First time skiing
Discussion
Family has never been skiing, but wife and 11 year old fancy trying a ski holiday at easter, i booked the ski fun trial at the local snowdome and we seemed to do ok so before i book any more lessons i was just wondering if anyone had any advice on the way forward.
do i learn at the snowdome?
have a course on the holiday?
which resorts are easy to drive to?
in fact any suggestions anyone can offer would be appreciate
do i learn at the snowdome?
have a course on the holiday?
which resorts are easy to drive to?
in fact any suggestions anyone can offer would be appreciate
Personally, i would get as much practice as possible before i went. The terrain and conditions can vary so much when away that the more experience the better.
The first time i went i'd never even strapped on a ski and the second time was 10 years later. I spent several days just learning the basics and you might feel it is "wasted" time learning when you are away.
The first time i went i'd never even strapped on a ski and the second time was 10 years later. I spent several days just learning the basics and you might feel it is "wasted" time learning when you are away.
I'd never been to the mountains until I was in my 30's, took my then seven year old on a group trip to La Plagne. Had a private lesson each day with two others, hated it until day 3 when suddenly...I could do it!
Been at least once a year since, brilliant fun!
Driving is great fun going, a real drag coming back. Any of the French resorts will do, have driven to Morzine and Meribel, both fine.
Been at least once a year since, brilliant fun!
Driving is great fun going, a real drag coming back. Any of the French resorts will do, have driven to Morzine and Meribel, both fine.
We didn't start skiing until our mid thirties and the kids were 7 & 5. We did a deal with our local dry slope for a lot of lessons and were using sticks and parallel turning by the time we hit the snow.
We all got promoted by the ski school on day one and were up on the mountain on day two, that was much better than being stuck on the nursery slopes all week so definitely take as many lessons as you can in the UK.
Our first trip was to Flaine which was really excellent for all levels, it's in a bowl so holds the snow well and has good facilities for kids, we flew on that trip but drove there another time and it's an easy drive.
Another resort I really rate and have flown and driven to a few times is Alpe d'Huez, the beginner slopes are wide and close to the town, the runs steadily get more difficult the higher you go, there also a lot of other things going on there.
One final tip, wherever you go look for a resort with predominately gondolas or chairs as buttons are a bit more difficult to master and don't give you rest time between runs, which you will need when you are learning.
We all got promoted by the ski school on day one and were up on the mountain on day two, that was much better than being stuck on the nursery slopes all week so definitely take as many lessons as you can in the UK.
Our first trip was to Flaine which was really excellent for all levels, it's in a bowl so holds the snow well and has good facilities for kids, we flew on that trip but drove there another time and it's an easy drive.
Another resort I really rate and have flown and driven to a few times is Alpe d'Huez, the beginner slopes are wide and close to the town, the runs steadily get more difficult the higher you go, there also a lot of other things going on there.
One final tip, wherever you go look for a resort with predominately gondolas or chairs as buttons are a bit more difficult to master and don't give you rest time between runs, which you will need when you are learning.
floopsy said:
Family has never been skiing, but wife and 11 year old fancy trying a ski holiday at easter, i booked the ski fun trial at the local snowdome and we seemed to do ok so before i book any more lessons i was just wondering if anyone had any advice on the way forward.
1)do i learn at the snowdome? YES
2)have a course on the holiday? Maybe
3)which resorts are easy to drive to?
in fact any suggestions anyone can offer would be appreciate
Point 1. Def do as much as you can before you go on your holiday. A ski holiday is a expensive thing so why have someone telling you this is a ski and this is how you put it on on top of hours of learning the really basic stuff is time wasted IMO. It's surprising what you can pick up in even a couple of 4 hour sessions and IME usually enough to get into reosrt and blast about on blues as soon as you arrive.1)do i learn at the snowdome? YES
2)have a course on the holiday? Maybe
3)which resorts are easy to drive to?
in fact any suggestions anyone can offer would be appreciate
Point 2. Depends how much you can fit in before you go. you could get a family private lesson maybe a couple of hours the first day go and practice what you've learnt then maybe do another mid week. At the end of the day it's all about enjoying yourselves-it's not much fun falling all the time or finding yourself out of your depth.
3) Do you mean from the UK or once you're out there from the airport? Transfer time is subject to conditions but can vary from less than an hour right up to 5 or more as a general rule the transfer in Austria are short, depends on airport but 2-3 hours is the norm in France and you have allot of choice.
I like the skiing in France but that's about it. The resorts are ugly, and prices for food and drink are just daft. This is a sweeping generalisation but in 20+ years of skiing is what I've found in the main. if I go to France I opt for catered accomadation and drink in the chalet.
As an overall package Austria is my fav ski destination , proper towns in the main as opposed to purpose built resorts with plenty of non-ski activities beer and food-particualry on the mountain is far more reasonable. I don't have kids so the apres ski appeals to me in a resort, but this probably won't interest you on a family trip so Italy is also worth a shout, cheap(er) food and drink superb food and very low key in the evenings. Being your first week you don't need a huge amount of pistes 50-75km as a number will be fine.
With the amount of snow there's been this season it's hard to say how it's going to be at Easter-I think Easter is pretty late this year? I'd consider Obergurgl and Hochgurgl in Austria, high and snow sure for that time of year.
Any other info give me a shout, I used to be an instructor and have been to quite a few resorts all over the Alps and beyond.
When it comes to actually getting gear especially at the time of year you are going you need layers. You need a light outer jacket and a couple of layers....being beginners you'll get knackered, will sweat a lot so will need the ability to shed layers. Quite possible you will be skiing with only a t-shirt and jacket at lunchtime having started with a couple more layers in the morning.
You also need good quality sun glasses.
You also need good quality sun glasses.
You will have a lot of fun. I started in my 30's after one lesson a dry slope at home. This was rubbish but i suppose I got a slight idea of how a drag lift and the ski bindings work!
I would have your lessons on real snow - you will be able to potter about after a morning.
Maybe book lessons for 3 mornings and spend the afternoons practicing. All day lessons are a bit like hard work.
My favourite way to get to the slopes is by train. I also prefer cheapo self-catering if it is available.
Whatever you do 1st time will be a blast so don't fret.
I would have your lessons on real snow - you will be able to potter about after a morning.
Maybe book lessons for 3 mornings and spend the afternoons practicing. All day lessons are a bit like hard work.
My favourite way to get to the slopes is by train. I also prefer cheapo self-catering if it is available.
Whatever you do 1st time will be a blast so don't fret.
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