Big ski weekend

<p>If you're a diehard skier, you may not want to spend precious time on the slopes helping your child execute the “French fry and pizza,” a beginner's method of turning.</p><p>But those who make an early investment in children's lessons and lift tickets may reap the benefit in later years, when their kids grow into active young adults who still want to spend time with their parents.</p><p>“Every family has their own thing, but for us, we love the mountains,” said Karen Pederson of Rohnert Park, mother of four snowboarders, ages 17 to 25. “You're together, you're outside... It keeps the kids happy.”</p><p>Between lift tickets and hotels, gas and food, family ski weekends can add up faster than fresh powder during an epic storm.</p><p>With real snow finally arriving in the Sierra, local families shared their tips on when, where and how to launch kids — affordably — on a lifetime of downhill adventure. </p><p>Most parents start their kids on skis, then after they reach proficiency, let them move on to snowboarding. Whatever skill your child chooses, the more days you can pack in, the quicker they will learn.</p><p>“Kids end up being much better skiers if they start early,” said Jennifer O'Mahoney of Sonoma. “You want to make sure they have the basics right, and some sense of confidence in terms of being able to stop.”</p><p>O'Mahoney and her husband, Ed Colby, launched their 6-year-old son, Tiernan, on skis a few years ago with a trip to Badger Pass Ski Area in Yosemite (yosemitepark.com).</p><p>“They have great packages for kids, with lessons and rentals, and it's way less crowded,” she said. “I had never been to Yosemite in winter, so that was a bonus.”</p><p>The next year, the family went to Tahoe for several weekends, and Tiernan took more lessons at Homewood, another small, kid-friendly resort (skihomewood.com)</p><p>“Homewood was a good starter place,” she said. “Then we went to Alpine Meadows, and he did another little lesson.”</p><p>Young kids often need time to warm up to the outdoor sport, which requires some patience and perseverance.</p><p>“The first lesson didn't seem to pay off much, but the second one was a big payoff,” O'Mahoney said. “Don't give up after the first lesson.”</p><p>It's also important to take breaks, because kids get cold and tire easily. Many parents advise starting young kids out with a half-day pass.</p><p>“Tiernan has a plastic saucer and he'll go sledding,” O'Mahoney said. “That's his hot chocolate and marshmallow moment.”</p><p>Lisa Gamble of Sonoma, a member of the Santa Rosa Ski Club (santarosaskiclub.com), started teaching her 7-year-old granddaughter, Sydney, to ski three years ago.</p><p>If you want to give lessons, she advises using a backpack harness, such as the Lucky Bum Ski Trainer, to help you guide the new skier down the hill.</p><p>“They ski in front of you, and you can hold them back,” she said. “When they get more comfortable, you let out the leash, and soon they're going on their own.”</p><p>Gamble suggests breaking lessons down into small steps, so that the child can feel successful. It's also important to carry treats for trying moments.</p><p>“Small kids have these meltdowns,” she said. “You have to bribe them a little, so I always carry some gummy bears.”</p><p>Gamble likes to take Sydney to Squaw Valley (squaw.com), which has one of the biggest beginner areas located at the top of the mountain.</p><p>“You take the tram, so you don't have to worry about the lift,” she said. “Then it's all flat.”</p><p>Lise Ciolino started her 9-year-old son, Paolo, on skis when he was 4. Before he took his first lesson at Alpine Meadows (skiapline.com), she bought him a good helmet, well-fitting socks and a warm pair of bib overalls.</p><p>“Bib overalls are best for kids, because they let in the least snow,” she said. “They are going to come home wet.”</p><p>Ciolino always packs chocolate bars for a snack, along with sandwiches for everyone to tuck into their pockets. “We eat on the lift,” she said. “PB&J is our favorite, because it doesn't freeze.”</p><p>Spending several days at resorts such as Heavenly and Northstar (skiheavenly.com; northstarattahoe.com), where he rents equipment, has allowed Paolo to advance quickly into an intermediate skier.</p><p>“That's the beauty of doing it when you're young,” Ciolino said. “Doing it for many days in a row helps.”</p><p>Linda Farison of Santa Rosa, a member of the Santa Rosa Ski Club and mother of two daughters ages 12 and 20, has always rented kids' equipment for the season from Santa Rosa Ski & Sports.</p><p>“You get skis, boots and poles for a reasonable rate,” she said. “And I don't have to be there on Friday or Monday night, to pick up and drop off the skis.”</p><p>When buying lift tickets and finding a place to stay, it pays to do a bit of online research to find bargains.</p><p>“Sometimes our kids ski free,” Farison said. “We look for those deals.”</p><p>Joining the Santa Rosa Ski Club, which owns a lodge in Truckee, provides an affordable place for families to stay as well as a ready-made social life.</p><p>“With the club, we have people to ski with,” Farison said. “It's the best deal around.”</p><p>You can reach Staff Writer Diane Peterson at 521-5287 or diane.peterson@ pressdemocrat.com</p>