Beginners skiing recommendations in Europe Feb
Discussion
Bit of a last minute decision but would like to take my 13 year old son skiing in Feb half term. Neither of us have been before, but it's something I've always fancied trying but ex always preferred sun to snow.
Having never been before I have no idea where to start from destinations, lessons, gear etc etc. So ideally a package deal with lift passes, lessons, equipment all included would be preferable.
Recommendations on suitable destinations that have good ski schools for adult and teenager would be extremely useful whilst I do my own research, as well as advice on what gear we'd need to take ourselves.
Complete novice with no knowledge so any advice will be much appreciated
Having never been before I have no idea where to start from destinations, lessons, gear etc etc. So ideally a package deal with lift passes, lessons, equipment all included would be preferable.
Recommendations on suitable destinations that have good ski schools for adult and teenager would be extremely useful whilst I do my own research, as well as advice on what gear we'd need to take ourselves.
Complete novice with no knowledge so any advice will be much appreciated
Kranjska Gora
Lovely place, lovely people, cheap, short transfer and great for beginners
https://www.crystalski.co.uk/ski-resorts/slovenia-...
Lovely place, lovely people, cheap, short transfer and great for beginners
https://www.crystalski.co.uk/ski-resorts/slovenia-...
Most decent resorts will be able to accommodate you, so I wouldn't worry too much. Just maybe avoid some more adventurous resorts like St Anton or Ischgl. Get some brochures from Crystal and Ingalls et all and they'll give you a good steer. They rate the resorts based on ability.
One thing I would say - get as many lessons in the UK as you can before you go. Having all the basics nailed before you go will make your first week much more enjoyable. You could have lessons in the morning and then go exploring and practising in the afternoon with your son.
One thing I would say - get as many lessons in the UK as you can before you go. Having all the basics nailed before you go will make your first week much more enjoyable. You could have lessons in the morning and then go exploring and practising in the afternoon with your son.
Good start thank you.
Read your thread gt3rswp so will give that resort a look.
Craig the Slovenia resort looks good, having a look now.
GT72 we're only about 45 mins from Tamworth Snowdome so I'm looking at doing a couple of fast track sessions so I can at least stand up when I get there.
Read your thread gt3rswp so will give that resort a look.
Craig the Slovenia resort looks good, having a look now.
GT72 we're only about 45 mins from Tamworth Snowdome so I'm looking at doing a couple of fast track sessions so I can at least stand up when I get there.
Potentially the best holiday you'll ever have with your lad!
When my son was 9, we joined a load of other school parents and assorted kids in a chalet in La Plagne. Neither of us had ever been to the Alps, let alone had a go on skis and I was the only adult beginner.
He went off to ski school, I booked private lessons for 5 mornings in a small ESF beginners class, all organised by the chalet company.
By the middle of the week, we both hated it but on the Thursday, it all miraculously came together and we were smitten and have been every year since at least once (he's now 28!)
We took far too many clothes (it's hot work being a learner) and rented all the ski kit when we got there. They give beginners all the rubbish but you won't know the difference and it won't matter if you're wearing Aldi or Solomon.
Be prepared to spend loads, cry and laugh in equal measure, take loads of photos and just appreciate where you are. An all-in, package chalet/hotel deal is the way to go first time, make life as easy as you can and forget any kind of self catering.
Half term will be busy wherever you go and expensive but you won't know any different so just go with the flow.
Can you tell I'm jealous?
When my son was 9, we joined a load of other school parents and assorted kids in a chalet in La Plagne. Neither of us had ever been to the Alps, let alone had a go on skis and I was the only adult beginner.
He went off to ski school, I booked private lessons for 5 mornings in a small ESF beginners class, all organised by the chalet company.
By the middle of the week, we both hated it but on the Thursday, it all miraculously came together and we were smitten and have been every year since at least once (he's now 28!)
We took far too many clothes (it's hot work being a learner) and rented all the ski kit when we got there. They give beginners all the rubbish but you won't know the difference and it won't matter if you're wearing Aldi or Solomon.
Be prepared to spend loads, cry and laugh in equal measure, take loads of photos and just appreciate where you are. An all-in, package chalet/hotel deal is the way to go first time, make life as easy as you can and forget any kind of self catering.
Half term will be busy wherever you go and expensive but you won't know any different so just go with the flow.
Can you tell I'm jealous?
LFB531 said:
Potentially the best holiday you'll ever have with your lad!
This, absolutely this. We have some pretty nice holidays each year to some quite exciting locations and nothing compares to the annual family ski trip. It is head and shoulders our favourite holiday each and every year.For those more knowledgeable than me - would Austria be better than France for Feb half term, as it's the French school holidays during the UK half term? Not for me (we take our kids out of school for a week) but for the OP.
