Similar Stories to Skiing Tahoe With Kids on Bing News

Peppy ski instructors cheerfully shout at a disjointed mass of what appear to be slow-moving, warmly bundled helmets on skis. Kids as young as 3 years are barely visible inside their oversize parkas and boots, but gamely try to steer their skis in the prescribed parallel “French fry” shape for speed, or the triangular “pizza-slice” shape for stopping. All across the mountain resorts of Lake Tahoe, families are bringing their kids to the slopes, hoping to encourage a new generation to take up the sport, or at minimum to enjoy a winter weekend in the mountains. “For first-timers, we recommend a half day, or even just a one- to two-hour lesson,” says the director of Diamond Peak’s ski school. If you’re going to be spending even part of your day skiing with beginners, it makes sense (and dollars) to choose one of Tahoe’s smaller resorts. Most Tahoe resorts now have segregated learning terrain for beginners, with “magic carpet” conveyor belts that gently transport kids up the slope—removing the stress of handling a ski lift or a tow rope. For even more fun, Sierra-at-Tahoe has partnered with Burton Snowboards to create a “Star Wars”-themed training park for kids ages 3 to 12, using specialized snowboards and props, with instruction focused on helping them to better manage gravity and balance. While it’s tempting to save money and skip the lessons beyond an introductory class, to keep the kids progressing, there’s real value in sticking with the instruction. [...] how can you keep kids excited about all-day ski lessons when they have the attention span of hummingbirds? Jack Pippin, the senior manager of the ski school at Heavenly Mountain Resort, said you need to ensure that the kids are dressed warmly and have boots that fit right, but aren’t so over-bundled that they can’t move. If they start to drag, we stop everything to build a snow castle or have a snowball fight. Back on the slopes, once the kids get hooked on the sport, returning for more weekends can be made easier with season-long equipment rentals — no need to stand in daily lines or to buy new gear as the kids grow. Once the kids are equipped, trained and excited, they can join one of the weekend ski teams at the resorts or even enter a friendly kids’ competition like the Groovers Challenge at Heavenly this March. The hotel also has family-friendly features like heated swimming pools, a private ice rink and a sledding hill. A large resort complex hidden in the hills above South Lake Tahoe, Ridge Resorts has a private monorail that brings skiers direct to Heavenly’s lifts and offers free shuttles into town and a Kids Club/day care center at the resort, along with movie theater, video arcade and indoor basketball court. In a family-friendly diner setting, Burger Me has huge, tasty sandwiches and burgers, including the Train Wreck, which comes topped with onion ring, chili, cheese and a fried egg. Full-day kids’ group lesson (including lift ticket and lunch) for $164; $199 with rental gear. Heavenly Mountain Resort: 4080 Lake Tahoe Blvd, South Lake Tahoe; (800) 432-8365; www.skiheavenly.com. Full day kids’ group lessons begin at $185 (including lift ticket); $209 with rental gear. [...] has on-mountain child care facility for as young as 6 weeks old ($140/day), as well as on-mountain inner tubing and ice skating in the base village.