School ski trip

[HiMatildaBye]

Dd is 13, in year 8 and will be going skiing for the first time in February half-term. As a non skier myself, where do I get the gear from and what do I need? Any other top tips for a safe and fun school skiing trip? She will have a couple of lessons the snow dome before. What kind of clothes are good to take on a trip like this? They are staying for 6 nights.

Try decathlon for the gear. Thin layers, a light backpack that clips across the chest, mittens rather than gloves, and a decent supply of blister plasters would be my advice.

In terms of the gear itself, salopettes, ski jacket, plastic sunglasses, goggles (for if it's snowing), mittens, hat. The layers can be regular leggings and t-shirts etc, no need for the special base layers that you can buy.

She will need a helmet. Skiing can be dangerous without one. My sons skied with school every year but always wore a helmet.

Check out Vinted for ski stuff. It doesn’t get much wear before they grow out of it.

Check what the trip organiser is providing. My DDs school use interski and she's always rented gear from them. Alternatively mountain warehouse has very reasonable packages. Don't buy a helmet, they have to use the one given to them by the rental shop when they get their skis. They're not allowed to use their own in my experience.
Check this all with school though. You should get a list of things they need and almost everything can get bought very cheaply secondhand. If you're not a skiing family try your best to buy things that they'll use again. Don't bother with snow boots btw. They take up lots of space and they don't need them.

Do school have a deal with any suppliers, to hire or a discount? . Most ski packages will include helmet hire. Decathlon, Trespass, TkMaxx, Mountain Warehouse etc all offer reasonably priced jackets, trousers, thin fleece layers, thermals, socks, gloves, goggles. Hat and sunglasses for apres ski. Walking boots or snow boots. Highfactor suncream and lipsalve. For non skiing time basic sportswear.

Ask the school first what’s provided, most ski hire places won’t hire now without helmets so I imagine helmet will be included through school hire. I think depending on country many it’s now compulsory for under 16s to wear one. But they are bulky to take if included

For general clothing:
H and m does reasonably priced thermals.
Buy decent wool ski socks - not cheap, but last years and make huge difference in feet skiing
t k max max for ski jacket and salopettes, go as often as possible to look as not always right sizes in.

Whilst I hate Sports Direct with a passion I got my sons skiing stuff from there as it was the cheapest place. Two pairs of salopettes and a ski jacket, ski google and ski gloves and a couple of fleece beanie type hats. The salopettes and jacket were both worn by my two boys 4 years apart for their ski trips. Thankfully neither particularly took to it so they were actually worn for two weeks in total.

I then sold them on eBay and got a reasonable amount for them.

My DD is on a ski trip this coming December so I bought her jacket and ski trousers in the post Xmas sales. Got everything half price. Just bought socks from Amazon and gloves from decathlon which were half price. I did buy thermal base layers but they were quite cheap in Decathlon and I think she will wear them over the winter as leggings anyway.

I've never heard of not being allowed to use your own helmet - even if they make you take one out of the shop as part of your hire package, surely you just leave it in the accommodation and wear your own? One that fits your perfectly and has never been worn by anyone else will always be much safer.

School will probably give a kit list. I bring:
Base layer (thermal top and leggings) x3
Ski jacket with a pass pocket in the sleeve (mountain warehouse)
Salopettes (Decathlon)
Ski socks X3 pairs (the thinner the better)
Buff
Goggles (personally I hate skiing with sunglasses)
Sunglasses
Decent mittens/gloves (waterproof)
Knee support (someone always needs one)
Plasters/blister plasters are a good shout
Snow boots
Clothes for the evening

To add to the list above I get cold so always wear a fleece as well as a baselayer.

@MindIfISlytherin we've never been allowed on school ski trips. The understanding is they don't know if it's definitely safety certificate required for that country. I'm assuming it's something to do with insurance and may only be a interski policy. I'm just mentioning this to highlight that really the best place for advice on kit and things to get is the school as all trip providers will have different quirks like this one.

