Advice for skiing virgins

[ed_pete]

We're considering a skiing holiday next year in the February half-term. None of us - parents included - have ever been skiing before so I wondered if anyone out there had some advice as to the best place to go and/or stay. My children are aged 12 and 15. Apres ski nightlife is not a priority... and yes, I know it's not going to be cheap.

[peckhamboy]

You could have a look at this thread. Not specifically family-oriented but some useful tips on there for beginners generally.

[jaybee82]

Best thing to do is go on a travel agent website and look for a destination with more green and blue runs. I started out in Andorra (Pas De La Casa) which is very beginner-friendly, and generally resorts will have a star rating to this effect. I can also recommend Les Deux Alpes in France for some good low down blues and greens. With so many of you going it is often cheaper to prebook things like lift passes and equipment hire, and you may even get a discount for a larger group.

Also look at reviews of the local ski schools of your chosen destination...but above all enjoy!

[peckhamboy]

I'd second Deux Alpes as a great place for beginners/intermediates. They have masses of decent blue runs (if I remember rightly, you can get back to the resort from fairly high up using only blues if you want). Won't be the cheapest resort around, but probably cheaper than Courchevel and similar places. If your budget doesn't stretch to that, you could try smaller non-French resorts like Soll in Austria.

[sidll]

Go to Finches in Forest Hill and talk to owner, his wife or son. They have decades of experience know most of the resorts and will not rip you off hiring or buying.

[globalskier]

For your first time skiing it's not just about the slopes but also the village you stay in.

The Alps are just magic in the winter, but the special atmosphere can be spoilt a bit in resorts which have been less-than-sensitively developed - full of 1980s high-rise apartment blocks. Pick one where the traditional architecture has been preserved. Val d'Isere and Zermatt are two examples that come to mind. There are also plenty of very atmospheric, less well-known and/or smaller resorts that will be easier on the budget than the above.

Many resorts in France offer a free beginner's chairlift which you can use for your first day or two without having to buy a lift pass.

This is a good site: www.welove2ski.com

[dubluke]

Try schladming in Austria, fantastic slopes with plenty of beginner runs and intermediate ones for if your confidence is a bit higher by the end of the week, the ski pass prices are very reasonable and actually give you access to over 17 mountains (on a network called ski amade or something) in the area, and free bus travel between them. The village of Haus is very pretty as is the whole area with lots of slopes with trees lining either side of the piste. There are some lovely self catering apartments in the village and some nice hotels in the slightly larger town nearby of Schladming. From either of those villages you can get up onto one mountain and from there on you can access the three adjoining mountains via cable car without having to ski down and come off the mountain.

Not a great place if you're looking for mad partying and apres ski, but you said these are not priorities and there are still some very good restaurants and bars.

[dubluke]

forgot to add - you will find the mountains much quiter than many of the french resorts, my parents went skiing in france last year and spent loads of time in queues for lifts, at the places I was talking about I have rarely had to queue and when I have it has never had to be for long as the lifts are all pretty modern and fast

[woofmarkthedog]

Ah Austria....

I love that place, its all round ski & family appeal can't be beat.

A mate of mine was teaching skiing there, so one day we went a little off the beaten track to sample a local goat hesrders homebrewed schnapps, it was great, goats down stairs & a randy octagenarian herder upstairs

"Schnapps" he'd shout as we downed them in one, then he groped my wifes tits & fanny as she was trying to regain her voice after the rocket fuel home brew

"Oh take no notice, he does that to all the girls" said Jimmy

Very mad but very funny

Ah, they were the days

You'll love it I'm sure ( the skiing that is )

Do go to Finches, it's bloomin brilliant & the advice is very good

w**F

[Applespider]

Other top tip is to head off to TK Maxx and pick up some basic ski gear there from last season. By far the cheapest way to outfit the kids at least. Invest in more decent base layers and fewer top layers.

And Austria is fun. I was in Saalbach last year which had lots of good skiing for different abilities. Off to Folgarida next year.

[annaj]

This thread title is crying out for a smutty joke.....

I just can't quite think of it.....

[Loz]

Like "the easiest way is to get them piste", perhaps, Anna?

[tog_in_sox]

No chance of taking the kids' outside of half term hol ? Less crowds = better experience and the cost could be much easier on the wallet.

Second either Austria or the lesser French resorts to try to avoid the crowds and hopefully better scenery. If you want to try the bigger places in France then Isola, Avoriaz, Les Arcs, Tignes are all good for beginners. I'd hesitate on Deux Alpes only because once you're off the nursery slopes you have to take cable/bubble up to the blues for your next progression and the only way down is either a long, crowded trek back to resort on a green access road that dumps you at the bottom of the resort (not great if you're staying some way up the main drag) or back in the cable/bubble.

Personally I'm not one for resorts where you commute to the slopes, especially the nurseries, by cable car or bus as it's a whole bunch of schlepping with heavy gear either when it's icy in the morning or you're knackered after. If you've had a tough day learning or are finding things tricky then the extra hardship is best avoided.

Try to find resorts with short (<100m) walks to slope.

