The Ski Blog

Top tips for family ski holidays!

Are you thinking of taking the plunge this winter and taking the whole family on a ski holiday? Family ski holidays are a fantastic experience for all - but the planning and execution can be fraught with stress and anxiety.

Whether you're all absolute beginners, or an experienced parent wanting to introduce your children to wintersports, we hope the following tips will come in useful.

1. Choose a resort with off-snow activities too:

Whilst the prime object of the holiday is to ski, any experienced ski holidaymaker will tell you that by day three you will be a little less keen to get the first lift and ski until close of play. Adrenaline and excitement will carry you so far, but altitude and exercise will catch up in the end.

So it's important to make sure that neither you nor the kids overdo it, and that there's plenty of things to occupy the family if you decide to knock off a bit earlier once or twice during your stay.

Make sure your resort offers other activities - luckily most of them do. Swimming, ice-skating, bowling, sleigh rides and walking trails can be enjoyed by all the family.

Quite often tourist offices will put on special events, especially during school holiday weeks. Santa, for example, will be a guest in most ski resorts at Xmas, and will often make a personal appearance handing out small gifts or sweets. During special weeks there could be firework displays, free concerts, free shows put on by the ski school, and torchlight descents to either watch or participate in.

So when you're doing your research it's a good idea to check the tourist office websites to see what's on and what else is available.

Of course you might all be too shattered from the day's activities to think about doing anything else - but it's good to have a back up plan, just in case.

2. Choosing a ski school:

If the whole family are beginners then ski school is essential for all of you. If you're all going to be in ski school make sure you choose one where the timetables for adult and children's classes are in sync. Sounds obvious - but make sure before you book. Imagine having to leave your class half an hour earlier everyday because the children finish earlier.

Often ski schools provide excellent children's classes, with pick up and drop off services, specific courses aimed at teenagers, and ski kindergartens for pre-schoolers. You'll probably have an idea of how well your children will adapt to different circumstances, different languages etc, so keep this in mind.

For younger children, 5 and under, an extensive 2 or 3 hour period on snow each day might be too much - particularly early on in the season, when it's usually colder and less sunny on the nursery slopes. A good ski school will advise you on the right kind of tuition for youngsters, usually where snow time is diluted with both outdoor and indoor games and activities.

Another thing to check is the cut-off age for children and adult lessons. In many ski schools a 13 year old beginner will be classified as an adult - and so will be in an adult group. Make sure your 13 year old will be ok with this - preparing them for this in advance will help. Obviously if it's a school holiday week, it's likely that there will be a few more 13 year olds around for them to get friendly with.

As far as they can, ski schools will group beginners by ability - there will be stronger beginners and not so strong ones - but this difference in levels may not be evident immediately, and there may be shuffling around going on during the first day or two. It doesn't mean that your 6 year old is a lot worse than your 8 year old, or vice versa, just that one is learning at a different pace.

3. My boots hurt Mummy:

One of the best things to do to prepare your children for a ski holiday, and to give them a better chance of enjoying it when they're there, is to take them for preliminary lessons at your nearest ski centre at home.

Then they'll know how ski boots and skis feel before they get to a foreign ski hire shop after travelling for several hours, tired, fed up and perhaps a little less than co-operative.

It may seem expensive, but it's a real investment. It's quite possibly a long time since you put on ski boots for the first time - so you may have forgotten how unfamiliar and strange they can feel. If you're a beginner yourself then you will also benefit from having a go at home before taking the plunge abroad.

Let them have some lessons - you'll be able to gauge their enthusiasm. If they like it then you know that a family ski holiday will most likely be a success! And they'll progress faster when they get to resort.

4. When to go:

There isn't always much choice when you can take your family ski holiday if you have school age children.

Obviously during the ski season, if it's impossible or impractical to take them out of school, you're limited to Xmas holidays, February half term or Easter.