Decathlon for sure

Aldi and Lidl skiwear is also really good - but you have to be quick when they come in. They tend to have everything from sock, baselayers, jacket and saloppettea etc

They do not need helmets

Interesting! Is that a school rule?

Two pairs of ski gloves, to allow one to dry if wet - skiing with cold hands is miserable.
Pack of mini Mars bars or cereal bars that can go in a pocket for a snack on the slopes.
Couple of pocket packs of tissues - I always need to blow my nose when skiing.
Proper sun cream suitable for skiing, preferably with a built-in lip balm.
Spare hat for any evening activities - it can be v cold once the sun has set.
Proper ski socks with a heel - don't get ski tubes.
Pack of plasters or Compeeds in case boots are not a good fit initially - in which case they should be returned to the hire shop for a different pair - can take a few days for beginners to work out what suits them.
Waterproof boots/walking boots/snow boots for evening or sledging - need to be insulated (don't take wellies - not warm enough)

It's the rule of the company the school uses so I guess by extension the schools?

Helmets tend to be provided alongside skis. There's absolutely no way any child on a school ski trip will be allowed to ski without a helmet.
I've dealt with various school ski trips at my school and DDs and I've never come across one that allows you to bring your own helmet. However, obviously this differs company to company. Possibly this may be an Italian rule as I've only travelled there on school trips.

We got Ski socks + base layers, + Ski helmet + wooly hat from Aldi and Lidl they lasted for many ski trips.
Ski salopettes from Amazon
Ski jacket from mountain warehouse.
Gloves and goggles from Trespass
Our school also gave all the kids a coupon for Trespass that gave money off, so ask if they are doing that before spending money.
Dd nicked my snow boots once she had big enough feet they were from Lands End online in the clearance section. Still look like new.

Mine always took their own helmets, as they are keen skiers and I can guarantee their helmets are significantly better than anything they would have rented! But clearly that rule differs. However, if you are not skiers, I wouldn't buy a helmet, I would take the rental.

Other stuff the organisers might have a list, and preferential rates with a supplier: but if not then I agree decathalon is always a good shout. Or even borrowing from friends if you know anyone?

Ski schools and resorts in Austria do not allow anyone under 16 to ski without a helmet. You don't need to buy one - the ski equipment rental package will include one. I have no idea about rules concerning students not using their own helmets. The certification one is a bit of a red-herring - all helmets sold in the EU and UK must comply with the same EU/CE certificate (but I suppose there might be some students who have been to the USA or Canada and bought there).

The school should be sending out a packing list. If they have organised the trip through one of the major school-trip providers (PGL, Club Europe, SkiBound, True North etc) then these companies all provide comprehensive packing lists that the school should be passing on to parents.

As pp^^ have already said, Trespass, Mountain Warehouse, Decathlon are good, inexpensive shops for ski jackets and trousers (don't buy an all-in-one!) and Lidl and Aldi have OK skiwear on sale once a year (around about now). Otherwise, if you have any friends or family who ski, then see what you can borrow, or maybe buy second-hand, for the week. I guess that 90% of skiwear bought in the UK only gets used once a year and when people come to use it the following year, either it has magically shrunk whilst in the wardrobe - or the owner has added a few inches here and there.

TKMaxx usually get their ski stuff in around mie.

Check if such oil have a kit list, but I'd recommend
2 x long Johns
2 x base layer tops
2 x fleece tops
1 ski jacket
1 pair salopettes
2-3 pairs thick, long, wool-rich socks (in my experience, the warmest socks are 50% or more wool, and they need to be long to provided padding against the ski boot)
1-2 warm hats
2 pairs warm insulated, waterproof gloves or mittens
Slimline small rucsac
Buff/neck gaiter

Also sunglasses and goggles

Certainly rent a helmet if you can. Obviously it varies as mine always took their own.