Episode Summary: The 2026 Winter Olympics in Milano Cortina just wrapped up, and and ski instructor and mom of five Jessica Averett was watching with a very specific lens. In this episode, Jessica pulls four powerful lessons from the Games and translates them directly into practical, usable advice for ski parents at every level. From Chloe Kim's mentorship of Gaon Choi, to Federica Brignone's comeback from injury, to Eileen Gu's refusal to let others define her success — the stories coming out of Italy have a lot to say about what really matters when you're teaching kids to ski.

What You'll Learn:

• Why your goal as a ski parent should be raising a skier who doesn't need you — and how to actually do it
• How your reaction to your child's falls shapes their relationship with risk for years
• Why regression is normal, how long comebacks take, and how to stay out of the way
• How to let your child define success on the mountain instead of imposing your own definition on them

• "The best thing you can do as a ski parent is raise a skier who eventually doesn't need you."
• "Every fall is a data point. Treat it like one."
• "A kid who makes it to the magic carpet and has a blast is building something worth more than dragging them up a chairlift before they're ready."
• "The comeback doesn't announce itself. It comes when the foundation is ready."
• "Your job is to create the conditions where your kid's version of success can happen — not impose yours on top of it."

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.

Episode Summary

Skiing with kids is expensive — and buying the wrong season pass can cost your family hundreds of dollars before you ever click into a binding. In this episode, Jessica Averett, a PSIA-certified ski instructor and ski mom of five, breaks down the four major multi-resort passes (Ikon, Epic, Mountain Collective, and Indy) so you can stop guessing and start skiing with a real plan. She covers every tier, every price point, and the exact questions every ski parent needs to ask before buying.

What You'll Learn

• The critical difference between the full Ikon Pass and the Ikon Base Pass — and which one is actually the better deal for your family based on when and where you ski
• How Epic's new teen and young adult pricing changes the family math, and how to decide between the full Epic Pass and the Epic Local Pass when you're trying to teach kids to ski without breaking the bank
• Which passes deliver the best family skiing tips for specific regions — Utah, Colorado, Vermont, and California — so you stop paying for resorts you'll never use
• Why the Mountain Collective is ideal for families who travel intentionally to world-class mountains, and why the Indy Pass is the smartest option for children learning to ski at smaller, less crowded resorts
• The one thing every ski parent must do before the price goes up — and why spring is the only time to buy

Resources & Links

• 🎿 First Tracks: A Parent's Guide to Teaching Kids to Ski — Jessica's complete course for ski parents ready to stop guessing and start teaching with confidence. Learn more at skiingkid.com
• Ikon Pass: ikonpass.com
• Epic Pass: epicpass.com
• Mountain Collective: mountaincollective.com
• Indy Pass: indyskipass.com

Key Takeaway

"The right pass is the one that matches how and where your family actually skis — not the one with the most resorts on the brochure."

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.

Episode Summary

One of the biggest mistakes ski parents make is pushing kids onto harder terrain before they're actually ready — and it can undo months of progress in a single run. In this episode, Jessica Averett breaks down exactly how to know when your child is ready to move up, from the bunny hill all the way to black diamonds. She walks through five key questions every ski parent should ask before bumping up the difficulty, plus the specific skills that need to be in place at each terrain level. Whether your kid is transitioning from green to blue or blue to black, this episode gives you a clear, practical framework so you can make that call with confidence — and protect your child's love of skiing in the process.

What You'll Learn

• The #1 mistake ski parents make when skiing with kids — and why it can send kids home in tears saying they hate skiing
• Five questions to ask yourself before moving your child to harder terrain
• The non-negotiable skills every child needs before leaving the beginner hill (stop, turn, get up — and why rushing these costs you later)
• What side slipping is, why it matters, and how to teach it before your child ever sets foot on a blue run
• The green-to-blue transition: what's physical, what's mental, and how to handle both
• Why the easy blue to hard blue jump is the first real terrain difficulty spike — and what parallel skills need to be in place before you get there
• The full checklist of skills kids need before skiing their first black diamond
• Practical strategies for encouraging kids on new terrain: how to ski it together so they actually feel successful

Resources and Links

• When are Kids Ready for Harder Terrain (full article)
• How to Encourage Nervous Kids to Ski (full article)

Key Takeaway

"Skiing with kids is a long-haul game. When you rush the terrain progression, you get tears and resistance and kids who stop wanting to ski. When you're patient and intentional, you get a kid who reaches the top of a blac

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.

...

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.

...

If you've ever had a ski day fall apart before lunch and couldn't figure out why, this episode is for you. Jessica — PSIA-certified ski instructor and mom of five — breaks down altitude sickness: what it is, why it hits kids especially hard, and how every ski parent can prepare for it before setting foot on the mountain. Skiing with kids at elevation requires more planning than most families realize, and this episode gives you the framework to do it right.

