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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Aibu to Think that it Will be easy enough to go on a ski holiday with a 5, 7 and 8 year Old, without putting the kids in ski School?

637 replies

danishkids · 27/01/2022 23:49

We Will go on our first ski holiday ever on Saturday and I’m really looking forward to it. But the more I chat with friends/family, the more people are making me nervous. We are 2 adults, my husband and I. I have only ever been on skis for a few hours when I was 16. My husband has skied a few times.

Everyone I talk to tells me that I’m
Crazy and that it’s impossible to teach 3 kids at once. That it will only end up
With irritated children and parents. Am
I crazy to think that it will be fine? Or am
I just having wishful thinking?

Do you have any tips for first time
Skiers? Especially with kids? Any good techniques to help the kids learn fast?

I’m exited about this holiday, but maybe I shouldn’t be?

OP posts:
oncemoreunto · 28/01/2022 18:15

Although in fairness I did really love cross country skiing.

PickleSarnie · 28/01/2022 18:15

I've been skiing for years but there is absolutely no way on earth I would willingly teach even one child never mind three. For two essentially non skiers trying to teach 3 small children it would be utterly bonkers.

Just getting yourself and three kids to the slope in ski boots and carrying 5 pairs of skis between the two of you would be stressful enough.

I know skiing is expensive but I think that's all the more reason so stump up a bit more for lessons so that you can all enjoy it.

Mamma43435 · 28/01/2022 18:18

I went snowboarding for a week with lessons and I really didn't love it. On the last day we went sledding instead and that was the best day.

So I would have a backup plan in case you find you don't enjoy it, and make the most of being in the mountains and snow.

countrygirl99 · 28/01/2022 18:26

@oncemoreunto

I am inclined to agree that cross country isn't as easy as some are suggesting. We had a lesson and DH gave up as he still fell over. I enjoyed it but trying to learn to slow down on hills even small ones isn't easy. I fell over trying to learn that.

It is also pretty physical and I could small dc getting tired quite quickly.

Sledding, tubing and snow shoeing are all pretty easy though.

My son has cross country skiing trails minutes from his home and skis several times a week all winter. He still fell over teaching me on the flat as he was concentrating on me not what he was doing.
TatianaBis · 28/01/2022 18:46

@catlover2015

I haven't read the full 21 pages, so forgive me if someone has already suggested this: would cross-country skiing, snowshoeing or sledging be an option in your resort? That way you're not careering down a vertical slope terrifying yourselves and everyone you meet. In my experience, the cross-country trails are flatter and much quieter, and you would be together as a family. It's hard work, though!
Yes. Well, I suggested skating and tobogganing. But certainly there’s much fun to be had on a winter holiday without actually skiing.
TatianaBis · 28/01/2022 18:46

I agree about cross country skiing cross country, you still need to be able to ski.

Octomore · 28/01/2022 19:23

I’ve skied for around 30 years with and without children (I’m a nanny and ski with my employers) I love it but I am still very nervous. If someone gets in trouble in front of me, either they, I or both will end up in a heap.

If you've skied for 30 years and can't stay in control of avoid accidents, tbh is recommend some more lessons.

I've skied for 7 years now (on and off piste), and I'm not embarrassed to still take the odd lesson to improve my skills. Most importantly, I stay in control and don't crash into people.

Octomore · 28/01/2022 19:24

^ can't stay in control and avoid accidents, that should say

Changechangychange · 28/01/2022 19:32

Also - unless your three year old has really big feet, you may not be able to get skis to fit anyway. We took DS when he was almost 3, and they didn’t have any small enough.

I also think ski school started at 4, in that resort. I know most Canadian resorts have ski kindergarten where younger children can just play in the snow, but I don’t think I’ve ever seen that in Europe.

Mouldyfeet · 28/01/2022 19:37

This is probably the most dangerous idea I’ve ever heard.
You and your husband can’t ski and you want to teach your children, bonkers idea!

Anna10309 · 28/01/2022 19:38

Why on earth would you choose a ski holiday of all types. Neither of you are even remotely experienced, and then to take 3 kids on such a specific type of holiday is just stupidity imo. It will be such a hassle and waste of money.

BIWI · 28/01/2022 19:41

Quite aside from the huge danger of you doing this @danishkids, I can only see misery for your DC.

I presume you want the to enjoy the experience, so that they want to go again? In which case they need proper teaching in a safe and controlled environment.

Frankly I don't think you or your DH will enjoy this experience either.

