Skiing with a two year old

we sort of managed it really.

Today we drove to Ostin near to Gmund on the Holzkirchen-Tegernsee road.

Nice resort, only one piste but very friendly and helpful to my wife when she took young one on the baby lift. Exhausting but lots of fun.

Little one was thrilled in the begionning but when her ski fell off she got upset and started to scream.

So we went home two hours too early, a bit defeated. But we will keep trying...

pay for lesssons, much easier.
I would never have the patience to deal with small kids on the slopes, heck, I don't have the patience to deal with small children at all.

Carm - yes you do

Jeremy - put her in lessons when she is 3 or 4. Take her on the slopes now only to have an hour of fun - she is not up for more at that age.

Believe me - there's no rush - the sooner they learn to ski, the sooner they ski faster and better than you

Seriously though - lessons from a non-parent are worth every penny. (Yes my 8 year old leaves me in the dust, my 5 year old will soon)

http://www.geocities.com/parallel_ski_munich/

My daughter took this course last year (she was 3 y.o. though). The first hour was a bear, now she can't get enough. German and English instruction. They have a Bambino weekend as a matter of fact...check it out. Good luck!

Actually. my kids loved skiing, I think Dan was about 2 and a half and I basically skiied withhim between my skis, all I remember was him shouting faster faster dady, we also put him with older brother (4) into one of the ski centres(not the right term) loads of nice people in clowns outfits teaching very young kids, I saw 2 austrian kids who could just about walk but were ok sliding about on skis, also I dont think their was any language problems, my kids loved it, and you never know the may end up as the next herman...

I was skiing this weekend in Austria and I saw a family of 5 - parents and 3 kids - smallest was 3, skied between Daddy's legs, but then daddy took him everywhere, even into the deep snow, daughter was 5 and just following big brother, who is 7, into the deep stuff. As long as they're having fun, keep at it.
I wish I had learned to ski that young.

Ostin is a fabulous place to start with kids as it's not too far and relatively quiet. We've also been to the Wegscheid lifts at Lenggries where there is a kiddys' area called Villa Lustig. They have a moving walkway built into the slope that takes the kids back uphill (though it's only about 10 metres back up the slope). It's an easy introduction to skiing, particularly for very small kids. Costs €13 per hour but who said skiing is cheap.
All I have to do now is learn myself.

twos a little too early. at three with them between your legs. from four in a skischool. well thats what i did. kills your back though permenently bent over to hold the wee un between your legs.

In the States, they usually start the kid on skis and no poles (no poles until they're 6 or so) and they just play around on the skis getting the kids used to the snow and the feeling of skis. There are so many ways to do it. There is also the ski harness way. Your kid wears a harness with big long straps (kind of like a leash) and you ski behind the kid. This way he/she learns to balance and turn but they can't get out of control and ski off the hill or into other people. It's a really good way to learn, I think.

same here. in fact nobody should start with poles, no matter what age.

There's an English/Scottish couple who have a ski school in Reit im Winkl who take small kids, under 4 for private lessons only. They are great with kids and I'd recommend them for any age really. They have a website http://www.ski-with-the-pros.co.uk/index.html.