Come and be excited with me!

[clam]

We leave for France 3 weeks on Saturday. Have spent most of the weekend checking the webcams to see how much snow has fallen (loads). DH is now taking the piss and won't play.
So, where are you all going, and have you all got metres of snow to look forward to?

[PatriciaHolm]

Ah yes Major, sorry I think you will need to queue as you will need to have a photo take for him. Also make sure you take passports for the children when buying the passes; they are getting much hotter on checking ages, to the extent that they refused to sell a friend a pass for his 3 year old until he showed them proof she was under 7.

[Johnogroats]

I am off next Thursday for a long weekend. Without children! Going to Les Orres, Crevoux and Reallon (or possibly Risoul) with some friends. Can't wait. The snow looks fab...much better than Christmas.

Clam - I always wanted to go to Isola. Let us know what it's like! Hope the leg holds up.

[clam]

I've skied Les Orres and Risoul a few times. Risoul is better, I reckon, and you have the option of skiing over the top to Vars. There's 2.5metres of snow at the moment on the mountain at Isola, and 1.85 at village level. Not sure why it's more than Les Orres and Risoul when they're not that far away from each other really. From what I can see, Isola is quite an ugly resort (quite a few French ones are) but it'll do, and it's notably cheaper than others - but there might be a reason for that. Will find out!
Thanks re: leg wishes.

[Johnogroats]

Clam. We've discussed merits of les orres and Risoul before - have nc. I agree with you re Risoul (we had an amazing day there at new year) but les orres is nearer and I am going with some friends who haven't skied for years, so hoping they have fun. I love the variety of different resorts...the view from Reallon, the half pipe at Risoul, the trees at Crevoux...I could go on . Isola is a bit far, but keen to hear what you think!

[clam]

Ah, I wondered if it was you! You have a place near Les Orres, yes?
Dh's knees are still recovering from that half pipe last year!

[Doshusallie]

We are off to Tignes for half term, can't wait.

Went to val d'isere for new year, snow was fabulous. Dad is in France now, can't remember where but he says the snow is totally amaze balls.

We are looking at morzine for new year this year, and passo tonale for half term next year has anyone been there before? Might start a separate thread...

[clam]

Morzine is quite low isn't it? Might be a risk, snow-wise, at Christmas, although you can get up to Avoriaz if necessary. not been myself, but know a few people who have.

[helencw77]

Clam, thanks for your tips, particularly about taking plenty of chocolate in a rucksack :-) The children will be lucky if they see any of that though..... We are not quite ski in ski out, we're staying in a lodge which is part of a big hotel (lots for ds2 to do with mum whilst we ski), we will either walk to the nearest (close lift), or do a 10 minute drive in our hire car up to the family ski area so I will definitely get some of those ski straps and maybe boot carriers.

I'm really excited but do have this small fear that my 36 year old body is not quite the temple it was the last time we went skiing 10 years ago (it has had four children in between times - lol !) However I do exercise regularly and play a lot of netball so I am hopeful that it will last without being too stiff and creaky......

My house is becoming overrun with ski clothing, I thought I had got everything but then discovered the little trekkers sale and bought some really cute things for dd2 and ds2 :-) I will need to ski next year too just to get my money's worth from this years clothing purchases (note, we certainly haven't bought everything new....)

[clam]

Actually, was in Snow&Rock yesterday looking at ski-boots, and most of them actually have webbed handle thingies on them these days. Not sure about kids' boots though, but tbh, you'll be carrying those.

[clam]

Ooh, another tip: put all the smaller bits (socks/thermals etc) in separate carrier bags per child. Then it's all in one place when you unpack. I now have different colours per person (I'm red, dh black, ds blue, dd pink) because I was fed up trying to sort out whose was whose when their stuff was only a bit smaller than ours but not enough to be obvious until you realised halfway down a run that your socks weren't long enough.

[PatriciaHolm]

Oh clam, that is genius! I've been skiing with kids for 7 years now and never thought of that. That will revolutionise my Easter packing

[hillyhilly]

I'm off on Friday for long girls weekend in Morzine, its snowing there and I've just bought myself a not entirely needed new ski jacket in TK Maxx plus some new socks.
Super excited!!!! Am heading for the airport tomorrow night, partly as flight is early but also if I'm honest, just to get started early!!

[hillyhilly]

BTW Clam thats such a good idea, I think I'll patent it, you'll see me on dragons den with it soon!!
Obvs I'm joking but you could personalise them and everything if you were crafty!

