Thread: New To Skiing

looking for tips...planning skiing holiday with family of 4 for the first time. Boys aged 7+11, none of us has ever been on the slopes before. Travelling from Ireland to where...? Mid term February'07 has been set aside. good idea? or too busy and expensive...?

Depends on how far you want to travel, how much you want to spend. Mid February will generally give good snow wherever you go, Europe or USA/Canada. USA/Canada are generally quieter than Europe. A really good place to learn is La Thuile in Italy. Had a couple of good family holidays there. Stayed at the Planibel hotel. Very nice by European skiing standards. Excellent ski school, and well prepared pistes. Very little walking with all your gear on. (Important if you've got kids) No queuing at the lifts, really good wide cruising runs, (important coz you will progress quickly here, especially the kids) My son loved it here, he was 6 last time we skied La Thuile. Another good beginners resort is Kranska Gora in Slovenia. (Low altitude resort so check snow, but should be ok mid February.) Really cheap and a good standard of accom. Kompass hotel is good. Because of the cost of lessons, private tuition is a good option in addition to ski school. My son learnt to ski here when he was 3. The ski school was really good. Try and book some lessons on a dry slope before you go, (otherwise your kids will ski past you on the second day) And make sure you do excersise before you go or you will suffer. Get fit to ski, don't ski to get fit. Skiing is probably the best family holiday you will ever have, and its something your kids will still want to do with you when they are in there 20's and 30's, (and probably still want you to pay for)
Enjoy