Little Skiers Teen Skiers

Trespass Kukun Snow Boots now on offer!

2011-11-20T12:00:00.000-08:00

With this unseasonably warm weather in November, your first thoughts may not be to digging out last years snow boots yet. Yet after a sludgy Sunday afternoon walk out, I am glad that both mine wore theirs; warm and dry feet all round and no slipping on the mud!

The Trespass Kukun Snow boot completely sold out last year before Christmas and Trespass could not re-supply. They were the first snow boot they produced for children last year and are a great addition to their winter/skiing clothing range. It's worth checking if you need to buy the next size up soon as they really are great for the price, only £19.99 (RRP £24.99), and as they are waterproof, can be used now and through into spring instead of chilly wellies.

Buy Trespass Kukun Boots now

Some recent reviews:

I bought these for my son who is 5. They arrived in time for all the snow in the New Year and they were fantastic. My son was able to go out all day and not get wet cold feet. Bought a size bigger so they would last- great with thick socks. Recommended

Bought a pair of these for my young daughter, in preparation for the wintry weather ahead. They arrived quickly and are super. My daughter says that they are lovely and cosy.

Boots are easy to get on with an extra gusseted side zip, so no problems for my 5 year old to get on. The only comment that I would really say is choose a size if not 2 larger. My little boy is a size 11 so I bought a 12 and they are fairly snug, certainly not room for 2 pairs of socks, not that you actually need 2 pairs because they are very warm.A good buy.

Great sturdy boots that look like they will live through the winter, lovely warm furry inside so will keep feet warm as well as dry !! Just waiting on the snow now !!!!

Stylish, waterproof, lovely blue, fit well, rubber heel and toe to help with frost. Amazing boots. Would buy Trespass again and again

Montgenevre is an excellent destination for a family ski holiday in 2012

2011-06-20T02:59:00.000-07:00

The resort is on the French/Italian border and offers holidaymakers the opportunity to ski in 2 countries. Montgeneve lays claim to being the first ski resort in France and hosted the first international ski competition in 1907 whilst more recent competitive skiing in the area was the 2006 Winter Olympics. The facilities in the resort are excellent and the skiing offers a wide range of runs to suit skiers of all ability. The village height is 1860m and this ensures that it has an enviable snow record. It is part of the famous Milky Way which also includes the Italian resorts of Sestriere, Claviere and Sauze D’oulx. In aggregate, the ski area has 400km of pistes which should keep most “distance hungry” skiers satisfied. The resort has a warm convivial atmosphere which has benefitted from the re-routing of the main road so that only local traffic now comes into Montgenevre – the lorries and through traffic travel underground in the tunnel and are not seen or heard!
Parents benefit from an excellent range of child care options with child care available for children from 6 months to 6 years.

The large area devoted to the children will bring a satisfied smile to the parents as they head away up the mountain knowing the children will have great fun.
Montgenevre has a range of bars and restaurants but this is not party town – this is a family ski resort where the afternoon will be spent enjoying the Monty Express toboggan run or sledging on the slopes that run back in front of the resort centre.

Why take the family to Montgenevre?

• Short transfers from Turin
• Many accommodations just moments from the slopes
• Recognised as the best value ski resort in the French Alps
• Awarded the prestigious “Famille plus Montagne” in recognition of its family credentials
• Excellent snow record allowing early December and late April skiing – great for the budget too

Getting to Montgenevre

Montgenevre is easy to get to by plane train or car and packages are available from a range of tour operators including Zenith Holidays.
Access details:
Travel by train: SNCF to Briancon (12km) or TGV to Oulx (20km)
Travel by plane : Turin 107km (1¼ hrs), Chambery 155km (1½ hrs), Grenoble 222km (2 hrs)

For more information on the resort or to enquire, do email doingmore@ZenithHolidays.co.uk

Blog article written by Stuart McLeod, Zenith Holidays

Low cost airline EasyJet flies into Salzburg

2011-06-16T03:34:00.000-07:00

EasyJet has just announced that they will begin operating a new route to Salzburg this winter from London Luton. The inaugural flight to Salzburg will depart on Saturday 17 December and will fly twice weekly, with fares starting from £27.99 (one way including taxes).

From Thursday 16 June more than 9,000 seats will be on sale on easyJet’s 33rd route from Luton Airport.

Salzburg is a popular European destinations for alpine skiers.

EasyJet is quoted as saying “Salzburg is an attractive destination which will appeal to many holiday makers. From its musical heritage and stunning architecture through to its ski offering I’m sure it will tick many boxes for the discerning traveller.”

