We live in SE WI and only get to ski little bumps compared to most of you, so keep that in mind (Alpine Valley for those who are near). We ski with the grade school ski club which is only 6x/year if weather cooperates. DD's 8 and 11 ski, ds 14 boards.
I'm jealous of all the talk I read on your kids in ski school for 2 1/2 hours a day and doing perfect parallels by the time they're 7. I'm sure part of the problem here is skiing isn't such a big part of the families lives like it is out east or west. Lessons are only encouraged the first time out, and even though on ski club days lessons are only $14 for anyone in the family, nobody takes advantage of that. The kids complain majorly when I try to get them to do a lesson the first time out for the season, and it's hard to force the issue when none of their friends are taking it.
DD 8 started when she was 6, took 2 one hour lessons and was almost doing complete parellel turns on greens by the end of the second and given the ok to ride the lift w/out an adult (eek!) to anything but blacks. All was well and good those first times when we were alone. Next time out she met up with all her school friends and their goal is to get down the hill as fast as possible, holding hands in pairs that first year. Her friends think I'm nuts to say they're supposed to go back and forth down the hill, to practice their turns. "But it's FUN going fast". I personally haven't taken my girls on a diamond run (remember these are just straight groomed runs, just steeper) because I myself am not ready after 17 yrs off skis. I know other parents do take their kids on black even their first season learning to ski.
I'm thinking of taking a lesson myself to really learn the correct technique on shaped skis. Do I force my kids to take the lesson with me? Or just let them continue having fun with friends and figure they'll evolve when they're ready?
Furthermore, DD8 is recently asking to snowboard, but since none of her friends do, nor do they have interest so probably won't be next year, I think it would be a mistake. She'll be left alone at the top of the hill getting her boots on the board while they're waiting at the bottome of the hill (if they wait, these are 8 yr olds remember).
DS was told in his second lesson/second day on the snowboard, that he was a natural and was better at following directions as a 12 yr old then any of the instructor's past 18 yr old students. Maybe it's a line to encourage parents to keep coming back, idk. But he also refuses any furthur lessons. Neither does he venture into the park area which could be a lot of fun if he gave it a chance. This may be the first year they've really had the park set up well. Unfortunately he's typically stuck boarding alone unless he brings a friend who is then a beginner stuck on the bunny hill.
I'm jealous of all the talk I read on your kids in ski school for 2 1/2 hours a day and doing perfect parallels by the time they're 7. I'm sure part of the problem here is skiing isn't such a big part of the families lives like it is out east or west. Lessons are only encouraged the first time out, and even though on ski club days lessons are only $14 for anyone in the family, nobody takes advantage of that. The kids complain majorly when I try to get them to do a lesson the first time out for the season, and it's hard to force the issue when none of their friends are taking it.
DD 8 started when she was 6, took 2 one hour lessons and was almost doing complete parellel turns on greens by the end of the second and given the ok to ride the lift w/out an adult (eek!) to anything but blacks. All was well and good those first times when we were alone. Next time out she met up with all her school friends and their goal is to get down the hill as fast as possible, holding hands in pairs that first year. Her friends think I'm nuts to say they're supposed to go back and forth down the hill, to practice their turns. "But it's FUN going fast". I personally haven't taken my girls on a diamond run (remember these are just straight groomed runs, just steeper) because I myself am not ready after 17 yrs off skis. I know other parents do take their kids on black even their first season learning to ski.
I'm thinking of taking a lesson myself to really learn the correct technique on shaped skis. Do I force my kids to take the lesson with me? Or just let them continue having fun with friends and figure they'll evolve when they're ready?
Furthermore, DD8 is recently asking to snowboard, but since none of her friends do, nor do they have interest so probably won't be next year, I think it would be a mistake. She'll be left alone at the top of the hill getting her boots on the board while they're waiting at the bottome of the hill (if they wait, these are 8 yr olds remember).
DS was told in his second lesson/second day on the snowboard, that he was a natural and was better at following directions as a 12 yr old then any of the instructor's past 18 yr old students. Maybe it's a line to encourage parents to keep coming back, idk. But he also refuses any furthur lessons. Neither does he venture into the park area which could be a lot of fun if he gave it a chance. This may be the first year they've really had the park set up well. Unfortunately he's typically stuck boarding alone unless he brings a friend who is then a beginner stuck on the bunny hill.
) and then once they get past that mental block it's much easier. You too it sounds like. 
A lot of them are in season-long programs that run at least 6, some 8 or more, weeks. Same instructor, same classmates, etc. It becomes a social thing. 
! I fished a girl out once!). Tough situation for you, I realize.
!) 
And all 3 of your kids will be waiting for you! 