Easter may fall late, so you may not want to risk a mid to late April break - at least if it does fall late you'll have more time to watch snow conditions before you book.

February half term weeks are the busiest weeks of the season pretty much across the board. Not only do UK schools break up for a week, but of course the French, Swiss, Austrians, Italians, Dutch, Belgians all enjoy a week off during February. And of course all these nations have keen skiers. As you might expect half term prices double, along with the length of the lift queues.

Fortunately the Europeans tend to stagger their half term weeks - so not all areas will be off at the same time. This softens the blow - but resorts will still be busy for most of February.

There are however some advantages for going in February. Snow conditions are often as good as they'll ever be. The days are longer, the sun is higher, so it can be warmer and more pleasant for your little ones in ski school. And again, knowing that February is prime time, many resorts will organise special events to entertain you.

If you're looking for a Xmas holiday then you could find some bargains. Generally Xmas week in ski resorts is less busy and accommodation a bit cheaper than for the following New year week. Whilst there is still a Christmas atmosphere in ski resorts, Christmas Day and Boxing Day are normal working days for everyone - so ski school will go on as normal.

Christmas is of course quite early in the season - so snow may not be at it's best. But nonetheless you'll find plenty of Xmas cheer, lots of fun things being organised and you'll miss the normal post-Chrimmie dinner nap in front of the TV, and the rush to the sales on Boxing Day - so that can't be a bad thing!

5. Childcare - book in advance:

If you're going to need childcare on a ski holiday make sure you do as much research as possible in advance.  Obviously there will be a limited number of places so it's best to always book in advance, especially if you are travelling during school holidays.

Most tourist office websites will be able to put you in touch with creches and kidergartens, and ask your holiday company too.

A family ski holiday can be one of the best things you all do together - and it's a great way for children to gain new experiences. Making snowmen, sledging, throwing snowballs - let's face it we all like to do that at any age!

Hopefully your first family ski holiday will be the first of many.

What do you think? Have you got any tips or advice for family skiing? We would especially love to hear from ski schools - if you've got any new, kid-specific ideas or courses let us know so that we can tell everyone else!

Mountain Photography - Tips, Tricks and Awesome Views

Whatever time of year you choose to visit the mountains you'll find breathtaking scenery and awe-inspiring panoramas. Everytime you reach the top and step out of the cable car it's hard not to be blown away by the view - no matter how many times you've seen it. The landscapes are always changing with the light, weather conditions, season and a thousand other little variables.

Our featured photographer in this post is Rob Hall, who has captured the mountain landscape in all weathers and conditions.

Rob grew up skiing on New Zealand's mountains, and photographing them naturally followed. His love for mountains has brought him to Europe where he has explored some of the most breathtaking alpine landscapes in the world. Now based in Switzerland, Rob's been roaming the Alps and during the winter months will be indulging both his passions - skiing and photography. Rob is also an expert skier and qualified instructor, and can be booked for private tuition.

His top tips for taking photos of mountain landscapes are: -

• Include foreground into your landscapes to draw you into the picture.
• Be patient. Light changes quickly at times and you may see the best shot just as you've packed up.
• Don't just stand there. Walk around, crouch up and down or stand on something. The first view isn't necessarily the best view.
• Use a tripod.
• Use a polarizer.
• Enjoy and understand your camera, it's easy when you know how.
• Practice

Here's a selection of Rob's work and if you'd like to get a Rob Hall original email him for more details.

Remarkables Mountain Range, Queenstown, New Zealand.

Shining Rock, Anzere, Valais, Switzerland 

Mont Blanc, seen from Les Arcs, Tarentaise, France

Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau, Bernese Oberland, Switzerland 

Near Mt Cook, New Zealand 

Valley View, Tarentaise Valley, Savoie, France 

Glenorchy, Otago, New Zealand - featured in Lord of the Rings 

The Jungfrau, view from Interlaken, Switzerland 

What makes a great...Cheese Fondue

Does anything remind you of a ski holiday more than one of those alpine speciality dishes, loaded with cholestorol boosting cheese and accompanied by jugs of wine?

