Kids Sporting Activities

[mimico_polak]

Thanks for the offer @Gary really appreciate it.

I’ve never wore a helmet for skating but along with letting my kids see helmets are important, I hear more and more issues from seemingly minor impacts to the head.

I figure for $50 it’s cheap insurance. Kids have the cages on their helmets but I don’t on mine.

 

[GreyGhost]

Thanks for the offer @Gary really appreciate it.

I’ve never wore a helmet for skating but along with letting my kids see helmets are important, I hear more and more issues from seemingly minor impacts to the head.

I figure for $50 it’s cheap insurance. Kids have the cages on their helmets but I don’t on mine.

Once they get sticks you may want a cage too. Kids swing them around like maniacs. Especially when they are wobbly on skates.

 

[LePhillou]

4 new items by Louis-Abner Philippe

photos.app.goo.gl

The daughter (8 y old) finally remembered how to ski after a 2-year hiatus and the youngest (4 y old) is finally getting into it!
Next week, time for the big lift/chairs with the eldest
After all the money i spent on equipment, clothing and passes, the past 3-4 weeks were starting to feel like a waste of money, but today, everything just clicked and they had the time of their lives! I've been going by myself with the 2 (wifey gets a break) and getting them ready went from taking me 30 minutes to taking about 10-15 minutes!

Mid-march i feel is gonna come way too soon now lol

 

[GreyGhost]

4 new items by Louis-Abner Philippe

photos.app.goo.gl

The daughter (8 y old) finally remembered how to ski after a 2-year hiatus and the youngest (4 y old) is finally getting into it!
Next week, time for the big lift/chairs with the eldest
After all the money i spent on equipment, clothing and passes, the past 3-4 weeks were starting to feel like a waste of money, but today, everything just clicked and they had the time of their lives! I've been going by myself with the 2 (wifey gets a break) and getting them ready went from taking me 30 minutes to taking about 10-15 minutes!

Mid-march i feel is gonna come way too soon now lol

Four year old bailed at ~45 km/h last night. They weren't impressed. They've been out ~40 times this season. Starting to work on parallel now. If they are in the right mood, they are solid on most blues now. In the wrong mood, a tiny missile that needs to be run down.

Both kids got bumped up to longer skis (20 cm bumb). Instant huge improvement in the 6 yo (likely due to upgrade to concurrent upgrade to four buckle boots from one buckle boots).

I skied 111 km in january. Most of that was with monkeys.

 

[LePhillou]

I'm jealous... i go to hockley and thats a 50-minute drive for us each way. If there's ONE thing i miss about living in Québec city it's the proximity of ski facilities... and having proper ski hills too (the smallest one is the size of blue mtn)! These ones are great to learn on though

They already have "long skis" (aka to their foreheads) but at least they'll last another year or 2 if i'm lucky. And it'll get easier to handle as we go lol.

45km/h bail isn't something to overlook! Sometimes if i congratulate the kid and he's not under the shock too much, we can get over it fast. Otherwise it just makes the rest of the day miserable lol

Hopefully next season we can get some road trips to Bristol mountain, they get decent snow there

 

[mimico_polak]

Closest hill I've got near me for skiing is Glen Eden...and that's not even that close.

Got the little guy on skates for the first time. Was better than I expected...all 10min of it. LoL. But it was very hard on my lower back trying to keep him up. He was worried about the metallic stand, but got the hang of it overall. He preferred daddy holding him up by his jacket...goodbye lower back.

I know I'm going to be building an ice rink next year for sure. Plus the neighbour built a luge course (about 20ft with a 3ft drop) that had his attention for the most part, super fun for the kids.

On another note, I wish I had some cross country skis! Lots of people at Erindale Park going through on them.

 

[sburns]

Closest hill I've got near me for skiing is Glen Eden...and that's not even that close.

Got the little guy on skates for the first time. Was better than I expected...all 10min of it. LoL. But it was very hard on my lower back trying to keep him up. He was worried about the metallic stand, but got the hang of it overall. He preferred daddy holding him up by his jacket...goodbye lower back.

