I will be helping my friend teach his daughter to ski this winter (mom doesn't ski and dad is a novice). Does anyone have any experience with a ski harness? I've seen quite a few of them on the mountains and wonder how well they work. Some seem more like a waist belt with leads attached while others resemble climbing harnesses (straps over shoulders and through legs). Would appreciate any thoughts on pluses or minuses of using one.
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Ski harnesses for little ones
- Thread starter sususkier
- Start date
MaineSkiLady
Angel Diva
Concurring with the above.
This is a challenge even for a good skier (been there/done that).
Dad being a novice is a serious complication herein.
What age are we talking about here?
Whatever age, this is the season for the family to invest in the ski school. Really. They will not regret this choice.
Harnesses were not a reality when I went through this stage (DS was too young for ski school when he began "skiing" that first season - we didn't even use Edgie-Wedgies. Ever.)
As soon as he was old enough for mini's, we cut him loose. Never looked back. (nor did he! - had a blast)
Really don't recommend these harnesses.
This is a challenge even for a good skier (been there/done that).
Dad being a novice is a serious complication herein.
What age are we talking about here?
Whatever age, this is the season for the family to invest in the ski school. Really. They will not regret this choice.
Harnesses were not a reality when I went through this stage (DS was too young for ski school when he began "skiing" that first season - we didn't even use Edgie-Wedgies. Ever.)
As soon as he was old enough for mini's, we cut him loose. Never looked back. (nor did he! - had a blast)
Really don't recommend these harnesses.
KatyPerrey
PSIA 3 Children's Specialist 2 Keystone Resort
I agree with the above!!!! NO harness.
A lesson with a pro is the best way to go.
I have taught many very small/young kids to ski and I always ask the parent if they want to "hang around" to see what I'm doing so they can continue after the lesson. Gets them involved with the lesson and they feel like part of the learning process!!
A lesson with a pro is the best way to go.
I have taught many very small/young kids to ski and I always ask the parent if they want to "hang around" to see what I'm doing so they can continue after the lesson. Gets them involved with the lesson and they feel like part of the learning process!!
Severine
Ski Diva Extraordinaire
I can understand the temptation. At our home mountain, kids can't take lessons until they're 4 years old. But we started our daughter last year on the magic carpet area of the beginner area at 2.5 years old and hope to get her brother out there as well this year (he's just about 18 months now).
We have a harness to aid getting her on the chairlift when she starts that (has a handle to help you keep a grip on the kiddo) but that's all we intend to use it for, and have not yet because she does not have the skills to go up the lift yet. There is a website out there that goes through the teaching process with a harness, but explicitly states that is only beneficial if you're doing it properly (i.e. helping with hip movements for the child instead of just reigning them in). I think 99.9% of the people I've seen using them while skiing use them wrong.
We have a harness to aid getting her on the chairlift when she starts that (has a handle to help you keep a grip on the kiddo) but that's all we intend to use it for, and have not yet because she does not have the skills to go up the lift yet. There is a website out there that goes through the teaching process with a harness, but explicitly states that is only beneficial if you're doing it properly (i.e. helping with hip movements for the child instead of just reigning them in). I think 99.9% of the people I've seen using them while skiing use them wrong.
Monkeygirl
Certified Ski Diva
We used ski harnesses for our little ones. Not to teach them, but just to let them experience being out on the snow with skis. As soon as they were old enough we put them into lessons.
geargrrl
Angel Diva
We started one of our at about 18 months. The harness with leads at the waist aids in helping the kids to get the fell of a "turn". As a weekend patrol family, waiting until the kids were old enough for ski school (5-6) was not an option. We insisted that they do turns with us: no straightlining down the hill. When they WERE old enough, they did go to the ski school. In the meantime, this option worked for us when they were teeny tiny.
gg
Harness
I have used the edgie wedgie and harness on my 4 year old on the bunny hill and use them more as reins to help him turn - it makes it fun for him - but he will be going into a lesson soon.....the handle on the harness is great for getting him on and off the chair, and picking him up when he falls! The leashes need to be around his waist and I use them more for safety to slow him down we he does not get into his wedge soon enough.....I need to do more research on using the harness, unfortunately as a single parent I can not afford to put him in a lesson every weekend...
I have used the edgie wedgie and harness on my 4 year old on the bunny hill and use them more as reins to help him turn - it makes it fun for him - but he will be going into a lesson soon.....the handle on the harness is great for getting him on and off the chair, and picking him up when he falls! The leashes need to be around his waist and I use them more for safety to slow him down we he does not get into his wedge soon enough.....I need to do more research on using the harness, unfortunately as a single parent I can not afford to put him in a lesson every weekend...
I have one of those harnesses but haven't used it yet and am not sure we will need it. My 3 1/2 figured out pretty easy how to turn on her own so I'm not sure we will use it but I don't think it is a bad idea if used to teach how to turn. I do love the little handle/backpack thing to get her on and off the lifts or just to help her up after falling. Ours is separate from the harness and we have used that a lot. It is especially reassuring to have a handle to hold her the first few times on the chair lift to give us piece of mind.
edgie wedgie
ok, no longer using edgie wedgie, broke three of them...and after 5 times out with them, my 4 yr old boy can do hi sown wedge, and is even initiating turns, yippie!
I still like the harness...he is over 100 percentile for his height and weight, and I can not hold him between my legs for more than two runs! I pull too many muscles!
It is going to be 40 degrees out on Christmas Eve, so I am looking forward to a longer day out with him
ok, no longer using edgie wedgie, broke three of them...and after 5 times out with them, my 4 yr old boy can do hi sown wedge, and is even initiating turns, yippie!
I still like the harness...he is over 100 percentile for his height and weight, and I can not hold him between my legs for more than two runs! I pull too many muscles!
It is going to be 40 degrees out on Christmas Eve, so I am looking forward to a longer day out with him