[clam]

[flashheartscanoe]

So Jealous Hilly!
I live 3 hours from the nearest airport so weekends away are hard work. No female friends interested in skiing either.

Have a great time.
Let us know how you get on in Morzine- and if you happen to spot some brilliant independently run apartments close to the slopes ... do share!

[winklewoman]

Clam, have a great time. We had a lovely week at Isola a few years ago. Superb chalet, but a bit of an uphill trek to get to it - but we were a lot younger then. We were in Courchevel the week before last and had a really excellent week.

[oiseau]

can I join in! we are going for our first family skiing holiday to La Tania at the end of March and I just can't wait. I haven't been for 10 years - flash heart - could you still do it? I'm worried I'll have forgotten everything! Going to book a private lesson for Day 2 - do you think this is a good idea?

Just hoping all the rest of the family love it as much as I do. Have forced DH into going in a shared chalet and he is convinced we are going to be spending our entire holiday with Mr and Mrs Bore and their hideous children …. he is not the most sociable of people. Keep telling him it will be fine (crossing fingers)!

Think snow.

[clam]

Sounds fine. What are you going to do on Day 1? Have the kids ever been on skis before? Do you have a snow centre anywhere near you that you could get some of the basics covered for them beforehand (like how to use a drag lift). Personally, I'm not sure I'd want to be the one introducing dcs to skis for the very first time otherwise. We'd have all fallen out very quickly.
Don't underestimate the amount of time it takes to get kitted out on the first morning (so avoid lessons first thing),

[oiseau]

Kids are in ski school from Day 1 and 2 year old in Creche! I meant a private lesson for me and DH?

We are going to the snow centre in Wetherby in half term for the boys to have a lesson as well and just get used to the feel of boots and skis. hope that will be enough?

[clam]

At that age, I would say so, yes.

[flashheartscanoe]

Yes I could still do it fine. Feels impossible for the first 5 minutes and then it all comes back - but oh the pain! Very different from 10 years ago! I'm not useless and walk alot but I had to keep stopping. This year I am training more.

Kids in ski school and independent skiing for DH and me was how we did it - the first day was amazing- I just couldnt believe I'd dropped them off and we had all this time to play.

The private lesson on day 2 is a good idea but I know that I couldn't ski 2 hours straight on the second day. I'd say 1 hour on the second day and another hour later in the week would be good. If you are flexible on times you can book in resort so you can see what suits you. I had a lesson on day 5 and learned a few little crucial things that made alot of difference.

I've never done a shared chalet but would love to. DH is so unsociable he'd never agree. Its an apartment for us!

[oiseau]

Very relieved to hear you could still do it!

I am training quite hard so that hopefully I don't hurt so much - I had a 4 year break from 18 - 22 (i.e. my parents stopped going and I had to earn enough to pay for myself!) and I was in such pain by day 3 I woke up every time I moved in bed! I did that ski fit link you posted flashheart on Friday and my calves are killing me! I am also going to ski fitness sessions twice a week and dragging myself out running, in theory I should be much fitter than when I last went as I could barely run half a mile then - but I was 32 not 42 …..

I said this morning "I am so excited aren't you?" and he said "well yes, but I am really worried about the Chalet" ... Beam me up!! Think we'll be in an apartment next year but I don't know what we will do about childcare for DD as she will only be 3.5 next year.

Good advice re the lessons - I think I will see how we go and book in resort.

[flashheartscanoe]

Don't let me stress anyone out over the fitness thing- I didnt train at all last year, I think thats why it was a shock!

Oiseau- shame DH is worried about the chalet- tell him it'll give him extra peace as you'll have lots of other people to talk to besides him. If it doesnt work- lots of ski resorts have nurseries you can drop them off at- I know Vaujany does.
I'm at the other end of things- I have a 14 year old who has skiied one week who reckons I should let her go off on her own. I think thats a no!

[winklewoman]

I wil be 70 in June and despite some urging frim DH I could not be bothered to do any advance exercise at all. I am not fit, have arthritic old hips, mild asthma and am missing one Anterior C L (yes, an old skiing injury). Three weeks ago in Couchevel, I just put on my skis and set off, skiied every day, not all day but plenty of hours, and milder runs than in the old days. I had said, pre-holiday, that it would be my last ski trip, but ended up saying 'Maybe just one more' . All you young gels will be absolutley fine, stop worrying!

[flashheartscanoe]

Brilliant news Winklewoman-
Generally I love getting older but I always felt not being able to ski any more would be one of the worst things- glad to hear it doesnt have to be the case!
I think my sore legs were probably as much due to bad technique as anything else- I'm not one of those people who glide down easily!