 Poster: A snowHead
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After a number of years raising young boys I’m finally in a position to start getting them on the slopes and will be taking my 7 year old to the alps this year. I’m springing him from school for 2 days to get c4 days skiing in.. bad father.
Flights wise this only works flying to Geneva and we land late on the weds, staying until Sunday afternoon. So I’m close to booking in La Clusaz to get us to bed before the early hours. (Only 1 hour transfer)
The only other option I’m considering is Morzine - another 30 mins or so. I wondered if anyone had views on if the extra travel would be worth it for what is essentially learning for my son and time to spend a few days together.
Queries are:
Snow conditions: Going early Feb so hope snow won’t be an issue but any views welcome, esp as La Clusaz is quite low - this is my main concern, but not sure Morzine is loads more snow sure.
Mix of slopes: La CLusaz looks like it might have some good greens at reasonable altitude but progressing further needs to take on some long traverses / buses etc.
Busyness: seen quite conflicting views about how busy La Clusaz might be in Feb, expect weekend vs. Weekdays are the difference?
LaClusaz has some lessons free at the moment.
Would be his first time, but he’s done a couple of snow dome trips and planning to hit the dry ski slope abit too  So hoping he might make a bit of progress in a few days…
For myself I was an ok / competent standard (c8 years ago…) - don’t need much as its really for us to do together, but some decent runs which are Easily accessible (i.e. not schlepping over to next valley) for the time he’s in lessons would be a positive!
Very much appreciate any thoughts.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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When, exactly, are you going? French school holidays start 8 February
Personally I'd aim for somewhere you could stay at rather higher altitude, very near the ski school meeting place and be more sure of snow right outside where you're staying - which is really important for kids.
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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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Yeah I agree, i think it would be the better option to be higher
5-9th of Feb so last two days might be busier!
Hotel is close to meeting place for ski school.
Avoiriaz might be better for snow but transfer (abit) further and struggled to find flexible catered options.
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| Quote: |
struggled to find flexible catered options.
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yes, once the school holidays begin, finding non-standard accommodation becomes very difficult. The instructors in La Clusaz will know where to find snow for you. The 8th shouldn't be too busy (transfer day). The 9th will be hectic - a good day to be with an instructor to avoid some of the waiting at lifts. And preferably ski through lunch time.
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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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Only French zone B on holiday. It won’t be too bad.
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@TMGP,
Go for a week, weekend to weekend & put the kid in ski school. And choose a resort with plenty of British ski instructors.
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Oddly enough, my grandchildren have managed to learn to ski with French instructors. And I'm sure lots of kids have succeeded with Austrian or Italian ones too. Some of these foreigners are quite good at their job.....
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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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A 7 y/o first-time skier will need lessons almost 100% of the time, at least the first couple of days.
I did a ski weekend with my 9 y/o in Samoens where he had a private lesson with ZigZag ski school, which worked very well. We stayed the Friday night at GVA and got a 7am hire car. After skiing we explored Samoens (and Sixt) then drove down to a cheap hotel in Sallanches.
You should be able to extend that plan to 4 days.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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@TMGP, Another vote for Morillon, as @luigi, says, it’s got a great run, plus others nearby with lots of things to keep kids interested, and enough for dad to have a blast whilst he’s in lessons, I’ve skied the area 7-8 years on the trot when out boy was younger.
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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 don’t know La Clusaz so can’t compare but Morzine is absolutely grand for a 4 day trip. Some lovely new facilities (new chair up top and covered travelator for the nursery slope) makes it a good place to learn IMO. Lovely village too.
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| A 7 y/o first-time skier will need lessons almost 100% of the time, at least the first couple of days. |
I wouldn’t say this is true at all.
Lots of variables such as how quickly the kids pick things up, how competent the parents are. But expect any keen 7yo to be able to go out on gentle pistes snow plowing behind a careful parent after 1 or 2 lessons. If they’ve got those 1 or 2 first lessons done in the UK then they’ll be very likely to be able to explore on greens and blues.
If the kid is more timid then they’ll probably benefit from a publicity accessible (not reserved for lessons) magic carpet to lap in the afternoon with a patient parent showing them snow plow turns down it. Don’t need an instructor to practice what they learned in the morning.
