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Ski and snowboarding

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Original poster

Family new to skiing. Tell me what to expect pls.

61 replies

highheelsandbobblehats · 06/09/2019 06:20

We've booked to go to Rauris in Austria in February on the recommendation of a friend who has taken his family there for many years.

Husband and I are both 37, DC are 8 and 6. None of us have skiied before, or visited a ski resort.

We're all booked into a local ski school and will have full day lessons (9-12 and 1-3, lunch is taken together so that we can eat as a family which I like).

So my question is then what? I've seen apres-ski banded around and Google tells me that that's essentially hitting the bar after a day on the slopes. Is this an adult only thing or do children go?

We hope to have an hour or so the slopes after ski school finishes to either ski as a family or use their toboggan run etc. I'm aware it'll be dark early though. Does it all shut down when it gets dark or will there be a chance the toboggan will be lit up?

We're not in a hotel resort, but have chosen a SC apartment in the town (5 minutes from the ski lift). It has a pool, so the DC have that if everything stops at 4pm.

Any information, advice and tips would be much appreciated. I'm fairly spontaneous in the moment and can be flexible about how the day goes, but I'm a planner too and I like to know the ins and out of everywhere we go when we plan a holiday. Helps with the spontaneity when you have all the information!

Thank you in advance.

OP posts:
Original poster
highheelsandbobblehats · 07/09/2019 08:35

I forgot to mention that the ski school we're booked with offer a full package of hire and lessons, so we've booked that, and their hire shop is at the cable car station.

OP posts:
HelloYouTwo · 07/09/2019 08:44

You’ll have a great time!! I’d manage your expectations about learning to ski in a day but it will be invaluable in introducing you to how boots work, carrying skis, sorting your ski pass out, managing the lift, moving whilst wearing planks on your feet etc.

If you know someone who has been to your resort it would be worth asking them about the main lift system. Some places you can ski direct to your accommodation, others you take a big cable car up to the slopes further up the mountain. Being organised and ready for getting yourselves to ski hire shop (do that the day / evening you arrive if possible), passes sorted, knowing where the lift is and what happens at the top for meeting your ski instructors etc will cut down on stress on your first morning. It also takes loads longer to get ready than you would imagine if you’re sorting dc out too. All the layers, gloves, sun cream, finally ready to go then someone needs the loo....

Original poster
highheelsandbobblehats · 07/09/2019 08:45

As far as ski in a day on real snow goes, we're nowhere near centre. But there is one coming 20 minutes away that's allegedly supposed to open next year (can't see it happening, I know the site and it's still very much open in its current form), so that will be great to have on the doorstep.

OP posts:
Yeahyeahyeahyeeeeah · 07/09/2019 12:00

Get fit, if you’re not already. Wall sits, lunges, running, are all good. If you don’t have leg strength you will ache and be unable to walk by the end of a day on the slopes!

Skiing as a family is one of our best holidays. I absolutely love it. My DD10 is now better than me (I’ll ski anything on the piste) but chasing her down the hill is brilliant fun.

Embracelife · 07/09/2019 13:08

Ignore your dh and go get at least few learn to ski sessions at snow done.
It will make a huge difference when you get out there.
If he doesn't want to then fine.leave him to it!
But you will get more out of being there if you have done at least one learn to ski session at ski done...at the least it will show you how easy or hard it will be for you....first few days of learn to ski you wont get much beyond nursery or very easy slopes

Embracelife · 07/09/2019 13:12

Apes ski with kids can be sledging ,ice skating ,swimming to relax muscles, walking around the town, hot chocolate etc
You might want a day off in mid week to go up as pedestrian to highest points to see the views
Snow shoeing can also be fun as a family on a guided walk

lalafafa · 07/09/2019 13:22

Buy helmets here. They’re about €20 to hire them there, I took my hired one off at the end of the day and it was so sweaty, think how many more sweaty heads have been in there. Got the kids from Sports Direct for about £25.

We tried to have a family ski lesson but my youngest, 7, couldn’t reach the drag lift as all the adults were lifting it higher than she could reach.
Put her into kids school the next day.

lalafafa · 07/09/2019 13:24

We did 2 hours ski school a day and were skiing reasonably by the Thursday. I think you’ll find 6 a day exhausting.

Embracelife · 07/09/2019 16:19

5 minutes from ski lift with gear and in ski boots will be more like 15...allow time
You may be too tired to cook but sc can be good for breakfasts and keeping snacks and drinks for lunch

Notageek · 07/09/2019 16:38

When I learnt to ski the general rule was an hour learning in the Uk was equal to a day learning on the slopes. It really is worthwhile as you not only get used to putting on boots and skis, but also to knowing how tight boots should be (3x1hr lessons = 3 days of pain if you’ve done your boots too tight) , how to use drag lifts, how to get up effectiveky etc. It also means that you won’t be in the ‘bottom group’ with loads of newbies who will be struggling to get to grips with this stuff - there can be a lot of waiting around ! Going in at a group one up from the bottom means you’ll actually get so much more out of the experience. On a practical level lessons in the uk mean that you are only doing it for an hour at a time (getting your body used to it rather than feeling you’ve been hit by a truck after day 1) and there will be no language barrier.

poshme · 14/09/2019 13:38

Second the advice on extra gloves. If your kids play in the snow they will get wet hands, and dry gloves are vital.