The new Salzburg route increases the choice of ski destinations including; Geneva and Grenoble.

ski resorts near Salzburg Airport by J2Ski.com

A round up of the skiing industry - 2011

2011-06-07T02:42:00.000-07:00

A summary of the 2011 International report on mountain tourism

The world ski market of Alpine Skiing is enjoyed in some 80 countries internationally. There maybe many more snow fields around the world but just counting ski resorts with at least 5 ski lifts, there are currently around 2,000 ski resorts.

The numbers skiing have remained stable over the last ten years, estimated at around 400 million skiers visits around the world. The Alps are still the leading international destination, attracting 45% of skier visits. North America is the second most popular attracting 23% and until recently Asia-Pacific attracted similar numbers but has recently seen a decline in skiing in Japan which has not been replaced with the increasing levels of skiing in South Korea or China. It is predicted however, that India and Pakistan may in the longer term, contribute to rising numbers in this region. Finally, the "Non-Alpine" skiing resorts in Northern, Southern and Western Europe (classed as Western Europe) attract about 11% of the market, albeit spread across a lot of smaller resorts.

The report also estimates the total number of skiers in the world by their country of origin which makes interesting predictions for the future growth of the industry. The total number of Alpine skiers in the world is estimated, according to visitor levels in different countries and how often their citizens practise skiing, at an increased figure in 2011 of 110 million Alpine skiers. Eastern European and Asia-Pacific account for 33% of the world's skiers but they only attract 21% of the world skier visits to their resorts, suggesting potential growth in the further. Skiing in China and similar countries are predicted to have increased skiers visits over the next decade with numbers in 2020 reaching the same level as their own numbers of skiers i.e.; 33%.

So assuming that this growth over the next decade in Asia-Pacific does not affect the visits to Western Europe, total international skier visits could potentially rise from 400 million to 410 million between now and 2020.

Onto general observations now. The USA, Japan and France offer the greatest number of actual ski resorts (with at least 5 ski lifts), with 200 areas identified. Germany has a significant number of basic skiing areas, the majority are very small and are not considered to be ski resorts according to the above definition. Only Austria and France are home to more than 10 resorts that attract over one million skiers visits per season. France, Austria and USA have the most ski lifts, each with around 3,000 and they are also the most visited countries attracting more than 50 million skier visits. USA being the most but followed very closely by the other two, who could very soon equal it.

Austria, Norway and Switzerland have the highest levels of their own population skiing, with at least 25% skiing. USA, Germany and France account for the greatest number, with each country having approx. 12 million of their population skiing, largely due to their larger sizes. The majority of skiers in most countries are, in fact, not foreign as foreign visitors only contribute marginally to skiing visitor numbers. The exceptions are Andorra, Austria and Switzerland where international skiers account for between 50-95% of skiers visits.

Reference: Laurent Vanat: 2011 International report on mountain tourism

2011-05-23T09:35:00.000-07:00

Private nannies are a good option to consider if you are staying in a chalet with your family or a group of friends. They can make your holiday and give you as much skiing time as your legs can cope with.

You can expect the Nannies to come to your chalet armed with arts & crafts, games and bags of enthusiasm to keep your children entertained all day or after ski school if they are a little bit older.

There are a huge range of Nanny companies available in most European resorts. So, to help you decide whether this option is for you, I asked Alexandra Chapman from Snow Angel Nannies a few questions:

What are the most important things to check with a private nanny service before booking with a company?

That the nannies are qualified, CRB checked and carefully selected and interviewed by the company.

What age range will Nannies cater for and will the look after a mixed age group with older children?

For a Snow Angel Nanny looking after all age ranges is a joy, It is no problem to have differing ages in the group so long as the number of children fit within our ratios.

Will the Nannies drop some of the children to ski school while looking after the younger children?

Yes they will. In fact a trip to ski school can be made quite fun with hot chocolate stops or snowman building on the way back!

How many children will one nanny look after?

All companies have different ratios they work to, it is important to ask this at the time of booking. Snow Angel Nannies works on a 1:1 under a year 1:2 from a year to 2 years and 1:4 for older children.

What type of activities can I expect my children to be doing?

You should expect a multitude of activities based around your children's preferences and ages. Some examples include Snow sculpturing, sledging, scrapbook making, treasure hunts, painting/drawing, reading, singing, snowy adventures and many more!

So if this sounds the perfect solution then start now contacting the companies as the popular skiing times get booked up early!

