Ski Moms July Checklist

What you need to do this month to stay on track for a great ski season.

July weather always makes me nostalgic for ski season.

When I was out walking the dog on an early morning loop in New York City, I took a moment to really feel the heat and humidity. As my walking buddy and I searched for a bit of shade, I found myself thinking back to one of those frigid late-night walks in Vermont last January—the kind where I bundle my dog into two coats, rub Musher’s Secret on his paws, and then bribe him with treats just to convince him to go outside and do his business.

These two bookend experiences are worth holding onto. As someone who loves being outdoors, I try to approach the weather with a Buddhist-like sense of curiosity. It is what it is. There’s no point wishing July were January.

What I can do is use the summer to make sure I’m ready when those January storms start dumping snow in Vermont again. That’s the idea behind these monthly checklists. A little preparation now can save money, eliminate in-season hassles, and lead to better days on the mountain.

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Revisit your season pass strategy

Many season pass prices increase as summer winds down. If you're still on the fence, take an honest look at your family calendar and estimate how many days you'll realistically ski this season. As a general rule, if you'll spend more than five days at one resort, a season pass is usually the better value. Still on the fence? Read this piece for more help on deciding on which pass is right for you.

Before you click "buy," don't forget these money-saving tips:

Don’t forget:

• Mind the Birthdays: Pass prices are based on your child's age at the time of purchase, not when ski season begins. If your child has a milestone birthday before winter, buying early could save you hundreds of dollars.

• Ski Free Programs: Fourth, fifth, and sixth grade ski programs are offered in more than a dozen states. The programs offer deeply discounted passes and often include lessons and rentals too (check our list here).

• College Student Discounts: This year I have two girls in college, so I'm treating them to "Christmas in July" by buying their passes now while prices are still low. Kudos to Vail Resorts for replacing its college pass with a Young Adult Pass and extending discounted pricing through age 29.

• Military and Adaptive Discounts: Many pass providers offer special pricing for military families, adaptive athletes, healthcare workers, first responders, teachers, and other groups. Eligibility varies, so it's worth checking before you buy.

• Buddy pass benefits you’ll actually use: Buddy tickets sound like a great perk, but many families never redeem them because of blackout dates, reservation requirements, or other restrictions. Before you factor them into your decision, read the fine print to make sure they'll actually work for your family.

Movie Night

On the hottest day of summer, pop some popcorn and set up a ski movie. Before you stream anything, start by screen-sharing videos from your last ski trip. Bonus points if someone in your family has already edited a highlight reel. There’s nothing like reliving those powder days and yard sales to get everyone excited for winter.

Once you've had your fill of family on-snow hijinks, queue up a ski documentary. I especially love female-centered films like Pretty Faces and Here, Hold My Kid. For a list of women-centric ski documentaries head here. If you've got younger kids, these are all great choices for family movie night:

• “Cool Runnings” (1993) While not strictly a ski movie, this film is about the Jamaican bobsled team. It’s a fun, inspiring story with plenty of snow and ice sports.

• “Ski Patrol” (1990) A comedy about a ski patrol team working at a snowy mountain resort. It’s light-hearted and full of slapstick humor.

• “Snow Buddies” (2008) This is a family film about a group of golden retriever puppies who team up for a dog sled race in Alaska. It has lots of snowy scenes and a positive message about teamwork.

• “Frozen” (2013) Although not specifically a ski movie, it features plenty of snow, ice, and winter sports themes, and is beloved by children for its story and songs.

• “Cloud 9” (2014) A Disney Channel original movie about a young snowboarder who learns to overcome her fears and compete at a high level. It’s an inspirational story with lots of winter sports action.

• “Eddie the Eagle” (2016) This biographical sports comedy-drama tells the story of Eddie Edwards, the notoriously tenacious British underdog ski jumper. It’s heartwarming and suitable for older kids.

• The Mighty Ducks” (1992) While this is more about ice hockey, it’s a winter sports movie that has a similar appeal with its story of a young hockey team overcoming odds.

Am I missing your favorite? Leave a comment.

Unplugged Fun

Now that we are deep into summer, some of the days may feel longer than others. I firmly believe in the power of boredom, that being said sometimes its too hot to play outside. When entertainment fatigue sets in and its up to the parents to come up with programming, why not think mountain fun. I’ve long been a fan of the LEGO ski sets and a good summer storm is the perfect time to build or reconfigure the set you already own. I’m also a huge fan of beach puzzles. No one said puzzles can’t parlay your winter hobbies into summer activities. We got this cute one from Gray Malin and I love it.

Did you know: Working on a jigsaw puzzle helps you recognize shapes, patterns, and spatial relationships, which can enhance your visual-spatial skills. It really all does come back to skiing.

For older kids and the parents, I found this winter-themed water-color workbook.