It's a traditional part of your stay - at least once you'll be going to the typical chalet restaurant to partake in surely what must be one of the most sociable meals ever. So why not have a pre-season fondue party to get you in the mood. Here's a recipe from an old Savoyard sage.

Fondue Savoyarde

You'll need:

Cheese - approx 200g per person, grated. The types of cheese you use will vary according to region but as a general rule use 3 varieties of hard cheese, one of which should ideally be Swiss. Our favourites are Comté, Beaufort and Swiss Gruyere. (Swiss Fribourg is also a good one to use).

Wine - a dry white wine. A good tip is to use a cheap dry sparkling wine - Ayze for example. Sparkling wine lightens the texture a little. Use one wine glass per person plus one for the pot.

1 small clove garlic, some nutmeg, a small knob of butter and dijon mustard.

What to do:

Crush the garlic. Melt the butter in the fondue pot and add the garlic to soften. It's best to start off with the fondue pot on the hob - so that the initial cooking will be quicker. Once the cheese has melted it can then be transferred to the burner on your table. Ceramic or cast iron pots are best, particularly for cheese fondues.

When the butter is foaming add a small teaspoon of dijon mustard and stir. Then add the wine. Do not be tempted to add too much wine. Use a small wine glass to measure. Let the wine heat through and bubble.

Once the wine has been warmed through start adding the cheese. Do this gradually and stir with a wooden spoon in a figure of eight to combine the cheeses. Once the cheese has all been added keep stirring in a figure of eight, add a little grated nutmeg and a splash of Kirsch or a similar strong alcohol. Once you are sure that the cheese has all melted transfer the pot to the burner.

Traditionally no thickening agents, such as cornflour, were used , and if you keep to the proportions mentioned you shouldn't need to thicken it. It's very tempting to add more wine at the beginning but don't, you can always add more later if you need to.

You can also add dried mushrooms - soak them first in hot water for 10 minutes, drain and throw into the fondue pot once all the cheese is melted. Use just a small handful.

Serve with cubes of stale bread. Green salad and a plate of sliced hams and smoked sausage are good accompaniments.

What makes a great....Ski Short Break?

It's a gloomy Thursday afternoon in January, it's been cold and rainy for as long as you can remember, the Christmas and New Year festivities have already receded into distant memory. So what better way to relieve the British mid-winter blues than to grab a few days on the slopes

Short sharp ski and snowboarding breaks have become more and more popular. Budget airlines, good off peak prices and flexible accommodation have all contributed to the growth of the ski weekend, or the mid-week break. What better way to recharge the batteries and liven up those dull winter months?

So here are our top tips for a quick getaway:

1. Choose your resort: Less time spent getting there means more time being there, so a resort which is reasonably close to your arrival airport is a bonus. Remember too that transfer times on a busy Saturday in February will be different to a Thursday evening in January. Geneva to Meribel in a couple of hours is do-able when there is little or no traffic!

2. Book a transfer beforehand, so you can be out of the airport fast, ATS provide transfer services from most European airports, and many of our weekend/short break operators can also provide transfers.  

3. Prebook passes and equipment: Getting these sorted before you arrive will save you time when you get there. Most companies will get this organised for you - some such as Huski, Alpine Chalet Weekends, and Mountainsun, will have equipment and passes waiting for you at the chalet so that you can be out on the slopes with the minimum hassle.

4. Catering: Do you really want to spend precious time in the local supermarket, especially when you know that you'll only get through a quarter of the stuff you buy?  There are some excellent catered packages available, so you can relax and enjoy the skiing - after all that's why you're there. Twin Peaks in Morzine, offers breakfast and 4 course evening meals with wine, starting at just £45 per person per night, and Ski Villaroger, in the Les Arcs part of Paradiski, have fully catered, flexible packages from just £65pp per night in their lovely chalet with hot tub.

