 Poster: A snowHead
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Hi
Im looking to take my son skiing for the first time Feb/Easter 2017.
I have a couple of questions around this, since i've never taken him.
1. Where can i go that isnt going to require that i take out another mortgage, queue for eternity (and preferably still satisfy my expert skier partner)
2. What are my options for after he's finished ski school around lunchtime? Seen lots of places taking younger children, but not so much at this age. I figure i either need to find someone that will take him until late afternoon, hang skis up after lunch or towards end of week have option to take him out skiing with me depending on how he gets on
Any help/advice etc gratefully received!
Thanks
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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We have just booked Val d'Isere for next Easter with esprit. Going the 16th April actually works out a lot better than I expected. Although they say afternoon snow club id upto 8 they did say that it isn't a hard limit and we could book our 10yr old in if we wanted. Though as she can ski pretty well (and has a full week in a couple of weeks time coming), we have just booked her into supervised lunches which gives us until 2pm.
I'll Pm you costs if interested?
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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?
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That would be great if you dont mind.
I have just seen some things on lunch sessions, this might be a great idea as i would like to get some time with him.
Thanks
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You have a PM.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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No problem getting beginner ski lessons for a 9 year old. It's a great age to learn. Easter is much cheaper than February half term and less busy. Val d'Isere would be a good choice for a late season holiday.
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@missch, don't you want to be with your child on holiday?! I think most families ski with their children after ski school, swapping duty. It will improve your son's skiing more quickly, especially if they expert skier parents to learn from, and in a year or two you will all be skiing together everywhere on the mountain.
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So im thinking to begin with for the first couple of days at least skiing with him would be very limited as he's a beginner. I would like to ski with though, although selfishly don't want to find myself only doing green runs from midday onwards.
Perhaps the answer is here to get him ski lessons before I go so he can ski at a reasonable level, then just ski with him after his lessons in the morning - problem solved.
If I want a slightly longer run without him (to go further afield) I guess I could just book him into lunch clubs a couple of times.
Right, now off to see where he can do a full day lesson (we live quite a way away from a snow dome, so weekly would be a serious drain
thanks
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@Themasterpiece, my daughters have thoroughly enjoyed being in kids clubs with esprit and when given the choice to come skiing with us on join kids club they much prefered the latter... They were physically tired from their lessons and wanted to play with their friends they had made.
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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.
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| Quote: |
So im thinking to begin with for the first couple of days at least skiing with him would be very limited as he's a beginner. I would like to ski with though, although selfishly don't want to find myself only doing green runs from midday onwards.
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Hi there. I think you'll all have a great time. Don't over think it.
We started skiing with our kids when they were quite a lot younger but I think a lot of the lessons are valid:
1. you need to define success for the holiday right. My advice is that you should not define it by how exciting your skiing is in the afternoons but by how much your son enjoys himself and therefore how keen he is to go again and how willing he is to put the effort in to get better. In the long-term that will maximise how much good skiing you get to do over the next few years. Play the long game!
2. When our kids were beginners we typically went somewhere with some child care or a kids club (e.g., Mark Warner chalet hotels). We then had a daily pattern like this - kids escorted to ski school in the morning, collected at lunch time and fed. We would come back after a latish lunch. The kids would have an hour watching a video before we got back then we would all go out and play on the green runs for the rest of the afternoon. They were younger so your son probably won't need the rest and you could get out earlier.
3. We've skied with friends whose kids were learning around the age of 9. If a child is reasonably active anyway they will come on quick - you won't be on the greens for long and...
4. a few one hour lessons at a snow dome (2 or 3) before you go can have a big impact - it means they are much more confident at the start of their ski school week and have a few basics imparted 1 to 1 by a native English speaker
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| missch wrote: |
So im thinking to begin with for the first couple of days at least skiing with him would be very limited as he's a beginner. I would like to ski with though, although selfishly don't want to find myself only doing green runs from midday onwards.
