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mattadamson 
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Post subject: Advice needed for 6 year old starting snow boarding
 Posted: Mar 11, 2010 - 09:16 AM
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First post: Mar 11, 2010
Total posts: 10
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Guys / Ladies
We've just come back from a great skiing holiday in Brides Les Baines where my 6 year old son learnt to ski, he went from nursery to blue runs in only a few days. However he has his heart set on snowboarding so we've booked another 4 day holiday in April in the L'Espace killy resort.
I know it's going to be difficult starting over again with something new however do you have any tips on what I can do to help him progress ASAP when were their. I was going to get a few lessons on the first few days, I'm not sure if this place is near ( http://www.alliancesnowboarding.com/ ) . Has anyone used a school in this resort they can recommend for beginners?
Also are there any specific runs for beginners boarders we should go near, or a part of the resort? It would be great to know now to avoid finding these things out on the last day 
You can see a video of him skiing here
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gYmuH4VUKz0
I'm not sure how I managed to film the whole run without falling over myself !!
Many thanks
Matt |
Last edited by mattadamson on Mar 11, 2010 - 09:48 AM; edited 1 time in total
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siany
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Post subject: RE: Advice needed for 6 year old starting snow boarding
Posted: Mar 11, 2010 - 09:19 AM
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First post: Feb 02, 2009
Total posts: 791
Status: Offline
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| Maybe get him into a dome or just on a board before, knowing how to strap in and stand up etc means he may be able to advance quicker. |
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www.maverix.org
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Branny
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Post subject: RE: Advice needed for 6 year old starting snow boarding
Posted: Mar 11, 2010 - 09:26 AM
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First post: Oct 11, 2004
Total posts: 4672
Location: Is in the U freakin' K
Status: Offline
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yellowlala
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Post subject: Re: RE: Advice needed for 6 year old starting snow boarding
Posted: Mar 11, 2010 - 09:29 AM
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First post: Mar 12, 2007
Total posts: 1594
Status: Offline
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Branny wrote:
oh and a website, a ton of sponsors and he needs to learn to snake lift lines....hahah (sorry ongoing joke)
FACT!! |
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yoda
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Posted: Mar 11, 2010 - 10:34 AM
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First post: Oct 12, 2004
Total posts: 769
Status: Offline
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I was talking to the peeps at Burton yesterday, they are selling an 80cm board aimed at 3-4 year olds, and there is a kid in the US that started to board at 18months 
The smallest board at Hemel is a 100cm I'm not sure about boot size, don't think they have any age restrictions at Hemel just equipment restrictions.
Sponsoring at 6 will be fine its the 9 - 14 year olds that are the problem  |
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Jakes latestvideo
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dashie
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Post subject:
Posted: Mar 11, 2010 - 10:47 AM
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First post: Sep 24, 2007
Total posts: 4409
Location: stockport/dundee
Status: Offline
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Nobody has actually really answered your question.
Alliance are based in Tignes and everyone I know thats been taught by them has raved about them, loads of people went on the Winterbash to Tignes and used them and all liked it.
L'espace Killy is a big area though, I know Aliiance meet at Le Lac in the mornings, that'd be hard to get(without riding) to from Val D'Isere, also L'espace Killy. Not suer if they meet anywhere else.
Theres a really easy beginner slope thats free running out of Le Lac. And theres loads fo easy runs that gradually get harder all over Tignes |
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Boobs, booze, snowboarding, in that order!
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M40TT
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Post subject:
Posted: Mar 11, 2010 - 11:07 AM
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First post: Feb 14, 2010
Total posts: 27
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| Get him a skateboard, that will help him progress very quickly as its similar to snowboarding. |
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Dylanrobinson
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Post subject:
Posted: Mar 11, 2010 - 11:13 AM
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First post: Apr 22, 2009
Total posts: 983
Location: Bolton / Edinburgh
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figureitout
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Post subject:
Posted: Mar 11, 2010 - 12:02 PM
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First post: May 23, 2006
Total posts: 299
Location: Salford
Status: Offline
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Someone please correct me if I'm wrong but, providing you can find equipment to fit your kid (which, as suggested above, could be tricky), I am not sure whether most instructors/schools would be prepared to teach a 6 year-old. It's a case of muscle development and balance, I believe - whilst his skiing will undoubtedly help, snowboarding is a different ballgame. I know several schools won't teach below 7 unless the kid is tall/physically advanced for his age.
I would get in touch with Alliance and ask them the question first. |
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Mattylovesthewindchill
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Post subject:
Posted: Mar 12, 2010 - 02:57 AM
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First post: Jul 24, 2006
Total posts: 317
Status: Offline
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Burton have been making those boards for a couple of years, I taught a couple of kids last year using one as the resort I worked at were testing one. If I remember right, its reverse camber and also has a bevelled base. Definately a massive improvement on most of the stiff crap companies churn out for little kids. I have a couple of bits of advice, first off understand that usually it is a much larger learning curve than skiing. It is possible to get 6 year olds turning, provided they are pretty independant/athletic/tough. Get an instructor with good experience teaching kids, its a completely different technique than what you teach adults/teens.
