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Show for Tiny Tourists "Kids adapt so readily. By age 4 they can undersand the szme instructions I would give an adult," Hensley added. Instructor Wendy Tofte agrees. With over 12 years of teaching experience, - Wendy says she enjoys working with kids the most. "Just think," she says. "The chairlift is like a Disneyland ride for them. And they love the Gondola." Both have to agree though the main challenge when teaching small children is dealing with a short attention span. Wendy laughs and says she has watched her kids skiing alone when suddently they start looking up at the trees and forget everything else. Margie says that the instructors usually have 30 seconds to put across their message before the group starts drifting off. "You have to keep them moving." All of which means that the instructors have a big job on their hands. Near the resort plaza, surrounded by big plastic sign boards of Kermit and Big Bird, Peggy Okubo, Sue Shelhamer, Lau rie Tracy and Heather Miller start with the basics exhibiting exhibit-ing a measure of patience to be admired. The first-timers are lined up facing each other on two lengths of carpet. With unflagging enthusiasm, en-thusiasm, Sue shows them the tips and tails of their skis. "Now pick up one foot and wiggle it! No fair holding onto your neighbor." Like dominoes, one of the lines topples over. Laughing, smiling, offering encouragement, encourage-ment, Peggy, Laurie and Heather stand them up again. The object is to get them used to the snow, their skis and the feeling of letting the skis move. Without further ado the instructors point the kids down a small slope. ,-. Some of these first-timers have never seen snow before, i , ! . if - I fir "TV mv , fs fg, -.- , . , kjmm " "a . - y ;i t &:$, . VAj ... Peggy Okubo encourages a first-time skier. , . x . , ; - - , -. Z '-' '- . ? - - I J - ' ' : ' : - - , ? . ' s .JS, , ; . J.' ; .... Two Kinderschulers observe proper chairlift procedure. For them (he lifts are as exciting as Disneyland. |