Be the Best Ski Racing Parent You Can Be

The fact is, it can be hard being the parent of a ski racer. You invest your heart, soul, time and money so your children can have a great experience while skiing. And let’s be realistic, we all want them to have as much fun as possible. This kind of deep personal investment can cause some parents to go to the “dark side” and become albatrosses around their children’s necks rather than the wind beneath their wings.

Your goal should be to provide a source of support, confidence, and comfort to your children as they experience the inevitable highs and lows that are a normal part of ski racing. I would like to offer you a refresher course on being the best ski racing parent you can be.
 

To that end, I’ve attached links to my articles from past years:

• Raise children who are “successful achievers” meaning they have self-esteem, ownership and emotional mastery.

• Ensure that your young skiers strive for excellence rather than perfection.

• Be sensitive to how success impacts your young skiers.

• Set healthy expectations and goals that focus on fun, effort and long-term development.

• Allow your children to fail, so they will learn from it and not fear it.

• Know what your and your children’s responsibilities are and make sure you’re doing your job and not theirs.

• Regardless of whether your children are so-called gifted or not, always focus on their effort.

• Allow your children to experience disappointment and other less-pleasant emotions.

Now get out there and be the best ski racing parent you can be. Your children will thank you for it.

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