5. Little extras: It's worth seeing what other services are available too, such as transport to the slopes and ski hosting, which again will save you time, especially if you don't know the resort. Independent chalet operators can often provide flexible and far more personalised services than the big tour operators, so the holiday can be tailored to suit you. Chalet des Cimes in Ste Foy, for example, as well as accompanied skiing, can design a whole ski safari for you - so that you can ski in different resorts on each day, inlcuding Tignes, Val d'Isere and La Rosiere.

So if you can't manage a whole week, or want to supplement your ski time with a few short trips, then take a look at Chalets Direct's ski weekends page for lots of ideas and very tempting packages!

What makes a great...ski lesson?

Sunday morning - the first day of your ski holiday. After an epic battle to get equipment, lift passes and children sorted out in time, you finally get to your ski school meeting point. You obediently join your group, with about 11 others, receive a short greeting from your instructor and head off to the cable car. You spend the next 2 hours in a long snake behind said instructor, getting cursory comments every now and then which you hope will improve your technique and make you ski like a god. Despite doing this day after day, you don't feel any better about your skiing at the end of it than when you started. Sound familiar?

Sadly a lot of us experience the above scenario - we'd like to improve but the time and money invested in lessons doesn't bring about results. So we end up thinking that maybe we're not fit/adventurous/sporty enough, maybe skiing or snowboarding is something that we'll never be good at. We resign ourselves to getting down the mountain in our own fashion - and it doesn't really matter if we're not great at it, we only do it for one or two weeks a year after all.

Ski and snowboard lessons should be something that you want to keep going back to. They should help you learn how to handle difficult situations - steeper slopes, ice, heavy bumpy snow, off piste, white-out conditions, jumps. Nobody can get better at doing these without practice and guidance.

Hugh Monney is the Director of BASS, the British Alpine Ski School, which has schools in several resorts in France and in St Moritz in Switzerland. Hugh has spent many years developing the teaching techniques used by the BASS schools. The BASS approach is holistic - taking into account the psychological as well as the physical aspects of learning to ski and snowboard.

"Our teachers are skilful, experienced and sympathetic. We like to help people solve their problems and discover how to have fun, and we know how to make it happen."

Group sizes are kept small, with a maximum of 6 people, and BASS insists that humour is a key ingredient for success - "a caring, humourous approach makes the lesson a pleasure for everyone involved. The effectiveness of the sessions are dramatically increased by this important aspect of communication" says Hugh.

BASS also promises that teaching is only in English and that a shared mother tongue "is a must if teachers are to help people make the best progress and understand the subtleties of these great sports."

Getting good instruction can improve your ski holiday by leaps and bounds, and a good instructor should be able to tailor his teaching to suit your way of learning. Coming out of a lesson feeling that you aren't really that good says more about the instructor than your ability - even if you're never going to be Herman Maier, an instructor should be able to get you to work on something that will improve the overall effect.

So don't give up on lessons but do shop around and make sure that you get the right kind of instruction for you. Points to bear in mind are:

1. Group sizes - make sure you know what the maximum group size should be, and is this guaranteed by the ski school, or do they make exceptions in busy periods? 
2. Ability levels - how are levels assessed by the ski school, and what happens if you're in a group which is going too fast or too slow for comfort?
3. Group lessons may not be the best solution for you - no matter how good the teacher a group lesson will usually have to be at the pace of the slowest. If you worry about being bored or holding people up, or if you don't feel comfortable learning in a group scenario, then private lessons may be the better option.

Learning new techniques is fun. Learning how to stay in control brings with it a tremendous sense of achievement and knowing that you can tackle any slope, in all sorts of conditions, does wonders for your self-confidence. Skiing and snowboarding aren't mysterious dark arts whose secrets are only imparted to a select few - so next time you're the 12th person in line behind the instructor, it may be time to change the instructor.