Perhaps the answer is here to get him ski lessons before I go so he can ski at a reasonable level, then just ski with him after his lessons in the morning - problem solved.
If I want a slightly longer run without him (to go further afield) I guess I could just book him into lunch clubs a couple of times.
Right, now off to see where he can do a full day lesson (we live quite a way away from a snow dome, so weekly would be a serious drain
thanks |
A full day lesson 'may' be a bit much for that age, suggest 2-3 hour private lesson(s), though could follow up each lesson with a good break, then only if he's happy, carry on with a little more practice/free-skiing along with yourself. "Long game" pays the best dividends, those shared memories will be gold!!
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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I would have thought that group with other children would be a lot more enjoyable than private lessons. Certainly I learnt at 11 in a group. The peer pressure / comradery of learning as a group made it much more fun.
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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.
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Groups are great for kids but if you live a long way from a ski slope may not be practical. An active 9 year old will learn very fast from scratch in a group. Lessons in a snowdome are expensive. Any dry slopes nearby?
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Stay flexible and make sure it is fun and enjoyable. My granddaughter (age 6) has just had a week of morning lessons and in the afternoons wanted to show off what she could do. We were quite prepared to lose a day if she was particularly tired about Wednesday or Thursday and wanted to go and spend a day swimming etc
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You know it makes sense.
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Depending on where you go , most ski schools offer you to book morning classes , afternoon classes and/or full day classes including lunch.
The cost for full day classes ( morning and afternoon sessions) was negligably more than the single sessions.
I have always put my kids ( now ages 14/12/9) into full day classes , but have always met them for lunch and eaten with them.
I have always viewed the afternoon sessions as optional for my kids, and surprisingly there have been many occasions where they have chosen to ski in the ski school in the afternoons instead of with me , for various reasons : they have met a new friend , are enjoying their group, they go to areas that I would not go ( off piste forests, small jumps et ) and the instructors have made it interesting for them, and they feel they are learning more in the class than with me.
Ski school versus private lessons is significantly cheaper , and having the option of leaving them in for the afternoon sessions may solve your problems , and may be what your kid would prefer .
If not , then you will take him out and ski with him in the afternoons or some afternoons .
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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All day ski school is not normally an option in France.
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Poster: A snowHead
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If you don't mind independent travel it might be worth looking here. We visited the area a few years back and I have made a mental note to myself that this place is ideal for when my grandchildren come along and want to learn.
It will also be most affordable as it's outside the republic!!!
Berwang.
http://www.zugspitzarena.com/en
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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On my son's school ski trip I saw a range of kids who had never skiied before from being on the learner slope only through to two brothers, age 7 and 9 that were doing black runs and over jumps on the second day. They are both excellent ice hockey players though so balance and taking a beating was nothing new to them.
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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?
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1. Where can i go that isnt going to require that i take out another mortgage, queue for eternity (and preferably still satisfy my expert skier partner)
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Austria or Italy
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2. What are my options for after he's finished ski school around lunchtime? Seen lots of places taking younger children, but not so much at this age. I figure i either need to find someone that will take him until late afternoon, hang skis up after lunch or towards end of week have option to take him out skiing with me depending on how he gets on
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Kids' Ski school in Austria is usually all day, with a supervised lunch, starting from age 5. A 9-year-old should have no problems with this if reasonably sporty and independent. My observation is that the parents struggle to drag their kids away at the end of the day as they are having so much fun with their instructor and new mates.
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It's great skiing with kids who are full of excitement at what they're learning and keen to show off to you. Don't miss it; that stage doesn't last long. There's no need to be bored on green slopes. Practice skiing backwards or on one leg (same leg, left and right turns, takes a bit of practice). Impress your offspring with your 360s. No excuse for being bored. 
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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Exactly^.
