The Skiers & Snowboarders Thread

[offshore171]

Starting to look at next year. Getting a little bored of Niseko and NZ. Considering some of the 'cheaper' european resorts like Andorra and Bulgaria. Can't swing the budget for USA or Canada with my travel mates.

I just wish there were more southern hemisphere options! Don't like taking leave in Dec/Jan due to school holiday prices.

For January specifically, consider Austria, it's cheaper than you might expect.

A lot of Australian skiers don't realise this, but January (after the first week) is low/shoulder season in Austria! It also happens to be "powder month" with the best of the fresh dry powder.

Basically, high season kicks off just before xmas, thru the new year until the end of the first week of January (say around the 5th of January).

Then everyone goes back to work!

The entire remainder of January and often the first week of February are off-peak.

High season kicks off again around the 7th of Feb and continues through to march (due to european half-term holidays). More expensive and more crowds.

During the sweet spot in January, everything is cheaper. No crowds. Self contained apartment accommodation in the ski resorts can be remarkably good value. Skipasses are way, cheaper than North America or Australia.

Alternatively, if you're open to skiing in March or April, a bit of a left field suggestion is Alaska

We did this last year, in Mid April and it was absolutely sublime, and also much, much cheaper than mainland US skiing. Trip report below.

Landing in an Alaskan blizzard

And late in the day, it starts snowing. Really dumping, and they are beautiful large, light flakes, falling straight down with no wind. View from the bar. It snows all night, and then stops bang on 11am when the lifts open. A foot of fresh dry powder snow, right down to village level. It's -8...

www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au

 

[k_sheep]

December can be a bit marginal snow-wise too. I’ve always had good luck with snow mid-February in Italy. I always head off in Feb once the school holidays end. There’s a sweet spot between Australian school holidays and the English half-term week in late Feb.

True - I was lucky in 2022 in Finland mid December.

For January specifically, consider Austria, it's cheaper than you might expect.

A lot of Australian skiers don't realise this, but January (after the first week) is low/shoulder season in Austria! It also happens to be "powder month" with the best of the fresh dry powder.

Basically, high season kicks off just before xmas, thru the new year until the end of the first week of January (say around the 5th of January).

Then everyone goes back to work!

The entire remainder of January and often the first week of February are off-peak.

High season kicks off again around the 7th of Feb and continues through to march (due to european half-term holidays). More expensive and more crowds.

During the sweet spot in January, everything is cheaper. No crowds. Self contained apartment accommodation in the ski resorts can be remarkably good value. Skipasses are way, cheaper than North America or Australia.

Alternatively, if you're open to skiing in March or April, a bit of a left field suggestion is Alaska

We did this last year, in Mid April and it was absolutely sublime, and also much, much cheaper than mainland US skiing. Trip report below.

Landing in an Alaskan blizzard

And late in the day, it starts snowing. Really dumping, and they are beautiful large, light flakes, falling straight down with no wind. View from the bar. It snows all night, and then stops bang on 11am when the lifts open. A foot of fresh dry powder snow, right down to village level. It's -8...

www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au

Great suggestion, but given it's still school hols in Australia I prefer to work then to give people with kids a chance to have time off. Maybe last week jan/first week feb might be a sweet spot.

 

[offshore171]

Maybe last week jan/first week feb might be a sweet spot.

Yep it definitely is. I think 4 of my Austria trips have been 2 weeks, spanning late January to Early feb. Total sweet spot.

 

[georgie23]

I agree with Austria in second week January suggestion - have skied Kitzbuehul/Lech/StAnton over 5 trips and all have been second week January and snow has been great (except Jan 2023 which had one of worst seasons in long time but we did get some great dumps in second week) - empty mountains and last trip to Lech was just full of Aussies.
Last year I skied Courchevel for 2 weeks and that was superb - great snow and massive mountains so plenty of room to spread out

 

[Seat0B]

OK some tips for your kids @Cynicor

Obviously, as the parent you will know your children better than anyone, so adjust accordingly!

We started reserved and cautious Seat Daughter at 4 years old and it was too early for her. One year later at 5, she was loving it. Seat Son by comparison was raring to go at 4 (because he was sick of watching us and big sister having a ball). So I am pretty sure that your 2.5 will be too small for the full experience. Seat Granddaughter was 3.5 in this ski season and based on previous experiences we decided to limit her to snow play and she is now excitedly waiting for next season to get her "real skier" licence.