Lastly, and this goes for anyone not just kids, if you can get hold of a ripstick it is by a country mile the BEST training for snowboarding beginners off the snow. I am not totally clued up on how easy it is for very young kids to ripstick, so you will have to do your own research on that one. |
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Tiberius
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Post subject:
Posted: Mar 12, 2010 - 07:11 AM
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First post: Oct 17, 2004
Total posts: 9415
Location: 10 mins from Cas
Status: Offline
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My son has skied since he was about 7, but although he had a few goes at snowboarding he didn't really get on with it until he was in his teens. Same with most of his friends and most other people I know of that age tbh.
Many reason's are given, I've heard leg strength, ankle strength etc, but whatever the reason, the fact is that youngsters can learn to ski from pretty much as soon as they can walk, but they tend not to get on with snowboarding until they're a bit older. |
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The Disclaimer:
Tiberius is a socialist. His views may not necessarily be supported by his owner.
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Branny
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Post subject:
Posted: Mar 12, 2010 - 07:47 AM
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First post: Oct 11, 2004
Total posts: 4672
Location: Is in the U freakin' K
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adam_2005
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Post subject:
Posted: Mar 12, 2010 - 10:47 AM
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First post: Nov 20, 2005
Total posts: 850
Location: Manchester
Status: Offline
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Great video Matt! If I had a 6 year old who could ski like that after a few days, I'd be proud! Watching that makes me wish that I'd started 20 years earlier.
The first thing you should do is tell us his height, weight and shoe size, then we can find out if the domes near you have suitable equipment for him. If they do, then I'd suggest getting him going there for a lesson as it'll be apparent early on whether it's worth pursuing, or whether you might have to wait until he's a couple of years older. For snowboarding to work, you need to be able to pick the board up onto an edge, and that requires a certain amount of leg strength. Balancing on a snowboard is also far more difficult as a first-timer than on skis. Referring to the video though, I don't think any of that will be a problem. Seeing that he's a little ripper on his skis, the problem might be the adjustment to slowing down and being patient enough to learn all of the movements, which in my small amount of experience will take 3 or 4 times longer than someone 10 years or older.
It is generally accepted that skiing is the more suitable sport for someone your son's age, but I've seen plenty of very young kids snowboarding well, so if he's determined and patient, then I'm sure he'll be absolutely fine with it.
I'd agree with Mattylovesthewindchill's post, search for a school with a specific kids' programme, as teaching young kids requires a totally different approach if they're to succeed.
Good luck! |
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Interwebbing - Search Engine Reporting Specialsts
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mattadamson
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Post subject:
Posted: Mar 12, 2010 - 09:55 PM
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First post: Mar 11, 2010
Total posts: 10
Status: Offline
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Thanks for all the replies
I was thinking of a snow dome and perhaps could take a trip to Hemel or Bracknell. I was amazed at the price for tuition at Hemel though i.e. around 135 pounds for one hour private for the 2 of us, compared to 125 euros for a 2 hour lesson in France, I would have expected the lesson here to be cheaper if anything not nearly double the price.
I've actually booked the holiday now
http://www.mountainsunltd.com/chalet/ch ... es-melezes
for 7 nights on 5th April so really excited. I just didn't want to hire a snowboard for 6 days and find he really can't get on with it. Hopefully if it doesn't work out we can go back to skis. The lady at mountain sun said it was unlikely they'd have boards for so young however perhaps I should call around in the local area now to see if any shops have a board his size. He's about 113 cm high shoe size 11.
Dashie, thanks I'll check out alliance and call them soon, fingers crossed they can teach my son. I really have no idea where my hotel is in relation to the whole resort, does anyone know good links to maps which would help. I think I'm in Les Boisses so presumably this would be covered on a piste map, I could also see how far Le Lac is from their and how to get their.
I assume we should pay for the full ski lift pass for killy and tignes, although perhaps that's a bit excesive if were complete beginners? The holiday is turning out to be incredibly expensive now i.e. nearly 900 for acommodoation, 400 for flights and now another 400 for lift passes, I really hope my son likes it
My son is a very keen skate boarder too so I'm hoping that will help but he is small so strength might be an issue. He's pretty resiliant to pain as he found out when wiped out by a stupid old french man on a blue run going way too fast. |
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philboarder
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Post subject:
Posted: Mar 12, 2010 - 10:53 PM
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First post: Jul 29, 2006
Total posts: 887
Status: Offline
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Chalet Melezes is awesome great food
Tignes is pretty big save yourself the added cost of the full pass just get the full pass for a day if you feel you need it.
Les Boisses does have a lift out of it which takes you up above le lac or the free bus runs round there very regurly |
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