I'd suggest skiing hard for the morning while he's in lessons, relax together for lunch and join him on the beginner runs in the afternoon initially, maybe do a bit of snow play or sledging, and progress terrain at his pace through the week. If there's 2 adults one can always pop away for a few runs and swap over. I wouldn't bother trying to teach new techniques or push on to tougher terrain, just let him practise what he's learned in the environment he knows. Also his skiing performance may decrease quickly when tiredness kicks in.
Maybe odd but I always feel I'd like to ski with my kids during the day then have them looked after in the evening, rather than the other way around!
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Ha, my other half would definitely agree about childcare in the evenings instead. He's skied for 25 years and the concept of no/limited apres ski this time he is struggling to get his head around.
I'm not so fussed about that bit tbh.
Ok, so I'm sold, ski with him in the afternoons and just go hard in mornings.
Still suggestions of quieter and cheaper resorts (but with still enough for the other half and his experience) would be great.
Thanks for all the replies so far, some great points.
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Have you decided when to travel? Makes a difference on resort recommendations.
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At Easter tignes, Val thorens, Les arcs are the default choices imo. Not small but hold snow well. Pas de le casa was surprisingly good for us one late season. Cervinia? Passo tonale maybe?
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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.
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I think I'm swayed slightly more towards Easter as hopefully less busy, cheaper, nicer weather. However I'm aware I need to ensure there is enough snow, especially as it's in April next year
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Austria ski school tends to be all day, finishing at around 3pm. At Easter this still leaves 90 mins or more to ski with your son.
When our Jnr was just learning we booked him in to kids club (he was about 5-6yo and we tended to go to France then). He'd find out in the morning when we dropped him off what the afternoon activity was. If it was something like bum boarding, sledging or snow man building he'd tell us to leave him to it. If it was something less active he'd ask us to meet him at lunch time and he'd ski with us - granted I was a beginner too, so it wasn't too bad. Was probably quite painful for the OH who was the expert in our family.
As for the apres. In a lot of places I find it tends to be surprisingly family friendly, especially during school hols. No harm in taking a 9yo to some lively apres venues. Although at Easter many places are pretty low key.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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I travel on my own with my 8 year old and book as early as possible to ensure I get what works for both of us. Going on a ski trip with your kids is great but they do need peer level interaction. This is why I've booked with Esprit for the last 3 years. If you want to guarantee snow at Easter then look at Val d'Isere. We are here now and conditions are superb.
As I am doing a clininc with TDC on 3 mornings this week the Esprit offering works well for me. They take him to the slopes for lessons, bring him back for lunch and then they have around 30 minutes of fun and games before getting them kitted up again. They will then bring him back to the meeting point again but I'm picking him up pretty much straight after lunch.
In terms of afternoon options he could do more fun type ski with an instructor or go to Snow Club but neither he nor I am interested in these as we love skiing together.
He also loves the evening Cocoa Club. As he is now 8 he can do Cocoa Club Plus which means on 3 evenings in the week they go out. Last night they went to Tignes for 10 pin bowling. It was his fitst time and he loved it.
These are my trip reports for my first 2 trips.
Val d'Isere
Belle Plagne
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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.
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I meant to add, if feasible get him lessons before you go. Don't dismiss a dry slope. My son learned on one and it did him no harm whatsoever.
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If you go for Easter, which makes sense in many ways, the choice of resort is much more limited. Many close in early April. I have a big family party here next week and my nephew is bringing his partner and two boys aged 8 and 9 who have all been having dry slope lessons and are booked into ski school in the next class up from beginners. It'll be interesting to see how they get on.
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You know it makes sense.
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Before we went for our very first ski holiday when I wad a child we had a course of lessons on the dry ski slope. Only got us able to stop and steer using snow ploughs but enough that we didn't spend most the holiday on a single short run. Going on real snow (helped by perfect conditions) felt 100% easier than the dry slope we learnt on.
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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I'll be taking my son (he'll be 6 1/2) skiing next Easter. I've decided to go with Esprit for all the reasons above. I'm currently torn between Val D and Obergurgl. Having never skied in Austria, I'm leaning toward the latter.