I know I'm going to be building an ice rink next year for sure. Plus the neighbour built a luge course (about 20ft with a 3ft drop) that had his attention for the most part, super fun for the kids.

On another note, I wish I had some cross country skis! Lots of people at Erindale Park going through on them.

There is always Earl Bales, probably one of the best year to go

Earl Bales Ski and Snowboard Centre

Homepage for Earl Bales Ski and Snowboard Centre

www.toronto.ca

 

[LePhillou]

Closest hill I've got near me for skiing is Glen Eden...and that's not even that close.

Got the little guy on skates for the first time. Was better than I expected...all 10min of it. LoL. But it was very hard on my lower back trying to keep him up. He was worried about the metallic stand, but got the hang of it overall. He preferred daddy holding him up by his jacket...goodbye lower back.

I know I'm going to be building an ice rink next year for sure. Plus the neighbour built a luge course (about 20ft with a 3ft drop) that had his attention for the most part, super fun for the kids.

On another note, I wish I had some cross country skis! Lots of people at Erindale Park going through on them.

my buddy threw out his back doing this (but hes had a history of back problems) so make sure you try to stretch and strenghten lol

so ive trried cross country skiing for the first time last year... its a good exercise but i didnt find it that appealing... like not enough for me to go get a pair of them
also we dont get enough snow most years to warrant it IMO

 

[mimico_polak]

my buddy threw out his back doing this (but hes had a history of back problems) so make sure you try to stretch and strenghten lol

so ive trried cross country skiing for the first time last year... its a good exercise but i didnt find it that appealing... like not enough for me to go get a pair of them
also we dont get enough snow most years to warrant it IMO

I can see how easily that can be done. I've had a weak lower back since my teens (stupid weightlifting overkill) and paying for it ever since.

My back is killing today though lol. Need to learn to stretch.

 

[GreyGhost]

I can see how easily that can be done. I've had a weak lower back since my teens (stupid weightlifting overkill) and paying for it ever since.

My back is killing today though lol. Need to learn to stretch.

Were you on skates or boots? When the kids were really little, we tried skates on us but that sucked. Making yourself a few inches taller does nothing good for your back. After that, we used boots if the kids needed support.

 

[mimico_polak]

Were you on skates or boots? When the kids were really little, we tried skates on us but that sucked. Making yourself a few inches taller does nothing good for your back. After that, we used boots if the kids needed support.

I was on skates so I could show him, but from now on I'm going on the ice with him with shoes on...way too hard on the lower back and trying to keep him from flailing his legs.

I gave up bending all the way over and just held him up by his jacket as I could stand almost straight.

 

[GreyGhost]

I was on skates so I could show him, but from now on I'm going on the ice with him with shoes on...way too hard on the lower back and trying to keep him from flailing his legs.

I gave up bending all the way over and just held him up by his jacket as I could stand almost straight.

We recognize our limitations as parents that suck at skating and hired an amazing hockey player to improve the kids skating. She is awesome and they are learning quickly. Also brownies help. Kids are very food motivated.

 

[LePhillou]

We recognize our limitations as parents that suck at skating and hired an amazing hockey player to improve the kids skating. She is awesome and they are learning quickly. Also brownies help. Kids are very food motivated.

Once i started doing hot chocolates to warm up in the car, chocolate granola bars, and allowed the nintendo switch after ski mornings, i found that there was a lot more motivation to go skiing ahahah

I was talking to my neighbor who's got his kids (3x !!!) in the snowhawk program... basically picks up the kids early morning in a coach bus, goes up to blue or moonstone (depending on what you choose) and they spend the day there with instructor, meal, lift tickets. I think its about $1200 (for 8-weeks) or less if you don't take certain options, but when you take into consideration how much those courses/lift tickets costs and the fact that they drive up there and you are "kid-free" for that time, it's definitely worth it.

For now i wouldn't do it because i actually enjoy going skiing with them and seeing their progress first hand but it's something to think about when they get older.