Take lots of mini mars bars or equivalent- give each child one in their pocket every day to eat mid morning (and you). A small burst of sugar can work miracles when you are getting tired. And don't be afraid to stop for hot choc/ vin chaud late afternoon. But don't drink too much then ski as your insurance won't like that!

Get as fit as you can before you go- you'll enjoy it much more.

ethelredonagoodday · 26/09/2019 21:52

Great thread! Really helpful! We are going for the first time in Feb, so all useful info! Going with pal who is a lifelong skier, but we've never been anywhere near a slope! Eeek!

Iamblossom · 26/09/2019 22:07

My top tip for beginners is get some strength in your arms before you go. You spend a lot of time poling because you are on greens and blues so end up on flat bits annoyingly and poling for any distance KILLS your arms. If you can do some weights in the gym using your biceps, you will thank me for it.

Also thin layers - trekking any distance in ski boots carrying skis makes you very very hot and sweaty.

VanCleefArpels · 27/09/2019 17:06

I used to own an apartment at that place you are staying so know it v well.

There’s not much of a “scene” in Raurus compared to other resorts. It’s perfect for beginners and as others have said I can guarantee you will not be awake post 10pm

There’s a good selection of nice family friendly restaurants in the village within easy walking distance. Plus a good supermarket.

The toboggan run is extremely good fun and will appeal to your adrenaline junkies. I’d say take a day off the skiing to do that for a day, it’s hilarious and you won’t get constantly pissed off at falling over all day 😉

If you are using Maier ski school you will all be in good hands - they are fabulous and do a great presentation party at the end of the week

Atalune · 27/09/2019 17:12

Top tip

Lip balm
Sun screen
Tissues
Hand gel

One set for everyone in their pockets.

Atalune · 27/09/2019 17:15

Pressed too soon....

Little back pack is a fine thing for a full day so you can take a drink and a chocolate bar on the mountain.

Get ski fit- squats, lunges, walk sits, weighted and unweighted. You need stamina!

Buy a helmet.

It’s not uncommon To have one day where you feel sick on the mountain and a bit flu-like. That’s the altitude and I often just manage a half day when I feel like that!

Original poster
highheelsandbobblehats · 12/10/2019 18:19

Well as is the way with my husband, I planted the seed about ski lessons over here first, was shot down as 'I'm not paying for lessons twice', and suddenly last weekend he announced that 'a couple of lessons would be worth doing before we go'. Always the way. So thank you for the advice, we're going to get ourselves booked in.

We don't have a real snow slope anywhere near us, but have found a dry slope with excellent reviews about an hour away. We're going to book ourselves in for 'learn to ski in a day' and our DC into a couple of their junior classes to teach them the basics.

OP posts:
crosstalk · 12/10/2019 19:32

@pepperup "You can't learn to ski in a week" - I find this extraordinary. No, you might not be able to do red or black runs, or slalom, and shouldn't be off piste, especially if you're learning late. But my DC were doing red runs within 6 days at 11 on a school expedition albeit with good attention from expert skiing parents alongside. I was 45 and while I'd only done langlaufing and wasn't particularly fit, I was seriously enjoying purple runs and managed a red run I accidentally went on.

Another one OP for just learning about kit and skis at a dry slope.

pepperup · 13/10/2019 22:22

Not talking about 11 year olds but adults new to skiing. The discussion up thread was about a family group of beginners skiing together in the afternoons. Would you have taken 6&8 year old beginners out alone during your first week of skiing? What if the weather moves in? It depends on your definition of learning to ski as I’ve been several times and while I’m a solid intermediate I am still learning and would hesitate before I took charge of young beginners.

madcatladyforever · 13/10/2019 22:25

You will be spending the entire holiday sliding downhill on your face. The kids on the other hand will be doing black runs before the week is out.

Embracelife · 15/10/2019 14:42

Good for you for booking it will be so worth while ...you will know how to put gear on and how much time you need and how to ski from ski shop or near to ski school start that is a big deal for first day .

redchocolatebutton · 15/10/2019 14:49

broken bones/twisted ankles&bows, sunburn, colds.

prepare well, do at least a month in the gym for general fitness/balance.

take out comprehensive travel insurance.

have fun!

LenoVintura · 15/10/2019 14:53

You can definitely learn to ski in a week, especially with the full days ski school you've got booked. I didn't start until I was over 40, went on hols with a group who could all ski really well, had one morning private with an instructor who sort of got me on my feet. I spent that first afternoon with DH giving me more instruction in the nursery then the next day went up the mountain. I skied down on the red on the Wednesday and a short black on the Friday.

Skiing is the best holiday ever - Fact.

Embracelife · 15/10/2019 15:10

To counter balance the doingblackbytheendoftheweek....I did learn to ski session then beginner sessions on slopes and was doing easy blue at the end of the week. Still prefer blue. Cautious and slow but I can still enjoy the slopes!

Embracelife · 15/10/2019 15:11

General fitness in the two months before really important whatever you like doing x 3 per week