Snow business
Blayne Slabbert offers some tips on how to make a family ski trip end in cheers and not tears.
Skiing with children is a journey in both frustration and joy. If all goes well, you’ll squeal with delight when you first see your little one soar down the slopes unaided. However, it can be a tough road to get to that point but it can be made easier with a mix of preparation and patience.
Don’t be the parent who ends up carrying their kid by the scruff of their ski suit or forcing them out in a blizzard. Try these tips to ensure family fun on the mountain.
Forget your old ski life
The days of dozens of runs at high speed with relaxing lunches are over. If you try to replicate your old ski life with your young kids, it’ll end in tears.
Plan to spend most of the first few days on the learner slopes but aim to take turns with your partner and get in a couple of child-free runs. Also, don’t attempt an eight-hour day as it’ll wear them out – sometimes three or four hours are enough if they’re toddlers.
You will be living a new ski life but if all goes well it won’t be long before you’re back doing lots of laps, except this time with your children alongside you.
Be prepared
Scouts may think they’re prepared but no one is as organised as a parent heading up the mountain.
Preparation starts well before you actually go skiing. With kids the most important thing is not whether your child has the latest twin tips, but whether they are warm and happy.
A few weeks before you are due to go, make a list of what you’ll need and do some shopping for gear and food.
Make a checklist and then double check it before leaving home. It’s annoying (and expensive) to get up the mountain without everyone’s gloves.
I recommend taking two bags (backpacks so you have your hands free to carry skis). One will be filled with snacks and drinks; the other with gear.
Have food and drinks for the trip up the mountain, in the cafe and for the ride back home. Kids eat a lot and it’ll save money and time if you have something on hand to keep their energy up.
What to wear
Even if you are just going up for a few days, I recommend buying gloves, socks and polypropylene tops and bottoms for your kids. They are affordable and can be worn throughout winter, not just on the mountain.
If you plan to head up each year then buy a ski suit for your little ones. The one-piece outfit means no snow sneaks in and it keeps them toasty. The downside is that it takes a bit longer when going to the toilet.
Also, use layers when dressing your children so they can take a piece off as the day warms up.
If you buy secondhand clothes and pass them down it can end up cheaper than renting. It also means your kids are warm the minute they get out of the car.
As your kids get older, jackets and pants are worth buying. Once again, there’s a lot of secondhand options available and try to buy neutral colours so you can pass them from kid to kid.
Helmets are great as they both protect your children’s head and keep them warm. However, a hat is fine for your first few visits.
Also, don’t forget goggles or sunglasses and suntan lotion.
Hiring v renting
This is where things can get expensive.
It’s best to rent boots and skis when your kids are just starting out. It’s important to see if they enjoy skiing before spending too much money. Also, most resorts offer deals for passes and skis that make hiring affordable.
The advantage of buying is that you avoid the queues when hiring gear.
This can save a lot of time on the mountain but make sure you buy the right size skis and boots or else your child won’t progress.
Also, if you do plan to hire clothes, check the resort you are going to has that option.
For gear, it’s best to hire on the mountain so you can swap if you have a problem. However, get there early to ensure your size is available.
Buying passes
There is good news and bad news when it comes to passes.
The good news is that many resorts offer free passes to under 5s with some offering it to those 10 and under.
However, there are not many flexible options for the skiing parent.
With small kids, at least one of you will be on the learner slopes while (hopefully) the other is doing a few runs. Ideally, you want to have one adult pass between you as spending about $200 for two passes to get a handful of runs each is costly. Unfortunately, you are not allowed to swap passes.
One option is for the adults to take it a day about. Another option is to go for half a day. Most resorts offer discounted prices for skiing after 12.30pm.
Ski lessons
Sending your child for a lesson is money well spent.
Group lessons are usually about two hours long and are a great way to teach the basics and give parents a chance to get some runs in.
Kids don’t need private lessons until they get better, and a group lesson is more fun as it’s a chance for them to make friends.
Try to do a morning lesson and then take a lunch break. You can then try to ski together as a family.
Big vs small
The best thing about smaller fields is that you can park close to the lodge.
This may not seem a big deal but when you are carrying bags, children, several sets of skis and encouraging a toddler who’s wearing ski boots for the first time, it can be a deal breaker.
Smaller fields are also quieter and it’s nice not to have to navigate kids around bustling crowds.
They can also be cheaper, though some bigger fields have free skiing for under-10s.
Large commercial fields have their advantages too, including having shops so you can buy gloves to replace those you have forgotten.
They also have magic carpets on their learner slopes. Don’t let this put you off club fields, though. Both my children learned on rope tows and T-bars. Kids find these easier than grown-ups.
Most fields offer gear hire and lessons, but big commercial fields can also offer child-caring services including for kids aged from 2. However, some smaller fields don’t hire clothing so check their websites first.