Episode Summary

If you've ever stood on a bunny slope repeating "make a pizza!" while your kid stares at you blankly, this episode is going to change your next ski day. Jessica breaks down the Edgie Wedgie — a $12 ski tip connector that she's carried in her jacket pocket for 17 years — and explains exactly why it's one of the most effective tools for skiing with kids under six. Every ski parent needs to hear this before their next trip to the mountain.

What You'll Learn

• What an Edgie Wedgie actually is and how it works to teach kids to ski faster and with less frustration
• Why "spread your legs" works better than "make a pizza" when children learning to ski are just starting out
• The simple tension trick that tells you exactly when to take it off — one of the most practical family skiing tips in this episode
• Who should (and shouldn't) use one, and why it's only recommended for kids six and under
• What to avoid when buying a ski tip connector — and the one mistake that permanently damaged a pair of skis

Key Takeaway

"You've taken an abstract concept they couldn't figure out and turned it into a physical action they already know how to do."

About Your Host

Jessica Averett is a PSIA-certified ski instructor with over 20 years of experience teaching kids ski lessons to hundreds of children — and to all five of her own kids, most of whom were skiing before age three. She shares everything she knows about how to ski with kids at skiingkid.com.

Resources & Links

• 🎿 Ready to stop guessing and start skiing with a real plan? Check out First Tracks: A Parent's Guide to Teaching Kids to Ski — Jessica's course built specifically for parents.
• 📖 Read the full Edgie Wedgie guide on her website Skiingkid.com

Skiing with Kids is hosted by Jessica Averett, a ski instructor and mom of five who has spent more than 20 years helping kids learn to ski. This podcast helps parents create calmer, happier ski days by focusing on confidence, connection, and simple strategies that actually work with kids on the mountain. She's the founder of First Tracks: A Parent's Guide to Teaching Kids to Ski, a course that walks parents through everything they need to know to skip overpriced ski school and confidently teach their own kids to ski.

Enjoying the Podcast?

Follow Skiing with Kids so you never miss an episode.

More Skiing with Kids Resources

For more tips, gear reviews, and ski parenting advice visit Skiing Kids
You can find me on Instagram @theadventuretravelfam
.

Free Guide for Ski Parents

Want to avoid the biggest mistakes most parents make when teaching their kids to ski?
Download the free guide:

The Most Common Mistakes Ski Parents Make (and How to Fix Them)
https://skiiingkids.myflodesk.com/ffy45squub
This quick guide will help you avoid the common ski day meltdowns and create a much smoother experience for your kids on the mountain.

...

If you've been skiing with kids in the middle of winter and wondering why it feels so hard, this episode is going to change how you plan your ski season. Jessica breaks down exactly why spring is the single best time of year for a ski parent to take their family to the mountain — and what you need to do differently to make the most of it.

What You'll Learn

• Why spring conditions — softer snow, warmer temps, and smaller crowds — make it dramatically easier to teach kids to ski and build real confidence on the mountain
• The one timing mistake most families make on spring ski days (and the simple fix that transforms how children learning to ski experience their first runs)
• How to layer your kids for fluctuating spring temps so they stay comfortable all day — because a cold, wet kid is a done kid
• The family skiing tips that turn a regular ski day into a core memory: tailgate lunches, costumes, resort events, and why they matter more than extra vertical feet
• Why getting a spring wax and following the sun are two of the most overlooked how to ski with kids strategies that actually affect how your kids feel on their skis

Learn More

Learn more about spring skiing on this article, and get some get some recommendations for great spring skiing resorts for families all on skiingkid.com

Key Takeaway

"Enjoyment is what creates skiers for life. The mountain in March — with your kid in a cape, eating soup out of a thermos, smiling in the sunshine after their best run of the season? That's what all of this is for."

Skiing with Kids is hosted by Jessica Averett, a ski instructor and mom of five who has spent more than 20 years helping kids learn to ski. This podcast helps parents create calmer, happier ski days by focusing on confidence, connection, and simple strategies that actually work with kids on the mountain. She's the founder of First Tracks: A Parent's Guide to Teaching Kids to Ski, a course that walks parents through everything they need to know to skip overpriced ski school and confidently teach their own kids to ski.

Enjoying the Podcast?

Follow Skiing with Kids so you never miss an episode.

More Skiing with Kids Resources

For more tips, gear reviews, and ski parenting advice visit Skiing Kids
You can find me on Instagram @theadventuretravelfam
.

Free Guide for Ski Parents

Want to avoid the biggest mistakes most parents make when teaching their kids to ski?
Download the free guide:

The Most Common Mistakes Ski Parents Make (and How to Fix Them)
https://skiiingkids.myflodesk.com/ffy45squub
This quick guide will help you avoid the common ski day meltdowns and create a much smoother experience for your kids on the mountain.

...

In this episode of Skiing with Kids, your host Jessica Averett talks all about altitude sickness and how it can cause problems on your family ski trip. As a ski instructor and mom of five, she explains how altitude sickness can derail a ski day for kids and adults, sharing some personal stories and expert advice.

Altitude sickness happens when you ascend too high too fast and reviews symptoms from mild (headache, fatigue, lightheadedness, loss of appetite) to moderate (nausea, vomiting) to severe (shortness of breath, confusion, unconsciousness), stressing that any symptoms mean you should slow down and get to lower elevation. She notes fitness doesn’t prevent it and highlights higher risk for young kids and older adults, with kids often showing irritability, poor appetite, sleep trouble, or vomiting. Prevention includes an acclimation day, aggressive hydration and electrolytes, limiting alcohol early, eating small frequent meals, and checking medications with a doctor; treatment is descending, hydrating, resting, and calling ski patrol for severe signs.

00:00 Welcome to the Show

00:24 Altitude Sickness Story

02:37 What It Is and Symptoms

03:54 Who Is Most at Risk

05:28 Kids and Nervous System

06:35 Prevention Steps

10:38 What to Do If It Hits

12:37 Common Mistakes and Planning

14:06 Key Takeaways and Wrap

Skiing with Kids is hosted by Jessica Averett, a ski instructor and mom of five who has spent more than 20 years helping kids learn to ski. This podcast helps parents create calmer, happier ski days by focusing on confidence, connection, and simple strategies that actually work with kids on the mountain. She's the founder of First Tracks: A Parent's Guide to Teaching Kids to Ski, a course that walks parents through everything they need to know to skip overpriced ski school and confidently teach their own kids to ski.

Enjoying the Podcast?

Follow Skiing with Kids so you never miss an episode.

More Skiing with Kids Resources

For more tips, gear reviews, and ski parenting advice visit Skiing Kids
You can find me on Instagram @theadventuretravelfam
.

Free Guide for Ski Parents

Want to avoid the biggest mistakes most parents make when teaching their kids to ski?
Download the free guide:

The Most Common Mistakes Ski Parents Make (and How to Fix Them)
https://skiiingkids.myflodesk.com/ffy45squub
This quick guide will help you avoid the common ski day meltdowns and create a much smoother experience for your kids on the mountain.

...