And whether they’re timid or a fast learner they’ll benefit hugely from skiing with a parent rather than only being allowed to ski in lessons, unless money is no object and you’re going to have an instructor for 8hrs a day. And even then skiing with your parents is still a great way to learn, kids love it. Even if everyone is a beginner you can practice together.
La Clusaz would be great for a 7yo who picks it up quick. But if they’ve progressed a bit slower in the UK then for good genuine nursery slopes near GVA I’d suggest Flaine or Les Gets over Morzine
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You know it makes sense.
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To endorse @luigi, suggestion of Morillon, staying near gondola base no real impediment if there's much cost advantage.
Formative years skiing with my two children there in Morillon, great area to get introduction for most ages.
Very good beginner discreet starter area at 1100 location, without having to find their feet out in general piste traffic, with as noted extensive progression piste on which to migrate.
Plenty of café etc right there to manage the day out away from accommodation too (that's 1100 ski station) along with gondola up and back to base to make that easy.
Everything needed really to get started. We've, us and other families have had good instruction there from ESF too.
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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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At that age a first timer mainly needs a nursery slope and perhaps a longer green, both of which likely to be topped up by cannon if natural snow not forthcoming.
Consider yourself not the main focus for skiing, otherwise you are likely to meet frustration. Watching him learn will make you glow. I got that T shirt.
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Poster: A snowHead
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My kids learnt to ski in Grand Bo which is right next to La Clusaz. I'm a huge fan of the area, quiet slopes, reasonable lift pass prices and a lovely village feel with very few non French visitors. Apartment prices are pretty good too.. our Feb HT is larger and yet half the price of our Dec apartment in 3V.
Night ski under the floodlights in Le Chinaillon is fantastic with free marshmallow roasting and hot chocolate. FWIW, apres limited to retaurant/bars but that's always been fine for us.
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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've done exactly what we did with our two boys in waiting until they were 7. We did lots of dry slope lessons before so they could get straight onto the greens and then easy blues without learning how to cope with boots and skis initially for a couple of days. Stayed in cerntral Morzine and whilst helping them carry skis and poles onto buses and the inevitable glove drop just after you've loaded yourself up with kit in both hands, 7 feels about right to at least be able to be told do this and that without melting down too often!
From Morzine you've got up Super Morzine and Zore lifts and there's a really nice long steady green then up proclou lift to do that even longer run down back to the proclou lift (top of that is a little busy and steeper mind).
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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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I'd advise Avoriaz over Morzine. Only a little further up the mountain, ski in /ski out accom, beginners area right in the heart of town (assume the 7 year old will spend at least 50% of their skiing time here) and a great pedestrianised village/town that will be great fun away from skiing for them!
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Morillon is a good shout, actually. Thinking back to my kids' first week of lessons, all they need is a long green run, maybe by the end of the week they'll be taking on some easier blues.
Le Grand Bornand would also work and even closer (and cheaper) than La Clusaz. But I think Morillon would be better, tbh. I don't know Morzine very well so would defer to experts on that.
I wouldn't worry about French school holidays at all tbh.
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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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Thank you all for the ideas and inputs!
After abit more research, Have booked a BnB in morillon for a week earlier than had originally planned. Rainy day tomorrow on mendip dry slope is the next phase!
Cheers!
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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| TMGP wrote: |
Thank you all for the ideas and inputs!
After abit more research, Have booked a BnB in morillon for a week earlier than had originally planned. Rainy day tomorrow on mendip dry slope is the next phase!
Cheers! |
Nice spot! Should be pretty quiet end of Jan. You might need to get the gondola up to 1100 if you're in the village on the valley floor, though there can often be snow right down there mid season. 
Samoens village is a historic monument and a nice place to visit one evening. The horseshoe canyon beyond Sixt is quite a sight too https://maps.app.goo.gl/vYxDMjFwnyKDkdrdA
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For a kid that only started skiing, I feel the main point is being not far from the ski school, and I see you've done that.
So don't worry, you'll be fine in either.
However if one really had to pick, and although we mostly go to PdS, I'd vote for La Clusaz over Morzine, because the village feels less like a set of busy roads...
... keeping in mind La Clusaz is a real pain to get to and from on weekends, even outside of hols, because of it's proximity to Annecy.
Side note: we didn't wait for our kids and got them as early as possible. I feel what's important is letting them enjoy, and ski with parents, at their pace, in addition to ski school hours. Which is a given for most parents on this forum.
Have fun!
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