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 ?

 

[ayebee]

as I am heading for Italy & France in Feb and initially the Dolomiti Superski area, I have been taking an interest in early snowfalls.
Found a webcam channel that scans a number of resorts, and as well as nice "wallpaper" on your PC it sometimes has entertaining german style music. The channel has a view webcam areas.
Coincidentally looks like a nice day in northern Italy today.

 

[Seat0B]

@Cynicor, finally Part 2 of my tips for kids.

• If you get the chance before going to the snow, it's great to take them to an ice rink. They get to experience the cold and can wear some of their gear for the practice. Make it as fun as you can, hot chocolate all round! If they are old enough, even an attempt to ice skate can help them to understand how slippery the world is when you are on skis/board.
• When you get to the slopes, allow way more time than you think you need to get ready and get where you have to be. Kids are easily 3-4 times slower than adults.
• Keep the kids inside (the house, the car, wherever) until you are fully geared up yourself. That way, you will not freeze while you are dressing them . "Always fit your mask before helping others".
• Certainly for your 5 year old, and if your 2.5 is toilet trained, let them sleep in their long johns instead of PJs. That is one less layer to put on in the morning, and they are already warm when you add the extra layers.
• I highly recommend ski school. Kids are used to being in school. They like hanging with other kids. They are used to listening to teachers. Ski schools usually have all sorts of fun things to do, cool activities to learn to ski/board etc. plus they will not listen to their parents. I say again, they will not listen to you! And you will (fairly) become cheesed off with being ignored while missing out on great skiing yourself. Not a good recipe for fun.
• Depending on the stamina and personality of your 5 year old, they might manage a whole day ski school (which is usually 2 hrs skiing, a morning break, 2 hrs skiing, a lunch break and then 1.5-2 hrs in the afternoon). They will finish early enough for you to do a few runs together at the end of the day and see everything they learnt. By the end of the week, you will be amazed how much they have learnt! Your 2.5 is likely not ready for full day, maybe not even ready to ski at all, but will definitely enjoy snow play.
• Keep it fun - they will lose interest well before you do, so be ready to leave wanting more. This is an investment in the future - if they feel like it's a good time, they will want to do it again and again until they are whooping your sorry ar$e down the hill and complaining that they have to wait for you. How the tables will turn: now my kids (37, 32) carry my skis for me, wait patiently at the bottom of runs for me to arrive, suggest I might like a coffee break or a toilet stop before I actually need it, sometimes pay for said expensive coffee, and say "great job mum, you looked really cool on that run"! So yes, it is worth it!!
• Fun might be throwing snow balls, making a snowman, making snow angels, making foot and hand prints, "falling" into snow drifts/walls/piles of snow...or it could be sitting inside with a coffee and a colouring book or some lego or whatever they like at home and just making them feel like they are part of the snow scene.
• Finally, no matter what happens, always always always tell them what a good job they did and try to find something genuine to praise. We always added "like a real skier" - "you kept all your equipment together today, like a real skier", "you ate a healthy lunch, like a real skier", "you waited patiently for the train, like a real skier" "you did great snow plows, like a real skier" etc. The more you tell them they are a real skier and imply they are good at it, the more they will believe it and it will eventually be true.

I'm sure there is more, and others will also have valuable tips. I just want to say every kid is different, they will have good days and bad days, but it is sooooo worth it in the end.

Let us know how you go?

 

[Seat0B]

Sorry for double posting. As others have reported, my first post said "technical difficulties" so I posted again, and hey presto, I now see it as a double post.

 

[Cynicor]

Thanks for all the tips. I’ll be amazed if my nearly 5 does anything in the snow, to be honest. I suspect he’ll join a class or do private lessons when hell freezes over, currently. He’s very much a homebody and also not that adventurous.
My main aim for the trip is getting him comfortable With the whole thing and the apartment and then I suspect in 2026 I’ll try to return with a school friend of his too. Hopefully peer pressure will sort it out

 

[JessicaTam]

Sorry for double posting. As others have reported, my first post said "technical difficulties" so I posted again, and hey presto, I now see it as a double post.

Fixed.

 

[Cazwa]

Been to many ski destinations and areas for, mostly, backcountry touring and snow camping over the last 15 years, (mostly Japan but Alaska, Canada, Kyrgyzstan and Aus too). Mostly Splitboard (too many to name, though my fave is the ultracraft) and have touring skis (tried for a 1-ski quiver with Head Kore 105s 177cm paired to Atomic Shifts).

Settled last year on a nearly ski in/out apartment (you can ski to the roadside opposite but need to cross the road) in Yuzawa. You can buy (freehold/own/forever) an apartment there for about $8000 all in. Not a typo.

Feel free to ask, and if people want to know more about yuzawa and apartment buying I can write something up.

First time ever we decided to do a ski holiday we went to Canada. Sun Peaks. Travel Agent says great hotel, its ski in, ski out. Knowing absolutely nothing, i said but we cant ski. How do we get there and our luggage? I thought it must have been in the middle of no where and no road access. So thought you had to ski to the resort and take your luggage with you. And yes i am blonde lol That must have been nearly 30 years ago now. We were on a ski trip in Feb to Europe and was telling my brother about it. He is crazy snow boarder who chases the snow for every holiday. He shakes his head and tells me im a dead set moron lol

 

[LadyC]

Thanks for all the tips. I’ll be amazed if my nearly 5 does anything in the snow, to be honest. I suspect he’ll join a class or do private lessons when hell freezes over, currently. He’s very much a homebody and also not that adventurous.
My main aim for the trip is getting him comfortable With the whole thing and the apartment and then I suspect in 2026 I’ll try to return with a school friend of his too. Hopefully peer pressure will sort it out

A little late to the party on this conversation but my son starting skiing at 6. I learned to ski at the same time and we used a private instructor. He would work with one of us and my husband with the other, then change after a bit. My son was very reticent to begin with and its important to remember that it's a lot harder for little ones. There is no way he would have managed being in ski school lessons, it would have turned him off skiing all together. Now, almost 11, he is better than me and loves racing his dad. But still not interested in ski school lessons! For us, it's been really important to make it a fun family adventure, us going skiing together, rather than the adults doing one thing and the kid something else.

 

[Captain Halliday]

An hour after lifts opened and we were still carving fresh tracks in 20cm deep powder!

Pictured here is a short trail to reach the top of Silver Dream at Hanazono.


Niseko, Japan

 

[Seat0B]

So jealous @Captain Halliday. We will be in Furano end of Jan, so hope this continues!

 

[Captain Halliday]

Another cracker day in Niseko.

Check the morning snow report:



I was in waist deep powder in a couple of places.

Even the “groomed” runs were 30cm deep powder.

Made the most of it though, putting in almost a full shift: 7 hours.

 

[HirafuHeartAttack]

I might have to mute this thread for a month or so. The FOMO of not going to Japan this season is very real.

 

[Captain Halliday]

All set to carve first tracks on this windswept powder at Hirafu.

Mt Yoeti in the background playing hide ‘n’ seek.



First bluebird day in two weeks!