Replying to Can we stop pushing small children so hard to ski?

I'm over coaching (I think).

I really enjoy skiing and thought that sharing my stoke with people would be fun. After 4 years away (instructing and general skiing) from the UK I came back to coach some freestyle at the indoor slope. In that time the vibe seems to have completely changed from hanging out with friends, goofing around to having to progress as much as possible as quickly as possible.

Children as young as 6 are on the academy which is sick, but tonight is the final nail in the coffin for me. The last few weeks I've noticed pushy parents (who don't ski or come and ski at the same time as the kids) pushing them to learn more tricks. One kid started crying and when I asked why he said his dad said he had to land a 3 over the kicker or else he would be grounded. He thought the jump was too big for him to try and refused to ski so his dad couldn't see him. After telling him he could do what he wanted instead of that he did a few laps and his dad took him off the slope. I'm pretty sure he made a complaint against me (lolz)

Why the fuck are we telling kids this is what skiing is having? If they don't enjoy they aren't going to stick around and want to be better.

Any one else noticing this?



TL;DR. Soccer moms turning into ski moms. It sucks.