I do get parents who bring their little one for 4 x 1 hour lessons on the basis that this will then allow them to go into ski school when they go on holidays and a big dose of reality usually has to administered....
Yes that is us but I think we're being realistic in that we don't plan to sign her up for a whole week of ski school just yet and just do a couple of days. I think a whole week of ski school at age 4 would be too much IMHO.
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
geetee, you sound sensible and a couple of days should be fine you know your kids better than anyone, but occasionally i get people who for some reason get it in their heads that they can dump the kids for 8 hours a day off the back of 4 hours of lessons....
doesnt sound like that is your motivation and i am not putting you in that box
as easiski says ski school >5 sounds right to me as general rule of thumb
Ski school at home insists on 3 and toilet trained.... no nappies allowed....
They do half days and days...
Most do OK but some kids are just not up to it....
They have a large indoor area with video and toys etc.. also pegs for each child with name and pictures and a locker as well....
The small ones start in a large square outline of "carpet" (plastic grass sort of stuff) .... they walk up the carpet sides - no sidestepping required...then across the top.... instructor then has them ski "down" the snow (almost dead flat area outside the kiddies centre).... eventually they try a snowplow with "worm" if required... once they can stop they go on the "train" which is a snowmobile with a trailer behind but dressed up to look like thomas... the trailer has bench seats on each side where kids sit with feet on a tray sort of thing... instructors ride the "back" which keeps it from bouncing... train takes them a little further up hill with still no lift required...
Once you are past the train you go to the "magic carpet" which is one of those travelator ski lift things.... and it unloads at "Wombat world" which is tunnels (made of plastic coated foam) and bumps and cones etc etc etc all fenced for kids only.... After that it is the very slow quad to the top of the beginner slope(purpose built teaching area)....
Once you progress to the "big hill"(next area for skier which is green and blue runs) there are animals hidden in trees to find and the meeting spots have animals on them and names for animals - so you can tell them to meet at "wombat" meeting place and they know where it is...
they have many hot chocolate breaks etc... and if in full day they play inside or nap as they need...
Last edited by You need to Login to know who's really who. on Thu 20-09-07 23:28; edited 1 time in total
Other things of interest if you decide to watch.
All the shots are on the last afternoon of the week - 17/Feb/07
My daughter is 7yrs old (Dec B-day) she is in the jacket with the yellow sleeves. This year she completed her 2nd week of group lessons and I think might be unstoppable in a few years time - I certainly won't be able to keep up - EVER!
My son is in the grey outfit. He is 4 (B-day in Sept). This year we finally pursuaded him through kindergarten ski school - the notion didn't finally gel properly until the Wednesday. This is about 3pm in the afternoon after a decent cooked lunch inside him - which I think made all the difference to his enthusiasm - in the morning his instructor had nursed him and the two others that made it this far down this slope for the first 3 times - it took her nearly 1.5 hrs to get all three down it these three times - I lost count of how many times they ended up stranded on their backsides.
In the afternoon my Swiss friend took him back on the slope for me - she is the lady in the pale grey jacket that comes down behind him. She was able to go up and catch him off the button lift (though he ended up able to do this himself) and sort him out down the slope which I couldn't have done - she was very keen that he learned to find his own way down which he is doing in these shots.
I am in the red jacket on foot in some of the shots.
oh and teh home ski school draws tracks on the snow for kids in different colours....
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Megamum, the interesting thing about your kids videos for me is that if you watch when they get to the bottom and "Have" to turn to get to the poma they both change styles and turn much better. have you noticed that? they are going slower at theat point but technique wise much better....
After all it is free
After all it is free
skimottaret, that's VERY impressive after six weeks. Dad as ski instructor?
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
rob@rar, Nope the much derided ESF actually, (with a few tips from Dad)
I found that having someone else do the lessons is better as then we we ski together it is just fun and i might get her to show me what they did and tweak a few things here and there.
Her slalom instructor in the ESF "competition" class she had brought her on tremendously and the video was shot after that class finished.
Ski the Net with snowHeads
Ski the Net with snowHeads
Had a client ask about lessons today so had a look at what the si schools do in meribel.
Virtually all will only do 2 hours a day with 3-5's and 6+'s will have 4 hours with an occasional full day tour thrown in.....
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
geetee, that looks very much like the CLC on Whistler, midstation!
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
...but, more importantly, can anyone identify Resort X?!
So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
skimottaret wrote:
Had a client ask about lessons today so had a look at what the si schools do in meribel.
Virtually all will only do 2 hours a day with 3-5's and 6+'s will have 4 hours with an occasional full day tour thrown in.....
