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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

AIBU to think I should be able to find English ski school for full days in April?

46 replies

skischoolhelp · 04/02/2018 21:33

Last year the kids had great English ski school 9am to 4pm in Avoriaz with one hour for lunch. A really fun enthusiastic English instructor. We wanted a change of location this year and it obviously needs to be a high resort to be snow sure in April. However we cant find any resorts with English ski school, small classes and 3 hour sessions morning and afternoon. We really want group lessons not private so they are with their own level. They had such fun and made such great progress and am sure it would not be the same in large EDF type group especially with instructor saying everything in 2 languages. They want to ski every minute of the day so we don't want 2 hour lessons and ideally not 2.5 hour although could do that. Surely there must be another ski school somewhere???

OP posts:

Frazzled2207 · 05/02/2018 17:18

I wouldn't rule out Esf - in busy resorts in busy weeks they will have English only groups. I've had this, and also had the mixed language groups which were broadly ok too. Worth emailing them if you have a resort in mind.

Original poster

skischoolhelp · 06/02/2018 09:19

Thanks very much for these ideas. All suggestions welcome.

OP posts:

OhCobblers · 06/02/2018 19:23

Ive just checked the ski2 website and it seems according to the pricing (£230 per child 10am3pm) that you can book independently from a package holiday deal. There is a uk number listed so worth giving them a call to check? Hope that helps.

Original poster

skischoolhelp · 06/02/2018 22:14

Thanks for your help but the kids want to ski at least 9 to 4! Fine to meet me for an hour or so for lunch during the day but they want to ski all the rest of the time and sadly my health means I cant ski and I am not happy for them to ski alone. 10 to 3 probably only gives them 4 hours skiing a day as they will no doubt stop for lunch. Also if they don't return to have lunch with me I would be alone all day and it is miserable enough not being able to ski anymore without even hearing all their enthusiastic chatter at lunch and feeling at bit involved. Last year they were desperate to carry on when the lesson ended at 4pm each day even after 9 days.

OP posts:

Someoneasdumbasthis · 07/02/2018 08:06

Esf Star in tignes is 9 to 12 and 2 to 5.

SinceWhenDid · 07/02/2018 08:17

How old are the kids and what level of skier?

If you can't find all day lessons is there somewhere which has a freestyle park close enough for you to go and watch them do laps if they like that sort of thing?

LIZS · 07/02/2018 08:25

After 3 o' clock the snow will be pretty slushy and they may find conditions heavy going anyway in which case 4 hours would be enough. If not could they practice on the lower slopes with you supervising for longer. It depends on age and ability really but they should be fine on runs within their ability that they have already skied.

Sevendown · 07/02/2018 08:28

Can you hire someone from the uk to go with you?

Original poster

skischoolhelp · 07/02/2018 08:32

Thanks. All aged 8 or above. Only skied a few years each but all fearless and were on red with instructor last year. Last year I couldn't supervise anything as couldn't see any runs or get anywhere as non skier in Avoriaz and they seemed to be off in Switzerland loads. Same time of year then and they were skiing until 5pm when allowed and lessons til 4pm.

OP posts:

altiara · 07/02/2018 10:37

Could you not go back to the same resort if DCs enjoyed it so much?
Or do you need to find a huge resort so there are more ski school to choose from?

Original poster

skischoolhelp · 07/02/2018 12:17

I am happy to go to any resort I can drive to. Have seriously considered going back to Avoriaz but would really prefer not to as think they would like to ski new runs but haven't totally ruled it out. Currently considering English ski school 9-12 and then using French ski school in the afternoon as a compromise as there are French groups available in most resorts for long afternoon sessions.

OP posts:

AnchorDownDeepBreath · 07/02/2018 12:59

Which bits of Avoriaz did they ski? There's a few areas close enough to go to; and it's one of the only places that I know definitely does both all day lessons and English only.

There's definitely something to be said for skiing different slopes; but with budget constraints and your additional requirements in terms of hours skied and language spoken, it might not be feasible right now.

Original poster

skischoolhelp · 07/02/2018 13:42

Anchor - They seemed to go to Switzerland a lot but no idea exactly which runs. Sevendown - that is exactly what I need and had actually considered but had no idea where to start, despite others saying it was a crazy idea.

OP posts:

freddiemercury · 07/02/2018 13:48

Hochgurgl austria

squeaver · 07/02/2018 13:52

I was just about to suggest Obergurgl and Hochgurgl in Austria!

Original poster

skischoolhelp · 07/02/2018 16:07

Do you have a ski school in mind in Obergurgl as the ones I can see seem to be 10 -12 and 1.30 to 3.30???

OP posts:

Youcanstayundermyumbrella · 07/02/2018 16:13

Surely that's all day once they've had lunch? The resorts we've been to have had ski schools at that time and it's certainly felt like all day to the kids, but I think they'll be too low for Easter.

Original poster

skischoolhelp · 07/02/2018 17:04

Last year the lessons were 9 to 12 and 1 to 4 and that was prompt start not meeting at 9 to set off at 9.15. By 4pm they were desperate to continue skiing every day so definitely wanting to ski a minimum of 6 hours a day. They are all very fit and used to a lot of sport and would certainly not be happy with just 4 hours a day, Presume my kids are unusual then. The 8 year old chooses to run 2km each day before school as part of her training and then do 2 clubs every evening, The 10 year old does ice hockey at least 4 times a week. Totally not my choice as I can scarcely walk let alone join them in anything.

OP posts:

Thethingswedoforlove · 07/02/2018 17:47

Look at oxygene in la Plagne. They offer morning and afternoon lessons

geekone · 07/02/2018 17:52

Go to Canada there should still bbe plenty of snow and all lessons are in English. It is a little more expensive to get there but better prices for food etc when there.

Original poster

skischoolhelp · 07/02/2018 18:42

We are looking at Oxygene. Sadly I think Canada is way out of our price as we drive taking all our own food and equipment and stay in very cheap accommodation so the only significant cost is the lessons and lift passes. We do packed lunches so don't buy anything on the slopes. I presume flights for 5 would cost at least double our whole budget and we wouldn't be able to take any food and have to pay extra for equipment. I will have a look at prices of flights but it is school holidays. Any recommendations of cheap flights to Canada in April welcome as I would much prefer this option to the long drive. Also pre kids had amazing holidays to Canada so definitely love the idea.

OP posts:

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