Lesson advice please

[3AndADog]

Hi,
first family ski trip coming up, very very last minute and most ski schools booked up. So, 13yo DS can either go in the morning with the adults group (esi360), the afternoon with the kids, or any time with the ESF teen group (but I have bad experience with esf).

other two dc are tricky customers, ASD and ADHD, so we have got them a private instructor which I will join (have skied once, 20 years ago). We have options of 12-2 or 2.30-4.30pm up to 6 days (probably will stick to 4/5 sessions max because £££).

DH is a good skier and will ski on his own, and meet up with us all at various points.
not sure what to do with the teen. Adult or kids ski school? Or join our private lesson, which will be frustrating for him? Or, DH can hang out near the younger two and their private lesson while I go to adult ski school with the teen DS?

I don’t know what is the best option! Are lunchtimes/afternoons a bit crap for lessons? I’m not a fan of 9am starts tbh but it’s the only option available for adult group lessons

thanks in advance

Lunchtime is a good time for lessons; many people are having lunch and slopes are quieter. Afternoons are crap (maybe not quite so crap in Feb as in March/April, but still…)

I think I’d put the 13 year old in the ESF teen group (unless it’s predominantly a French speaking group?) Or can he ski with DH? Presumably the teen group is quite a high level but sounds like you want lessons for him. I’d not put him with adults as that won’t be much fun, but then he’ll be old for a kids’ group. So I’d say teen if the level is right.

He’s a total beginner so surely would need lessons? I just don’t want shouty French esf, although he’d probably cope with that, I’m sure he’ll pick it up super quick. Or maybe just one or two private lessons shred shared with me?

Sorry, I am not sure how I missed that!
If the teen group has some English speakers, I’d send him in that, otherwise I think you should go to adult ski school with him and leave your husband to supervise the other 2 - hopefully they will settle with the instructor after some initial time together? Good luck!

The teen goes into the teen group - he's too young for an adult group and teens learn in a differnt way to adults. For this reason, it is also not a good idea for you to share a private lesson with him unless that is all that is available.

The other children go with the private instructor but without you. The kids and the instructor will have enough to focus on without mum being there as a distraction.

You take a private lesson (or join an adult group) and join your husband once you've found your ski legs.

Next year you book earlier and go to Austria 😎

Is the teen group definitely suitable for his level, not an advanced thing and will it be English speaking? If yes then definitely put him in that. If it’s really awful then he can always ditch it to join the private lesson or ski with DH. But chances are it’ll be fine. ESF teaching is really good, IME they’re just not great with little ones that need more encouragement and reassurance but that shouldn’t be an issue for a confident teen. Adult lessons I would avoid as he’ll learn twice as fast and get bored!

I don’t know anything and our the teen class - esf say it’s for beginners but I can’t seem to find contact details to ask about eg kids similar ages, abilities, English speaking.
I’ve also emailed ecole 360 to find out what they would recommend (they have availability in both adults and kids) but no reply. Otherwise we’ll have to go private lessons, but it’s really adding up! How many lessons do you think a fit 13year old would need? He’s pretty active and I’m certain he’ll pick it up easily. I just have no idea how many hours of private lessons is realistic.

Afternoon kids’ group surely? What age is that - does it have a max age?

Ime it is safer for kids to ski in taught groups, even intermediate/advanced, especially those who may get ahead of themselves and want to venture onto trickier terrain before they have the skills. A teen group will balance fun with teaching the basics. Skiing is not something you pick up in a few hours.

Ok that’s good advice. I think I’ll book him onto the esf teen course then. He’ll be gutted if it’s all in French but it’s also the cheapest option which is a bonus.
i’d rather go with 360 but their website isn’t very intuitive - it’s either kids age 5+ or adults 13+, so I don’t know if there would be any 12/13 year olds on the kids course or if the adults would be better, and they aren’t replying.

Another option is for him to have one private lesson on the first day (Sunday) followed by 5 days of teen ski school.

it depends on the level of the teen ski school. If it’s for complete beginners he may be repeating ground he’s covered in the private lesson but then a private lesson will still get him going a day earlier — as a complete beginner you really need your first day on snow to be in some sort of lesson.

Personally I'd go for a private instructor for you and the kids. We did this for a family ski trip a few years ago - I'd skied quite a bit, but not for years, DS had been once with the school and DD and DH were beginners. We had a great instructor - DD picked it up really quickly and was soon up to standard with DS, I enjoyed the easy pace and we all laughed at DH (well with him!) The instructor was great and everyone got the individual attention they needed. By the end of the week the kids were off doing a few runs on their own. We all enjoyed learning together as a family.

The esf groupings for teen course is either total beginner, or the next level is able to do snow plough turns on green runs. Do you reckon he should be able to do that after a couple of hours private instruction?
The reason I don’t want to do whole family together lessons is that my ASD 10 year old is going to find this hard, and I want to give him the best chance at enjoying this which he won’t if he feels he is holding his older brother up.

Book the total beginner. Doing turns down a green is unlikely to happen in one lesson, especially if it’s a shared lesson with 2 SEN younger siblings and mum who hasn’t skied in 20 years. He’ll probably progress really quickly in the teen lessons so don’t overthink it and don’t be tempted to book a level he doesn’t have,

Is there time for teen to do a learn to ski session at indoor slope to cover basics? ?

If he is a reasonably sporty 13 year old in his own private lesson for 2 hours I reckon he could master a snowplough turn on a green run.