 Poster: A snowHead
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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@Dan, I certainly booked my 6 year old into group lessons (skiing) with ESF in La Plagne many years ago, although he’s 25 now.  I’m sure 6 year old should be catered for, maybe ring them or send an email.
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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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Doesn't esf suck with snowboard lessons?
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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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Forget ESF for snowboarding at any age. You can't trust them to deliver quality tuition.
Find somewhere which dedicates itself to teaching snowboarding and you'll have a much better experience.
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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 @geepee, @Gainz, @Richard_Sideways, I guess an organisation can have a bad rep but it's really down to the individuals instructors and you can be really lucky and very unlucky?
We're looking at going to La Clusaz, France - advertised instructors are ESF, Evolution 2 and ESI, but as we are driving we can switch depending on conditions at the end of March.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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@Dan, We used ESF in Arcs 2000 and he was brilliant, taught our boys to snowboard, bumped into him 2 weeks and he had his 3 year old out boarding, I nearly fainted...
Personally I would look to book private lessons. You dont need as many as group ones and they learn quicker.
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Most ski schools cater for the standard week long holiday - Sun/Mon for 5 or 6 days (in fact most ski orientated things work on this basis). At a resort like La Clusaz you should try to get hold of some of the smaller schools or independent instructors and see how they can help. It will be more expensive mainly becuase it is efffectively a private lesson unless you can find someone to share the cost with.
We did somehting similar for a group of mates who had never skied in Megeve last year - worked well
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Don’t know if it was our imagination but we saw some groups of very young learner snowboarders 2 weeks ago in Les Arcs, they looked about 7 or 8. So young they were very obvious, and they were flying. Awesome to watch. We’ve converted our 3 teenagers to boards and all 3 happily admit they would never put skis on again by choice.
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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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+1 for a couple of private lessons, given that your are not looking for standard 6 days.
Since you board, you'll be able to spend the rest of the time encouraging the boys to develop their skills - which is most of the benefit of a week's lessons IMHO.
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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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@thefatcontroller, thanks 
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| Quote: |
Forget ESF for snowboarding at any age. You can't trust them to deliver quality tuition.
Find somewhere which dedicates itself to teaching snowboarding and you'll have a much better experience.
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+ 1. I agree with this.
Whilst I think I learnt from ESF (or equivalent) all those years ago, it was always a ski instructor who was required as part of his job to also teach snowboarding. I'm sure it's fine, if there are no alternatives in the resort you end up going to.
We've been going to Avoriaz the last few years and they have 2 dedicated snowboard schools in the Portes du Soleil (Mint & Real Snowboarding) - my 4yr old had private snowboard lessons last season with Mint and I cannot recommend something like that enough.
Good luck getting sorted.
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You know it makes sense.
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@giddyman, thanks
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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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has anyone had any children private lessons at Hemel?
Looking to get the two lovable urchins a lesson sometime in March before we go. It's going to be expensive as the littlest is 6 and they only do group lesson starting at 7 so it means doing a private hour lesson but will get them to try a board on the snow and see how they get on 
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Poster: A snowHead
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+1 for Mint in Morzine/Avoriaz. British run. Had a private lesson from them which totally delivered, friends have had group and private lessons and heard of great things for kids.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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for a snowboard group lessons are pointless.
Your kids will spend more time sitting down waiting their turn of tuition.
Its not like skiing where you see ski school snakes. Its constant stop start.
Better having 2x days of 2 hours private than having 5 days of group class.
First hour will be wasted in learning to strap up, walk with a board, skate, etc.
Maybe that is something you can do with them? even get them to learn heel side & toe side control to falling leaf?
You could easily do that on a dry slope if its easier to get to.
That is what I have done with my mates before having learner lessons.
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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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Thanks 👍
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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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Right, got them a 2 hour private lesson at Gosling with Trick Tech - www.facebook.com/tricktech.co.uk after a recommendation on here.
That should give them enough to think about on the first afternoon when we arrive to just get used to actual snow and finding an edge, tea leaf etc.
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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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Had an excellent ESF snowboard instructor in February, very good value too for three of us in a private lesson
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Snowboarding is very easy to learn.
Just one plank and a bit of balance.
At 6 and 10, they should be able to pick it up in days and be advanced within weeks at any instructor.
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At hemel it says they will do private lessons from 3 so we know where we will be in the summer.
I doubt he will be doing a lot on the slopes but be interesting to see the reaction.
