1 Year-Old Adventurer's First Time Snowboarding at Nakiska was Epic!

Sophia Gould

January 28, 2023

Hi, I'm Sylas and 17 months old. Today, was my first time snowboarding at Nakiska Ski Resort with mama and daddy.

Nakiska and snowboarding are familiar terrain for me. I've been seeing, touching and biting my snowboard forever! And I've always known the sensation of gliding. My mama is a professional snowboarding coach and has made sure that gliding has been a part of my entire existence. In fact, my mama says that the first time she felt me kick her, was after a day of riding at Nakiska!

Ever since I learned how to sit on my snowboard, she's been dragging me all over our house and neighbourhood like a sled dog on a mission. She declared that as soon as I could stand, it was game on!

First Time Snowboarding at Nakiska

Daddy took me up to the top of the beginner's area at Nakiska on the conveyor belt ride. He had one foot strapped into his front binding and he held me between his legs by the top loop in my backpack. He lifted me slightly as he glided off the end and pushed his way over to the top of the bunny hill.

Because daddy has Burton Step On bindings, we got going pretty quick. He heel side-edged for the first bit, adding in the pendulum swing, then straight down the hill we went with a few speed checks and spins along the way!

My Turn to Ride MY Snowboard

Daddy and I went back up the fun belt ride but this time, we took my Burton riglet snowboard. Mama met us up top and we got my feet placed into the bindings.

Daddy stayed behind me, holding onto the leash that is connected to my backpack to make sure I didn't take off outta control, and Mama got in front of me so that I could see her.

We slowly started gliding down the hill, picking up speed fast and I could tell from my mama's big bright eyes and high-pitch, happy squawks, that my first time snowboarding was going really freakin' good!

Round Two on the Beginner Hill

I was getting cold and confused. There were so many people around skiiing and snowboarding and this was a big, first experience. Mama and daddy dragged me up the hill a little but I didn't want to get out of my deep, squat position.

They sent me down the second time, but I had enough and my mama knew. She came to me with her big, warm hug and got my feet out of captivity. I could run around and be free now, finally!

Mama's First Time Snowboarding Tips

Get them Comfortable with Gliding

The key to a successful first time snowboarding effort, is having previously introduced the gliding experience to your baby. Sylas had been comfortable gliding around our house and the neighbourhood before bringing him to Nakiska. I knew he was ready to embark on his first time snowboarding at a ski hill because he could confidently stand and allow us to drag him around in the snow.

Immerse them in the Lifestyle

Secondly, and almost equally as important, we've been immersing him in the ski hill environment since he was a newborn! My partner and I both love to ride, and during Sylas's first season, we did what I like to call the baby tradeoff considering all he did was nap all day long. One of us would wander around the Nakiska with the baby while the other would get some turns in and then switch!

Always be Adaptable

Adaptability is one of the most important traits of raising an on-the-go baby (a term that his grandma charmingly coined). You never know when a blow out is gonna occur or when bad weather will stop you in your tracks. Lower your expectations and accept that you may spend an hour driving to location, 20 minutes feeding and dressing your baby, and only 10 minutes of doing the activity. Shit happens!

Know When to Call It

So, this is such an important, and maybe super frustrating, part of the experience. Sylas did amazing with his first day snowboarding at a resort. We got three full runs in and the fourth was when he started to get upset. I immediately called it. The day was a huge win and I didn't want to ruin our success and ruin his experience.

Have the Right Gear

Make sure you have good equipment that is appropriate for littles for their first time snowboarding. I've always known that Sylas would be outside adventuring and playing activities in all weathers. Having good gear from the get go was an absolute must for his safety and longevity.