Skiing Après-Bébé: Insider Tips from Local Moms at Whitefish Mountain Resort.
My husband and I on a ski date in 2022.
Skiing (or snowboarding) after baby: How to navigate getting back onto the slopes postpartum, plus tips from two local mamas on how to do it at Whitefish Mountain Resort.
Opening day was about a month ago and I saw that my client Ellis had made it out to the mountain with her new baby and her toddler in tow. I was excited for her and it got me thinking back to my days of pumping at Hellroaring Saloon between runs and bringing my littles to the mountain. It’s a ton of work and also an awesome adventure! I thought it would be fun to share some ideas on how to make it work, so I spoke with Ellis and another client, Cat about their experiences skiing in their postpartum and what it’s like toting babies with you. Ellis grew up skiing at Alpental and Crystal Mountain and has a 3-month-old daughter named Bennett born this September, and a son named North age 2! Cat has been skiing since she was a baby, grew up on ski race teams, and is an avid backcountry skier. Her one-year-old daughter, Rangeley was born in December 2023.
Cat on her first ski with her baby Rangeley. Photo provided by Cat Berro.
Ellis slopeside with North (2) and baby Bennett (3 months.) Photo by Scotty Harry.
Take it easy
Allow yourself time to recover from birth before getting back to the mountain. I’m a big promoter of resting for the first 40 days (and beyond) after giving birth. Every birth and body is different. You might be an avid athlete who feels the pull back to the slopes a few months postpartum, or you may want to skip the season altogether—and both choices are absolutely fine.
No matter your approach, listen to your body, give yourself grace, and check in with your provider before getting back to skiing. When I moved here with my second baby at 6 months old, I skipped getting a season pass that year and opted for a frequent skier pass in the next two years. (Pro tip: If you ski fewer than 8 times a season, a frequent skier pass is currently $65 upfront and then $78 per day you ski and is the most cost-effective option!)
Also, remember that skiing postpartum doesn’t have to mean full days on the mountain. Even an hour or two on the slopes can bring you joy without overtaxing your body. Skiing can also do wonders for your mental health, providing an outlet to be outside and move your body.
Cat: “I felt pretty good about a month after she was born and I skied with her, just backcountry skied around my house. So it wasn't like really skiing, skiing. I was feeling ready, but I waited until my six-week appointment, with my OB to get the clear go-ahead. After that, I think the next day I skinned up Benny Up and skied down. I don't think I felt good, I was not strong enough in my hips and pelvis to ski hard in-bounds till two months after Rangeley was born. I didn’t feel like I was my normal strong skiing self until this winter, one year after her birth.”
Ellis: “Both my kids were born in late September and I was skiing a little less than three months later when the mountain opened. I see a pelvic floor physical therapist and have been walking, doing Pilates, and some gentle core work to prepare.”
Cat on her property in skis with Rangeley. Photo provided by Cat Berro.
Bring your village
Navigating skiing with a baby is easier when you bring your village to the mountain.
Swap Runs: Set up a cozy spot in the base lodge or Ed & Mully’s and take turns with your partner doing runs.
Enlist Help: Bring along a grandparent, a close friend, or even hire a babysitter.
Field2Forest is an excellent local babysitting service for babies 3 months and older. They can stay home with your baby or hang out at the lodge so you can check in between runs. “ I know how tricky dependable, exceptional childcare can be to come by in our little valley. Field to Forest is a resource in your back pocket.” -Rachel Jessup, owner of Field to Forest.
The Whitefish Mountain Kids Center takes little ones 6 months to 6 years old for half or full-day care right in the base lodge.
Mom Groups: Create a mom group at the mountain. Rotate ski runs and baby-watching duties with friends. During the pandemic, a friend and I swapped mornings with our kids twice a week. It gave us each some solo time (sometimes skiing) while the kids got to socialize.
Cat: “The first time skinning up she was in the van with her dad Trav. She didn’t take a bottle and we weren’t sure how it would go. That felt good, I tend to be anxious so I liked having her close. For a while, it was hard for me to leave her. Knowing I could be there in 5 minutes if I needed to be.”
Base lodge baby Charlotte Moon in 2020.
Gear check
Our bodies change during pregnancy and that’s normal and okay. But make sure you double-check your gear ahead of your first ski day.
Boots: Feet can swell or even change size. Make sure your boots fit before you hit the slopes.
Snow Pants: You might need a thrifted pair or a quick hack, like the ponytail holder trick to stretch the waistband.
What to bring when you bring your baby to the mountain.
Cat: “Bring a stroller for naps, the roads are well plowed and there are some neighborhoods you can walk around there.”
Ellis: “Baby carrier and large tote bags with all the gear. Sometimes I drop my toddler and husband off, and take my baby and dogs for a snowy walk nearby (Holbrook Overlook, Big Mountain Trailhead) so I get exercise, dogs get exercise, and baby naps in the carrier. I come back and join the boys for lunch at the lodge. Everyone wins!”
Prepare the night before
Most of us head to the mountain in the morning and it’s easiest when you pack up ahead of time. Have clothes laid out and ready to go. Plan an easy but nourishing breakfast.
Ellis: “It can take us hours to get out of the house — wrangling the toddler into his gear, feeding the baby, and getting all of us fed and out the door is a lot of work. If we pack the night ahead that helps a ton. I can save myself time by pumping in the car with a hands-free pump so I have a bottle ready for when we arrive at the mountain. I have a go bag of pump supplies, wipes, and bottles, silicone storage bags with clips that allow me to easily store milk on the go without worrying about spilling.”
