Because we are crazy, we started Tyler on skis this winter at the age of 1. Or 19 1/2 months, to be exact. We wouldn’t have done it if he hated the cold, or wouldn’t wear the clothes, or didn’t seem interested. But he LOVES it. Loves the snow, loves his snowsuit, goggles, helmet, mittens. The whole shebang. We bought a rad helmet at a big sale at REI–it has a blue mohawk! And he loves being outside.
Before Tyler skied on his own, he took a ride in the pack at age 18 months on Daddy’s back at Snowmass. We skied there with the Taylors on my birthday in February, and they had skied with Burke in the pack before, so we were on board. Of course, Tyler liked it. He was so funny to watch just looking around with the wind in his face while Daddy cruised!
To be fair, he’s not really skiing, not by himself, at all. His first official day was on Easter, at Vail. He willingly stands between Daddy or Mommy’s legs, and we’re working on him standing upright without being a wet noodle. But he loves going fast, riding the magic carpet, and even the lifts! In my ski school experience most kids hate wearing ski boots. Tyler even loved those despite his feet being so tiny he fell out of his boots a couple of times, which prompted him to hold out his tiny socked foot over the snow and say “shoe.”
At Vail, there’s not a beginner area at the base in Lionshead–it’s at the top of the gondola. Easter Sunday was GORGEOUS and we could not have asked for a better day for Tyler to hit the slopes!
Our day at Vail:
Every time we got to the bottom of the run, Tyler said and signed “more!” No tears, no “all done.”
We figured we could get an even longer run in if we took the chairlift instead of the magic carpet. Yes, Mom, we held onto him really, really, really tightly.
The next time Tyler skied was at Breckenridge in April. Again, we scored another beautiful, warm, perfect, bluebird day. This time instead of the relatively tiny beginner area, we headed up a main lift. Employees didn’t bat an eye, but we sure had a number of guests stop to ask us what the heck we were doing with our baby up there. I think their exact words were “How old is he?!”
Again, Tyler loved every minute, asking for “more” and never wanting to stop. He is still as a statue on the lift, and continues to be a wet noodle when “skiing.”
At home, whenever Tyler sees his helmet or snowsuit in his room, he says “ski!!!!” and his eyes light up. He knows. Unfortunately, he only got out there twice. But this peanut should fit in his getup next year, and the plan is to ski even more. We always told parents at ski school that they wouldn’t remember from one time to the next this young…but maybe he will!
