I love skiing and snowboarding in theory. The rush of adrenaline, the brisk fresh air, the speed, the mastery of the slopes, the bruises, the inability to stop, the trees...yeah. Even those who own their own skis and season passes to the local resort cite the disadvantage of the greener months of the year. But thanks to the Wii, the optional Balance Board, and We Ski & Snowboard, players of all ages can hit the slopes year round.

Players have the option of using the Wii Balance Board combines with Wiimote/Nunchuck or dispense with the Balance Board altogether. My kids greatly prefer the balance board, but when playing multiplayer, only one can use the Balance Board at a time. Controls still use the Wiimote's motion sensors regardless, so it's an immersive experience either way. Also note that, when using the balance board, only a total of 3 players can play, so if you have four players, you'll have to set the balance board aside.

Players can choose to deck out their Miis or choose one of the game's avatars. All characters can choose clothing options, but Miis cannot use hats or goggles. The more you play, the more gear and clothing unlocks, with unique special outfits like a kimono or penguin suit.

This game is extremely family friendly with several modes. Resort mode allows unlimited play on the resort hill, complete with several slopes, and players can talk to others at the resort to play minigames like collecting a certain number of objects, racing, delivering food, or our family's favorite: tag. Players can also get their photo taken to add to an album which can be displayed screensaver-style or even sending photos to friends. Mountain mode allows players to ski down a mountain, including some minigames, but with much more focus on the skiing and a greater variety of slope-related challenges. Competition mode offers players increasingly more difficult challenges in racing, moguls, halfpipe, etc. And a tutorial "school" takes your character through all the various skills you'll need to master the various games. Note that the manual does not include a list of moves, but each game, when played the first time, will offer basic suggestions on controls.

Namco Bandai paid a lot of attention to keeping this game fun with the choice of free play and structure for every preference, and controls make it playable to nearly any child capable of handling the controls (about 5+), yet offering challenges to all ages. Even the load screens allow players to click on squares to find a hidden snowman.

After spending a few hours playing, my kids summed this game up by saying, "When can we play again?!" And you don't have to worry about frostbite or broken bones!