 Poster: A snowHead
|
Anyone had any experience with kids ski school in the area? I have been looking at Neige Aventures and Arc en Ciel. We will be staying in Haute Nendaz. I have never been here before so some idea of location of each and logistics of getting to meeting point of each would be useful too. Any advice welcome, thanks 
|
|
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
Arc en ciel is in the one of the main apartment blocks which is right at the bottom of the piste with the chairlift that takes you back towards Verbier next to it. Their office is alongside a restaurant (the name escapes me) with a very large sun terrace in front of the apartment block (as you ski down the piste from Verbier direction) it is at the bottom of the piste on skiers right. Don't know about neige aventures, sorry.
Can't help with the knowledge of the quality of their teaching, but the ski schools down there do seem to get a very high percentage of kids lessons so I'd imagine they are well geared up for that. Also the long blue (green in french terms) that comes down from Verbier direction is nigh on perfect teaching terrain for beginners and early intermediates. Plus it's very long with a detachable quad chair serving it which is very beginner friendly.
However what level skiers are the kids?
|
|
|
|
|
|
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?
|
skir67, thanks. Arc en Ciel is in Siviez and we are staying in Haute Nendaz, how far and by what route/means do we get there? Drive, lifts & ski?? Website doesn't seem to specify meeting point so I guess it is at their office but it is at 10.00 so gives a bit more time. Neige aventures specifies 9.00 at the base of Tracouet or 9.30 at the top. Trying to work out the most convenient option. Both seem to offer a good range of courses for all levels.
Kids levels range from near beginner to 7+ weekers who are very decent little skiers.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
I have had experience with both Neige Aventures and Arc en Ciel and IMHO, Arc-en Ciel is a much better ski school for younger children (notwithstanding the transportation issues if you are staying in Nendaz - see below).
My daughter started at aged 4 with Neige Aventures on their small baby slope at the side of the Tracoute cable car in Nendaz. While this was very easy to get to from our apartment (compared to getting to Siviez), it seemed to me that it was no more then a place for parents to dump their kids while they went off skiing - X12 4-5 years olds, 3 instructors (who had no real experience or interest in teaching kids) and lots of tears and little progress. After 4 days I pulled my daughter out the lessons as she was starting to say that she didn't want to learn to ski!
About 10 weeks later we were back in Nendaz and I changed to Arc en Ceil - what a difference. Arc en Ceil really do specialise in children’s lessons (they don't even offer adult groups) and after X2 days my daughter was skiing down the mountain!
Of course there could be lots of reasons for the improvement (not least that my daughter was 10 weeks older and had done 4 days with NA before…) however Arc en Ceils approach seems quite different to NA insofar as they get the kids skiing on the gentle blue slope in Siviez almost from day 1 and use a number of props (tip-clips, long poles, rings etc) to get the kids skiing with confidence.
The biggest drawback of Arc en Ceil is that they are based in Siviez and that means driving or taking the bus to and from Siviez each day (about a 20 min journey). This is a bit of a pain compared to taking the cable car up Tracoute but I think is well worth it – of course it also depends where you are staying in Nendaz as if you were driving or taking the bus anyway, then it is not much more effort to go to Siviez as opposed to Nendaz…
Also, to give a balanced view, I should say that Neige Aventures does get very good reports for older children and adult group lessons - however with younger children I think Arc en Ceil's approach is much better...
Have a good trip. 
|
|
|
|
|
|
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
|
|
1556garyt, thanks very much indeed, very helpful. I was leaning towards Arc en Ciel anyway for a couple of other reasons so this may just have tipped the balance. How much of a hassle is it to get to Siviez by car from Haute Nendaz? Is it at all possible to ski there or is that no better?
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
It is no real hassle to drive to Siviez - its an easy drive and there is a big car park with free parking. The only issue is that if you go during half-term or school hols, then the car park can get full up and it becomes a long walk (or even waiting for a shuttle bus!!) to get from your car to the pistes. The solution of course is to drive there a little earlier (if you get there for 9/9.15-ish you won't have a problem) and go for a coffee or something....