Giraffesandbottoms · 28/01/2022 19:45

@Changechangychange

Does your 3 year old have very small feet? I just took mine and they had plenty of boots and skis!

LIZS · 28/01/2022 19:46

[quote Giraffesandbottoms]@Changechangychange

Does your 3 year old have very small feet? I just took mine and they had plenty of boots and skis![/quote]
Is youngest dc not 5, as per title? Dd started skiing aged 3 with diddy feet.

Giraffesandbottoms · 28/01/2022 19:50

@LIZS

I’m replying to the comment of a poster who said they took their 3 year old and there weren’t enough small boots

QuantumHypothesis · 28/01/2022 19:58

@SelkieQualia

Skiing isn't something you can just rock up and do, like a roller coaster. It's more like horse riding or paragliding - you need to be trained.
Don’t you also need to have been doing ski warm-up exercises for the last couple of weeks? Squats and such like..?

(I’ve never been but work with people who go yearly).

WiddlinDiddlin · 28/01/2022 20:06

Holy crap..

Ugh - yes it the standard format for a ski holiday is kids into ski school in the morning, adults either ski school if beginners/inexperienced or off you go to play not too far away...

Then pick up kids, and go off to practice what you learned.

As everyone gets better at skiing the afternoons can then involve various outings to different routes and slopes.

The idea of two adults who are novice skiers trying to teach three young children who will be getting used to heavy kit, unfamiliar movements etc... out in the open where everyone else is skiing... is pretty horrifying really.

If at all possible and I mean, get a credit card, borrow it from somewhere, whatever - get ALL of you into ski school for at least one private lesson on day one.

ButtockUp · 28/01/2022 20:13

Glad that you've decided to look at ski lessons.
I was worried that your only regard was that you knew how to strap on to skis , wear a helmet and look online ( all of which you've said.)

You can't go skiing with three children and just hope. Why on Earth did you think that you could.
I have a friend who skis annually, and has done for many years , who put her children into skiing school as soon as possible.

Please don't just pitch up and try.

Giraffesandbottoms · 28/01/2022 21:14

Can basically guarantee from the wording of “look at ski schools” that OP is going to disregard all advice and not use one.

iamnlhfss · 28/01/2022 21:18

Can basically guarantee from the wording of “look at ski schools” that OP is going to disregard all advice and not use one

That's what I thought.... just getting everyone off her back.
I used to work for someone who was constantly writing "look at...." "look into..." in action plans. She "looked at" whatever it was for a few minutes on google or wherever. Then decided she didn't want to implement it (which she never wanted to in the first place) and that was the end of that.

willstarttomorrow · 28/01/2022 21:44

There are loads of replies OP around safety and technique. I cannot ski anymore due to a spinal injury so put DD in a ski school because at 15, even though she is an accomplished and controlled skier, she does not want to ski alone. It is an extra cost but a factored in and as a single parent I want her to ski but it has to be safe.
I do not know where you have booked and the cost of lessons, but trying without lessons just seems bloody crazy to me. For a start, the fun of learning in a group for kids is massive. Also skiing is about control and technique- so stopping! The last time a skied I was taken out by a six year old who just headed down the mountain and could not stop. It is a dangerous sport and for that reason it has been lovely to hear from DD's instructors how good her technique is. She refuses black runs and just loves skiing. Realistically, because we cannot ski in the UK and depend on a few weeks a year, it took a few years until she would confidently do a short easy run by herself.

SD1978 · 28/01/2022 22:11

Looking forward to the post holiday update where OP and you tube has actually produced three potential Olympic skiers, and everyone was wrong that two non skiers can't teach three children safely......and all three kids are proficient now after three YouTube lessons on black runs after day two.........GrinGrinGrin

BakedTattie · 28/01/2022 22:27

What you are considering is at best dangerous, and negligent at worst.

Walkingalot · 28/01/2022 23:08

Shout 'Bend ze knee's' lots.
Actually, could be quite a good family bonding session. One of you goes uphill (further as days go on etc) with the kids. Let them go down, one at a time to the other parent. Job done. They will soon get the hang of it, they're kids! If they are keen, sporty, they will get the hang of it far easier than you. I hope you all have a great time!

Lockdownbear · 28/01/2022 23:19

@BakedTattie

What you are considering is at best dangerous, and negligent at worst.
In a nut shell - I wouldn't like to be the Op trying to defend herself in a court if one of them badly hurts some other poor sod.
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