Skiing and snowboarding are great family activities you can continue with kids of all ages. Here in the DC area we have a couple of day trip options and a little further away even more mountain resorts. Spending a day on the slopes as a family is a great way to stay active, enjoy the great outdoors and, most importantly, have fun! Whether you ski often or have never been, trekking out to a ski resort with children can be a big undertaking. Inside Ski takes some of the work out of this family activity by providing a year-round opportunity to practice and train without the drive, lift tickets, rentals, or cold weather. Inside Ski Training Center is bringing the international phenomena of indoor skiing and snowboarding to the Mid-Atlantic region of the US. First-timers, expert skiers, and snowboarders of all ages can learn, improve, and practice in a fun and safe environment.
The key to indoor ski and snowboard training is an Infinity Slope. An Infinity Slope has an upward revolving surface that simulates how the slope slides underneath you, like a treadmill. With variable pitch and speed, the slope can be tailored to the ability of the skiers or boarders on the slope. A padded support bar at the bottom of the slope offers stability and confidence for less experienced students. A large mirror at the base of the slope gives real-time feedback. The surface is made of soft nylon fibers so it’s not like falling on ice and is not cold!
I love the idea of going skiing as a family! When I thought about the time and patience required to teach my 3 little ones to ski I felt overwhelmed. So naturally I jumped at the invitation for a kids group lesson at Inside Ski Training Center. My girls, ages 2-5, have never skied. They really enjoyed the experience and are excited to learn more, practice and try skiing on a mountain. The kids practiced moving around in their boots by playing games and practiced on flat surfaces in their skis before heading to the top of the carpet mountain, as my kids affectionately referred to it. After doing some runs down the carpet mountain they learned to regulate their speed with the pizza wedge and then how to turn. My kids now know how to put skis on, take them off & hook them together, and walk up a mountain in skis. I loved the priority that was placed on them learning to be self sufficient with their gear. The last 10 minutes we spent on the Infinity Slope. We had varying degrees of success and enjoyment with that, but tired legs played a large part.
Overall, I am impressed and encouraged by the progress my young kids made in just 1 hour-long group lesson. I would highly recommend taking young children to Inside Ski before their first time skiing so they have some familiarity with the gear and basics before introducing the ski lifts and cold weather. For families that have been skiing or snowboarding before, having a few lessons before your first snow day of the season can improve skills and increase fitness which maximizes family fun on the mountain.
Inside Ski Lessons
All Inside Ski instructors are PSIA/AASI ski and snowboard instructors that also work at either Liberty or Whitetail ski resorts.
Group Lessons: One hour group classes are limited to 3 students. Students actually ski for a half hour, divided into three ten-minute sessions, equal to a whole day on the mountain. Kids Lessons (under 13 years old) are $44 each or get up to a 12-pack of lessons for $399. Adult Lessons (over 13 years old) are $49 each or get up to a 12-pack of lessons for $459.
Private Lessons: One hour private lesson is your child one-on-one with their instructor. Students actually ski for a half hour, divided into three ten-minute sessions, equal to a whole day on the mountain. Kids Lessons (under 13 years old) are $79 each or get up to a 12-pack of lessons for $699. Adult Lessons (over 13 years old) are $89 each or get up to a 12-pack of lessons for $749.
While Inside Ski recommends wearing long pants or leggings to protect your legs should you fall, it sure beats the time and energy that goes into bundling kids up for a cold day on the mountain. Kids can bring their own helmet
Inside Ski
Virginia Village Shopping Center
34-B Catoctin Circle, SE
Leesburg, Virginia
insideskicenter@gmail.com
571-707-8873
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