organize avalanche beacon searches, play hockey games with a stick and a soccer ball, and play games of tag, all on Nordic skis. One time, they even did a mini-biathlon with Nerf guns.
Ashley Boling, assistant director of the Center, says that when you make it fun, kids don鈥檛 know that they鈥檙e learning how to Nordic ski. 鈥淭hey鈥檙e outside, they鈥檙e skiing, they鈥檙e wearing a mask and shooting a Nerf gun鈥攖hat鈥檚 what they remember.鈥 Says Scholtes, 鈥淭he hardest part is getting kids into their bindings.鈥 Once they鈥檙e in, they鈥檙e off and running.
And the benefits of introducing kids to cross-country skiing early are clear. They learn balance and coordination, and they gain strength and endurance for other activities such as alpine skiing, hockey, ice-skating, and running. Plus, they learn a whole new way to experience nature. My husband, Andy, and I are looking forward to the day when we can tour into a backcountry ski hut with our kids.
And cross-country skiing can be a great alternative to downhill skiing, whether you're on the annual family ski trip and little legs need a break from the bumps or you live in a mountain town like Telluride, where, says Schultes, “alpine skiing is king.” Lance Waring, a Nordic ski coach who works with Telluride High kids, recalls the story of Cory Page a track runner who moved from Atlanta to Telluride last fall. 鈥淚n November, Cory was like a newborn colt,鈥 says Waring. 鈥淗e could barely stand.鈥 By February, he was competing in the Butch Cassidy 15K Ski Chase, a local freestyle race. 鈥淭he smile on his face as he crossed the finish line said everything.鈥
Practical tips for cross-country skiing with kids:
– Call around to find a shop that rents gear for little ones; there are skate skis and boots for kids as young as 5. And for younger ones, simple plastic binding, edgeless 听skis work well, paired with a set of winter boots.
– Start on groomed trails. Even if kids aren鈥檛 skate skiing, the smooth, even track is a great place to learn.
– For the first few sessions, ditch the poles; bring a hockey stick and a soccer ball instead.
– Keep it short; keep it fun. As Waring says, 鈥淣ordic skiing, at this age, should be about joy, not competition.鈥
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