Downhill Skiing at Wachusett Mountain.

Some may argue we haven't gotten much snow yet for it being the last week of January. However, the snow we have gotten came just in time for a rad week of learning how to ski! The Boys and Girl’s club of Dorchester, the Thomas J Kenny school 5th graders, and Thomas J Kenny school 6th graders each had their own day devoted to skiing at Wachusett Mountain.

While we had some returning members who had skied with us in the past, and even a few hobby skiers, the majority of our Elevate Youth skiers were first timers. However, with a lot of balancing practice, learning about appropriate layering, and working on our perseverance and stamina in the weeks leading up our ski trip, they were ready! Once we were on site, with the help from our Elevate Youth Staff and our 8 amazing volunteers throughout this week, our Elevate Youthers were on their skis and shredding in no time!

Each day began with the basics of skiing and plenty of food references. After being walked through rentals and getting suited up with ski boots and helmets, our Yourthers took part in our Elevate Youth ski progression crash course. This covers how to put their skis on, how to walk up a hill without sliding, how to move in french fries (when your skis are parallel), stop in pizza (with your skis shaped like a slice of pizza), and how to turn.

(scroll over each photo to learn more)

What does your athletic stance look like?

Pro tip alert!! Knock off the snow from your boot before you clip in to your bindings.

Skis are straight just like French fries!

Coming to stop with ski shape liked a slice of pizza!

And of course the crowd favorite of how to stand up after we fall using the infamous dead bug technique. This is the technique you use after you fall down. It helps get your skis, perpendicular to the slope on the downhill side. While you are on back, you lift both your feet and skis up in the air like a dead bug in order to move your body in the right position before standing up.

After the ski progression crash course and a lot of grit from our Elevate Youthers, we officially had skiers! With the help of our experienced volunteers, all our Youthers were able to both ski runs they were comfortable with practicing on and were also able to challenge themselves on harder ones.