LFB531 said:
Potentially the best holiday you'll ever have with your lad!
Great post thank you and it is my hope it will become an annual activity. We've been doing activity holidays together in the Lakes once or twice a year even while his mum and I were married, climbing and stuff which he loves, so I'm pretty sure this will be a hit as well. Think I'm going to go with the Slovenia recommendation, looks like a nice place, found a lovely hotel which also has a ski school/equipment rental place in the centre of the town. Strangely the Crystal website only offers flights into Salzburg which is a 3h30m transfer, whereas I can get it elsewhere with flights into Llubljana which looks to be about 1hr transfer and a more local airport here as well.
I'm not against taking him out of school for a week (and he'd be very happy
) so if this makes a big difference in terms of cost/experience I'd be interested. Although saying that he's probably likely to meet a few other kids at ski school if it's half term so... antspants said:
I'm not against taking him out of school for a week (and he'd be very happy ) so if this makes a big difference in terms of cost/experience I'd be interested. Although saying that he's probably likely to meet a few other kids at ski school if it's half term so...
Difference for us, as a family of 4, is - £5,000 Half board in hotel in half term against £3,000 for the same hotel 1 week later - ) so if this makes a big difference in terms of cost/experience I'd be interested. Although saying that he's probably likely to meet a few other kids at ski school if it's half term so... The price differences generally relate to accommodation and flights - lift passes, lessons, ski hire, food etc are the same price whenever you go.
Yeah for just the two of us the difference will be much less.
Anyway trip booked 7 days in Kranjska Gora, Slovenia, always prefer a recommendation than taking pot luck so thank you
and there are that many places to choose from it's hard to know where to start.
So onto my next lot of questions...
Is it worth buying some gear before we go, things like jackets, pants, gloves? I'm assuming it's best to just get helmets and goggles there? I've got quite a bit of outdoor gear but not sure what will be suitable for skiing as well? I've also got a mate who goes boarding every year so he may have some older gear that he's happy to lend me for my 1st time.
But my lad is a different matter and as a fashion conscious teenager I'm sure will turn his nose up at any rental clothing. Don't want to go mad because he'll have grown out of anything by the time the next trip rolls round.
What are the core items you'd recommend taking?
Anyway trip booked 7 days in Kranjska Gora, Slovenia, always prefer a recommendation than taking pot luck so thank you
and there are that many places to choose from it's hard to know where to start. So onto my next lot of questions...
Is it worth buying some gear before we go, things like jackets, pants, gloves? I'm assuming it's best to just get helmets and goggles there? I've got quite a bit of outdoor gear but not sure what will be suitable for skiing as well? I've also got a mate who goes boarding every year so he may have some older gear that he's happy to lend me for my 1st time.
But my lad is a different matter and as a fashion conscious teenager I'm sure will turn his nose up at any rental clothing. Don't want to go mad because he'll have grown out of anything by the time the next trip rolls round.
What are the core items you'd recommend taking?
Good choice - been there three time in winter and once in summer.
Look at Decathlon or Trespass for decent inexpensive stuff (also TK Maxx)
Trousers ,jacket some wool socks and wool base layers (Mountain Warehouse is good for base layers)
Look at Decathlon or Trespass for decent inexpensive stuff (also TK Maxx)
Trousers ,jacket some wool socks and wool base layers (Mountain Warehouse is good for base layers)
Edited by craig1912 on Tuesday 7th January 14:02
Items to take:
1. Definitely a decent ski jacket and trousers - these will be essential in keeping you dry and warm.
2. Base layers including thermals and a good few pairs of decent ski socks. The right socks are will make sure you're both more comfortable in the boots you rent.
3. Warm hats and some good ski gloves. Make sure they're waterproof.
4. Personally, I'd recommend you buy your own helmets as the rental ones are a bit ropey and sweaty. You'll need goggles too.
1. Definitely a decent ski jacket and trousers - these will be essential in keeping you dry and warm.
2. Base layers including thermals and a good few pairs of decent ski socks. The right socks are will make sure you're both more comfortable in the boots you rent.
3. Warm hats and some good ski gloves. Make sure they're waterproof.
4. Personally, I'd recommend you buy your own helmets as the rental ones are a bit ropey and sweaty. You'll need goggles too.
I'd say a skiing jacket is not essential. For the first 8 years I just used my Gore-tex walking jacket with layers beneath - far more breathable and waterproof than 90% of skiing jackets. I still take it with me now for snow days, having eventually bought a ski jacket.
