We’re going skiing!

With actual skis on real life snow!

I have never ever been skiing before, but in around six weeks Belle and I will be jetting off to Puy St Vincent in France as the very grateful (if not slightly clumsy) guests of Snowbizz.

Snowbizz are family ski specialists and pride themselves on their very own kids’ ski school and fantastic personal service. I can vouch for the fact that ever since we were invited to go on a family ski holiday with them, Wendy and the team have bent over backwards to make sure all of our questions are answered and that we feel totally prepared for our very first adventure on the slopes.

It’s a good job, as Belle has a lot of questions.

“What will happen when we get there?”

“Well, after we land we will be met by a coach,” I reassure her.

“How big will the coach be? How long will it take to get there? When we arrive, where do we need to pick up our ski boots from?”

“I don’t know,” I say, “I’ve not been there before.”

“What’s the adult to child ratio in the kids’ club?”

“I’m not sure, but I can find out.”

She’s big on details.

Everyone on the Snowbizz team has loads of experience of skiing with their own families and I’m confident that Belle and I will be in very safe hands. I do promise however that I will fall over a lot and will try to capture as many embarrassing moments on camera for you as possible.

I need your help though. Although Snowbizz are being fantastic at answering my questions I can’t help but feel a little foolish – not having been before I’m not really sure what I need to ask! I would love to hear your skiing experiences, best and worst bits, secret top tips, that sort of thing. I want to make this a really fantastic week for Belle (and me!) so please help!

(Also, if you live near me and have any ski gear I can borrow, let me know…)

To get into the skiing mood, I’ve picked some of my favourite pictures from the Snowbizz Facebook page.

Family ski holiday

Family ski holiday

Family ski holiday

Family ski holiday

Outdoor swimming in the snow

Family ski holiday

 

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20 Comments

  1. 24 January, 2014 / 11:27 am

    Oh how exciting! If you have time/money or are anywhere near, I’d suggest a little session at the Snowdome or similar. (Not a dry slope, it needs to be a snowy one.) It just takes the edge off the nerves if you’ve never done it before.

    Also, make sure you have excellent insurance and print it and always carry basic insurance details in your pocket with you when you’re on the slopes.

    Finally, be prepared to be knackered! It’s exhausting but amazing fun.

    Have a brilliant time :)

    • admin
      28 January, 2014 / 5:56 pm

      Ah yes, a few people have suggested this – I will definitely look into it as it would be nice not to feel totally new to it when I first step out on the actual mountains!

  2. 24 January, 2014 / 1:37 pm

    How exciting! I would love to go skiing. But Im in the same boat as you never been before.

    • admin
      28 January, 2014 / 5:56 pm

      Well perhaps my posts from the slopes will inspire you! You never know…

  3. 24 January, 2014 / 1:45 pm

    Looks amazing! I’ve never been skiing either so will be interested in hearing how it all goes and how easy it is to pick it up (without breaking an ankle!) Have fun :)

    • admin
      28 January, 2014 / 5:55 pm

      I shall look forward to being your guinea pig and reporting back ;-)

  4. 24 January, 2014 / 2:44 pm

    Oh I can’t wait for our family ski holiday! Never taken the kids before and I know that will make it very different.

    From memory, the crucial things to know are:
    a) nearest gluwein stop
    b) nearest restaurant serving fondue
    c) are there bootwarmers in your accommodation
    d) how to say “get out of my way fast!” in French

    Have fun! ;)

    • admin
      28 January, 2014 / 5:55 pm

      Haha! Now those are just the sort of tips I needed :-)

      For number four I was just planning on going with ‘ARRRRGGGHHHHH!!!!!!’

  5. 24 January, 2014 / 2:54 pm

    How exciting for you – and amazing as well.We just booked our family ski holiday too – always tought for us to know where to go as we aren’t skiers. I confess to being a bit of a scaredy cat! Been four times, and just can’t get on with it, so am going to read while the kids become fearless. I am pretty sure I shall still love it. A bit of peace and quiet while they ski the red runs! Mine are 6 and 8 and loved it last year, and badgered us until we booked again this year. It is an expensive pastime, but I’d like our two to be able to start early, so they aren’t terrified like me! ;-) xx

    • admin
      28 January, 2014 / 5:54 pm

      That’s really lovely that they have been able to learn so young when they are fearless! Reading quietly whilst gazing out onto snowy mountains sounds pretty nice to me!

  6. 27 January, 2014 / 10:01 pm

    Lean forward. Stick to greens, chairlifts and get the best fitting boots that you can (and if possible get ones that will release the ankle joint on release from the bindings as they make shuffling from car/chalet to ski lift easier). If in doubt point skis side ways and you will stop. A good ski instructor will get you skiing quickly, a bad one will destroy your confidence so change your instructor if they are an idiot.Lesson over.

    Being in Suisse my son can now (at the tender age of 7) ski anything and will do a blue run backwards. My daughter (at 5) can ski red runs and ski trails. Good luck and it is really good fun once you get the hang of it!
    MrShev

    • admin
      28 January, 2014 / 5:52 pm

      Thank you! From all that I am going to remember the ‘point skis sideways and you will stop’ – I am imagining some kind of Chuckle Brothers style run where I literally can’t stop and I’m skiing directly over small fir trees.

  7. 28 January, 2014 / 10:23 am

    Wow how exciting and what a great opportunity. I’ve always wanted to try skiing but been too nervousness about blowing our holiday savings on a winter holiday in case we are really rubbish and can’t do anything!

    • admin
      28 January, 2014 / 5:53 pm

      That’s what’s lovely about Snowbizz though – there are so friendly and helpful and genuinely do want to make sure that we have a brilliant time. For a first timer they are just what you need.

  8. 28 January, 2014 / 7:54 pm

    ugh! Just love skiing and the atmosphere in the mountains… definitely next year I’m getting my little girls on that snow…

    • admin
      5 February, 2014 / 1:44 pm

      Have you tried Snowbizz before Wendy? They are meant to be fantastic for families – I will be able to report back and let you know!

  9. 29 January, 2014 / 9:33 am

    Be prepared for your little one to leave you behind! Mine was already on the difficult reds whilst I was bumbling along on the greens, from Gluhwein stop to Gluhwein stop. Kids have so little fear, they tend to take to it like a duck to water. Don’t try and keep up, it can only lead to embarrassment :-)

    • admin
      5 February, 2014 / 1:44 pm

      Haha! Great tip and totally how I expect things to work out! I shall be happy just staying upright :-)

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