Esprit Spritelets

[Aitchee]

Hi,

We're planning on going skiing to La Rosiere this year with Esprit. My youngest will be just a little over 3 and we're thinking of putting her into the Spritelets group for 3-4 yr olds. Does anyone have experience of the Spritelets class?

It does look like a proper mini lesson and other ski companies don't seem to recommend them getting on skis so early (even though this does seem like it's more for fun than downhill reds!)

Hi Aitchee

My youngest DC did Spritelets aged 3 and had a ball. They did lots of "skiing" on a virtually flat slope , going through hoops & soft-play type bridges. The nannies are on hand to take any LOs to the toilet or inside for hot chocolate & snack. DS2 loved it so much that they literally had to pluck him off the piste at the end of the session as he was the last child standing

oh that's brilliant. My DD is just too lively for the nursery now; so if it's not too full on I think she'll love it. Last year we had a few tears when she had to wave her big sis goodbye as she went off to ski school so I think she'll feel really proud to share her own stories of "skiing"...

Thanks!

ITA. DS2 was exactly the same as your DD and was more than ready for Spritelets.

It also meant that the following year, despite being 4 months short of his 5th birthday, Esprit allowed him to do the beginners class instead of repeating Spritelets (min age is 5 on the beginners classes).

Although he was the youngest in the class, it did him a lot of good. He was probably too confident before (cue DS2 screaming at his papa to "let go of me" at the top of a blue......when he couldn't control his speed or stop!!). Being both the youngest and the smallest in a group of "big kids" meant that he now has a healthy balance between being up for a challenge but also recognising the dangers and listening carefully to his instructor.

I promise you, it's a very relaxed and fun approach. Whenever I have watched the classes, some children haven't even got their skis on - it's about introducing them to the concept and letting them play around with it.

Enjoy your holiday!

I'd agree with everyone here, it's a very good fun approach to 1st time skiing. Instructors are nice and work with the nannies. Lessons are in the pm whereas the others will have am lessons (in my experience). My boy is doing them for 1st time in val this year by DD did them a couple of years ago and now, age 6 is a whizz! (yelp!)

I think I'm going to need some extra lessons to keep up with the little ones in the not too distant future!

I also like the layout of La Rosiere as it means you can ski by and just keep an eye on them. We went to Courchevel 1350 two years ago and it was just too far off the mountain for me to feel comfortable. The nursery wasn't so good there either, whereas the girls in La Rosiere last year seemed a bit livelier and more fun.

It will be nice to know DD has had some real fun during the day instead of the feeling that she's been just 'passing time til Mummy came back'. Spritelets seems like such a good idea for this - they are at that in between stage aged 3/4 - they want to do the same as siblings but need a bit more care and attention.

That said, I shall spend the first day worrying as usual, trying to appear casual to DH and just itching to ski back and see how DC have got on!

Another recommendation here - my two DCs both did it at this age and had lots of fun!