Poster: A snowHead
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Hi everyone
We're hoping to start our two ankle-biters skiing next Easter 2011 so we were thinking of getting them some practice in before heading off to the mountains. We were initially looking at some sessions at either Hemel or Milton Keynes, but they are both a good hour away from where we live, so were also thinking about something much closer called Realli Ski (Kent) which I found on t'internet-has anyone tried this, and has it worked for young children? We have a nearly 3 (in Sept) and nearly 4 year-old (this month) at the moment, and would be wanting to start them going in September/October.
Any advice gratefully received about this or any other approach to get young 'uns skiing. The older one is pretty sporty and should pick it up no problems. The younger one is stubborn and probably a bit young, but will follow her sister's lead and it's only fair to give her a try. God help her instructor is all I say!
Cheers
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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snowhound, we've had kids lessons at MK and Tamworth and were both fine, but can't advise on anywhere else.
In terms of general advice - don't push/force them as that will just put them off altogether. If you have the option to escape while the lesson is on - do. Kids like to play up with parents watching, but will be fine for the instructor in my experience.
Be prepared for the crushing loss when they ski better and faster than you - my lads now leave me standing (9)
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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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snowhound, You could look at the various dry slopes nearby (Folkestone, Chatham, Bowles, Brentwood) - they'd all offer a fun and safe introduction
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Can only speak for Tamoworth but my son and my nephew have both had kinder lessons there. They were superb. The first lesson just got them used to sliding on snow and progressed from there. They got some play in the snow time with the first lesson. I'm sure any snow dome would do the same sort of thing. I initiallt tried him with lessons on a dry ski slope and he totally hated it.
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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 haven't really worked out any particular reasons for it, could be muscle/mental development, but some kids pick up skiing *way* faster than others. Not many 3 year olds take to it quickly in my experience. I'd go with a snowdome - I have no experience teaching on dry slopes, but I bet they take the special attraction of their actually being snow to slide on. Just be patient with the process really - and make sure they're having fun!
Thinking about it, if you have an ice rink nearby that might be a better way to introduce them to sliding... the core skills transfer well.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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But:
Snowdomes can be quite an 'alien' environment. The lighting is harsh, they are noisy and, above all else, cold. Some youngsters may just cope with these things but others may not. On the other hand, a dry slope will be just like anywhere else outside but with white plastic 'grass'. Falling over can be more painful mind you!
All of us prefer snow (even artificial) over plastic but for the absolute beginner I'd say the answer is not so clear cut.
See if they do a taster session at the local slope. That could guide you to a decision.
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My boss's grandchildren learned on one of the Realli-ski moving carpets. He says it benefited them as he was not too put out (i.e. not too bored) when he then skied with them on a holiday in Switzerland. They were, however, boys and older than your pair. The advantage of the moving carpet is that you can tailor it to the speed of the child - whereas they may find it difficult to control their skis on a snow slope. The dry slope would be my choice, primarily for familiarisation with the gear. I would mostly leave it till you get there.
Last edited by Then you can post your own questions or snow reports... on Tue 13-04-10 16:39; edited 1 time in total
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Snow dome.. book them in for sledging and tobogganing a week or so before hand so they can have a play around and familiarise themselves with the different environment, then book them in for lessons if their ok with that.
Yes its cold, but its the nearest representation to the alps we have and they need to be used to the cold before being dumped on a mountain, plus it isn't that bad.. once kids get the technique dialed they love it!
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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 let my kids (5, 9 and 14) pick between the plastic slopes at Sheffield and Swadlincote and the Tamworth fridge, they took a look on the internet and for once all agreed on something (normally if 2 agree the other chooses the opposite on principal!) so off to the fridge they went! My 5 year old would have been most unhappy to have been booked in for just a play session first! She wanted to go skiing and really couldn't understand why her sisters got 3 hour long sessions while she only got 45min. Not to cold at Tamworth when you actually get moving (they keep it just around freezing), in fact eldest daughter (built like a stick insect, no natural insulation!) quite happily skied two hours without getting cold in thin combat trousers, tshirt and thin jumper last week after she came with us to sit and watch then decided she wanted to play as well as soon as we arrived. As garethjomo, says the instructors who do the kinder lessons at Tamworth are great with the little ones, Chloe (the youngest) really liked Abbi her Kinder instructor and after Abbi said hello to her last week, several months after the lessons) was proudly showing her how she could now do 360s and ski backwards down the main slope last weekend. Another word of advice, if you book lessons book one at a time if you can, the Snowdome says (and most parents I've chatted to agree) it takes most little ones 4 or 5 goes to get through each kinder level. Chlo got lucky and no one else turned up for her kinder one so it turned into a private lesson (1 student, 2 instructors!) and as a result did all level one and most of level two in the one session, one more level 2 and a couple of level 3s and she was in the Kinder club, first session of that (after a week in the mountains) was told she was good enough and could join the big kids club so is finally happy she gets to ski the same sessions as big sis!
