Beginners skiing recommendations in Europe Feb

[antspants]

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

[antspants]

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.

[antspants]

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]

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?

[antspants]

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.

[antspants]

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!

[antspants]

eps said:

ETA : Now you've got me looking at ski gear!!! and we're not even going!!!

sorry!
Very helpful post though, thank you! Hadn't even considered sunscreen for instance.

eps said:

Of course one person's cheap or decent is another persons expensive or rubbish..!!

Yes I keep seeing posters saying decent socks, gloves etc and wonder what "decent" means?

I don't mind spending money on stuff I'll use again as I spend plenty of time outdoors, so things like jacket, socks, base layers and the like I'll use again. Helmets, goggles, and ski pants will be a once a year item, and knowing me if I like it will get upgraded anyway, so may get worn for 6 days and never see the light of day again! Decathlon looks like a good option for those items.

To be fair to my son although he likes his labels in clothes he wears all the time, I don't think he'll be too fussed (as long as it's not neon yellow!) for ski gear he won't wear when he's back at home. I'll just tell him Mountain Warehouse is the Stone Island of ski wear

Looking at ski jackets, I think the outdoor wear I've got already will probably suffice if I layer up. I've got waterproof jackets with hoods that fit over climbing helmets, plus a softshell or down filled jacket to go underneath, and base layers. It's what I'd wear if I was going out in the snow here, and means I can strip layers off if I get hot.

[antspants]

^ good point thanks.

Ski school is available, phew!

[antspants]

Thanks for all the advice, been very very useful!

Chatted to son tonight, he's not fussed where stuff comes from as long as he's warm and it's in dark colours - can't convince him on the neon yellow - so I'll be able to kit him out for much less than I expected. I'll wear something colourful so he can see me, and I'll look out for the stealth skier in all black!

Private lessons are booked, we were going to be split into different groups otherwise, and we're going to do 2 hours a day. Also got membership at the Snowdome and we start our fast track lessons in 2 weeks. Excited!

[antspants]

DoubleSix said:

Mate, sunscreen thing is no joke. End your holiday on day one if you don’t apply that stuff properly.

Noted, thank you,

[antspants]

^ Ordered thank you

[antspants]

Just thought I'd pop back in to say thank you all for both the location and kit advice.
We arrived Sat afternoon, first skiing was Sunday so just completed 3rd day.
Son and I are having an absolute blast, one of the best holidays I've ever had and we will definitely be doing it again!
He's taken to it like a duck to water and I cant keep up with him, but I'm 48 so I'm fine with that
For me it's been 3 days of constant concentration but it all seemed to click into place on my last two runs this afternoon so I'm really looking forward to tomorrow.
At my age it's bloody hard work, falling over hurts but mainly because I seem to land on the same spot on my right arse cheek every time, and I was so stiff this morning. But I'm loving it!
I've wanted to go skiing for a long long time and so glad we've eventually done it.
Whoever said it would be the best holiday I'd have with my son was spot on! Think I'll be booking next years as soon as I get home.
Thanks again!

[antspants]

craig1912 said:

What’s Kranjaska Gora like now- been a while since I’ve been.

Can't compare onviously as it's our first time here and first ski trip, but I was chatting to a group last night who are here for their 6th time and they said they've noticed an increase in visitors from the UK and a slight increase in prices but they still love it.
It's a small town but plenty of choices for food and drink, clearly focused towards families, with very friendly people. As a resort for complete beginners like us it's been really good so far.

[antspants]

eps said:

Excellent!! It can be a great holiday - rest assured some days are harder than others - snowstorms, sleet or rain and a lack of snow... I think Thursdays are usually the hardest day - you're tired and the skis don't quite seem to do what they're supposed to! But you get over that and then it's much more fun.

Skis haven't done what they're supposed to for 3 days although yesterday afternoon felt like a noticeable improvement.
Don't feel as sore today as yesterday, but I spent less time on my backside yesterday. Once we started skiing yesterday morning the aches and pains disappeared quickly anyway.

[antspants]

Got tricked into going down the black run with my son and instructor this afternoon.

Keeps getting better every day, didnt think we'd be doing this sort of stuff after 5 days. Fantastic but bloody knackering. Doing the night skiing for 1st time in couple of hours.

I am seriously contemplating booking another 4 day trip for the two of us mid to late March when I get back, so any recommendations for somewhere with snow at that time of year would be appreciated.

[antspants]

Just got home this evening, absolutely shattered. Son slept for most of journey home!

Friday was definitely the toughest day, we did a lot of skiing on Thursday including the most challenging stuff and the night skiing, and that took it out of us the following day.

Last run down yesterday afternoon my back and legs just gave up on me, knees stopped bending over bumps and skis just stopped turning when I wanted them to and I fell over 3 or 4 times on way down. The last time I just lay in the snow on edge of slope, just couldn't summon the energy to get up. Turned round to see my son doing exactly the same just behind me

But a fantastic holiday that we will definitely be repeating. Just need to wait for my legs to start working again and bruises to go down!