Poster: A snowHead
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The son of a friend of mine, now age 10, has been skiing for 2 weeks each winter for the last 5 years. He started off having one on one lessons for the first week and has now been to various school classes run by ESF and ESI. His father is unsure as to what comes next in terms of further developing his skiing. He is not keen on him joining a race-based/competitive regime but if that is the best way forward he would consider it. Certainly, father is not the pushy type who thinks his son is going to be competing in the Olympics in the future. All his skiing so far has been in France and father does not want to put his son off skiing by having him join a regime that puts outcomes above the enjoyment of skiing.
Has anyone on here got any suggestions as to possible next steps?
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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What does the son want? Has he expressed any interest in going any further that recreational skiing?
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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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We had the same dilemma with our two. In the end we did a mixture of private lessons (2 to 1) and skiing with me. Their instructor was more biased to freeride than piste performance so that's what they did more of (partly I think he just enjoyed the chance to be offpiste rather than teaching beginners on the nursery slope).
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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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Not enough information - does he want a year round activity or just guidance on what to sign him up to while on holidays?
The former - joining dryslope or snowdome race club would seem to be the obvious, doesn't have to be about wanting to compete can just be good for skils development OR freestyle club when available. Most people involved in the regime recognise they aren't breeding the next Dave Rydings but developing future adult skiers with a love for the sport.
Otherwise depends what programmes are available in the resorts he wants to go to - I believe certain resorts run kids "freeride clubs" which are really week long group lessons that sneak in the teaching element a bit more in the back door.
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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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If he's after something year round, then at the Snow Centre in Hemel there are a few things that might interest him:
- Snowstars: year round coaching sessions for kids, emphasis is on fun rather than competition, though many of those taking part will go on to compete in one way or another
- Freestyle: features set up on the slope a couple of evenings each week, with a progression from easy to more serious stuff. Coaching available.
- Hemel Race Club: although you've said they're not keen on a competitive regime (and I don't have any direct experience) any race club that doesn't make it fun will quickly find the kids stop coming, so worth a look.
- Snowboarding: maybe just trying a different snow sport would be fun.
If he's after something in the mountains then many ski schools offer the sort of thing DotM mentions: lessons for kids that don't need ski school. Marmalade's offering would be a good example: http://www.skimarmalade.com/services/advanced-kids-ski-group-lessons/
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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As @kieranm says, there seems to be a lot of the more advanced lessons - offpiste, snowpark etc - starting at age 10, so I'd look carefully at what the ski schools offer in different areas. My son and I have really enjoyed 2-3 hour private lessons a couple of times during the week, doing that stuff (as he isn't age 10 yet to join lessons) - it seems to be the highlight of his week to ski with a good skier, not just me
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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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The ESF competition classes, at least in Chamonix/Argentiere, are not particularly race focused. The "real" racers join their local club in France as its a lot cheaper (and sometimes the same instructors).
Our local ESF competition class has 3 levels, but in general they all do variants of the same thing - very fast runs early in the morning on empty pistes (what 10 yr old boy doesn't enjoy flat out skiing!), bumps, powder, jumps, off piste, along with general mountain safety and manners (being taught to stop to aid fallen skiers). They also do things like biathlon with laser rifles sometimes to break up a long day. 1 morning is dedicated to gate training, and 1 subsequent morning to racing (Fleche and Chamois). They do a huge amount of all-mountain skiing, making the best of whatever the conditions present.
Your friend's son will need at least ESF etoile d'or (gold star). Whilst there are apparently official rules on ages for the classes, the reality is ability and attitude dependent.
It strikes me as amazing value for money compared to what many other providers charge for specialised classes.
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Many, many thanks to everyone for their thoughts and suggestions. At 10 years old he is not yet really aware of what the options are. He has a very hectic life at home with lots of school and non-school activities and Dad doesn't really want to add something else.
@Themasterpiece, this sounds interesting. He is doing an ESF freestyle course in Flaine this week and is loving it.
@snowdave, this sounds worth following up. He got his etoile d'or 2 years ago and the list of activities would certainly appeal to him. I'll have to have a look to see if ESF provide a similar course in Flaine.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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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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@Chris Mason, get him to free the heel and drop knees not bombs...
Really- my eldest started on tele gear at 11. He is now 15 and quite fast...
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@Chris Mason, It really dependson what the son wants to do, dad may not be competitive but son might like the idea of racing, in the UK most snowdomes or dry slopes have some form of club which he might enjoy, beyond that you are probably looking at raceclubs (they don't just race) but this can get seriously expensive with parents needing to cough up up to £10K a year or more if they want to go to every trip, this may not result in a top level racer (that depends a lot on natural talent) but will turn a child into a child who leaves the parents well behind them
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