This post may contain affiliate links. We may earn money from products we link to in this post.
Tubing is a terrific Spring sport because there is rarely enough snow in the city for regular sledding.
what To Expect
Tubing is a fun, safe sport for the entire family that is also quite easy on the body. Unlike traditional sledding, you won’t have to worry about colliding with a tree or flinging yourself over a hill and harming yourself.
Resorts test their parks on a regular basis to ensure that the tubing lanes are safe and that you will not slip past the safety precautions installed at the bottom of each lane. The walls separating each lane are also high enough to enable a smooth descent without colliding with anyone.
Another advantage of tubing is that you don’t have to climb back up after each ride. There’s always a Magic Carpet conveyor belt lift to carry you (and your tube) to the top.
Wear proper clothing
Warm winter clothes should be used, including ski trousers and a warm coat, snow boots, waterproof mittens or gloves, and a hat or toque. If it’s chilly, you’ll also want something to cover your face, and ski goggles are frequently recommended if you have them.
Helmets are essential for children at all resorts and are also advised for adults. It’s better to bring your own ski helmet, but if you don’t have one, you can typically rent one at the resort.
Choose Day Sessions
It is preferable for families with young children to travel during the day rather than at night. Let’s be honest. All the youngsters in snowsuits look the same. It’s considerably easier to keep track of yours in broad daylight at a crowded ski slope. After dark, the audiences become older and rowdier. The website of the snow tubing park is the best place to check the hours of operation.
Set Clear Expectations
Tubing sessions are often sold in 2-hour increments. You’ll want to get your money’s worth. However, your children, particularly toddlers, may become pooped after only two or three runs. At the snow tubing park, tears are no fun. Especially in the winter. If you become weary, you are also more likely to have an accident.
My recommendation? Schedule a late-morning tubing trip. Take a couple runs with the little ones, and then let the larger kids loose. If your child enjoys it, take him or her up and down the tubing lanes several times. If he or she starts whining, take him or her inside for some hot chocolate and small marshmallows.
Designate a Meeting Area
When you take toddlers and teens snow tubing, the older kids will try to flee as soon as you park the car. Set a time and a noticeable meeting spot in the tubing area before anyone leaves. When you wish to go, don’t rely on phoning the kids. Cell service is spotty at ski slopes, in my experience. Clocks, on the other hand (remember those?) are typically mounted in a variety of locations.
Allow your older children a 15-minute grace period before becoming concerned if they are late. They may feel compelled to squeeze in one more run before calling it a day, especially if they’re snowboarding with pals while you’re tubing with the kids.
Bring Extra Clothes
Nothing beats red cheeks and a sense of pleasant fatigue after a day on the mountain. What isn’t fun is riding home in sweaty clothes. I’m not talking about potatoes here, but a dry tuber is a happy tuber!
Bring clean socks and a fresh change of clothes for the kids. It’s not fun to ride home in a minivan that smells like Eau de Gym Locker. Inquire as to how I know this.
Common Tubing rules
- Ski boots are not permitted in tube parks, so pack regular winter boots if you are planning a ski/tubing day.
- Each participant must ride in their own tube (including young children). By holding on to each other’s tubes, you may frequently glide down with friends or family members.
- Children under the age of 12 must be supervised at all times by a parent or legal guardian.
- Tubing is not recommended for pregnant women or persons who have neck or back problems. Other red indicators include recent surgery, high blood pressure, or vertigo/dizziness issues. Overall, tubing is a lot of fun for the whole family if you are healthy and can endure light shocks to your body.
- Because each tube park has its own height and age requirements, double-check this information before visiting a resort.
Safety Rules For Tubing
Protecting your children from brain trauma is a crucial concern for parents. And the question will arise while you are snow tubing. Helmets are optional at most winter ski resorts, while they are required at some parks for riders. If you don’t own a helmet, you can usually rent one.
When snow tubing, appropriate form is also essential. “Guests can sit or lay on the tube while holding onto the grips. Young children should not sit at the bottom of the tube or with their feet within the tube.