Whistler Loves Kids

I am on a bit of a high here after my daughter had a fabulous 1st day of her 3-day ski school package with her class.  Our school has been hitting the slopes at Whistler/Blackcomb for 13 years and cannot say enough about it.  My son went two years ago and loved it and is pining for the slopes while I try to figure out how to stretch my pocket book to get him on a snowboard because due to his mad skillz on a longboard, I can only imagine he would take to snowboarding like a pro.

It is hard when you are not a skier.  Neither my husband or I are skiers.  I grew up in Scotland in the 70’s and did not have a lot of cash.  My dads side of the family all skied but their love never overflowed for me enough to help me reach the slopes.   My husbands East side family were happy looking at the mountains from a distance.   However, living in Vancouver, I want my kids to have a chance to experience  all aspects of the life that is available in this fair province so when the school offers up great deals for lessons at one of the finest ski destinations in the world I take it.

If you have the cash and skiing is in your blood, I would highly recommend Whistler as the place for your kid to learn the ropes as their education programs are growing every year.  For the littles, Whistler Blackcomb has officially opened a brand new Whistler Kid’s Centre in Creekside Village. The new Centre, for children ages three and four, is designed specifically with kids that age in mind; everything from a den for those who are homesick or not feeling well, to the size of the furniture, kid-sized comfort comes first.

I so wish I could get Adam to this. Whistler Blackcomb has partnered with Burton Snowboards to build a kids-only Riglet Park at the Children’s Learning Centre on Whistler Mountain. Riglet Parks are built around the idea of giving young kids a fun introduction to the foundations of snowboarding through play, terrain-based learning and guided discovery. Kids experience the feeling of sliding on snow through interactive stations with features that help them learn the basic snowboard fundamentals of balance, movement and control in a safe, easy and fun environment. It’s basically a snowboarding playground. The Burton Riglet Park is open daily.

“We’re so excited to partner with Whistler Blackcomb to make snowboarding more accessible and build youth participation in BC,” says Jeff Boliba, Vice President of Global Resorts for Burton Snowboards. “Kids are the heart of our sport and Whistler Blackcomb shares our passion and commitment to riders. With Burton’s Riglet Parks, kids are in a small group with a trained snowboard coach, using learning-specific gear and playing – it’s a game changer.”

Where there is a will, there is a way.   We will get Adam back on that mountain.