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Ava’s Early Snowboard Ride at Mammoth

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Ava is a very small rider in a very large snowy setting. This family video, described by its uploader as showing a one-year-old at Mammoth in California, records an early encounter with snowboarding. The scale is part of its charm: a board, a child and a gentle-looking stretch of snow are enough to make the movement easy to notice.

Young child on a snowboard on a gentle snowy slope
Young child on a snowboard on a gentle snowy slope Credit: Sofia_Ava / original Ava snowboard video.

What Ava's family video shows

The original description says Ava goes downhill, changes direction and stops. Those are the family's observations about the recorded sequence, rather than a full assessment of independently learned skills. The video shows selected moments, while the preparation, support and repeated attempts around them are only partly visible. Its age claim also belongs to the child at the time of filming.

A first session is an individual decision

An early family experience is different from a general starting-age recommendation. Children vary, and a short clip cannot tell another family which equipment, supervision or lesson arrangement is appropriate. If the video prompts interest in a first snow session, the useful next conversation is with a suitable ski school about its actual age limits, equipment options and approach to very young children.

Explore more: a family’s Olympic-inspired snow project; snowboard equipment for a different individual need.

Video: Snowboard Girl 1 year old (published by Sofia_Ava).

The small rider and the wide snowy slope

The snowy background does more than make the scene attractive. With relatively little visual clutter around the rider, small changes in direction stand out clearly. The broad view also keeps the child's size in perspective, which a tightly cropped action shot might lose. It is a family moment made memorable by the relationship between a tiny participant and the surrounding mountain setting.

Ava’s First Snowboarding Experience

The linked upload, Snowboard Girl 1 year old, is credited to Sofia_Ava. There is no need to compare Ava with most adult snowboarders to enjoy it. The interest is in watching someone encounter a new sensation and movement, not declaring a competition winner. The film can remain a cheerful personal record without becoming a timetable that other parents or children are expected to follow.

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12 comments

  1. GEMA doesn't allow Germans to watch this video! Thank u GEMA!

    ReplyDelete
  2. so how many months is she? she might be one but theres no way shes 12 months!

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    Replies
    1. Agree. I was thinking "now way in he** she is 12 months..". She looks more like an 2 year old..

      Delete
  3. 1 year...
    and....
    ...
    ...
    ...
    11 months.....

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  4. Raising an athlete.. but then again.. if I grew up in paradise with mountains, I would be a pro too.. Michigan can only take me too far and $$$ is everything after that if you wanna go further. Nay, I got a real job.. damn. (Not being sarcastic.. actually disappointed in my life). Rock on little baby!

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  5. http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/concussion-in-children/AN02059

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  6. Lets all realize no real danger! Fuckin bunny hill ok. how cute.

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  7. I was a snowboard instructor at Mammoth, so I can say with all certainty that she is killing it! We don't even provide snowboard lessons for kids under 5 years old (while skiers can start at 3) because most kids don't have the motor skills to stop the board. They're like little noodles wobbling all around. This girl is clearly lifting her toes to slow down ... a concept that some adults can't even get ... and she's having a great time. Give the kid and the parents some credit. I do agree about the protective eyewear though!

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  8. LOVE! Super cute and she is rocking it!

    ReplyDelete