Thing I am most concerned about is finding snowboard schools for next winter for a 3.5 year old
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Mint snowboarding in Morzine might teach a 3year old for an hour
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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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Cool. I think short of going to the states (where they seem to be a bit more enlightened) that a trip to morzine will be needed
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@grahamt1980, we did look at Hemel but the costs for a private lesson was pretty steep for the times we could get there this winter......may be cheaper in the summer?
The link i posted above was recommended by a fellow snowhead, the guy also teaches at Hemel as an independent instructor......i've had very varying feedback on the instructors employed directly at Hemel.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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All of that sounds really promising then. Will contact the guy at hemel. Ultimately we know that he will only be getting used to sliding around, but that's perfect for now.
We will get him on ski's too as he loved it when we put him on some in la plagne this winter.
but ultimately we would prefer him to be on one plank rather than 2
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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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Must admit I agree that private for kids snowboarding is worthwhile, whereas private for kids skiing I personally think group works better.
For the reasons noted above, beginner snowboard lessons the first few days are slow going, with lots of time falling, getting up, time on backside, and in a group of 5 or 6 your going to spending a fifth or a sixth of your time sat on your bum watching the other people learn their basics, waiting your turn, plus the time you spend yourself falling and getting up. So I figure two hours 1 to 1 private on a board is better than a six hours all day in a group with 5 or 6 others.
My eldest who could already ski very well did learn to board in a day at Tamworth. He was actually a bit too young for their minimum age limit (which was 10 or 11) by 6 months or so, but he did well, by the end he could just about turn both ways.
When we got to the mountain on arrival day we got kit and I took him to the free drag lift for an hour at closing. I just got him practicing heel and toe slides, simple traverses and some simple turns. The following day I spent the morning with him practicing turning on a longer run and then at midday he had his first 2 hour private. He snowboarded on Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday, with a 2 hour private lesson on each of those days, and progressed well. On the interim days he skied. By the end he could pretty much board. Not super fast, or super fluid, but he could ride, get around pretty much anywhere, be in control, keep up momentum and even cover off flatish sections. Without hesitation or doubt I think he got more out of those 3 x 2 hour privates than he would have got out of a week group. On his last day the instructor also taught to do a butter press which delighted him.
Well worth trying to get the basics nailed down in a dome first though so you don't waste the first day learning to strap in, skate, and heel and toe slide. That learn to board in a day worked well for us.
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My experience of privates is you pay for the instructor rather than the attendance. I think in Andorra one private was not much more than two group lessons, so putting the two children together worked out well once they were no longer progressing much in the group. Similarly, no-one was particularly fussed about the minimum age. I asked if it was for insurance purposes or just an indicator of capability/maturity, and I didn't get a definitive answer but the local TO felt it was more the latter than the former. Certainly after we'd sneaked her in to the first group lesson and then my daughter told the instructor in a stage whisper "Actually I'm only 5 and a half, but it's a secret"  he really didn't care. She's one of the tallest in her class at school. The week's lessons went off no problems.
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You know it makes sense.
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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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@Craig64, thanks mate!
Just to update, so we met up with Lee from Trick Tech at Gosling Dry Slope yesterday. He did an hour with each 1:1. It started from putting on the board and walking/sliding along and turning round in a circle with one boot in. He then walked them up the small slope and within minutes they had the basics and moved on to the bigger hill. Lee pushed them to try more, but making sure it was all done safely. Towards the end they were doing heel edge and toe edge turns (with a little hold of one hand when needed and being ready to grab them)......they even little ollie's as well when coming down straight at the bottom....all in an hour. It was one of those really proud dad moments, they did so well and the holiday is going to be a blast!!!
Lee has a real gift and connection with kids and obviously a talented coach. Lee took some lovely photos of them at the top of the hill and WhatsApp them to me, great simple touch!!! Definitely recommend him and hope to come back soon 
I'd thoroughly recommend a dry slope lesson as it's much cheaper than a dome and for learning the basics, you don't need much and it was amazing to see the edging really work. I would even say it would hone the skills more.
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Poster: A snowHead
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Also to say that Lee had Burton boards/boots small enough as well, so everything was sized right for them. It's amazing to see how the kit has developed to make it so much more accessible to the little ones.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Most schools won't take kids in group snowboard lessons until they're about 8, so private lesson is likely your only option. I've taught quite a few kids that young and it usually works out great as long as the kids are properly up for it.
