Skiing lessons before we go - worthwhile?

[MyTurnToBeCrazy]

AI says yes but I’m interested in some real experiences please!

First time skiers (well it’s been over 20 years) and children never skied. Ages 15,13 and 9

We have the snowdome about 1/2 hour from us but it’s not cheap. We’ll have daily lessons once we’re out there too but I just wondered if it would be useful
to have a go beforehand? Will it make much difference?

thanks in advance.

A couple of lessons would help with basics of equipment and movement.

Yes. A good idea to get used to equipment and a drag lift. A couple of hours each should do it.

Definitely! What if they hate it!!

Hmm I wouldn't bother. My kids started with zero experience. They were in a small garden area at the bottom of the slopes for lessons on the first day and could go on the green slopes by the end of the day, blue slopes by end of the second day.

I had a year of lessons on a dry ski slope before we went on a family skiing holiday. The rest of my family didn’t have lessons because they had another hobby, so their first time skiing was the lessons in ski school on our holiday. My family reached the same level as me by the end of the week - so I wouldn’t bother unless anyone is particularly anxious about the holiday and wants to find out about what it entails beforehand. Even if you have a few lessons before you go they’ll still put you in the beginners group on day 1 because you won’t have any experience of the lifts.

I would say it’s a complete waste of time. You’ll learn more in one day of ski school abroad (even better if you can book a private instructor) than 6 lessons in a snow shed. I’ve found the standard it instruction and ratios to very unsatisfactory indeed.

much better off spending time and money on general fitness and ski specific excercise.

Mixed responses!! If they hate it, we’ve booked anyway so that will be fun! Maybe we’ll save the money then. I don’t know 🤷‍♀️

Completely agree, general fitness and stamina is much more important.

I think it’s worthwhile, if just to get them used to the equipment, carrying it and so on. Can’t imagine how stressful it would be to get three kids who have never seen a ski kitted up and out to the nursery slopes on day 1. Plus, depending on when you’re going, the nursery slopes and magic carpet area will be rammed- your kids will get a lot more out of it if they can skip that bit.
And if you’ve skied at all, even 20 years ago, you’re not a beginner. You’ll be surprised at how it comes back - but again, you’ll get more out of it if you can do the ‘shit do my legs still know what to do‘ bit back home before you go.

We were in your position 2 seasons ago btw - kids who had never skied and we hadn’t for 20 years. Did a few sessions beforehand at a snow dome( kids had lessons, we just skied) and then had private instructor for all of us out there. The instructor was hugely relieved to find that the kids were competent enough to start on the very easy greens and we didn’t have to brave the crush at the magic carpet. And myself and my husband were able to re-find our ski legs before we were out there and in charge of the kids as well.

Hummm, maybe just pre-lessons for the children then. That would save a bit of £ at least.

Before I went proper-skiing for the first time since 6th Form, I did a course at our local ski village. They guaranteed to get you snowploughing, turning and stopping in 4 x 2hr lessons. I did this before I went, and translated very easily to the “real” slopes.

Possibly a refresher session just for you -- the children will be fine, IME.

DS and his partner did this. Never skied before . They had one full day lesson and several shorter ones at xscape.
It made a huge difference to their holiday, all the basis covered. They didn't take any lessons on the holiday just straight to skiing.

If you and the kids are going to have group beginner level lessons then I wouldn’t bother as you’ll start from scratch and repeat what you did already.

If you are going to have a private instructor for the 5 of you (which is a good idea IMO) then it might be worthwhile doing the basics in the UK as then you can progress faster on the slopes.

Yep. Good idea for the kids. My daughter (aged 9 at the time) learned at the chill factor over a 2 day course in half term. (I could already ski as learned before she was born)

She could snow plough turn slowly by the end of it. We got a private instructor for 1.5 hours the first day of our hol and then she was off!

For that age group I'd do a ski dome lesson. Best to learn the basics with an English language instructor. It will make the first few days on snow a bit easier.

Kids will be fine. For yourself, depending on your fitness level and strength I’d invest in some time in the gym. I easily managed the skiing part of the holiday but I found that I got physically tired easily and it made each day harder to do. I’m a runner and generally in good health but I’m determined to invest in some strength training before our next holiday. Skiing is brutal on your legs.

Thanks all. I think my body might find it a bit different to when I was 18!

I think it’s pretty essential! That first day of your holiday will be so much less stressful if they can:

Put their own boots and skis on
Hold their own skis locked together
Side-step up and down a slope
Glide and come to a snowplough stop
Release their skis when needed

Yes there will be a snow garden and a magic carpet, but you will likely need to do some or all of that to even get to it.

Look at my username and trust me on this one! 😂

My ds is fit and slim but had not skied before he went with school. We paid for 6 group lessons at the snow dome which meant he was then good enough to go on their maim slope alone. We then paid for one month of unlimited skiing. When he went away he was put in the top group and ended up off piste on the last day. It would’ve been a very different holiday without it.
That said it would’ve be very expensive to do that for the whole family.

The kids generally pick it up quickly but I think it’s worth at least one lesson to get them used to the equipment. As an adult learner the ski lessons I had before we went were invaluable and gave me extra confidence (although I was 40 at the time and had never been skiing). As others have said improving your general fitness and stamina is probably more important.

I’d do it just for the kids to make sure they know what they’re wearing, how to put their boots on and carry their skis. Avoiding that stress when 5 of you have to get to ski school for 9am is invaluable. But no need to go multiple times- it is just a nursery slope and the kids will have to go into beginner lessons regardless. And I wouldn’t go yourself since you already have thar familiarity and as PP rightly say focusing on your fitness and stamina will be much more useful.

I thought I’d update for anyone who might be looking for advice given we are now away skiing. I would say we probably didn’t need the lessons although it was useful to a) see all the ski stuff fit etc and b) as someone said upthread, the children knew how to put on boots and hold skis etc.

However, it was expensive at the Snowdome and family children who we are with are pretty much the same standard on day 2, so on balance save the money.

And it’s very different to be skiing as a middle aged person, even though I’d like to think of myself as reasonably fit and active, than a teenager 😬. My body is feeling it.

Children are loving it though.

Aw, stick with it! Props to you for even trying it, it’s hard to learn as an adult. make sure to enjoy all the non-skiing wonders in the mountains - scenery, lovely cafes, spas, tobogganing, that brilliant feeling of your body being righteously tired at the end of the day.

100% agree about lessons in snow domes. I don’t rate them at all.