How to Teach Kids to Ski Tether

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Introducing your child to skiing early can build a love for the slopes that lasts a lifetime. It can also make family ski trips fun winter vacations for all to enjoy. Teaching kids to ski can be difficult, but if you are an advanced intermediate skier, using a ski tether can be a great way to safely teach your child ski techniques.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

Ski gear
Ski tether

Step 1

Decide what kind of tether to use. Some tethers attach just to the skis, but most instructors find the tethers that use a harness around the body are more effective.

Step 2

Discuss the ski day with your child before putting taking the child up the lift, and explain how the lifts work.

Step 3

Put the tether on your child and take him to the lift and load him on. The tethers that use a harness usually have a handle on the back that can be helpful in loading the child on the lift.

Step 4

Take the child to a green beginner run for her first time.

Step 5

Use the common food analogies to explain the turns to your child. "Pizza" is the wedge or snowplow turn, and "french fries" is the parallel turn. Have him form a pizza wedge with his skis to start.

Step 6

Ski the fall line of the slope--the line a snowball would take if it was rolled down the hill--and have your child ski in front of you, traversing back and forth by weighting the downhill leg of the wedge.

Step 7

Keep a firm grip on the tether straps, but don't use the tether as a full brake. You want your budding skier to learn how to use the wedge and parallel turns to slow down and to have an idea of how the turns check speed.

Step 8

As your child progresses, let her go at faster speeds, trying to match your speed with your child so that the tether straps are somewhat loose and only used as an emergency brake mechanism.

Tips & Warnings

Fit the harness so it is snug, but not tight.

Article Written By Candace Horgan

Candace Horgan has worked as a freelance journalist for more than 12 years. Her work has appeared in various print and online publications, including the "Denver Post" and "Mix." Horgan holds a Bachelor of Arts in English and history.

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