NipperGrip: Teach your kids to ride a bike

2011-05-16T09:07:00.000-07:00

The warmer weather has encouraged us to dust off the bikes and start cycling as a family again. On a particularly busy afternoon at Clumber Park, I noticed all the little ones out trying to cycle on two wheels and many older one on stabilisers that really need to just go for it. I remember teaching my two how to cycle on a big open park in just the same way, but running alongside side, holding the seat and letting go (usually at the wrong time). I then remembered Katherine from NipperGrip recommending its uses that weren't just skiing.

So if you have bought a NipperGrip during the last ski season on thinking of doing so for next year's season remember that it can also be used to teach your child to ride a bike and swim (without the reins on!)

The harness fits snugly and securely with a handle on both the front and back so you can run alongside your child and guide them as they build their confidence just to cycle.

The key to teaching them is to have as big a space as possible and just go! At least using a harness you wont be running along bent over like i had to! Wish I had thought of it then!

Buy NipperGrip ski and bike reins

Families on the slopes

2011-05-09T03:21:00.000-07:00

The ski season is ending in Europe, so now is the perfect time to organise your next ski holiday. Mountains are definitely at their most enchanting in winter, with stunning snowy scenery. Ski resorts across Europe offer plenty of ski classes to help improve your skiing skills. Most of them speak English and provide everything needed for adults and kids alike. But if you want to be sure of where you should book next year, here is a small selection of the best ski resorts that are best suited for families.

Italy’s reputation for ski holidays is growing year after year. Val di Fassa ski resort is ideal for family holidays. You will find plenty of activities especially for the kids in the famous kids’ club, as well as easy slopes to practice on.

Villars in Switzerland is a friendly resort with one of the most original ski schools. Here you will learn how to ski with short skis. The better you get, the longer the skis you can wear! On top of that, the village is lovely and offers nice relaxing evenings in restaurants.

Austria is not to be missed either. Fieberbrunn is a real hidden gem, that you have to go to at least once in your life and there is plenty to do on and off the slopes. What’s more, the resort isn’t too crowded, even during holidays, so you can enjoy the skiing area in its entirety.

In France, of course, you have a choice to make. More than 40 resorts are supposed to be the best for families and kids. Amongst them, Les Gets in the northern Alps offers a free area called Mappys, especially for kids wishing to live with…. Native Americans! It is by far the most unusual club in the Alps!

Of course this is a just a small list of what there is on offer for families looking to ski in Europe. Plenty of resorts have everything you need for your ski holidays. If you want more tips on booking, where to go to, or what to do in the mountains, just read The Ski Holiday Guide by SkiHorizon.

Spring skiing has arrived!

2011-03-31T03:30:00.000-07:00

As expected for this time of year, beginner slopes in many resorts are suffering, although you should be fine if you are staying above 2000m. Some French resorts (Alpe d'Huez and Val d'Isere) have had snow but Italy seems to still have some of the best snow conditions of all European resorts. Fresh snow and good conditions on-piste across most Italian resorts so if you are looking for a last minute holiday, consider Italy. French resorts are patchy and slushy lower dow but Switzerland is forecast more snow week, maybe 32cm!

American and Canadian resorts are fairing well so worth considering travelling that bit further as Big White in Canada has a 3m snow base.

My favourite, Flaine, had 10cm of fresh snow yesterday and more forecast today. It may not be a pretty resort but the skiing is fab!

Any family friendly ski resorts that you would recommend that is ski sure for Easter?

Recommended ski resorts for Easter

2011-03-23T10:58:00.000-07:00

The Guardian has a good round up of current offers still available if you are considering booking a last minute family skiing trip. GUARDIAN TRAVEL Other good offers include Meribel £299 down from £919 for 7 nights through Alpine Elements, which could be a good bet as 10cm of snow is due this Sunday! Crystal has an interesting article on Bulgaria and why it is good for beginners along with some tempting offers.

Although stock is getting low, we at Little Skiers still have a wide variety of ski jackets, pants and accessories available including our ever popular ski harnesses and many lines are discounted, but only until 31st March 2011.

Our Teen Skiers section has everything needed for that school trip away and if you need any help with the school packing list, just contact us either by phone or email, happy to help!

Ski Jackets – are thin ski jackets really warm enough?

2011-01-18T04:00:00.000-08:00

This is one of the most difficult things about buying a ski jacket for children. You want the reassurance that the jacket is going to keep them warm and toasty while on the cold slopes and your natural instinct is that the jacket should be thick and padded. But is this right? I decided to find out once and for all and ask the people that know – the manufacturers.

