Teen Holiday Hints
SKIING WITH YOUR TEEN SKIERS……
Have your Little Skiers grown up now? Hotel kids club to young for them? Are you now too boring (or too slow) for them to be happy skiing with you all week? Well, with a little preparation you can have the skiing holiday you want AND keep them happy.
1. Consider a little Freestyle training before you hit the slopes….
Salomon Freestyle Grom Camps are the perfect place to get your budding freestyle addicts some training. These are held all over the UK in indoor snow slopes and outdoor dry ski slopes, all through the year. There is no age limit and the youngest was 5yrs old! They cater for all standards of skiers, even if they have never jumped before (as long as they can ski in a controlled manner). They will be coached by professional skiers and it is a perfect opportunity for them to mix with experienced freestylers. www.salomongromcamps.co.uk
2. Look for resorts with dedicated teen tuition
Teens do not want to be mixed in with younger kids or adults that have started learning late in life, but it is often difficult to get around this. Many teens fall into a middle ground where they still need ski school for the technical training and to ensure they are skiing in a controlled manner but you could balance it out with one or two private lessons after ski school.
ESF offer one hour lessons (or more) in either Freeride (lessons concentrate on skiing or snowboarding outside the marked and prepared pistes) or Freestyle (combines the basics of snowsports with those of acrobatics and involves completing a series of aerial tricks on a snowboard or skis). Visit their website for more details and how to contact them for advice. Ecole du Ski Francais
Some resorts are starting to offer week-long lessons or dedicated camps and clinics. But these tend to be more in America, your travel agent can be a great help here as many resorts are moving toward this type of lesson and so are constantly changing what is available. Crystal Ski recommend Panorama in Canada, with Amy Fletcher saying "Panorama is home to of the best ski schools in Canada, and with all the accommodation at the base of the mountain, 100 yards or less to the slopes, its ideal for families and saves the hassle of long walks in uncomfy ski boots or taking the bus to the ski area. Everything is right there on the doorstep. There are big hot pools and saunas overlooking the slopes where people can chill out at the end of the day, and the spacious apartments are an excellent value option for families. The whole resort is very reasonably priced, but that’s not to say you’ll be scrimping on the ski experience. There is an incredibly varied amount of terrain, suitable for all abilities and activities include snowmobiling for teens, dog sledding, sleigh rides, snoeshoeing".
3. Check your resort has a terrain park
These are must for them to try out new skills and just have a laugh, even for parents that aren’t interested in trying any tricks out, they are great places to watch them in action. They will be happy to hang out there most the time!
Resorts with Terrain Parks worth considering:
Flaine
La Plagne’s Teenager Zone
Alpe H’uez
Meribel
Les Deux Alpes, (one of the best parks in Europe suitable for beginners to pro freestylers)
Les Arcs
Austria
Zell am See
Kaprun
Italy
Val di Fassa
Madonna di Campiglio
America
Breckenridge
Buttermilk, Aspen
Copper Mountain
Jackson Hole