Learning How To Ski? Learn From Your Child.

Apologies for not announcing Education & Catastrophe was on a two-week hiatus. I went on a ski vacation with the wife and our youngest child. Quinn turned four last October, a good age to start skiing! So we took him to Myoko, three hours from Tokyo on the Shinkansen, signed him up at a ski school, and took ski lessons ourselves. Advanced for me, beginner for the wife (she switched from snowboarding), tired limbs but great fun for everyone.

This post is about how adults can learn from how kids learn. Skiing is a great example.

Enthusiasm 

The first thing I observed even before we hit the slopes is how excited Quinn was about learning how to ski. Before this trip he had never seen snow, so he only had a vague concept of what skiing is (probably from hearing his older siblings talk about it). But he was so excited about going to Japan, seeing snow, getting on skis - all for the first time.

Contrast that with adults. I remember the first time I went skiing ten years ago with a few friends in Niseko. The moment we got to the apartment, we were tempted to just curl up on the couch with a cup of hot chocolate. Stay nice and warm indoors and watch the snow falling outside. There were three of us beginners that trip. We hired a private coach for three full days of private lesson. After the first day, I was the only one still doing lessons in the afternoon. The other two would rather explore the town, hit the bars, or just have a lie in in the apartment.

To learn anything well, you must first be enthusiastic about learning it.

Fearlessness

Kids are fearless learners. Skiing is the best example I can think of. Granted, they are much closer to the ground, much more nimble, get up much more easily than adults. But the point is they are not afraid to point their skis downhill, fall, get up, and try again.

Again, contrast this with how adults learn how to ski. The tell tale sign of a beginner skier is the way they sit back, shoulders hunched, afraid of falling forward (which is impossible by the way - you fall backwards or sideways - I've never heard of or seen anyone falling forward down the mountain). 

Watch this video of Quinn gliding down the slopes like it's the most natural thing in the world. Body upright, skis pointing downhill, not afraid to pick up speed.

Pride

At the end of first day of ski school, Quinn was beaming with pride that he would be in level two the next day. Same thing at the end of day two - he proudly declared that he made it to level three. I'm not a fan of gamification in education. I think of it as chocolate-covered broccoli. But when there are clear learning goals at each learning level, it makes sense to have different levels kids can work towards. 

Many people who learn skiing as adults never get past intermediate because they settle. They are happy to be able to get down green and red runs, and don't push themselves to attempt the black and mogul runs. Pro tip - sign up for an advanced group ski class and you're likely to get a private lesson for the price of a group class, because very few adults bother with advanced. 

After three and half days of skiing, Quinn will start at level four next season. Skiing is a terrific family activity. My worry is not being able to keep up with the kids. The great thing about starting so young is that five years from now Quinn will be flying down the slopes, and his mum and dad will be struggling to stay with him and his siblings cause they are going so fast. This is partly why I keep pushing myself to become a better skiier -  so I can keep up with the kids as they (and I) get older, and also because it gives me great pleasure to master a sport. 

Oh, and did I mention the onsen? 

Ski, onsen, drinks, dinner, repeat. 

Outdoor onsen at Lime Resort Myoko, where we stayed this trip. Image credit: Myoko Tourism

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If this essay resonates, you may want to check out issue 13 of Education & Catastrophe 'No Instructions' 

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