Where would you go if you are skiing for the first time aged 38?

[pixley]

The title says it all. I never skied as a child but would really like my 2 children to. My DH and I are thinking of going for a week next year without the children as neither of us have skied before. Where would people recommend?

Hospital probably. Har har.

(no offence meant there, the title sounded a bit like the start of a joke)

Good luck, tis difficult but fun when you get the hang of it, I expect, only did it once and didnt get the hang of it. Too slippery! :)

oh god I have been ski-ing three times and still not managed to master it. First time was Morzine which I liked as it had a nice gentle green run.

Second time was Tignes which I HATED with a passion. Very very cold and didnt find any runs that I enjoyed. Third was Alpe D'Huez and probably the nicest.

Not been for 6 years and DH has persuaded me to go again now we have kids. Someone tell me how to enjoy it!!!??

Great thread for me as I want to take DH skiing for his 40th next year - I have never done it in all the time we've been together, though he's a good skiier and now ds is old enough it would be a lovely present. I am terrified though

Can you still ski at the beginning of May in any of these places?

You can ski in Tignes in May or Val Thoren (havn't skied Val Thoren so not sure what it would be like for beginners).

How to enjoy skiing if you are not already a mad keen skier:

1)get the right clothes - being warm will help an awful lot

2)go to a place good for beginners - there are lots of good recommendations on mumsnet

3)consider a few lessons in the uk before you go - dry slope or indoor slope. you will get a bit of a feel for it and will be that bit happier on the mountain

4)do not believe anyone who tells you you 'have' to do a black run by the end of your holiday. take a class and ask your instructor where he thinks you should go when you are not with him, or find a nice blue run (or nursery slope whatever suits) and do that one a lot, improving your technique. people who insist on doing scary runs when they are really still novice skiiers are dangerous and stupid, not cool and brave.

5. stop whenever you like - for a hot chocolate, to go and have a bath, to try snow-shoeing. skiing all day every day is no fun if you're not used to it, and conversations and admiring the view are just as much a part of the holiday.

6)Smile a lot - if you are being taken somewhere you don't want to go (and i generally mean by a DP who thinks you want to do a double black 'so you can say you have done it') just smile politely and go down the blue run 'accidentally'.

7)always carry a chocolate bar in your pocket for snacks emergencies.

8. take 2 pairs of gloves for skiing and a woolly pair for nightime. Also 2 pairs of ski socks.

Can recommend Magic in Motion ski school in Meribel. Not cheap though.

Agree about finding a good English speaking ski school - especially in France as many of the ski instructors there still teach the "old" technique (and it wold be the luck of the draw....).

And I say that as someone who speaks French and normally looks for any opportunity to practice my French (and even learnt, many many moons ago, in French, to the extent that I had to be taught the English skiing terminology as if it were the foreign langauge!)

UnePrune

You can ski on glaciers at the beginning of May - eg Tignes or Zermatt.

However glaciers tend to be very high and they get slushy/icy easily so it's not a great introduction to skiing. Could you shift to early April? There is still excellent snow in many of the higher resorts at that time (Tignes, Val Thorens, Avoriaz, plus a couple of Austrian options) and it's cheap and uncrowded (unless it's Easter).

Pixley

For two first time adult skiiers I would recommend that you look for a resort that has a British ski school. For example, BASS or New Generation. There are others around as well. Avoid ESF (the main French ski school) - they are very hit and miss.

Honestly, I think you should put ski school quality at the top of your list, as it will make the most difference to how fast you progress and probably how much you enjoy the holiday. If you have the cash, you could consider private lessons for the two of you.

Usually, these schools are found in the resorts most popular with Brits - so that means the French mega-resorts. Three Valleys (Meribel, Courchevel, Val Thorens), Val d'Isere, Tignes, Alpe d'Huez, Les Arcs etc.

However, these tend to be pricey, sometimes ugly, and crowded. Watch out for resorts where the green learner runs are also the main way back to the resort - very scary as the good skiiers zoom down them at lunch/end of day.

