 Poster: A snowHead
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Hi everyone
My partner and I are lucky enough to be thinking of going to the Alps this winter for an extended period of time in our motorhome.
We're currently debating on going to Austria and purchasing the Tirol snow card or Flaine and staying the whole season in one resort.
We'd like to take our son up on the slopes for maybe an hour or two each day in a backpack as we're thinking it might he might be a little young to start on skis.
Does anyone know definitively if you are allowed on the lifts, especially the chair lifts with a child of that age?
Cheers
Pete
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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You don't actually say how old he is ! You might get some more definitive info if you do
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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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Powderpete, I can't help with your question, but welcome to snowHeads 
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Welcome to snowHeads
Banned on chairlifts in France, but sometimes the lifties look the other way,
there are stories of a baby having frozen to death in a backpack and the parent not noticing!
Similarly there are also stories of being taken above and then below a certain altitude being bad for babies health.
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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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Thanks for the prompt replies and welcomes.
Our boy is 2.5years old.
Wow I didn't know kids were not allowed on the lifts in France. Thanks for the info! I wonder if it's the same in Austria.
We were hoping to spend some family time on the slopes - but maybe that isn't possible and one of us will have to stay behind to look after him while the other skis or find a cost effective creche.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
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In the summer we used to take a back-pack up with our kids for walking/wandering/hiking. Pretty easy as the lifts all run slower and it just sat next to us and we held it.
In the winter you may be lucky enough to find a lifty to assist if you are on foot... or maybe use a gondola (which would be a lot easier).
But...
As far as using the piste goes with a baby on your back. Don't.
It is incredibly irresponsible and dangerous; not necessarily to you who may be a 'great' skier who never falls over but to me who might be a really crap out of control skier soon to have a Baby's death on my conscience.
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Powderpete, It's not kids that are not allowed, but the kids in backpacks. We've certainly taken our two on chairlifts and drags when that age, but of course they were not doing much skiing. Gondolas of course is different, never had a problem taking very small kids on those - even in a pushchair - although if you can't download on it they may not let you go up first.
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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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Powderpete, are you mad? No, they will not let you on the chairs with a kid in a rucksack. I would say I can't believe you're even considering skiing like that, but since somebody asked the question at least once a season while I was selling passes I suppose have to accept that there are people that daft out there.
Have you thought about what might happen to him when you fall on him? How are you going to be able to tell that his nose isn't freezing off? Personally I don't believe the stories about kids in bags dying of hypothermia or losing limbs to frostbite, but the reason they continue to do the rounds is that they'rre entirely plausible.
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Powderpete, welcome to Snowheads +1 for please don't take the child in a backpack.
At 2.5 years there's a possibility that he would be able to start on skis. 3 is the usual minimum age but some ski schools will take them at 2.5, though I suspect these schools are few and far between. The one I know that does take littlies is Arc en Ciel at Siviez (linked to Nendaz & Verbier). They are really fantastic with very small children and have lots of toys that they ski with, and they do actually ski with them, they don't go in a garden. It was the first time I had seen such innovative provision for really little ones but by that time my boy was 6. They also have a little indoor crèche too right on the snow front and can easily take them inside if the need arises. They usually seem have one instructor to two toddlers when I've seen them.
There may be other schools that do this or would give your son a try, even if they officially say age 3, especially if you are there for a prolonged period and he could do little and often.
Good luck with it.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Hi Powderpete,
What most of the locals do for family time on the slopes is either sledging (ideal at 2.5!) or small plastic skis. These skis work with their own shoes inside them and you push them along on the flat - ideal for getting in the feeling although they won't be able to do anything technical in them. Most ski schools will let you book a 1 hour private lesson in the snow garden for a 2.5 year old so if he likes the plastic skis get him some proper ones and let him try!
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As far as using the piste goes with a baby on your back. Don't.
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This is excellent advice!
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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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Lizzard`s tone is unpleasant but her underlying point is a good one (particularly in a mega resort like Flaine). As Flange and Pam W point out, you may be highly competent but the TP may well not be. My m-in-law was standing by the side of a blue run, minding her own business when a very inexperienced and an out of control skier hit her at speed. Unconscious for 3-4 mins, fracture disclocation of shoulder, fractured ribs etc. Had she been a small child, it could have been so much worse.
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I think there is someone on TGR who used to drop 20 footers wearing a baby carrier with a cabbage patch doll in it. Looked fairly realistic from a distance apparently.
Obviously don't put a child in a backpack and ski with it.
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You know it makes sense.
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Gondola, very gentle nursery slope, kiddie sized kit, (ice) hockey stick. Mum & dad with hooking skills. There's a vid somewhere.
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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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You could fit skis to a buggy?
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Poster: A snowHead
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northernsoulboy, I've seen that done, and seen the Hockey Stick idea too when in Canada (quelle suprise!)
We use a set of long ski reins on Sideways_Jnr, which are pretty good, plus they have grab handles on the front and back so you can pick them back upright when they fall over.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Lizzard, I do remember many years back when a child lost two of its fingers to frostbite whilst in a backpack.
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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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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Thanks for all the replies everyone.
It's definitely food for thought and might be too stressful worrying about everyone else on the piste and our boy as well. I think I'll have to shelve the back pack idea.
I'm thinking the only option for my partner and I to regularly ski together would be to organise childcare with all the associated costs. Though I'm guessing these will be too high to make staying out for the whole season feasible, and also put a stop to the moving around which the Tirol snow card would usually allow.
Back to the drawing board...........
