Guest Blogger: Tips from Norm, from Sugarbush Resort

Perhaps the most important philosophy we use in teaching kids is the idea that while skills are important, it’s creating a positive experience that really matters. Of course we want kids to improve and excel at their chosen discipline, but more than that, we want them to learn to love skiing and riding. It’s only through that love that they will continue to be motivated to be on the hill and to be a part of a family’s skiing and riding lifestyle.

As instructors, we go out of our way to create those positive experiences while you are here with us at Sugarbush. On the hill, in the Adventure Den, and at functions like Blazer parties, our goal is create a positive association with the sport. However, you can create those positive associations at home, too, by bringing your love of skiing and riding into your everyday life. Watching ski movies (or making them…), hanging posters up on walls, and having books available to read all help to keep skiing and riding a part of your and your kid’s day, and serve as a reminder of great times, past and future, that your family can share.

A great friend of the Children’s Programs here at Sugarbush sent us a list of the books he and his kids read at home. I can’t say I’ve personally read them, but knowing how important skiing is to the family that sent the list, I am sure that you will find them to be great additions to your family’s reading library. The books include:

• Do Teddy Bears Ski? by Rick Sanger
• Adventures of Fraser the Yellow Dog – Rescue on Snowmass Mountain; by Jill Sheeley
• SNOW; by P.D. Eastman
• First Tracks; by Jonny Boyd
• Ollie’s Ski Trip; Elsa Beskow
• The Race of the Birkenbeiners; by Lise Lunge-Larson
• Curious George In the Snow; by Margret & H.A. Rey
• Trouble with Trolls; by Jan Brett

Our dad’s list also includes a DVD: The Backyardigan’s Snow Fort which includes an episode on being on Ski Patrol. Dad also reports that most or all of these can be found at the major bookstores, from the New England Ski Museum, and even at your local library. For that matter, take a few minutes and search for “snow,” “skiing,” “snowboarding,” or “winter” at your local library and see what you find. If it's good, let me know and I’ll make sure it gets added to future Tips From Norm.

Last, but not least, the Snow Monsters series has a free DVD that we have and give away at lots of our on-hill events. Come join us for the Hot Dog Race or the Teddy Bear Race, or some other family-friendly event, and we’ll get you a copy.

Until then, Think Snow, and when you can’t be on the hill, find ways of bringing the hill home to your family.
Thanks for checking in. We’ll see you out there.

-Tips by Norm