Total newbie - DH family taking us skiing at xmas

[Meeko86]

Hi all

my DHs dad and stepmum are taking me DH our 2 DC 5 & 6 on holiday to France skiing over Xmas my DHs brothers partners and their teen age kids are also coming. My DH grew up going skiing so has a bit of an insight but this my first ever time and also a new experience for the kids the other wife’s / partners haven’t been either so we are all excited but also in the dark to an extent of what to expect!

so if anyone here had time to help a newbie pleas do and my FIL has kindly booked it all but isn’t great at telling us exactly what we’ll be doing I’m sure that’ll come but I want to prepare!

ski school, he has booked myself and kids onto it I have no idea what to expect! It’s a clubmed resort I’ve looked on the website but can’t find details about how long the classes are so any ideas my kids should hopefully be together they are 5 and 6. And I guess I’ll be in a novice class for adults but how many hours a day can I expect this to take?
our first day is Christmas Day so not sure if ski school will run then? My DH thinks it will but I find it a bit odd that on Xmas day as we will all be in separate classes?! But I am open minded as this isn’t a normal Xmas it’s a new experience.

I’ve heard there’s parties in the slopes you have to ski too but can sometimes get lifts/ walk how child friendly are these or is this something we may have to accept is a no go until the kids are older?

and the biggy apart from ski jacket and trouser dungeree things what do I wear!!?? What do you all wear under them? What do you wear for dinners when not skiing etc do people get dressed up? I’m not really a winter fashion fan I’m a sun and warmth lover so not really had to sort a holiday wardrobe for colder climates and genuinely not sure what people wear, obviously at home for Xmas if we were going out in the evening for parties I’d wear a nice dress heels etc.

anything else anyone thinks I should know as a mum going on this type of holiday with young kids?

thank you to anyone who takes the time to help me 😂

How wonderful!

Ski lessons are normally 2 to 3 hours. You might need to get someone to drop your kids off as you will likely start at similar times!

Take comfy casual clothes for around the chalet/hotel. Get some snow boots for walking around the resort - waterproof and warm boots. Take woolly hats for the evening and second set of gloves as ski gloves likely to be damp and will need to dry out.

Check out pre ski exercises and do these before you go - start now- to get the most out of your week!

You might even want to go and have some lessons on a dry slope or indoor ski place before you go. The ones in Milton Keynes and in Hemel Hempstead offer lessons.

Don't feel obligated to do something just cos your fil organized it

If you like it, great, but don't feel you have to complete the course

I haven't been on a Club Med ski holiday for about 12 years but I'm a single mum and used to take my son - we both loved it.
The ski classes were usually 2.5 - 3 hrs and there was the option to leave children in the kids club for the whole day.
I'm a very casual person - it was very casual there, no dressing up for dinner unless you really really want to.

It'll be cold when you're there so best thing is lots of thin thermal layers (I used to get long sleeved thermal vests from M&S). You will get warmer as you ski more but - if you're like me - there might be a bit of snow diving in the early lessons 😀
Decathlon and Tog24 look good for value ski clothing and accessories.
Get some decent ski gloves or ski mittens (I prefer mittens as they keep my fingers warmer)

Hopefully you'll love it - I'm very jealous!!
Have a great time !!

Ski lessons vary, sometimes just two to three hours in the morning , sometimes two morning and afternoon. I doubt you would attend on slope parties, if you mean apres ski that is usually at bars and restaurants near lifts, in village or on slopes. Often not great for kids but some will serve hot chocolate and cake or icecream and be accessible on foot. Wear light layers under waterproof ski clothing - long sleeve cotton or fleece tops, thermals, hat , gloves, neck gaiter/buff.

You probably need your lesson to start a good half hour after the children as you/ DH will need to get them ready, carry their gear, get them in their boots, gloved, helmets and goggles ( toilet stop possibly before the lesson starts) and then back to get yourself ready and back from base to wherever your lesson begins too - the first few mornings may seem like a write off but stick with it, it’s worth it. Don’t forget sunscreen and lip salve

Fab advice ladies! I will look at the recommended shops to pick up some clothing and glad it’s quite causal. I’ve now managed to get the details of the travel agent from fil so going to give them a call to see if they have the lesson times etc. luckily my DH doesn’t need lessons so he can drop the kids off if mines at the same time.

I didn’t even think about pre exercises my only exercise is a 45 minute dog walk most days! As I’m in general good shape that and having everything in moderation seems to work for me so will look into this!!