I would buy your own helmet, they don't wash rentals and it's a very sweaty sport - yuk. Get one from Decathlon and it won't be that much more expensive than renting. If you take to the sport you can always upgrade later. The only things we've rented are boots and skis. Borrow stuff and wash with Nikwax products before you go.
As for fashion conscious teenager - Ebay or Facebook Marketplace is your friend - or just use the outdoor gear he already has. There are lots of other teenagers who buy brand new expensive gear every year which is outgrown the following year having been worn for a grand total of 6 days. You can get some cracking bargains if you're patient. I got some North Face 3 layer Gore-tex salopettes a few years ago for £10 off Ebay. They were retailing at £299 at the time. Wash and re-proof with Nikwax and you'll be fine.
I would buy your own helmet, they don't wash rentals and it's a very sweaty sport - yuk. Get one from Decathlon and it won't be that much more expensive than renting. If you take to the sport you can always upgrade later. The only things we've rented are boots and skis. Borrow stuff and wash with Nikwax products before you go.
As for fashion conscious teenager - Ebay or Facebook Marketplace is your friend - or just use the outdoor gear he already has. There are lots of other teenagers who buy brand new expensive gear every year which is outgrown the following year having been worn for a grand total of 6 days. You can get some cracking bargains if you're patient. I got some North Face 3 layer Gore-tex salopettes a few years ago for £10 off Ebay. They were retailing at £299 at the time. Wash and re-proof with Nikwax and you'll be fine.
Did you check ski school availability before you booked ? Half Term is peak and they normally get booked up by the previous November for that week.
Decathlon is your friend for value kit. eBay or FB marketplace can be good for little used gear too, especially if the lad is still growing.
Also see this recent thread:
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
Decathlon is your friend for value kit. eBay or FB marketplace can be good for little used gear too, especially if the lad is still growing.
Also see this recent thread:
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
Speed 3 said:
Did you check ski school availability before you booked ? Half Term is peak and they normally get booked up by the previous November for that week.
I did not, oops! But I have already emailed them regarding equipment hire, lessons and hotel transfers (think shop is owned or affiliated with hotel) so will keep my fingers crossed. If not I'll be taking him out of school after all so we can cram as many lessons in as possible before we go!
Thanks for all the kit recommendations, sounds like a visit to Decathlon at the weekend is on the cards.
As many have suggested, purchase a helmet that is comfortable/breathable, don't leave it to chance with rental shops. Mountain Warehouse are great to start out, good quality stuff. No point spending loads on high end brands.. you can do that once your hooked 
Good socks are worth investing in as well as gloves. Many of the cheap gloves do not stay waterproof for long periods. Also goggles can be handy, especially if the weather is not perfect with blue skis, just helps see the terrain better with the right lenses..
Hope you and your son have a great one!
G
Good socks are worth investing in as well as gloves. Many of the cheap gloves do not stay waterproof for long periods. Also goggles can be handy, especially if the weather is not perfect with blue skis, just helps see the terrain better with the right lenses..
Hope you and your son have a great one!
G
craig1912 said:
Kranjska Gora
Lovely place, lovely people, cheap, short transfer and great for beginners
https://www.crystalski.co.uk/ski-resorts/slovenia-...
Absolute bingo.Lovely place, lovely people, cheap, short transfer and great for beginners
https://www.crystalski.co.uk/ski-resorts/slovenia-...
I stay at Lake Bled every February and shuttle between Kranjska Gora, Krvavec, Cerkno, Vogel, 3 Landereck (over the border in Austria, the Slovenia ski pass covers it), and the Italian one whose name escapes me (same applies regarding ski pass), in a hire car. For a first trip, definitely stay at a hotel at Kranjska Gora though.
Slovenia's great for beginners/intermediates and if you've got kids. The brilliant hing is that it's not mobbed with Brits, or anyone else come to that, at half term. It's mostly locals day skiing rather than holiday makers, so there's never any congestion or queues for lifts. Brilliant.
Edited by ElectricSoup on Tuesday 7th January 15:54
ElectricSoup said:
The brilliant thing is that it's not mobbed with Brits, or anyone else come to that, at half term. It's mostly locals day skiing rather than holiday makers, so there's never any congestion or queues for lifts. Brilliant.
That's good to hear, as well as another vote for location, hopefully ski school won't be fully booked. Funny you should mention Lake Bled (didn't realise it was so close) I was out in Slovenia for work a few years ago in the winter and we got taken there for a walk across the ice to the island in the middle, it's got a church on I think?? Both of us from the UK found it very strange stepping out onto the ice as it's everything we've been told not to do since we were kids!
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