Skiing With a 2-year-old

Hey all, I live in LA and have a 2-year-old and would like to get out to go skiing with him.  Has anyone gone skiing with a kid this young?  Any advice for a good ski area to visit?  I'm imagining one of those magic carpet/conveyor belts...at the same time I'm almost wondering if it wouldn't be a better idea to wait till he's a bit older and maybe focus on sledding and things for a bit?

Any recommendations/advice/input on your own experiences?  

Thanks!

Wait until he is at least five.

I’ve got a 3 and 5 year old on skis for the first time this year.

I actually know someone with a 5 year old who is   able to ski blues very competently and she’s probably been doing it since 3.

Is your kid big? Mine are small. The smallest boots made are Mondo 14.5 and I can pull those right off my little guy, but they are close. If you have a big 2 year old, the boots might fit.

We hit the magic carpet. Sometimes I’m not even wearing ski’s. Assume 2-4 runs down the magic carpet run all day. Totaling maybe 500 total feet of skiing. Take breaks and warm up lots.

I see gradual slopes kids sled on, that’s kinda better. Closer to town, not crowded, and way low key. I can pull my guys in a toboggan as fast as the magic carpet. So it’s pretty reasonable.

Like swim lessons, play and get comfortable. Don’t overdo it.

I certainly wouldn’t take a ski trip with a kid that young and expect anything. 

I spent the '90s teaching skiing, with a lot of time spent teaching kids. My own observation was that 2-year-olds simply do not have the motor skills, balance, cognitive abilities or strength to learn how to ski. They just haven't been alive long enough to develop these abilities. Part of the issue is that small children are rather top-heavy, and their weight distribution does not match that of an adult until around age 12. Keep your child active with other, less equipment intensive activities until he's 4 or 5, and even then don't try to rush things. Those magic carpet/conveyor belts were starting to become common about the time I stopped teaching, and they are, IMO, just about worthless for teaching purposes. Most new skiers are better off sidestepping and herringboning uphill at first, then moving on to a slow moving rope tow with handles for small children, or a Poma/platter lift for older kids or adults. Surface lifts are great for beginners because they help new skiers get comfortable sliding/gliding on snow, and steering/guiding their skis.

There is some excellent advice above on both if you try to start at that age and advice for waiting.  The only thing I would add is that it depends so much on the temperament and abilities of the individual kid. I have four kids and only my youngest started that early (though he may have been closer to or just turned 3 at the time). His balance and overall motor skills were so much better than my first three kids and he has always been up for anything. If you feel like you would have to push them into it I’d wait, but if you think they are up for it and have solid balance (especially if they are closer to 3) give it a shot. You don’t necessarily need to go to a resort. I started my youngest on the hill in our backyard and he loved it. We went to the bunny hill shortly after and he loved that so we just kept slowly upping it.

Mine was 3 on a nice, warm spring day.  2 is too young.  Pull them around in a sled and make forts or something.