Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Ski and snowboarding

For ski chat, join the Mumsnet Ski forum. Check out our guide to the best resorts in Europe and our family ski holiday packing list.

See all MNHQ comments on this thread

Flip

Original poster

European ski resorts with all day ski school for kids

18 replies

keenoonvino · 04/09/2018 11:30

Do they exist? We took our then 4.5 year old skiing a few years ago in France, and the ski school was only a couple of hours in the morning or afternoon. It was utterly pointless and he didn’t learn a thing. I learnt to ski in the US where ski school for kids is 9-4, and by the end of the week the kids have learnt so much.
Does anyone know of any european resorts where they run all day ski school for kids? I don’t want to do private lessons for him all week, as that is no fun for him. My siblings and I used to love ski school, making friends etc. And learning to get down the mountain!! I’d be really grateful for any suggestions as we are hoping to go again in 2019.
Thanks!

OP posts:

LatinForTelly · 04/09/2018 11:36

Hi keenoonvino I'd get this moved to the skiing section within travel as there tends to be lots of traffic there. (Sorry, I can't answer your question but am a skiier so it stood out!)

Original poster

keenoonvino · 04/09/2018 11:38

Ok thanks!! I’ll do that :)

OP posts:

gnomeisland · 04/09/2018 11:51

Many Austrian resorts have all day ski school for children and adults.

It's been a long time since my DC learnt to ski, but both myself and all the Dc spent many happy weeks with the ski school in Westendorf:

schischule-westendorf.com/en/skischool-westendorf-the-reds-are-the-best.html

massistar · 04/09/2018 12:03

Yes I've seen this in Austria too. We've only ever done half day mornings and skied with them in the afternoons but it is available and some give them lunch too.

TipsyTopsyTurvey · 04/09/2018 12:18

I don't know about nowadays but when I learnt to ski as a child (in the 80s) we had all day ski school in Kitzbühel, Austria.

I would highly recommend it - my sister and I had a great time over the years.

I spent a lot of time in Les Trois Vallées this past ski season and whilst the ESF (Ecole de Ski Français) don't offer an all day option - some of the independent ski schools are catching on to it. (Although - I am not sure how much teaching is actually done in the afternoon unless you pay for private instruction.)

lastqueenofscotland · 04/09/2018 12:22

Flaine I think have an all day ski school and some proper scary black runs for experienced adults

Campigllo in Italy

MNHQ

AnyaMumsnet · 04/09/2018 13:22

We're moving this to Skiing at OP's request

stringbean · 04/09/2018 20:19

Evolution 2 in some of the French resorts will allow you to book lessons from 9-12 and 2-5 (or 9-11.30-ish and 2-4.30-ish) with a supervised lunch in between.

Original poster

keenoonvino · 05/09/2018 11:27

Thanks, some good suggestions here. Ideally I’d like something entirely supervised all day, including lunch. Then we could ski with them for an hour or so in the afternoon if they wanted To. I think a couple of years investment of all day, all week ski lessons and hopefully they will then be competent enough to ski with us...

OP posts:

Yikesisthatmeinthemirror · 08/09/2018 23:13

I'd just go to Whistler. All day lessons and they are STREETS ahead of anything we've had in Europe, even when we've hired a private instructor for the week.

BlackLambAndGreyFalcon · 15/09/2018 18:00

We ski in Austria. Once dc turns 4 you have to book full day lessons - there isn't an option for half days. The lessons are 2 hours in the morning and 2 hours in the afternoon, but you can also pay for lunchtime cover if you want (we usually prefer to eat lunch with dc).

memyselfandmoi · 18/09/2018 17:03

Most ESF schools do this. In Les Gets they have a creche which ties in with the ski lessons. My oldest used to go before we moved here and he loved it, one of the mothers at my kids school runs it and she's lovely - www.ski-school-lesgets.co.uk/children/lessons-kindergarden

anappleadaykeeps · 25/09/2018 12:58

Austria

NicoAndTheNiners · 25/09/2018 13:05

Some resorts will only do this in english school holidays so be careful. We went to Val d'isere once with the impression esf did this. Booked accommodation and when tried to book lessons only had the option of french ski lessons or private.

Esprit were trialling the option of all day lessons at some of their chalets....not sure if it took off.

Wildboar · 25/09/2018 13:09

Snowfocus do all day lessons. Really good.

turkeyboots · 26/09/2018 19:08

Esprit offered all day lessons but afternoons were an additional private lesson. Club Med let kids choose, so they normally went out again after lunch, but could stay for indoor activities if they prefered. DS did a half day midweek and just had a huge nap for the afternoon!

drspouse · 30/10/2018 10:39

With Esprit they play in the Snow Club in the afternoons rather than skiing but at 4 or 5 this may be better for them.

allthgoodusernamesaretaken · 12/11/2018 08:51

We went to Austria with Crystal. Lessons were morning and afternoon. You send your child with enough money to pay for lunch. Instructor helps them to choose and pay for lunch, and sits with the kids

Suggest you make sure the resort is big enough to have classes of English speaking children. Our DS once ended up in a class full of German speaking children and was miserable because he couldn't talk to any of them

Flip