Watch out for the ski warrior!
Homes Under The Hammer star Martin Roberts wasn’t sure his kids could cope with slopes – then they got the warpaint out
BEFORE children, my wife Kirsty and I were avid and regular skiers. But since the arrival of Scott, our seven-yearold, and later Megan, four, we’d put the boots and salopettes in the loft, and skiing holidays on the back burner for what we thought would be at least ten years.
But then we heard about Ski Esprit, a travel company that specialises in family ski holidays, with children and babies of all ages catered for by dedicated and qualified staff.
So, could it be possible that our children had already reached the age when they could join us on the slopes?
To find out, we set off to Courchevel in the French Alps, part of the massive Trois Vallées ski area.
After a transfer from Geneva, and settling in to our family-friendly Crystal 2000 hotel, Scott was soon kitted out and signed up to join the ‘Sprites’ beginners’ group, and each morning at 8.45 he met up with the 20 or so other similarly inexperienced youngsters for their warm-up session.
I listened from our bedroom window as the ‘Ski Rangers’ whipped them into a glowing frenzy through a series of ‘Sing after me and sing louder than me’ army-boot-camptype chants – but with a nurseryrhyme twist.
From there they were bundled into the safe hands of the ‘Enfant’ division of ESF – the official French Ski School. The predominantly female instructors provided a perfect combination of motivation, fun, tuition and encouragement.
Megan joined ‘Spritelets’ for afternoons on the bunny slopes – the snow is less likely to be icy, and therefore more forgiving, by that time.
Scott took to his skis like a seal to water and, after one lesson, was pestering us to take him out on the nursery slope just outside the hotel.
Megan was a little less enthusiastic at first, but when she returned from lessons on the third day – face suitably painted – and declared herself a ‘Ski Warrior’, we knew she’d turned a corner, metaphorically and on the slopes.
For us, the time while the children were being looked after gave us the chance to rekindle our love of the pastime. Apart from looking after your offspring during the 6pm to 7.30pm gap between the kids’ tea and adults’ dinner, you could leave them in their capable hands all day if you wished.
The relaxed, familyoriented atmosphere of the hotel and holiday in general was a joy – with no ‘tuttutting’ from fellow holidaymakers as children do what children do. Onesies and slippers were de rigueur après-ski. For the kids, too.
Food-wise, a hearty buffet breakfast was complemented by a special kids’ lunch and teatime meal, with plenty of child-friendly food. Gourmet dinners satisfied the adults.
On our final day, almost unbelievably, we all went out skiing as a family. By this time Scott was executing parallel turns and showed no fear.
Meanwhile Megan – who can’t yet ride a bike without stabilisers – was scooting down the slopes, under control, doing a decent snowplough. Their progress after just six days of lessons was awe-inspiring. Skiing will never be everyone’s cup of vin chaud. But all things considered, I can’t think of any family holiday experience that has ticked so many boxes.