What You'll Learn

• Why altitude sickness is one of the most overlooked reasons kids (and adults) struggle on mountain ski trips — and why fitness level has almost nothing to do with it
• How to spot altitude sickness symptoms in young children who can't tell you what's wrong, and what to do immediately when symptoms appear
• The simple acclimation strategy Jessica recommends for any family traveling to a high-altitude ski resort — including what to do on that first day instead of heading straight to the slopes
• Practical family skiing tips for staying hydrated at elevation, including why kids need regular water breaks built into the ski day (not just at lunch)
• How protecting your child's body at altitude connects directly to children learning to ski with confidence — and why a depleted kid can't learn, take correction, or enjoy the mountain

Resources & Links

• Want a complete plan for teaching your kids to ski — not just surviving the day, but building real confidence on the mountain? Check out First Tracks: A Parent's Guide to Teaching Kids to Ski at skiingkid.com
• More tips on how to ski with kids, gear guides, and resort recommendations: skiingkid.com

Key Takeaway

"Altitude sickness doesn't care how fit you are, how excited you are, or how much you paid for your lift tickets. It's a physiological reality of skiing in the mountains. But with preparation, you can dramatically reduce the risk."

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.

...

You just paid for ski lessons for your kid — now what? In this episode of Skiing with Kids, Jessica breaks down the seven questions every ski parent should ask their child's instructor at pickup, and why skipping this five-minute conversation means leaving the most valuable part of the lesson behind. If you want to actually teach kids to ski — not just survive the day — this is where it starts.

What You'll Learn

• Why the generic skills checklist from ski school barely scratches the surface, and what to ask instead to get information you can actually use on your next family ski day
• The exact words and phrases your child's instructor used to make skills click — and why using the same language is one of the most underrated family skiing tips out there
• How to figure out the way your specific child learns best on the mountain, straight from the person who just spent four hours cracking that code
• Why children learning to ski improve faster when parents know how to be a practice partner — not a coach — on family ski days
• The bonus move that locks in everything from the lesson while it's still fresh (and costs you nothing but two more runs)

More episodes, guides, and gear recommendations also at skiingkid.com

Key Takeaway

"You're not just picking up your kid. You're picking up four hours of professional insight about your child on the mountain. Don't leave it behind."

The seven questions cover:

1. What the child did well
2. Where they need work and how a parent can help
3. The exact words/phrases used
4. What runs they skied and which to do or avoid next
5. What to practice to reach the next level and how to make it a game
6. What the child responded best to
7. What games were played and how they work.

00:00 Ski School Sticker Shock

01:35 What You Miss at Pickup

02:59 Surviving Pickup Chaos

05:00 Question One Praise That Sticks

06:59 Question Two How to Help

08:51 Question Three Magic Words

10:49 Question Four Best Runs

12:23 Question Five Practice Games

13:39 Question Six Learning Style

15:09 Question Seven Steal Their Games

17:26 Bonus Two Runs Together

19:55 Why Parents Skip This

21:41 Quick Recap and Sendoff

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 ever squeezed in one more run and watched the whole day fall apart, this episode is for you. Jessica — ski instructor of 20 years and mom of five — breaks down why knowing when to stop is the single most underrated skill in skiing with kids, and why the ski parent who leaves early is often the one raising a lifelong skier. This isn't about doing less. It's about understanding how your child's brain actually remembers experiences — and using that knowledge to build something that lasts.

WHAT YOU'LL LEARN

• Why the last run of the day has more impact on children learning to ski than almost anything else that happened before it — and how to make sure it works in your favor
• The psychological principle (the Peak-End Rule) that explains why family skiing tips focused on ending well matter more than logging more runs
• How to recognize the warning signs that your child's tank is running low — before the meltdown, not after
• What the car ride home is actually telling you, and how to use it as a simple diagnostic tool for next time
• Why "one more run" can quietly undo progress — and what to do instead if you want to teach kids to ski in a way that sticks

RESOURCES & LINKS

Ready to stop guessing and start skiing with a real plan? First Tracks: A Parent's Guide to Teaching Kids to Ski walks you through exactly how to structure your ski days so your kids build confidence, stay regulated, and keep wanting to come back. 👉 skiingkid.com

Also mentioned: Jessica's episode on The First Hour of the Ski Day — a perfect companion listen if you're building your family skiing framework from the ground up.

KEY TAKEAWAY

00:00 Welcome to Skiing With Kids

00:27 Why Stopping Matters

01:17 Value vs Kid Experience

02:56 Nervous System Budget

03:41 Spotting Limit Signals

04:28 Peak End Rule

06:03 End on a Win

08:39 Teach Self Regulation

09:15 Realistic Time and Breaks

10:20 Car Ride Debrief

11:55 Hard Lessons and Regret

14:11 Skiing Is a Long Game

15:13 Next Day Action Plan

16:25 Wrap Up and Share

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.

...