Build on Your Balance

July is a great time to play with your workouts and hone new skills. I don’t want to scare you (or maybe I do if that works to motivate you) but here’s the science:

The Trajectory of Balance Decline

• Age 30–50: Baseline stability remains steady, but the body begins to naturally lose 10% to 15% of muscle mass and strength.

• Age 50–65: The decline becomes measurable. For example, a 50-year-old can typically balance on one leg for 45 seconds, decreasing to about 26–28 seconds by age 70.

• Age 65+: Deterioration of the vestibular system (inner ear) and sarcopenia (muscle loss) quickens, causing dynamic balance and reaction times to drop off at a steeper angle

Falling is a pain. Falling and missing out on ski season is a tragedy. Let’s train smarter.

Brush Your Way to Better Balance

The good news is there are many ways to slow this decline. It can be as simple as standing on one foot at a time as you brush your teeth or do the dishes. A ski mom friend of mine gave me that life hack and it works.

Standing on one leg forces your brain, core, hips, ankles, and feet to work together to keep you upright.

Over time, this strengthens the tiny stabilizing muscles and improves proprioception—your body’s ability to sense where it is in space. That’s the same system you rely on when skiing through bumps, navigating uneven snow, or recovering after hitting an unexpected patch of ice (hello East Coast skiing).

Try it like this:

• Stand near a countertop or sink for safety.

• Lift one foot just a few inches off the floor.

• Hold for 30–60 seconds while brushing.

• Switch legs halfway through.

• Once that feels easy, try closing your eyes for a few seconds or standing on a folded towel to make it more challenging. (Only do this if you can do so safely.)

Two minutes of brushing twice a day adds up to nearly 25 hours of balance practice each year—without setting aside any extra time.

Single Leg Exercises

In addition to combining dental hygiene and ski prep, you can and should also move balance training to the gym and add weights or dynamic movements. This type of balance training will also help build those core muscles. A strong core isn’t just for show; it supports everything from stability on skis to better posture. And here’s another perk: balance exercises improve coordination and reaction times.

With all these exercises, I recommend having a mirror to look at your alignment. If you are very new to workouts, it might be a good idea to invest in a training session or two. These are a few of my favorites, again, I’m not a trainer, but these work for me. I put together a list of home gym equipment that is just for subscribers.

1. Single Leg Squats: Stand on one leg, lower your body into a squat position, and then return to standing. Keep your chest up and your knee aligned with your toes. That’s the more advanced version. I start from a seated position and move to stand on one leg.

2. Single Leg Deadlifts: Stand on one leg, hinge at the hips, and lower your torso while extending the opposite leg behind you. Return to standing without touching the ground with your lifted leg. I add a weight to one hand one this one to make it harder.

3. Bulgarian Split Squats: These are deadly, but so effective. Any exercise that originates from Eastern Europe usually means trouble. Stand a few feet in front of a bench. Place one foot on the bench behind you and perform a squat on the standing leg. Ensure your front knee does not extend past your toes.

4. Step-Ups: Step onto a bench or sturdy platform with one foot and lift your body up, then step back down. Alternate legs with each repetition. As these get easier, add weights in your hands.

5. Single Leg Glute Bridges: Lie on your back with one knee bent and the other leg extended. Lift your hips off the ground by pressing through the heel of your bent leg while keeping the extended leg in line with your torso. I struggle with these, so I do fewer but try to keep good form.

6. Lateral Lunges: Step to the side with one leg while keeping the other leg straight. Push your hips back and bend the knee of the stepping leg, then return to the starting position. Knee positioning is really important here, so use a mirror.

7. Skater Hops: Depending on your knees, this may or may not be advisable. Jump laterally from one foot to the other, mimicking the motion of a speed skater. Focus on landing softly and maintaining balance.

With all these exercises, I recommend having a mirror to look at your alignment. If you are very new to workouts, it might be a good idea to invest in a training session or two. If you workout at home, I put together a list of home gym equipment that is just for subscribers.

Final Thoughts

If you take anything away from this mid-summer checklist, please have it be the attention to your summer workouts. I know when I’m “in season” I am lucky to get to the gym 1-2 times a week. During the summer, I double-down on my strength, cardio and balance and I’m doing something active EVERY DAY.

My last thought for July: Savor this season of heat and try to make a mental note of how you feel on a hot, sticky day. One day when you are stuck on a chairlift, tap into this memory. And go enjoy an ice cream and time outside. We’ll be clicking into those bindings and hopping on a chairlift very soon.

Ski Moms Home Gym

Here’s what I keep at the ski condo as my absolute “must-haves.” Except for the bosu ball, the other items are quite cheap. With these on hand, I can get in a great regenerative session, ten-minutes of stretching, a yoga video or an quick strength workout. And everything is small enough to fit under the guest bed. You can shop everything on Amazon here.