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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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I'm not one for hysterical over reaction to health and safety issues, but in this case I totally agree with all the posters above...I'm amazed when I see Dads skiing with toddlers in backpacks as it doesn't take much to have a tumble no matter how good a skier you are, or someone else to hit you at speed, and the nipper will always come out worse and you'll never forgive yourself.
So, with that in mind.................
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You'll need to Register first of course.
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Powderpete, Don't give up on the idea yet...
Three ski areas that I know of on the Tirol Snowcard, Hochfügen, Hochzillertal and Spieljoch have a Guest Kindergarten http://www.best-of-zillertal.at/en/winter/skiing/guest-kindergarten/ Hochfügen is at the bottom of the ski area, Hochzillertal and Spieljoch are at the top of the main gondola, so all very convenient for skiing parents to pick up/drop off and call in if there is a problem.
Friends of mine have a boy who was around age 2,5 last winter - they did a combination of skiing together while their boy was in the creche, one of them skiing with friends while the other played with their boy in the snow with small skis (he preferred going up the magic carpet to actually skiing down!) and, of course, both of them playing with their boy. Hochfügen is actually great for this kind of situation because the beginner slope and kids area is right next to the car park, perfect in a motorhome.
I've no idea about Kindergartens in other Tirol card ski areas, but it might be worth looking into.
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Powderpete, if you are in one place for an extended time your lad would probably enjoy attending a local kindergarten (not a ski one - they are expensive) which would also be good for his learning some German. However, I personally wouldn't move around with a kid that age; they are really attached to place, and to friends, and it would be disorientating for him to be constantly uprooted.
Have you spent time in the van in very cold temperatures already? I think you're brave to be contemplating that with a small child. Where will you dry the washing and give him a bath? In our area (France) camp sites with hookups are pretty expensive in the winter - you could rent a little studio for a similar amount of money, giving you much more space, better insulation, hot water on tap etc.
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^ This sounds very sensible advice - a fixed base in a village, place in local kindergarten, even a small expat circle or community where you could pool childminding with a couple of chalet owners all make it a lot more viable.
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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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| Powderpete wrote: |
| I'm thinking the only option for my partner and I to regularly ski together |
But why would you want to do that?
Leave her with the lad, that's girl stuff anyway, and get out there.
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I once saw a man skiing with a child in a rucksack on his back. Many people were disgusted, couldn't believe his stupidty and told him so.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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I've seen people skiing with toddlers in a backpack a handful of times. In most cases the parent seemed to be a very good skier, but I still thought it was incredibly dangerous and stupid.
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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've seen people skiing with toddlers in a backpack a handful of times. In most cases the parent seemed to be a very good skier, but I still thought it was incredibly dangerous and stupid.
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I haven't seen it for some years - I suspect all that booing and hissing put people off.  Statistically it is probably a lot less dangerous than feeding your toddler on fizzy pop, crisps, cake and read meals but......
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You know it makes sense.
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| Powderpete wrote: |
Hi everyone
My partner and I are lucky enough to be thinking of going to the Alps this winter for an extended period of time in our motorhome.
We're currently debating on going to Austria and purchasing the Tirol snow card or Flaine and staying the whole season in one resort.
We'd like to take our son up on the slopes for maybe an hour or two each day as we're thinking it might he might be a little young to start on skis.
Does anyone know definitively if you are allowed on the lifts, especially the chair lifts with a child of that age?
Cheers
Pete |
Flaine is pretty easy to get around on as a toddler. Couple of good flat beginner areas with free lifts and free magic carpets. (Free under 5 anyway all over!)
Child care here: http://www.flaine.com/en/winter/garderie-clubs-en-winter-5-44-1.htm.
Ski lessons normally only 3 + but if a strong child often happy to do so especially in quite periods. I love skiing in Flaine but not sure I would pick it for a whole season with a toddler - apart from skiing there isn't a whole lot going 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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Poster: A snowHead
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Light blue touch paper....and retire
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yes, good idea.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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The only plus I can see to child in back pack, is it cushions your own landing when you fall
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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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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Powderpete, I can't agree more with the above. Let him go up with you on the lift, but on his feet. If you have worries about him getting away from you, take a pair of reins. But I have to say I think you must be a hunk if you can contemplate carrying a 2.5 year old on your back for an extended period, on snow....get a sledge! The only way you will ski properly is if he goes to kindergarten, until he's about 7 or 8 when he will leave you for dead.
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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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I think the OP has got the message on the backpack!
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Our kids first learnt to ski in Flaine at age 3 and 2 3/4 with the International Ski School
Prior to that they were in the resort creche/nursery school from babies (all day!)
The resort creche was primarily for locals and full timers, not obviously advertised to holidaymakers, but they were perfectly happy to take our kids for just a week.
Flaine also has cable cars, not chairs, to the top and at the top there is a nice place to eat, lovely views, and plenty of flat area to wonder around with a teenie before....TAKING THE LIFT BACK DOWN.
For all the reasons already mentioned please don't ski with a tot on your back, get them onto the play plastic skis to start with, and maybe proper skis and boots if they are up it.
Both those kids are now all grown up and are working ski instructors....Flaine did them well.
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One of our party of 22 skied with his very young child in a back pack in Courchevel. I refused to ski with them and told him that I thought it was beyond reckless. Twice he was stopped by instructors who gave him a piece of his mind.
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I regularly used to go hillwalking with a child on my back and given modest skills would certainly have no hesitation whatsoever about skiing with them. And as for the nonsense about getting hit by another skier just think and get real.
This is daily mail style scare mongering and realistically complete nonsense in the overall scheme of things.
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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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T Bar, trolling nonsense 
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Mind you... I do certainly HATE people who do it....
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FAQ
