Taking DD skiing when I can’t ski

[Fretfulmum]

Is it feasible to take DD to the slopes for the first time (she’s 5) if I don’t know how to ski? We will both be having lessons but do you think a young child needs to go with someone who is at least competent ? I don’t know if I’m worrying about nothing or if this isnt the best set up and we wait until she’s older and can go off alone ?

It is fine but bear in mind you need to ensure you are able to meet her from lessons for lunch or have someone on hand if you are back later or drop-off to meet instructors at different places/times. Some operators or ski-schools will have childcare staff to do so. You will probably need to manage hiring and carrying equipment for both and get her ready too. Probably best to pick accommodation close to nursery area to minimise time and walk required from boot room to meeting point. At five she may only do morning lessons (10-12 or 1) , especially if not used to a lot of physical activity, so choose a resort with plenty of other activities or afternoon childcare if you want to take longer ski lessons or practice.

It’s fine. We’re good skiers and didn’t ski with DD until she was 6. It’s really important they get proper instruction from a qualified instructor so we booked ski school every day and when she was only 4/5 she was just too knackered to want to ski again after a 4 hour lesson. My 3YO has been skiing twice and I’ve never actually seen him to do it beyond a glimpse we caught from the chairlift one time! He loved ski school but was totally done afterwards. From a logistical perspective though I’d go with a company that can provide childcare to help with drop off because you don’t want to miss your ski school group because you and DD are both booked in for 9am but the kids are in a different spot to the adults and she needs you to stay an extra 5 minutes to get settled. Plus it’ll help with carrying equipment that you as a complete beginner aren’t used to. Or get yourself a private instructor. If the budget permits that might not be a bad idea as you’ll learn faster and it’ll help you keep pace with DD- kids pick it up so quickly!!

When the dc weee that young they skied in the morning and then we did other activities in the afternoon- many resorts will have a local swimming pool, or you can pack a small sledge and go sledging etc

You’ll be fine. We all (6 of us) learned to ski together when I was in my 40s. The worst bit was the children were WAY better than me really quickly!

Make sure to book her and your lessons all at the same ski school as they will arrange your timings around the children’s ones. And brace yourself for carrying all their stuff and it taking longer than you think it to get ready every day.

My youngest was just 6.

We went skiing for the first time at New Year. My daughter's ski school was 9 am to 12pm and the adult ski school was 9.15 - 11.45 and everyone met at the same place so it was really easy. We would then have lunch and then in the afternoon we went sledging, swimming (as our hotel had a pool), built a snowman, had a mooch round the shops. O e day after a few lessons we went back out to one of the nursery slopes and she skied to me and I then pulled her back up the slope and then ran back down again so she could ski to me again.
I think it's quite normal that there are parents learning to ski at the same time as their children!

You should be fine, DH and I never learned it turned out that DH absolutely hated it.
Both dc love it and learned with lessons from instructors.

Is it just you and your DD? Or will there be another adult with you?

If it is just you, you will need to be prepared to carry two sets of skis and hold your DDs hand in the morning - so you will need to be very near the slopes.
You need to book lessons with the same ski school and make sure that the adult group stips at the right time and place to facilitate the pick up.

No, I think you will do absolutely fine so long as you don’t overextend yourself if you are practising together in the afternoons. For at least the first couple of days stay on the nursery slopes after lunch and even then only go where you are completely confident. Go for it, the sooner you start the better!

Thank you! This is exactly the information I needed. I couldn’t quite work out the logistics before, so this is very helpful! It’s just me and DD as DH doesn’t fancy it, fair enough!

If you are both in ski-school it will be fine. You will either have to collect her at lunch and take for back for afternoon lessons if she has them or bigger school offer lunch and supervision for a fee. Depending on the progress you both make you should be able to take her on easy slopes by the end of the week. You could get a head start by both having some lessons at a dry slope or snow dome here before you go.

Ski schools I've been to either the adult and kids lessons started at the same time at the same place or the kids lessons started first and they got a longer lunch break (with optional supervision). If you are both using the same ski school (very likely) they will help you work out the logistics.

Fab! I hope you both love it.

I'd plan to get private lessons together or do your group ones in the morning and plan for activities in the afternoon until more confident

Will also depend on how good the nursery slope is. Some are great - good length and in the "town" not further up the mountain. Or also ok if you can get a bubble up not an open chairlift.

By the end of the week you might be confident enough to go to top of a blue together

Also you could go to a dry slope or snowdome before you go.