What makes a great....Apres Ski Bar?

For many people the après ski bar is as important a feature of their ski holiday as the skiing itself.

Snow Party by Charlie Adam

It's traditional, it prolongs the feelgood effects of the physical exercise, it's a reward after a day in the great outdoors. It's getting together with like-minded people with whom you really have something in common, it's powder discussions and piste talks, it's like walking into your local, where everyone remembers you and says hello. It's meeting and making new friends, it's an exercise in pulling power but there's no shame if you crash and burn.

It's a key ingredient for a memorable holiday -  years afterwards ski areas may blur into one great mountain panorama, but that time you danced on the tables in ski boots will stand out as a massive fun-filled frivolous highlight.

Obviously apres ski bars will vary across national borders but from Courchevel to Colorado the main elements will be the same. And those elements will be the same if you're 25 or 65 - it's just the proportions that will change.

The key ingredients that will get punters strolling in at 4pm and rolling out at 8pm or later are service, value and music. A simple formula which works time and time again. Adding in extras like mountain views can help but are not essential - since ski resorts began some of the most memorable bars have mushroomed in basement, windowless venues - which are cheaper to lease but require more imagination to establish the ambiance.

Friendly service is essential - at the risk of sounding controversial this is possibly why the Austrians are generally much better at apres ski than the French. We need smiling faces who are happy to have our business and will not look down on us if we are not the best skiers on the mountain. We also need the service to be good.

Value for money is important - it means people will buy 2, 3 or even more rounds rather than have one drink and walk out - a killer for any apres ski atmosphere! Value doesn't always mean the cheapest prices - and canny bar owners have already worked this out. Get the mixture right and people will want to stay, and it won't matter if prices are slightly more than the empty bar down the road. Happy Hours, ski videos, the weekly race sponsored by the bar - all these elements give people another reason to walk in and hang out.

Music - a very subjective area, but crucial when it comes to creating an atmosphere. The success of scores of apres bars has been based on the quality of their music. Many bars will have resident bands - cool ski bums with guitars who can knock out popular tunes that everyone can sing along to. Music doesn't always need to be familiar - the Austrians (again) have made it cool to like oompah bands - at least after a few steins of beer with schnapps chasers. This is possibly another area where the French are at a disadvantage - Edith Piaf and the greatest hits of Jacques Brel will never be great background music.

A great apres ski bar will not make up for lack of snow, terrible accommodation, or splitting up with your girlfriend because she can get downhill faster than you, however the apres ski experience can certainly be the cherry on the top - and make a good ski holiday a truly great one.

What makes a great....Beginners' Week

Your first ever ski or snowboard holiday is an introduction to a sport that will keep you coming back for life. Wintersports holidays are fun, outdoor experiences which you can share with friends and family, you can meet new people, explore fabulous mountain landscapes and enjoy breathtaking scenery.  

If you're tempted to go on a wintersports holiday - and you've never tried any of the sports before - then there are a few things to bear in mind. Similarly if you're an experienced skier and are hoping to take beginners with you the next time you visit the mountains, there could be a number of issues to consider which could either make or break the holiday.

A failed ski holiday - where the beginners in the party hate every minute and just don't get the whole skiing/snowboarding thing - can result in simmering resentment at best, divorce/relationship breakdown at worst!

So how do you make sure that a wintersports novice loves their first week and is desperate to come back for more? Just what makes a great Beginners' Week?
Preparation is key. If you are new to skiing and snowboarding then doing your homework can make your first steps a lot easier.

This homework doesn't just include looking at resorts and deciding which one to try, there is much more that can be done which will save you time in the long run. Here's a few tips and tricks:

1. Physical preparation: If you spend 50 weeks a year behind a desk at sea level, your body is going to get a big shock when it is suddenly required to be physical at altitude.
Yep it's obvious but true - working on your physical fitness is definitely going to help you get more out of your ski holiday. Unfortunately beginner skiers and snowboarders probably expend more energy than intermediates - the whole effort of standing up after a fall can be exhausting.

