 Poster: A snowHead
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With the arrival of the mini-weevil earlier this year, we weren't able to get away skiing this year and I had feared that the squeeze on finances that came with the Boss's maternity leave would mean that 2013 was going to be a sliding-free year too.
However, with a bit of cunning scrimping and saving (who needs food?) we've managed to afford to tag along on a family trip to Champagny-en-Vanoise in the first week of January 
Of course, this has the added bonus of having grandparents along so we have babysitting on tap
None of my friends are big skiers so don't quite 'get' my excitement, ditto my co-workers, so I needed to vent my happiness, excitement and all round and who better than a forum full of other snow-addicts?
Yes, yes, yes, I know it's not going to be the ski trips of old, and there's going to be a few morning/afternoon/days of skiing missed on account of being on spawn patrol, but just being in the mountains and being able to introduce the little one to snow at the tender age of 10 months (by then) will more than make up for it.
Let the obsessive webcam watching begin
Thank you for your patience.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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High five pal!
We were in the same position a few years ago when the financial crisis hit and we scraped the barrel and ended up in Borovets. Not the best of skiing but one of the best "holidays" we've had mainly because we weren't expecting to go and we met a load of good people out there.
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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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EvilWeevil, many congratulations (not on the arrival of Mini-weevil you understand, but on the imminent sliding holiday).
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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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EvilWeevil, that sounds great! Two of my grand-daughters have now done holidays with the family at that age. They enjoyed it. Lots of attention on tap. they both enjoyed toboganning - gently! We will have another this Christmas - who'll be 9 months old - and we are hoping she will enjoy toboganning as much as her big sister did. Big sister will be 2 years and 10 months, probably too young for skiing, but we hope she might have a go at Easter, when she'll be 3, the days will be longer and warmer and there are cousins around to share the experience with. My daughter and son in law are giving up food for skiing too! and the only possible way they could afford a ski holiday would be to get free accommodation and food and chauffeuse driven transfers from Geneva airport. Just the airfares and the ski passes more or less break the bank. I will do most of the child-care. Holidays with the likes of Esprit are completely out of the question.
It gives me enormous pleasure to enable them to get these otherwise-impossible holidays - skiing grandparents are a very definite advantage.
I hope you have a wonderful holiday. 
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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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EvilWeevil, Well done! Champagny is nice and I'm sure you will have a great time with your little one! 
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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We're going to try and pick up a cheap toboggan some point soon
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for that age you need one with a back rest and a little safety belt. You can hire rather swish ones in-resort, and they're useful instead of a buggy for getting round if the streets are snowy (as you hope they will be). The baby ones are only of use for a short time, so it might be best to hire. I have acquired two, at the apartment, because they were left beside the rubbish bins by people whose kids had obviously grown out of them.
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pam w,
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| getting round if the streets are snowy (as you hope they will be). |
Hopefully the streets will be cleared of snow as usual, they are pretty efficient in Champagny 
EvilWeevil We visited Champagny when our children were very small and enjoyed it so much we ended up buying a place there.
There is a nice cafe with fantastic views across to Courchevel at the top of the gondola, there is also a picnic hut with outdoor terrace right opposite it. They are great places to meet up with the baby if you are taking it in turns to go skiing.
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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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skichampcouk, thanks for the suggestion. We know Champagny quite well as it's a family favourite. We're staying at the Club Alpina apartments so not too far to get to the gondola!
Quick question for you: roughly how much is the gondola for a non-skier? As I'm likely to be on spawn patrol at least a couple of times during the week, I can't think of a better place for a late-morning cafe noir than said cafe!
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EvilWeevil, I think it is 8 euros return.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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EvilWeevil, Well done, I can certainly understand your excitement, I managed to persuade my better half to go skiing when our son was 9 months old in 2005, main advice I would give is make sure you get good all in one suit for mini weevil, fleece hat, gloves and sun glasses to protect them when out side, might sound obvious bit its very important.
We went to L2A and our son suffered with the altitude - 1600m particularly at night, he did,nt sleep well at all which was out of character, you should be OK at 1250m, but be careful and dont take the little one too high up, I think no more than 2000m is the recommendation for their first year, if you look on line you will find more details. FYI our son has been away every year since, we dont have the luxury of grand parents that can come with us, so we have to use T/O with kids care available, he skis 6 half days in ski school and the afternoons either in the kids club or on the slopes with us showing us how to do bunny hops and ski backwards  Once they are old enough to ski, go later in the season when its warmer and hopefully sunnier for them, to make sure they enjoy it and become hooked as you and I are, to make sure you can keep getting on the slopes each year We are going to Plagne centre for the first time in Feb Enjoy your time
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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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EvilWeevil, Just checked last years price list and it was 6 euros 50 return for the Champagny gondola, it was 8 euros for the gondola up to Roche du Mio from Belle Plagne.
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FAQ