Rich
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Poster: A snowHead
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| Gaza wrote: |
| I meant to add, if feasible get him lessons before you go. Don't dismiss a dry slope. My son learned on one and it did him no harm whatsoever. |
+1, as the snowdome is too far then do consider a dry slope if one is nearby. If you're really keen then weekly lessons from the autumn and he'll be straight into an intermediate class on holiday.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Oh the joys. Another shout for Easter, ski school in the morning, you go for a blast, come back and have lunch, take him on some gentle slopes to practice what he was doing in the morning. Sit as a mountain bar, =have a beer in the sun and watch him play in the snow. I would consider a chalet holiday e.g. Ski Olympic, or Esprit where your lad can make friends and play with other kids.
These were the happiest times of our ski lives.
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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?
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@missch, as always, lots of great advice from snowHeads.
Is taking a week outside of school holiday time (eg March) completely out of the question? If so, then IMO:
- Easter usually better than Feb...
- ...but Easter late in 2017, limiting choice and risking snow conditions - as others have said - 3 Valleys, Espace Killy, Paradiski likely to be be good but pricy
- maybe La Rosiere, Les Deux Alpes and Livigno as less expensive options?
- Esprit great IMO and experience, if affordable...other child friendly TOs available
- stay flexible to some extent about daily/weekly schedule...to take account of variables incl weather, snow, tiredness, etc
- lessons (about 3 x 2 hrs ideally) for son before holiday very beneficial, though personally I wouldn't inflict dry-slopes on anyone, only indoor snowdome places
- Feb remains an option and could meet your needs IF flexible on travel, accommodation, resort, country....and prepared to wait until no more than a week before departure to seek out a discounted deal...many many more areas highly likely to have good snow conditions in Feb than Apr
I have some specific accommodation I think might suit...NOTE I'm not involved in providing ski hols or anything professional at all...just from my experiences of hols with children over last 15 years.
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@RichClark, we have been to both with Esprit, I would go with Obergurgl from our experience, our son had a great instructor who brought him on leaps and bounds, he was a timid blue skier at the start of the week and by the end he was comfortably and confidently skiing the blacks and in the trees. It certainly helped that he had an English instructor, the following year we were in VDI, where he was the only one at his level and had 1-1 instruction but he didn't enjoy it as much. We stayed in the Alpenblume and thought it was very good, although I enjoyed the VDI skiing more.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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@geoffknight, as I said above we have booked there for next season, do you know why he didn't enjoy it as much?
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@geoffknight, Thanks, I think you've helped me come to my decision. As much as I love the skiing in EK and in particular Val 'D, this trip is all about my son loving his first ever ski experience.
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@NickyJ, Hi, we all enjoyed VDI, but as my son was on his own for lessons he found it a bit lonely, there wasn't a great deal of interaction on the chairlifts etc, and missed the company of other kids. We were there during term time ( his last year in primary school ) and there was only a couple of other kids around his age group, he did have a great time in the cocoa club, in Obergurgl there were more kids around his age group. I'm sure you'll enjoy VDI it's a lovely hotel.
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That's good hoped that was the reason. As we are going second week of Easter school hols, the girls should hopefully have others their age.
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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.
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@pam w has it spot on. Enjoy skiing with them while you can. In a couple of years they'll want to be off on their own doing runs you won't want to do. And you'll only be good for Mum and Dad Cabs and the Bank of Mum and Dad. Signed Disillusioned Dobby
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Hang on in there, @dobby. Being a skiing grandparent is also wonderful. I have 6 here next week, from "nearly 4" to 12. Skiing/helping grandparents are much in evidence in my resort, doing the ski school run, helping on the free rope tows, admiring progress, buying cakes. I don't think many ordinary French families pay for child care other than ski school. They don't like paying for car parking either. which means that British grannies willing to pay the modest charged on the main drag by the lifts rather than trek the little darlings from the free car parks get lucky!
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