First lesson - everything takes much much longer than you would think with little ones. Honestly, I think about 3-4 times longer. So allow enough time as our kids never reacted well to the sense of being hurried.

Second lesson - the killers of a good time are: tired children, hungry or thirsty children, cold children, wet children, overwhelmed/unpleasantly surprised etc children.

So...Clothing Tips

• buy or rent your kids decent clothing (Aldi ski wear is fine). The most important part of their clothing is their gloves/mittens followed by their footwear, and then thermal underwear. Their little hands and feet get very cold, very fast. Especially if they get wet, which they will for sure. They will also need good socks, a skivvy or polo neck t-shirt, a fleece, maybe a vest and ski/board pants and jacket, plus helmet and goggles. Your 5 year old might also benefit from a neck warmer - nice to tuck the chin into on a cold day
• I would get mittens for small children as they are much easier to put on. Even for a 5 year old, I would look for ones that have a full velcro opening and an elastic or velcro tightening strap around the wrist. If you don't get that tightening strap, they will lose their glove every time they throw a snowball. And I do mean every.single.time. Also, remember that they will put the glove/mitten on OVER their jacket (because it's just too hard to put them on under the jacket), and as their arms are so short, there isn't much space, so check the fit with their jacket on before buying if you can, and that's why I recommend the full velcro access. These are the ones we got for Seat (oops I mean Grand) Daughter this year and they are great. But anything similar will work. https://www.rojoouterwear.com.au/pr...Fh72cNtDd37Cz5_wuzUr11lL4MO96DVhonUvjcMLiZTMR
• Definitely get them proper snow boots with a good tread and waterproof for all the walking around. Keeps their feet toasty warm and dry.
• When getting ready in the morning, dress the children last. They can overheat really quickly wearing all their gear inside a warm building.
• Insist on toilet trip before getting dressed. Stripping a squirming child of several layers of clothes to get to the loo is no fun for anyone.
• Some children benefit from "practice wearing" their ski outfit at home a few times. Helps them get used to all the layers of clothes, and also the strange feeling of bending arms and legs with so many layers on, as well as the weird "swish swish" noise when they move their arms or legs.
• If they are used to wearing a bike helmet, then a ski helmet is not much different. if not used to a helmet, that also might be worth a few practice wears.
• We have always found our kids and now granddaughter hate goggles, but they hate sunglasses even more. Definitely one to practice.
• We introduced all the clothes with a game of "sock skiing" - they dress up in all the gear except boots, and a parent pushes them around on a tiled or other hard floor in their socks - helps them get used to the clothes, it's fun for them and also helps them to enjoy the slippery feeling.
• Have spares of gloves and goggles just in case they go missing.
• Do not expect little ones to be able to walk in their ski boots/board boots/snow boots in snow or ice and also carry anything at all - so you will have to manage all their gear as well as your own.
• Celebrate the achievement of even making it to the base of a lift! Yes it is an effort but it is so so worth it.

Next post I will talk about actually getting them on the snow and enjoying it!

I'm sure other people will have their contributions to offer - and of course as I said, every kid is different and you will know best how to deal with your own kids, but these are the lessons I have distilled the hard way!

Edit: to clarify it's my granddaughter we bought mittens for!

 

[Quickstatus]

Niseko

Forget Niseko

Shiga
Nozawa
Aomori and Ani if you like Tree skiing

if you're open to skiing in March or April,

Can agree with Easter skiing.

We went to Snowbird UT 2 easters in a row. One of our favourite spots.

inland areas such as Sun Peaks , Red and Whitewater

SilverStar?

 

[Quickstatus]

Aldi ski wear is fine

Miss QS (Aus World Cup Mogul skier) swears by the Aldi gloves. She reckons they are better than the sponsor's gloves even on competition days at -30ºC

every kid is different

Yes
Kids time is almost always going to be different to ski school time
Some kids take to ski school like a duck to water (Miss QS) , Dont assume they will like it and book an expensive inflexible ski trip on the basis they will like it.
While ski school is a better option than a DIY, remember it is still a holiday and catering to all the family is important.

 

[ayebee]

In our Euro wanderings, we have accommodation sorted for most places, but could use some advice on where in Val d'Isere (& environs ?) is a good place to stay.
We generally look for mid-range accommodation, either a good value B&B or hotel, or an apartment suitable for just 2 (twin beds).
Any ideas ?