This is I think one of the most important issues, the length of time children can cope with. An angel in the morning can become a monster in the afternoon, just thro tiredness, full days skiing for the parents nightmare afternoon for the kid.
You know it makes sense.
You know it makes sense.
veeeight, sure is! We sneaked on while most of the other kids were having their lunch. Do you recognise the instructor?
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Hurtle, I think Megamum has been very careful at covering her tracks. Perhaps 's should fund someone to go on a tour of ALL Swiss resorts and look for the ski-lift in the video. I'll go!!
Poster: A snowHead
Poster: A snowHead
geetee, No, then again, there are around 1400 of us, spread over 2 mountains!
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
veeeight, yes this is true but I think you know some of the same people.
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
It's so frustrating not being able to view videos at the moment! grrrrr.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
ickabodblue, Yup, they're fearless at that age aren't they?
skimottaret, Yes, I had noticed the difference when they head back to the poma - I don't know if its because they have a goal in mind and are thinking more about the next lift ride and almost instinctively using their weight to help get there, rather than concentrating on the skis themselves so much. I am quite frankly amazed at how well they have done - it was my oldest's second year (only one week in each), but my son had got to that level in 4 days of a 2 hour ski school lesson in the morning and a bit of mucking around with my Swiss friends during the afternoons, in between snowball fights etc. What they did do, which I think helped with his confidence was to take him up on the Poma between their legs and then ski down with him between their legs whilst encouraging him to take his own weight - I was quite amazed at how they could do this - they call it tatsleverm (well that's how they say it), but they both have phenomenal control over their skis - I understand both of them were on skis practically before they walked - when I had a go skiing with them in Lenzerheide-Valbella 10+ years ago they even threatened to take me down the slopes in the same way!!! Personally I'm amazed at how they put up with my own ineptitude on planks - I long for the time when we can all spend a day going down the same slopes and I'm able to stay with them. My kids won't ever be the problem they already leave me behind as you can see!
Last edited by Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do. on Sat 22-09-07 21:13; edited 1 time in total
Megamum, reading your post just makes me so excited, mine has never been on snow and I've booked for March. I'm thinking of booking him into ski school in the morning and doing other things in the afternoon. he'll probably regress a little his first time on snow, but what the h*l, he's only four. He'll be five by the time we go, so I think that will be old enough for ski school. Can't wait
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Five is plenty old enough. Our youngest was in his third year of ski school last year aged 5 yrs and 3 months, and this was all-day school in the US - but there they do get opportunities to rest, play and draw. At times we have had to almost drag him away.
stoatsbrother, He's doing good isn't he - very little snow plough left there.
What would all us proud parents do without UTube!!
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
stoatsbrother, WOW, he's doing very well and, most importantly, looks like he's having fun!
Ski the Net with snowHeads
Ski the Net with snowHeads
skimottaret, There is a kindergarten class at the Norfolk Ski Club (for kids of about 4 yrs.) They start by putting their skis on & walking around some giant disney playing cards, then they ski for about half an hour - side stepping up the slope (a little way) to build up strength - using cones to turn through when they have progressed. For the last 15 mins or so they come down on toboggans. The class always appears to be full & my youngest daughter loved it. I think the balance of 3 different exercises is perfect for this age & great fun too. They divide the kids into groups of 10 or 11, with 2 instructors each group.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
rpft, which part of Norfolk is the Ski Club in please?
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
Ski Tyke, In Norwich itself - Trowse, just off the A47;
The kindergarten is on saturdays - as is Junior Club.
So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
rpft, that sounds great, all good things to keep the kids amused whilst learning. At Mk all they have are some slalom cones ti would be good to get some hoops or inflatible figures or disney cards or ..... I also like the idea of letting them have a go at tobogganing when they are getting tired to finish on a high note...
You know it makes sense.
You know it makes sense.
skimottaret, The tobogganing bit is perfect - as you say, they are tired, physically & from concentrating - then they whizz down for 10/15 mins. They get the kids to walk up the nursery slope here too - building up strength in their legs.
It's a tricky area which they have perfected in norwich, nearly all the kids, at this age have not done any sport before - as 5 is often the minimum age for participation, so the right approach is key. (for the parents too )
FAQ
Poster: A snowHead
We sneaked on while most of the other kids were having their lunch. Do you recognise the instructor?
's should fund someone to go on a tour of ALL Swiss resorts and look for the ski-lift in the video. I'll go!!
ti would be good to get some hoops or inflatible figures or disney cards or ..... I also like the idea of letting them have a go at tobogganing when they are getting tired to finish on a high note...