I am excited but also nervous as it’s something new for me and the kids more worried about them having a good time for me I’ll entertain myself one way or another if the skiiing doesn’t work out.

see if you have a local dry ski slope and nip along for a few lessons before you go. they usually also do lessons for kids! get looking for salopettes now for the kids and yourself! you can sell them online afterwards if you dont plan on going again. have fun

Can you get to a snow dome for a couple of lessons beforehand? I'd really recommend it if you can, it's a controlled environment so no risk of icy slopes, and you'll get much more out of ski school if you've had few hours beforehand to get used to it.

Check out what is included with club med. They often do skischool drop off and collection so you can attend lessons yourself, and organise non ski activities. If dh is not taking lessons maybe he can sort the dc out. Are the lessons in English or French?

Ski lessons do happen on Christmas day... they work in set patterns and sort of ignore public holidays.

I’d also try to do a few lessons before you go!

Even to you’re fit, it works very different muscles to other exercises, so if you can try to practice a bit you might have a better chance of not being completely stiff at the end of the day.

Club Med is amazing. We have been many times and it will be ideal for your group with different abilities.

Most of their hotels are ski-in, ski-out so the lessons leave from right outside the hotel.

The kids lessons start about 30 mins before the adult ones do so you can drop them with their instructor before you meet yours. It is really well organised and set up for families.
But at the age your children are you will probably drop them into Mini Club after breakfast. The Mini Club hosts help to get them all dressed up in ski boots, helmets, gloves etc and take them to their ski lessons.

The ski lessons are in English!

Mountain warehouse does cheap ski clothes packages that include all the outer ski wear that you need, both for kids and adults.
They also sell the socks and under layers.

We got them for several years while getting started as beginners.

Start doing some squats, lunges and wall
Sits as often as you can- that will really help with ski fitness.

And hamstring and calf stretches.

Be prepared for your 5 year old to be a better skier than you by day 3.

I second @nearlywinteragain 's suggestion of Mountain Warehouse for ski kit - affordable and good quality.

The bit of advice I wish someone had given me: if walking in your ski boots (eg. to/from lessons etc), loosen the clips across your shins. So much easier and less painful. Remember to do them up again before skiing tough!

Aldi and Decathlon are both good for reasonably-priced ski-wear.

You can never have too many pairs of gloves for the kids, who will be constantly getting them wet by building snowmen, throwing snowballs, dropping them in the snow etc. Get at least 2 pairs per child - preferably 3 - and if possible either with wrist-straps or even the old-fashioned strings-up-the-sleeves-and-across-the-shoulders so that they don't get lost. Adults also need two pairs of gloves - a pair of proper ski gloves and a cheap pair of fleece gloves (£3 from Decathlon) for the afternoon/evening non-ski activities.

Everyone needs proper ski socks - not tube socks with snowflakes or fir trees on them.

Helmets: Kids can hire them along with all of their other stuff. Adults might want one of their own (although they can also be hired) which can be bought for £150+ from a fancy shop or can equally be a £30 one from Aldi/Decathlon as long as it has a CE mark and it fits.

Sunglasses and/or goggles are also required, as is sun cream. Buy in the UK as these cost a fortune in the ski resorts where there is a captive market.

Most important - take a positive attitude and be prepared for the first day to be physically and mentally demanding (but hopefully also fun). One of the best beers/wine spritzers/vin chaud that you will ever taste will be the one you get at 3.30 on the first afternoon after the lessons for the day have finished.

Vinted for excellent quality ski jackets and pants / salopettes for you and especially kids

Eeek sounds so well thought out, am getting very excited so are the kids they’ve been watching ski school videos on you tube 😂

Amazing advice thank you! Didn’t know about Aldi so will check them out to get some bits 😊

Great tip! We’ve used mountain warehouse to get the kids coats and salopettes and mine but they came from surfanic I treated myself to a nice set as I’ll be wearing it a lot and on a summer holiday I’d spend as much on some nice beach outfits 🤣

Aldi have a special "Ski Week" when skiing gear is featured in the "Middle Aisle". The merino underwear, ski socks and kids' ski gear are usually very good value, and the helmets and goggles are also worth considering.

Sounds ideal, hope you love it. Also try TXMaxx for ski wear, they start getting it in shortly.

Dont forget to pack some neurofen

you can get ‘hot hands’ hand warmers to put in gloves

balaclava style buffs are great for the dc as they stay in place better than neck only ones. My dc prefer the turtle fur ones with the smooth head bit and fleecy neck bit

take a pocket full of sweets for the dc that you can just pop in their mouths with no unwrapping and not too sticky. Bribery goes a long way when they get tired and cold and still have to walk back to the hotel

get the dc used to carrying their own skiis. Lock the skis together, get dc to hold both hands out straight in front of them and then put the skis horizontally across both arms, then tell them to start walking. If they really cant manage them, get the dc to carry your poles while you lug the skis.