Disagree with @Mr.Egg's comment though. If the kids are spending all their time sitting down in a group snowboard lesson, find another snowboard lesson!
Last edited by Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person on Mon 21-01-19 23:09; edited 1 time in total
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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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Just thought i'd update with how we got on.
After the short dry slope lesson we went to La Clusaz, France for 9 days in Easter last year.
Due to the time of year there were no snowboard schools available for the week, just private lessons, so we arranged a 2hr lesson for them both for the first two days of the holiday with Evolution. Personally I think this is the best way to learn for a beginner, the follow me experience just doesn't work so invest in some private tuition and they'll learn much quicker. When we'd pick up the rental gear and as there were a few hours left of day light, I took the boys out on a small slope up towards where we were staying, just walking up a small slope by the road with a gentle gradient. Immediately they were surprised by how slippery snow was as opposed to dendix   but holding their hands and guiding them they were soon slip sliding, tea leafing and linking the odd turn.
The next two days they had two hour private lesson with Evolution (I think his name was Matt). He was very good, very patient and they loved watching his little tricks. The learning area in La Clusaz is great, there's a few green runs that have a good consistent gradient. The runs are linked by button lifts which can be a problem on a board but they both did pretty well, even when they fell off they tried again.......or dad/instructor grabbed them on the way past to get them to the top.
After each lesson we took them out for a couple of hours, after 3-4 hours (inc lessons) they were completely broken, especially the 6yr old. This is mainly due to when learning snowboarding you're constantly trying to slow down rather than using the speed, also getting up from falling over and using all these new muscles......once you realise speed is your friend it's much easier. The boys wanted to hit the park on the second day (see link below)
https://www.facebook.com/dan.hacking.3/videos/10160281554590456
It was amazing (proud dad) seeing them confidently and competently hitting sliders after 2 days on the snow, taking small hits and loving life on the snow. Just getting up after each fall, dusting themselves down and getting on with it. The 11yr old was confident going down decent reds by the end, the 6yr old could get down a red without any problem, but he had much more fun on cruisey blues as he didn't have the weight to really get the edge in when he needed to on a red run.
What we learnt was that 6yrs is really the limit i'd take a child snowboarding, not because they can't do it earlier, but the time on the slope would be really limiting for a family and the whole point is to spend time together (at least that's my view), any younger they'd only be able to do an hour or so IMHO, this would mean one parent would have to sacrifice a lot of time on the slope. For a fit, strong 6 year old, it's a great time to learn. The child has to want to do it and must of the temperament of giving something a go and being prepared to fall over and bounce back up again, but you also have to be there to pick them up as they will catch an edge and hurt themselves. It's very important to recognise when they need a rest/chocolate or just need to stop for the day. The newer kit makes it really easy for them but they still do need a lot of strength and some weight to be able to really put the edge in, especially in icy conditions. If they are not, then i'd not push it and start them skiing. The place we stayed (capfun campsite) really was a godsend as it had a decent sized swimming pool, so we could split the day in half and do something else in the afternoon as there was no way they could do a whole day on the slopes. We also learnt that kids are very risk averse.....not that we didn't know that but this was a different environment where it's all fun but they don't see any risks, just piles of snow.......it took a couple of lucky near misses for them to realise that they must be in control of their speed and edge at all times, especially the littlest who if he caught an edge and ended up going head first down the run, he thought it was great fun being a missile.......until he realised he didn't have the strength to turn himself round and stop, so dad had to straight line after him to turn him around, so one of us always had to stay very close.
My boys loved it, progressed really well and they now have their own boots/boards/bindings (it's easy to pick up great kids kit off ebay/facebook market place if you know what you are looking for  ). We/they can't wait for the return trip to La Clusaz. I loved seeing them learn something new, develop those skills and really push themselves (and us) but mostly, having fun together as a family
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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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Good stuff! We've literally just booked La Clusaz for our HT trip, and youngest is saying he wants to do snowboarding this year, like dad and brother. Just gotta convince wife to switch to the One True Edge now and we're golden!
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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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great news, we're there at the same time for the Feb HT and all snowboarders
If you have any questions about La Clusaz, just ask and i'll see if I can help.
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FAQ
So you have to have accommodation on the mountain. Anyway they took to the snow very quickly. 
My kids have never had a lesson in their life and can snowboard/ski all over the mountain. I had lessons at school in 1980 but that was it. Lessons are okay but not essential. 