Last edited by You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net. on Tue 13-04-10 22:04; edited 1 time in total
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My two (5 and 7) have both had lesson at our local dry slope and enjoyed them - my eldest is the only one who has been to a snow dome so tried both.. she did enjoy the dome but she didn't poo poo the dry slope having been to the dome!
My experience with my youngest and lessons at the dry slope was that it wasn't her physical ability that was lacking but rather her desire to slow down... so it was more emotional development that was lacking! She wanted to zoom down at top speed whatever she was meant to be practising (she tested the patience of more than one instructor as she obviously could snowplough .... just refused to demonstrate as soon as instructor wasn't skiing backwards in front of her!)
However little she appeared to progress on the dry slope I am sure that it helped her loads when we got away on hols - she was skiing with us happily in the afternoons at the end of our first week away at Christmas. At half term we skied together as a family all week and she was fab... think she will always be a speed demon but at least she now has the control to go with it!
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Quote: |
it wasn't her physical ability that was lacking but rather her desire to slow down... so it was more emotional development that was lacking! She wanted to zoom down at top speed whatever she was meant to be practising
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it was the same with my husband's 7 year old twin nephews, and it made it worse that they were identical twins having lessons together - they competed with each other and didn't really listen to the instructor (who was very patient) and were just the same when we took them on a free rope tow - they loved it, but just wanted to charge down, endangering themselves and - more worryingly - other smaller children on the slope.
they weren't my kids, so there was a limit to what I could do, other than just stop. If they'd been my kids I'd have read them the riot act, and certainly not spent any more money on equipment and lessons. Ultimately I guess it's like anything else. Unless kids want to ski, and understand that they need to listen to their instructor, do what they're told and try hard to do it right, it's probably best to leave it until they really want to do it for themselves - like some of the kids described above, who are really keen. It's nice to hear.
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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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One thing to bear in mind is that I think the 3 year old will only be taken for private lessons - they usually need to be 4 for kids group lessons.
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My two did Snocubs at MK aged 3 & 4. They both loved it and were both snowplough turning after the 4 sessions. We then had a week in France and they had great fun following us around on green and blue runs. We didn't put them in lessons as the 3 year old would have been stuck in the snow garden.
They went back this year to do Snobears before our week in the Alps. They were classed as recreational standard by the end and had one session at breakfast club on the main slope - a bit scary watching my 4 year old hurtle down the main slope while I sat in the bar! They then had a few private lessons in France (4 year old still not old enough for ski school) and after their first day had their lessons on red runs (gulp)
I thought the kids lessons at MK were great for building confidence in a safe environment. There were a maximum of 4 in their class and the instructors made the lessons fun (they loved sledging down on mats at the end of the lesson despite having spent a week sledging on real snow at home)
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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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Skimummy, have given up caring when my 5 (well 6 now) and 10 year old daughters come tearing past me as they regularly do both in the fridge and (especially the 10 year old) on the mountains! Both of them were happily blasting down reds on holiday after a few snowdome sessions.
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Poster: A snowHead
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pam w, I do it to get my own back if they have kept me awake all night with requests for a drink, remove monsters under bed etc
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Just to thank everyone for their comments and advice. My only personal experience of dry slopes was the white rope matting years ago so I don't know what these slopes are like now, but i wouldn't like to fall over on them!! Hence, maybe artificial snow is better for long-term confidence. It did seem a bit odd that Hemel only take them for lessons from 4 (with only really expensive private lessons for 3 yo) but MK start at 3, with groups max 4 in size. The snocubs at MK was our Plan A so thanks to Skimummy, for her experience. We're not pushy ski parents at all, but the elder (sporty) one would definitely be ready for a go next season-the younger is a real bruiser who would never let her elder sister try something whilst she gets left behind. If they just enjoy their first outing, that's good enough for us.
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