Discovery Dynamos: Snowboarding for young kids

My son Aden got the bug for snowboarding last year when his grandmother bought him one of those cheap plastic snowboards from Target.  We only used it a few times last year but that was enough to plant a seed.  This year that plastic snowboard was the first thing he wanted to pull out of the shed when the snow started to fall.  After a little practice he was riding down our little hill, without falling down I might add, over and over and over again.

 So what do you do with a little budding boarder?  Get him in lessons of course! 

We started researching and that’s when we found the Discovery Dynamos program at Smugglers Notch.  The Discovery Dynamos is an all-day program for kids ages 3-5 that encourages both ski and snowboard development for all abilities and builds confidence though age-appropriate teaching techniques.  The kids play games, go on guided discovery tours, and participate in activities on and off the slopes.

We signed him up for the program for the day after Christmas.  Aden would do Discovery Dynamos and my husband was going to take a beginning boarding lesson himself for 2 hours.  They left early, and I do mean EARLY!  They needed to make it to the mountain by 8am in order to get him fitted for his equipment.  And let me tell you about that.

Beginning boarders are set up with Burton’s Learn to Ride equipment.  This equipment is designed to make them more successful boarders from the get go.  The boards have a softer flex which reduces the likelihood of their board getting caught in the snow.  The boots are softer as well allowing for increased comfort and the bindings are only one strap for ease of use for those small riders.  After he got fitted Aden was whisked away to Burton Riglet Park to start his lessons.

From what Aden told me he had a lot of fun!  Of course I didn’t get all the information out of him in one sitting but I’ve pieced enough of it together to gather that the day was jam packed full of fun.  According to him, Aden’s favorite part was going on “the magic carpet ride” up the hill.  According to his teacher, Aden loved going fast far too much to actually pay attention long enough to learn all of the skills they wanted to teach him.  But should I have expected anything else…a boy with a board that makes him super-fast down a mountain…sounds about right to me.

In the end it was a total hit!  Aden loved his lesson and he’s already been talking about wanting to go back. Dad loved his lesson and Mom wants to try it out too.  Here’s another great thing about Smuggs, they have childcare for children ages 6 weeks – 3 years old.  That means that WHEN WE DO go back, Aden, Michael and I can all take lessons and leave Canaan in childcare.  Truly a fun day for the whole family.

Here’s what you need to know:

Discovery Dynamos runs daily from now through April 6, 2014.  Lessons go from 9am – 4pm and include lunch.  Price is $139. 

Are there any young budding boarders out there itching to get on the slopes this winter?  Have any of you tried the Discovery Dynamos at Smuggs?