7 WAYS INDOOR SKI AND SNOWBOARD LESSONS FOR KIDS MAKE A DIFFERENCE

by Franchise Word Franchise Industry Writer

Snowboard lessons and ski school for kids are a great way to help your snow sport enthusiasts get ready for the upcoming season. Whether you have tots or pre-teens, beginners or advanced riders, indoor lessons can help your kids develop solid skills and build confidence. That translates into a fun, safe experience for them and a great family time on your next trip to the mountains.

Here's why indoor snowboard lessons and ski school for kids makes sense.

1. Save money. A 10-week session can cost a fraction of ski or snowboard lessons at an area resort. Tack on no drive to the mountains and no expensive lift tickets and you have a win-win for your finances. You don't even have to buy special equipment or clothing.

The best ski schools for kids, like Shredder Ski + Snowboard in the Denver and Boulder areas, offer lesson packages for young shredders, starting at 9 months up to age 10. The flexible format gives you the options you need to fit a 5- or 10-week series of lessons into a busy schedule.

Snowboarding lessons for kids can build confidence and endurance, learn mountain safety and get ready to ski independently on the mountain – all without breaking the bank!

2. Stay close to home. You don't need snow to learn how to start, stop, turn and travel down a slope. The best kids' ski schools are indoors and offer year-round lessons for kids of all ages.

Nearby facilities give you the option to skip the early wake-up routine. And you can forget the cold weather clothes for indoor lessons. Just plan to arrive at Shredder a few minutes before start time to drop off your students and they are ready to go.

3. Skip the hassles. There’s a lot more to skiing and snowboarding than just heading down a hill. Parents of younger children know you spend 90% of your time on a typical ski day doing everything but skiing with your family. That's because much of your day is taken up with all the prep work to leave home, drive to your destination, collect your gear, get in the chairlift line and finally reach the top of the slope.

After only a few lessons, you can take your family on a ski vacation in the mountains knowing your kids can ski down the greens with no issues at all. In fact, they may ski or ride better than you!

4. Go with a pro. The right instructor for your child can make all the difference in your next family experience on the mountain. Trained instructors know how to meet students where they are on the learning curve and help them progress from one challenge to the next.

Look for programs based on PSIA-AASI principles. That's the gold standard in professional ski and snowboard instruction. These pros know what it takes to help kids build their confidence and skills before they head to the slopes.

Instructors at Shredder Ski + Snowboard follow an instruction model tailored to the way children think, behave and move. Whether your child is 2 or 12, the Shredder pros want to turn your kids into snow sport enthusiasts and get them ready for fun family experiences on the mountain.

5. What about the gear? The right gear makes a big difference when it comes to any snow sport experience. That's why the best ski schools or snowboarding classes for beginners include the right boots, boards and bindings in session packages for your child.

Starting Week 1 at Shredder, students learn what it takes to boot up and get comfy in their gear. They get a full introduction to all the ski or board parts, from tips to tails and even where the feet go.

If you already have equipment for your child, bring it along. Same goes for protective gear like elbow or knee pads, guards and even light gloves. An occasional tumble is always a part of learning a new sport like skiing or snowboarding.

6. Find the right size class. Small group sizes matter at indoor ski schools like Shredder. A cap on the ratio of students to instructors means your child can get the right balance of one-on-one instruction and independent practice.

Flexible make-up policies also make a difference in your child's experience at ski school. Look for programs that give you the option to reschedule a session to another class time, if space is open.

At Shredder schools, kids also can sign up for assisted open gym time to make up a missed class. Your snowboarder or skier can drop in for some quality time on the slopes and even get tips from the Shredder team. Just remember – parents are responsible to supervise their children while they are in the gym.

7. Get ready for family fun! Snowboard lessons or attending a ski school can be a game-changer for your family. That's because most kids think it's much easier to ski or ride on the mountain after they've learned or practiced on artificial snow indoors. Your kids can learn the basics of listening, turning, stopping and managing the lifts before you actually arrive at a mountain. They also have the know-how to navigate chairlift lines and understand mountain safety.

All Shredder Ski schools use a special turf called Xtreme on the indoor slopes. The material easily catches the edges of the skis or snowboards to help kids learn how to "slip" or move down the slope, just like on a fresh coat of powder.

Before you know it, they will be ready to fearlessly shred the slopes and have a great experience on the mountain with you.