Kids 1st time skiing March 23, 2017 at Ski Cooper
We woke the kids up at 5:30am on a Thursday morning and they got right up and were so excited for their first time skiing. It took about 2 ½ hours to drive to Cooper, but they read quietly in the back seat. When we arrived, we realized that Connor hadn't brought any shoes, except flip flops. We continued to get ready and rent our equipment. Lloyd and the kids kept asking for poles and I told them that it is best to learn without poles.
It took the kids quite a while to figure out how to click in and out of their skis. Then, we found a little hill and I tried to teach them to make a v with their skis to stop. They all just kept flying down the hill and falling. Then, I would help them up and push them back up the hill. We finally figured out that Ski Cooper had a bunny hill with a little magic carpet that pulled them up to the top. So much easier!
Carly had the cutest little ski jacket that I had found at Play it Again Sports the day before. She was the cutest little skier.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SPyoSFk7aNE&feature=youtu.be
I taught them how to make a snowplough by making a v with their skis. Carly figured it out first and then started going up and down all by herself. This allowed me to focus on the other 2 kids. She always learns so quickly and has no fear. She told me that she was getting bored, so I hurried to try and get the other kids to learn it so we could move onto some green runs.
This was a very small resort and there were no lines. We loved it! They all did great on their first green run. Lloyd just did the snowplough but was unable to stop so he just fell when he wanted to stop. Camilla was very cautious but very rarely fell. Connor wanted me to stay right next to him, the whole way down.
When we got down to the bottom, they all wanted to go again and again. At one point, I got my groove and completely forgot to stay with Camilla, who was trailing behind. Lloyd was behind me but couldn't stop. I waited a while and she finally came flying down. Camilla started to get tired, so we got some lunch. At lunch, Connor and Carly asked if we could do a blue run. I knew they weren't ready, but I told them that I would take them, if they did well on one more green run. They agreed, but Camilla wanted to stay back with Lloyd to do more green runs.
Camilla skiing
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AYRkzfHUcd8&feature=youtu.be
The blue run was called, "Black Powder" and was a bit hard for Connor and Carly, but they did it. They did not want to do it again, though. At this point, it was starting to snow and visibility was low. We got on a lift and I let Connor and Carly ride together and I rode right behind them. They actually started hitting and fighting on the lift! I freaked out and told them to not talk or move. That worked, but I kept imagining them falling off the lift.
Connor skiing
We did another green run, right before the lifts closed for the day. I asked them to cross over the middle of a run to try a new green run. They both struggled with this. Carly tried to scoot on her butt and Connor tried to ski backwards. It was hilarious. But, they figured it out and were able to make a sharp turn.
We booked a room at the Historic Old Delaware Hotel. The kids had their own room and our room was connected with theirs. It was a cozy little room but very old. The floors were even slanted from shifting.
Carly was the most exhausted and was so quiet when we went to dinner. They all wanted Mexican food and had an incredible appetite. They ate adult meals and talked in Spanish with me. They think I am a human Spanish dictionary.
Carly said her hips hurt from doing a snowplough. Camilla had some bruising on her hand from falling. Connor's nose was bright red from windburn. It was pretty cute to see.
On the walk back to the hotel, we all started acting goofy and making jokes. It was probably the high altitude, combined with exhaustion. We were all in bed by 8pm.
Carly woke up first at 7am. Everyone else was still sleeping, so I took her downstairs for tea and coffee. We enjoyed having special time together and we met another father that lived in Colorado Springs. Carly talked his ear off.
When the rest of the family woke up, we ate breakfast and then took a walk downtown in Leadville. They all bought some rocks at their favorite rock shop. Then, we went sledding. I had brought our sled and everyone had fun riding down the free sled hill.
Camilla and Carly sledding
We topped off our trip with a visit to Beau Joes pizza. It was the first time that the kids ate all of their pizza and we had no leftovers. This was a very memorable trip and I can't wait to do it again. Although, I DEFINITELY love snowboarding, more than skiing. Thankfully, I can do both, so I will let the kids decide what they want to do in the future.
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