Also try Scandinavia or Italy (for the bonus of great food!). In all cases check on transfer times to/from resort from airport/railway so you know what you're facing.

Second hitting TK Maxx for cheap ski gear although Decathlon will do too (or the sales if you have to spend silly money on designer gear to look the part).

The best base layers are merino wool (natural) or something like Patagonia's Capilene range (man-made and silky!). I prefer close fitting to ensure maximum transport of sweat from your skin into your mid and outer layers. Whatever you choose avoid cotton as it soaks up sweat and retains it, the worst thing if you're caught out on the slopes when it's really cold. Mid layers I prefer heavier fleeces like Polartec 200. No harm in doubling up, especially if you only get a waterproof shell jacket rather than an insulated ski one. Both mids and outers should have armpit zips so you can dump heat if the weather is fine, saves opening up the front and catching a chill on your chest, also they can be kept open as you ski.

If any of your family suffer the cold, especially hands and feet, then the chemical heat packs are worth getting. Some gloves have pockets over the back of the hand to hold one of these activated. Down mittens are the absolute best and I'd rather sacrifice digital dexterity for cosy hands. If on the other hand you're fairly fit then the key thing is ensuring good core insulation (body, head, upper arms and thighs). You can then get away with decent snow gloves (and perhaps liner gloves) and good technical socks. It's more important to allow good circulation to your extremities and keeping them warm with hot blood from the core. Particularly with feet, don't rely on thick socks because they invariably get soaked with water and sweat and can get very chilly when you're waiting or resting between exhertions. Any decent recreational ski boot should have sufficient insulation to keep you warm provided it's kept dry. Make sure that when you're fitted for boots that you take the socks you're going to wear and ensure the fit is snug (like a hand resting on your skin) not grasping.

You may not want nightclubs and bars but you'll be wanting fun for the kids after 5pm so worth looking out for toboganning, ice skating, etc.

[ed_pete]

Thanks to all for the advice so far. We'll definitely be visiting Finches and TK Maxx.

[tog_in_sox]

re: wet boots.

Be sure to look for accommodation/packages that offer boot drying. These might be a heated drying room in the accommodation or at the hire shop. Having to do this yourself is a pain as you may not have enough heated surfaces to place all your boots. Ideally you should remove the liner boot from the plastic shell and place over the heated surface but not in direct contact. Obviously be wise to the form of heating in use and avoid causing electrical fires by covering vents or elements too closely!

re: Sun protection.

Even when it's overcast you should use high factor creams as overall UV exposure at altitude is much higher than at sea level or here in London. Even the lower resorts will likely be above 1000m. As a rule of thumb I use at least double the SPF I would use for city/beach and make sure I cover the entire face, ears and neck. Use a water resistant formula and be sure to top up at lunchtime (before you decide to soak up the rays in a lounger on the sundeck!) If you're prone to sunburn then don't mess about, use a full sunblock, keep it topped up thoughtout the day and make sure your chapstick is equally protective.

re: Eyewear.

I'd advise getting ski-goggles and making sure they have genuine UVA/UVB protection. You'll need them at least if the weather turns for the worse and there's snow/rain in the air. If it'll be the only eyewear you use then choose a smoked brown or darker orange lens so you get glare protection as well as some contrast assistance when the light goes flat (overcast or foggy) so you can better see the terrain. If you've got good sports sunglasses (UVA/B protecting) that wrap around to cover your full vision area then get goggles with a clearer orange/persimmon/pink/yellow lens for max contrast help when the visibility goes. You have to be smart about eye-protection in snowscapes because reflected light comes at you from above, below and all around. Snow-blindedness is not fun. If your eyes start to hurt, tear up profusely and become photo-sensitive then you're probably not protecting them well enough and better eyewear is needed.

I wear contact lenses so another reason to have all-round eyewear is so they don't get blown out as you're enjoying the rush of speeding down a slope.

Be sure to keep hydrated throughout the day on the slopes (little and often rather than bingeing means less running for the trees to ease your bladder!). I use one of those drink bladders but a small plastic bottled water should be fine on the inside of a jacket (jacket's with pockets are your friend!). I usually add some sport drink mix or real fruit juice to help maintain energy (and electrolytes) so I can last the day out on the slopes. Nothing worse than finding the best piste or powder snow and not having the energy to ski it well :(

Don't overdo the alcohol as the high altitude and dehydration of your exertions will likely enhance the onset and pain of hangover as well as the spped with which you get drunk! Save the boozing for apres ski.

If you do get a headache up on the mountain then it's always better to descend, rest up and hydrate. It's unlikely to be altitude sickness but it you do get up past 2000m then it's possible. Trust me, it's not fun, so do the wise thing and descend. It doesn't mean you'll never get up that high again it just means not today.

Obviously ice, trees, lamp posts, kerbs, frozen streams and steep falls are more hazardous when you're reeling home or japing about on tea trays, in bin liners or on tobogans.

All the above caution is well worth the hassle because once you're up there taking it all in on a beautiful day "breath taking" will be the least of the superlatives that come to mind.

Enjoy :))