It is posbble ski to Siviez via a couple of red runs (includes a long steep drag lift and the Plan du Fou cable car) however it is certainly not for beginners...
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Add my voice to Arc en Ciel, I watch them from the apartment every day, brilliant.
Taught my niece and nephew who are now racing at a national level (UK) aged 7 and 10.
I'd drive up, it's easy. Lessons usualy start at 9 and the car park isn't too bad then.
Depends when you are coming, car park completely empty this week !
Don't be tempted to try skiing back with kids. Even if you take the cable car down, the black next to the poma is usualy a glazed nightmare by the end of the day.
Drop me an email alan@skierstoolbox.com if you need any more info
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1556garyt, Alan McGregor, thank you very much indeed for this. I have sent an enquiry to Arc en Ciel but not had a reply yet. The chalet we're staying in seem to be recommending/pushing Neige Aventures, say there are lots of British instructors working there. Any thoughts on this?
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
There is nothing wrong with Neige Aventures - they do have more instructors and have English instructors (and Dutch and other nationalities). In fact my wife joined one of their groups a couple of years ago and very much enjoyed/rated it.
However for younger kids leaning to ski, in my opinion it is better to be based in Siviez (with the very gentle blue/green slope) and with Arc-en-Ceil. All instructors at Arc-en-Ceil seemed to speak perfectly good English but it is likely that your kids will be in a mixed language group (which is likely to be the case with Neige Aventure too).
Notwithstanding my own preference, lots of people use NA and they are perfectly good as a choice.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1556garyt, thanks again. It will be UK half term so not sure if this makes any difference to the groups, are both schools still likely to be mixed language classes? Where we've been in the past in peak weeks they do tend to have english and french speaking groups seperately. We only have one really young beginner in our group, the other three boys are very proficent now. Having said this my own gut feeling is Arc. As I said they have not replied should I resend in french do you think?
|
|
|
|
|
|
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
|
|
FWIW last time we went the kids were delighted with the swiss ski school instructor, will probably use same school this April.
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
sarah, Nendaz is not a particularly English resort (compared to Verbier or some of the French resorts) so I'd expect that most classes will be mixed language but maybe I'm wrong...?
Lessons for the more proficient kids from Nendaz (ie from the top of Tracoute) would obviously be easier/more convinient if you are based near to the telecabin in Nendaz and it may even be that you decide that for convinience alone you will opt for Neige for the young beginner too - its your call...
Half-term will be busy so it is possible that Arc-en-Ceil is already fully booked (?!) and are seeing how/if they can accomodate you? In any event I'm sure they will reply in due course...
If you go with Arc-en-Ceil, will you have a car to drive to Siviez every day? Taking the bus at peak times (especially the return journey in the afternoons) can be a bit of a 'mare with small children!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The other advantage of going to Siviez is that the adults can naff off to Verbier or over to Thyon.
Nendaz has one really great run, but you want to be breaking out to the wider 4V. If you are 'stuck' in Nendaz everyday until after lunch you are running out of time.
Are you going to the Pracondu apartments?
|
|
|
|
|
|
You know it makes sense.
|
|
Nice town though, it's a genuine place.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
|
|
Siviez has a massive british & ex-pat community, most with kids in Arc. At half term you stand a good chance of an all english group, although a mixed nationality group can be very good for your childs development. I can't pass comment on Neige, but I do know Arc are excellant, and will run race training if your kids are that good. I personaly know of about 14 british kids that will be with Arc at half term. You are probably best to phone them during the day.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Poster: A snowHead
|
| Alan McGregor wrote: |
| Siviez has a massive british & ex-pat community, most with kids in Arc. At half term you stand a good chance of an all english group, although a mixed nationality group can be very good for your childs development. I can't pass comment on Neige, but I do know Arc are excellant, and will run race training if your kids are that good. I personaly know of about 14 british kids that will be with Arc at half term. You are probably best to phone them during the day. |
Alan - massive??
|
|
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
Thank you all very much indeed.
