Plymouth Ice Festival
Page 7
embrace our state and the climate
and enjoy the winter weather we have
here,” he said.
He's not kidding.
His own son was downhill skiing at
18months with a pacifier in hismouth
and the store currently employs the
father of a 15-month-old who is
already snowboarding.
“People can't believe what these
kids can accomplish at such young
ages,” Parent said. “Every year when
we put the kids on skis in the park and
see those smiles, it is just heart-warm-
ing,” Parent said. “With most kids, it is
just instant joy.”
For those new to the festival, Sun
and Snow instructors provide profes-
sional lessons along with accurately
fitted gear for children of all ages to
learn to cross country ski on a course
they install every year inKelloggPark.
There is no charge for the gear or
the lessons and Parent said that last
year they put more than 1,000 young
skiers through the course.
And while the kids and grinning
and enjoying their new skill and
proud parents are snapping photos,
they have no idea that Parent and his
employees spend the previous week,
24-hours a day and night, housed in a
van at the edge of the park operating
snow guns to ensure that there is ade-
quate snow for the attraction.
“We do spend about a week at it,”
Parent said. “We have a cooler and TV
in the van and we just stay on site to
babysit the snow guns. We take turns
sleeping because we can't let them
Photos by Lovelace Photography
See
Lessons,
page 8