 

[GreyGhost]

Once i started doing hot chocolates to warm up in the car, chocolate granola bars, and allowed the nintendo switch after ski mornings, i found that there was a lot more motivation to go skiing ahahah

I was talking to my neighbor who's got his kids (3x !!!) in the snowhawk program... basically picks up the kids early morning in a coach bus, goes up to blue or moonstone (depending on what you choose) and they spend the day there with instructor, meal, lift tickets. I think its about $1200 (for 8-weeks) or less if you don't take certain options, but when you take into consideration how much those courses/lift tickets costs and the fact that they drive up there and you are "kid-free" for that time, it's definitely worth it.

For now i wouldn't do it because i actually enjoy going skiing with them and seeing their progress first hand but it's something to think about when they get older.

That adds up but sounds like a great program. Our kids do 10-20 hours of lessons a year. That means they can have fun skiing with us and the instructors can force in the required learning. Little one normally cruises at 30-35 km/h with us, lessons are <15 km/h. I can encourage learning but get more pushback than the instructors.

 

[moosh009]

I was on skates so I could show him, but from now on I'm going on the ice with him with shoes on...way too hard on the lower back and trying to keep him from flailing his legs.

I gave up bending all the way over and just held him up by his jacket as I could stand almost straight.

I had a similar experience, then we signed them up for a skating class (child with adult with city of Mississauga at Meadowvale 4 Rinks). Both adult and child on skates, key was not trying to hold them up as they will just put all their weight on you. Hold them by one hand as if you're holding their hand on a walk for balance only. If they try to put their weight on you let them fall (don't drop them , just don't support their weight and ease the fall). Teach them how to get up on their own (kneel on ice, put one foot on the ice, then use arms to push down on that raised knee to get up). Once they are up, walk on the spot transferring weight from one leg to the other. I found they got the hang of the balance pretty quickly and basically start walking on skates, then progress to small glides. No more back pain

 

[GreyGhost]

That adds up but sounds like a great program. Our kids do 10-20 hours of lessons a year. That means they can have fun skiing with us and the instructors can force in the required learning. Little one normally cruises at 30-35 km/h with us, lessons are <15 km/h. I can encourage learning but get more pushback than the instructors.

Kids got out 50+ times his winter. So much improvement from them. My wife is having trouble keeping up with them. I got out over 70 times for ~350 km of skiing. I was trying for 100 times but a broken leg (not from skiing) ended the season.

 

[mimico_polak]

5 weeks and my boy finally let the instructor hold him to start floating / kicking in the water! Slow but PROGRESS!

Anyone recommend short / easy hikes for little folks? Don't want to go too far out of Mississauga, and not too far of a walk as I don't feel like carrying him on my back lol

Thinking about a bicycle camp as I've heard good things...but it seems silly to pay to learn to ride a bike.

EDIT: And soccer has been going well also!

 

[GreyGhost]

5 weeks and my boy finally let the instructor hold him to start floating / kicking in the water! Slow but PROGRESS!

Anyone recommend short / easy hikes for little folks? Don't want to go too far out of Mississauga, and not too far of a walk as I don't feel like carrying him on my back lol

Thinking about a bicycle camp as I've heard good things...but it seems silly to pay to learn to ride a bike.

If you are headed to the cottage at a decent time, there is a trail right by the river south of Minesing on George Johnson. Mostly flat and grassy. Lots of birds and occasionally minnows. Technically paid parking but I have no idea how enforced it is.

"The Meadow Mouse Trail is located adjacent to the Willow Creek Canoe Access on County Road 28, approximately two kilometers south of the Town of Minesing. This low-impact footpath will take the average hiker thirty minutes to walk a 2 km in and back route. Interpretive signs describe the history of the area, and the flora and fauna that are present. Before you leave the parking area, view the map of the Minesing Wetlands, read about the Ramsar Convention and update your wetland facts at the Information Kiosk which was expanded in the fall of 1999."

 

[mimico_polak]

We are actually this weekend @GreyGhost. First time I'm only taking the little guy to see if he can survive without mommy...or more like can mommy survive without him for a weekend.

 

[GreyGhost]

We are actually this weekend @GreyGhost. First time I'm only taking the little guy to see if he can survive without mommy...or more like can mommy survive without him for a weekend.

Umm, I think you need to reclassify your kids. I am assuming you aren't taking "the little guy" and you are in fact taking the much bigger but still small guy..