Making Memories in Nature: Seppl Ramsbacher’s Guide to Parenting Outdoors

This mentality makes a lot of outdoor enthusiasts hesitant to have children for fear that they'll have to sacrifice their lifestyle and happiness for children. But let’s just squash that whole theory right here and now. Parents across our community continue to do what they love while bringing their little ones along for the ride, and they’re full of stories about how sharing their passion with kids has only brought more joy into their lives.

We sat down with Austrian rider and Burton Ambassador Seppl Ramsbacher to pick his brain on the finer points of getting his two boys outside and maintaining balance as a parent. He gave a window into the importance of taking care of your own mentality as a parent, and some great tips for making the most out of your time outside with kids.

How did having kids impact the way you interact with the outdoors?

It was hard in the beginning because everything takes about twice as long as you initially planned, and three times as long as you thought it would when you didn’t have kids. You’re not focused on yourself. You have to pack stuff for the kids. It takes so long to get everything together, but it gets better after a couple of months. Every trip is like an expedition in the Himalayas because you’re not used to it, and that’s just the beginning.

Also, when you are a kid you don’t think that much about what you’re doing. You just go out and play. But when you become an adult you see how bad things can get when they go wrong. So, I try to explain the limits to them but also give them freedom.

For example, before I had kids I never used a helmet. I would go all in, just sending it. I didn’t think too much about it. But right now I’m showing them how important it is to use a helmet. It doesn’t mean I want to take it easy. Like, when I go out snowboarding by myself I still want to get that adrenaline kick, but I want to come back home safe.

How do you make sure that everyone has a good time? And do you still have a good time?

Sometimes hiking days go differently. Like, my son, Anton, said, “Why are we going all the way up just to go back down again? It makes no sense!” But his brother said, “Look at these beautiful views and the fresh air!” When hiking, I try to motivate the children with a small reward. For example: You get a wiener schnitzel or an ice cream after the hike.

Also, the thing is, my mentality becomes their mentality. When you bring the kids into nature you should think like a kid. What would you do in that moment if you were a kid? Would you go to the river, watch the fish, throw some stones into the water… It’s important to show them that version of you. Don’t complain, don’t worry about how far there is to go. Don’t tell them what they should or shouldn’t do. Just go there with them, like when you were a kid.

Is all that effort worth it?

Absolutely. Sharing moments together with my family in mother nature is something special and not to be taken for granted. There's no place you can find peace, quiet, and serenity like a valley closed off to the world.

Sharing this passion with my family and seeing how much fun they have makes me one of the happiest people. I think about how it was for me when I was a kid. I grew up in the mountains, in nature, and it was the best for me. Now I try to give these opportunities back to my kids, and also look at what I missed out on as a kid so I can give that to them as well. So I get to relive my life again with the kids.

On weekends we go snowboarding on the resort all together and I slow it down, teach them, help them learn, and we have fun together. It’s more chill. When the children learned their first curves on the slope and tricks in the park, I was incredibly proud of them. It makes me happier to see them learning tricks than when I learn them myself. It’s so cool. My father never showed me snowboarding or built me cool things in the back yard. So, to share this passion with them and see how much fun they have… It’s incredible.

And when we go out to places like Garmisch, they just go outside and they aren’t absorbed in anything but playing with each other and exploring. They have a lot of stress in school, so it’s a form of meditation for them (and for us parents as well). It’s good for the body and the mind. A lot of kids live unhealthy lives. They don’t know any better, so it’s up to us parents to show them what a healthy life should look like. They think like their parents. They want to be the same even though they don’t show it.

Could you share with other parents some tips you've come up with to help get your kids outdoors?

1) You can help your child be active by being a good role model and sending positive messages about being physically active.
2) Get the right outdoor gear
3) Geocaching (a type of global treasure hunt of people looking for caches, or hidden stashes of random objects all over the world)
4) Create a backyard outdoor space
5) Invite Friends to play outside with them
6) Make outside a daily thing
7) Find a sport they like
8) Think like a kid
9) Don’t push your kids too hard. Start small, with short hikes, and work gradually up to longer outings

At the end of the day, what is it about raising your kids in the outdoors that you find so rewarding?

You inspire and act as a role model for your kids when you take—and talk about—your day hikes, bike rides, split boarding and your days out there with adults. Kids want to emulate their parents; they will perceive whatever you do as normal and fun and eventually ask you to bring them along. The best way to get them to love the outdoors is to set a good example.