A good option (and a great place to go back with the DCs) is Vaujany. This is a traditional French village with a cable car into Alpe d'Huez. So you get to stay somewhere small and pretty, but access the great skiing of the mega-resort.

SnowAngelNannies - yes I agree its the instructor not the place. I also agree with NickOfTime about Canada and language barrier.

DW fist skied when she was about 35 in Canada. What really helped was she had an English speaking middle aged female one-on-one coach for an hour each morning. I also had the same coach and she was great. I got my confidence back after many years not skiing and DW didnt feel harrased or silly and she could understand what the coach was telling her.

Standing around getting cold in a huge group lesson is not much fun. Neither is being taught by a bored/impatient male student instructor speaking lightening fast French and who has skied since age 6 and would rather be chatting up chalet girls and showing off on black runs.

ooh yes going without kids consider canada, you'll cope with the flight and it will be brilliant!!!

BTW - dh was 34 or 35 when he started learning to ski. He's now 51 and the skiing holiday is now the compulsory holiday, with the summer holiday the optional extra. He is now an advanced skier, even if he never did learn how to snow plough .

So it's definitely not too late.

And it is even easier to learn now 'cos modern carving skis mean that the skis are shorter and therefore easier to control :)

I've been to loads of resorts over the years with my job and I would say Bourg st Maurice in Les Arcs.

You can get the train direct to Bourg from London, and then the funicular lift every day to access the slopes, so you don't have to mess about with buses each day.

It also means you don't have to deal with flights which get delayed and excess baggage charges, and transferring to the resort from the airport and is also obviously the greenest option. If you book early enough you can get a return for under £100.

Another plus is that the town is a proper old market town rather than an ugly purpose built place, so there is plenty to do when you are not skiing. As for when, I'd suggest going in early April. It's warmer, quieter and you should have decent snow for learning on.

Plus if you can afford to, definitely book a private instructor.

Courchevel 1850. ( Tho' I should probably caveat that that would be my answer to anyone of any age and ability - it just is the most perfect place... )

AlpineChildcare - Bourg sounds fab. Any accomodation you would recommend ?

Depends if you want self catered apartment or catered chalet. For self catered the Tourist office holds a list of accommodation options. It's prob best to ring them with your requirements www.lesarcs.com/Bourg-Saint-Maurice,191.html or for catered accom have a look at www.chillchalet.com/index.htm which is near the lift.

It is lovely, and where I chose to be based for the last 2 years I lived in the Alps. Lots of our nannies live there too because it's such a nice place and offers easy access to all the various villages in the resort where they work.

Your name is workinprogress, does that mean you are expecting at the moment? I am due on 25 Jan and so missing my Dec trip, but I wondered if you, or anyone? knows how likely it is I'll be fit to snowboard at the end of April?

Thanks - Chill Chalet looks gorgeous but luckily ( because it is over budget!) it's booked for the week we want. Will have to be self catered I think. The budget I had in mind seemed quite generous but with the Ski passes and hire it really adds up.
Workinprogress refers to everything in my life ( and a clue as to my former employment) but I'm not pregnant! .Whether you'll be fit enough to snowboard depends on how fit you are now, how the birth is and how the baby is ! I think I would have been if I'd put my mind to it and it would probably have been really good to have something to work towards.

You're right I guess it's not a bad idea to have a goal in mind for trying to get fit again afterwards. I have been amazed at how unfit I've got being pregnant, I stopped doing anything strenuous when I found out because I got paranoid about early miscarriage. I've still walked a lot but obviously my muscles have gone to pot because I did my first maternity exercise class on Tues and my legs and arms are still killing me!

Hope that you find something nice for your budget. It can cost a bomb once you add it all up can't it!

yes, as some post said its about getting a good instructor. . . and anywhere where you can have ski lessons is good in the Alps, canada or US. . . .any where with lessons. This will give you confidence and push you on. Good luck !!