So if you do lead a fairly sedentary lifestyle take a look at increasing your exercise levels from around six weeks before you go.

Both aerobic and anaerobic fitness are required for skiing and snowboarding. You don't need to be able to run marathons but feeling confident that your body is not going to seize up with the slightest effort is going to be beneficial. Plus you will feel better for it!
For some great tips on getting fit for skiing see Graham Bell's excellent features on the BBC website.

2. Pre-Holiday Lessons: If you are not too far away from an artificial ski slope or an indoor snowdome then it's definitely worth investing in a few lessons before you go.
The whole business of putting on strange boots and then clipping them onto a plank, or two, is very unfamiliar. A few sessions at your local ski centre before your holiday will help you conquer this weirdness. Having a chance to move around with them and take a few pratice turns down a slope will help enormously when you get onto the snow for real. Getting used to the equipment before you get there will help to relieve the stress of the first few days.

The rate of improvement between beginners who've had pre-holiday lessons and those who haven't can be remarkable - quite often these are the ones who will shine when they get onto the snow.

3. Ski and Snowboard School: Just as lessons before you go will prepare you, the only way to learn properly when you're there is to take lessons - from a qualified professional. Don't be tempted when one of your party who has been a couple of times before, says that he/she will show you the ropes - you run the risk of ruining your holiday and theirs'.
Ski schools, especially French ski schools, have had bad press it has to be said. We're all aware of the archetypal French "follow me" ski instructor who has to be coaxed and flattered to impart his wisdom. Fortunately this is changing. Many ski schools now offer small group sizes and English speaking instructors. Maybe have a look at the resort website before you go and see how many ski schools are operating there - several ski schools in one resort will generally mean that there will be competition between them, so they have to be more proactive and customer focused.

It's also worth finding out what other options are available for beginners. Ski and snowboard school usually comprises 2-3h hour sessions at the same time each day over 4, 5 or 6 days. But there maybe more specialist or more tailored options. If you are group of beginners for example - maybe 4 or 5 of you all at the same level - it could be more fun to book private sessions for your group.

Whether you choose to ski or snowboard, look on lessons as an investment rather than an expense. As with all investments it's worth investigating and researching. Look at the school's website, email for information, even call them if you need. And make sure you book in advance so that you don't get disappointed when you arrive.
A word of warning though - as ski schools are usually seasonal businesses their offices may not be manned year round. So if you call in July and don't get an answer, emailing might be best.

4. Choosing a resort: This is a tricky one, especially if you are a beginner and you are organising the holiday. How on earth would you know what makes a good beginners resort? Most ski resorts will have beginners facilities - ie gentle nursery slopes with gentle lifts so that beginners can practice their first turns without fear.
So what should a beginner look for in particular? In reality, all ski resorts want to attract skiers and boarders from beginner to expert, so they will make sure that there are green slopes (the easiest and gentlest), right through to black ones (the steepest), with usually a preponderance of blues and reds in between.

The answer to what resort you should choose depends on what else you want out of your holiday. Let's not forget that a ski/snowboard holiday is a whole package, the apres-ski can be as important as the skiing itself! So make sure that you and your group know what you all want.

If you're looking for chocolate box chalets and horse-drawn sleighs then a purpose-built resort will not fit the bill. If you want lively bars and rocking clubs, make sure there is enough nightlife in your resort. If you want to be able to ski from the door then it's likely that a high altitude resort will be the best bet. If you want good shopping and plenty of other things to do then look at going to a large resort where there will be more facilities.

If you're still at a loss then ask someone else! Other skiers and boarders will always be happy to share their experience. Good online message boards where you can ask questions are the Snowheads Forums and of course our very own Solutions Room.

Skiing and snowboarding holidays are fun and rewarding experiences, so a little planning and preparation will go a long way!