1556garyt, I was thinking that Neige might be more convenient in terms of location but as Fifespud says maybe Siviez is actually a more ocnvenient place to start the day anyway. Yes we are driving out so will have our car, the other families will probably hire at Geneva, so we should all be mobile and independent of each other too if need be.
Fifespud, no, staying in a chalet.
Alan McGregor, I will email you, thanks.
|
|
|
|
|
|
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?
|
|
Dependng on where your chalet is located you may have to drive/bus whether its Nendaz or Siviez. If you don't mind drving to and from Siviez each day, I would certainly go with Arc in Siviez...
|
|
|
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
Ok massive might be a bit of an exaggeration !!
But for just one large appartment block, I know 8 British couples that own here, and several more based in Nendaz who ski out of Siviez
|
|
|
|
|
|
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
|
|
Alan - I am looking for a ski school type environment for my wife. 10 weeks skiing but pretty hesitant. I've emailed Arc but is it something you guys ever do? Looking for 6 days from 03/04/11?
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
| Alan McGregor wrote: |
Ok massive might be a bit of an exaggeration !!
But for just one large appartment block, I know 8 British couples that own here, and several more based in Nendaz who ski out of Siviez |
Meant to say, if you are serious skiers, don't want to party too hard, and looking for a cheapish place to stay - Siviez has to be one of the best locations around. For skiing the 4V it's better located than Verbier - as you will know well Alan.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
I did Nendaz last year and this year the same gang are going out to Veysonnaz a little further round the mountain. There's still some of the itinary routes I didn't manage to get on and it's a fantastic place to find little bits of untracked between pistes after a snowfall. I'll be there on the 19th Feb if any other sHs are around.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Fifespud wrote: |
| Alan - I am looking for a ski school type environment for my wife. 10 weeks skiing but pretty hesitant. I've emailed Arc but is it something you guys ever do? Looking for 6 days from 03/04/11? |
April is still a little fluid at the moment, but feel free to drop me an email
alan@skierstoolbox.com
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
|
Fifespud, - do you have suggestions for family focused accommodation in Siviez? Wife likes to take it easy and relax, daughter (6) learning to ski and son (12) taking up boarding with me.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
pical, Welcome to SH................Suggest Les Etagnes Hotel in Nendaz, right next to the main telecabine, Young Dutch family owned - excellent laid back vibe, apres and food, very family orientated, also have appartments as well as family rooms. Lovely sunny terrace and outdoor/ indoor tent bar, good laugh, kids welcome in there. Very handy for Siviez, ski there 1/2 hour from Nendaz, quite tough black on way back but regular FOC ski bus service from Siviez, plenty of skiing/ boarding in Nendaz itself without the full-on 4 Vallees/ Verbier area if preferred, cheaper too. At Les Etagnes front of house Onno, and his wife chef Anna-Miekle (great team)................we will be there end February, we go every year. Highly recommended, check out the website www.lesetagnes.com
|
|
|
|
|
|
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
|
|
pical, would agree with Markymark29, that Nendaz is probably a better place to locate compared to Siviez, particularly if wife not skiing. That said, I still rate Arc-en-Ceil as an amazing ski school and the Tortin run in Siviez is a great slope for complete beginners to learn on. The immediate Nendaz ski area is IMHO not that good for beginners.
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
|
Thanks guys - I was thinking Siviez for Arc-en-Ceil specifically for my 6 yr old daughter - and teaching my son to board, need wide blue runs to get the hang of it before he tackles anything too steep. Wife will have the car while we are on the slopes in the morning. Other option is to stay in Nendaz and catch the bus each morning to Siviez for ski school. Will look up Les Eragnes now...
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
FAQ