Scotty, Ellis, Bennett and North outside of baselodge. Photo provided by Ellis Harry.
Drop-off parking
Skiing with a baby can mean a lot of gear. If possible, have someone drop you and all your stuff in front of the base lodge doors and pick you up at the end of the day. Don’t try to lug everything from the parking lot if you don’t have to!
Ellis: “We drop off in the 30-minute load unload zone at the base so one parent runs the skis to the hill, we have large tote bags with all the gear so the other parent takes the kids and starts getting the toddler dressed while the car gets shuttled to the closest available lot. We set up a table with diaper bags, snacks all the things to make ourselves comfortable for hours and then can take turns from there. After several seasons doing this, we’ve gotten better but adding another kid to the mix has slowed us down a lot!”
Breastfeeding or pumping
Feed your baby wherever you need to but if you have a distractable baby or want more privacy a good place to nurse might be the bagged lunch room near the gift shop in Base Lodge on the ticketing level. Bringing your pump in a backpack when you leave baby at home can help you get through the day.
Ellis: “I also nurse when I’m with the baby and don’t worry about going anywhere, just do it out in the open!”
My own pump session sitting at the bar at Hellroaring Saloon with a beer and giant plate of nachos while on a ski date with my husband in 2020. Look at that liquid gold!
Hitting the mountain with a toddler and baby
If you’ve got a toddler rocking the magic carpet or chair 6 and a baby in tow, things will look a little different. This is a magical yet tedious time.
For little ones, the key is making it fun! I don’t think we need to be Olympic-training 2- or 3-year-olds. After my daughter’s ski accident and her first ER trip at age 3, I’m all about taking it slow. We also embrace gummy bear fuel-ups on the magic carpet between runs.
A good approach is to tag-team: One parent takes the older child skiing, and when they’re ready for a break, the other parent gets out for a run. It’s a lot of work, but the payoff is huge when you nurture their love for the slopes—and eventually ski as a family for years to come.
Ellis: “Lower your expectations of what success looks like. Even if I get out for an hour I’m thrilled. And it’s so fun to see your toddler progressing and having fun on the slopes that it erases the FOMO of not being out there yourself. The base lodge is kid central and there are lots of families so oftentimes you can connect with other friends who are doing the same thing and get to socialize and have little play dates while the other half of the family skis. And if you’re really lucky, a friend might offer to hold your baby while you get a lap or two in! (Thanks Kristen!)
If your toddler is cold or just over it, go and take a break for mac and cheese, hot chocolate, water, whatever. Don’t pressure them to keep skiing because that can create negative associations. Make it fun!
Also, open a tab at the bar and so whoever is on lodge duty can enjoy a cold one.”
Riding the lift with Harrison when he was a toddler 2021.
Skiing without bringing baby
Once they are old enough and take a bottle, its okay to leave them with a family member or babysitter for the whole day and have some fun skiing time for yourself or even a ski date with your partner.
Cat: “Something that helped me a lot early on was I made it feel easier on myself by saying it’s important for Rangeley and her dad to have time without me, so their bond can grow as well.
Meeting yourself where you’re at and knowing its okay. The first couple of times I felt like I should be tough and not check in and then I was like no checking in feels good for you and there’s nothing wrong with that so just do it.”
On backcountry days out of cell phone range, Cat uses her Garmin In Reach to communicate with her husband or babysitter about how her daughter is doing throughout the day. Photo provided by Cat Berro.
“I read somewhere, “Your child deserves to have a happy mom and you are the only person who can make that happen.” And for me skiing is so much a part of who I am as an individual and makes me feel vibrant and allows me to show up in the best way for Rangeley.”
Sharing your passion with your little ones
Growing up in a ski town it’s important to try to find a balance of keeping it fun, not pushing them too much, but also making sure they have the skills to be strong skiers. Local kids can do weekly ski lessons at the mountain but the spots sell out in minutes so be ready when the lessons go live.
Cat: “She has a little fake snowmobile that she loves and that feels good for getting her out in the snow now. This is my passion and maybe it’s Rangeley’s. I don’t want to push her. I want her to know how to ski, how to hunt, how to change a tire, and all the things we love, be able to ride a snowmobile. If that’s not her passion, she doesn’t need to focus on it. As her parent, I want her to have the skills, then it’s up to her how far she wants to take it.”
Rangeley on her faux snowmobile! Photo provided by Cat Berro.
Ski apres bébé, at your own pace
When you’re ready, get back out there. If skiing brings you joy, it’s worth finding your way back to the slopes après bébé. It will be different—physically, emotionally, and logistically—but that’s okay.
Cat: “It’s really important to pay attention to where you are at physically and not feel shame around that. I returned to skiing really quick but I also lifted my whole pregnancy and had an uncomplicated birth, so it was easier for me to step back. You don’t want to hurt yourself. Skiing is a really hard sport, so I think easing in and paying attention to how your body feels and not feeling pressure to be what you used to be as a skier. You can get back there if you want to, but it might not be where you start.”
Ellis: “Don’t push it physically if you’re not feeling up for it. Take it slow and listen to your body. If you’re sore, take breaks! My legs get tired after an hour or two and that’s okay! I just had a baby three months ago so I feel great about getting outside in whatever capacity I can.”
You’ve got this, mama. Put on those skis and enjoy the ride!
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