Linda from KoziKidz, the Swedish skiwear company for children, is an expert in cold weather clothing for children. She explains that layering is the key to keeping children warm on the slopes, not bulking up heavy thick layers and heavy padded ski jackets. “It is obvious that jackets must be waterproof but they should also be breathable, the jacket’s main purpose is to protect you from the snow and the wind and so it is important to have critical seams taped and to be 100% waterproof. They should be insulated but not with bulky material as this impedes movement as well as trapping the heat generated by the body inside the jacket, creating moisture and it is this moisture that creates a chill. Base layer, mid layer, outer layer is the key.”

Danish skiwear designers Molo also stress the importance of a 3 layering system. “The outer layer must create a protective shield from the wind and weather. This layer has to resist wind, rain and cold but must also be breathable so that it is comfortable for the child. MMP's outer layer is made of a functional shell material. The strength of the shell material is that it is light, which means it is easy to move around in but it is still extremely wind and water resistant. The MIDDLE LAYER purpose is to retain warmth. It is an insulation layer that must release moisture without losing warmth. MMP's middle layer is made of a lightweight, fleece quality. The INNER LAYER has to be a warm thermal and draw moisture away from the body”.

So that seems straight forward enough. Breathable outer jackets are the priority. But, it is the inner layers that are key to providing the warmth. Back to Kozkidz. “Wearing cotton or other absorbent materials under the outer layer work against the breathable properties of the jacket as they will just retain the moisture which in turn will chill”. Linda recommends a fleece layer worn under the jacket and over the thermals.

So to summarise, the inside layer or base layer is worn next to the skin. This wicks the moisture away and pushes the vapour to the next layer of clothing. These are usually thin as they are only really designed to retain the body heat as its main function is wicking the moisture away.

The next layer “mid layer” is the key one to regulate according to the weather conditions. Warm day skiing? Then leave this layer out. Minus -20 c – then wear a top and bottom mid layer. This layers role is heat conservation as well as wicking the moisture from the base layer, out through to the outer layer or jacket. Two thinner mid layers are much warmer and more comfortable than one thicker garment. Micro fleece tops and/or bottoms are perfect for this layer.

So what will my children be wearing for this years skiing holiday? My slight 5 year old girl will be wearing the KoziKidz set, the lovely purple and pink jacket and pants, with the fleece thermal top and bottom set and KoziKidz thermals. My son, the dare devil 7 year old skier will be wearing the Molo layered ski set. What this space for the photos and feedback!

Tess Bradshaw, owner Little Skiers & mummy to 2 Little Skiers

Kids Ski Gloves THE Essential Skiing Accessory

2010-10-30T00:02:00.000-07:00

Skiing gloves for Children

Warm, dry hands are so important for adults and even more so for children as they spend so much time playing in the snow that a good pair of gloves or mittens are vital

Little Skiers sells well known and trusted brands such as Hestra, Barts and Trespass and these manufacturers all seem to agree that mittens are warmer than gloves. Although the down side is they are not so easy to grip poles and open zips, older children so seem to want gloves!

Like most things, you get what you pay for and the cost of gloves and mitts for children vary widely. Our cheapest pair are £9.99 and our most expensive are the Hestra Army Leather ski mittens at £47.99. The difference in the price is really down to the material used and you do have to pay for quality and with gloves & mittens it is worth investing in the best possible set you can afford. It is also worth buying a second set, I use a cheaper brand, since my children spend a lot of time playing in the snow, whatever the brand they can get wet so a second set is a godsend to use while the main pair are drying back in the hotel room!

Insulation is an essential part of the glove and the best insulation will be warm without being too bulky. Make sure the glove is water proof and is make for skiing and not just a winter glove, just like the materials used in the ski outer layers.

If you have particularly cold hands, thermal glove liners and chemical hand warmers are excellent.

My favourite brand of glove, which i wear myself and put my children in is ‘Hestra’. This is a Swedish manufacturer specialising in the production of high quality gloves for skiing and mountain biking. Due to the cold climate in Sweden, these gloves have been designed to tackle the most extreme conditions. They are also comfortable, technically well made and last a long time.

visit LittleSkiers for a wide range of ski clothing and accessories as well as useful hints and tips from other parents

Toddler Skis Arriving Soon!

2010-10-29T11:38:00.000-07:00

At last - we heard tonight that the plastic toddler skis have finally left Italy and are on their way. They will be available to buy on-line by next Friday 5th November.

TODDLER PLASTIC SKIS

Forecasts Predict Unusually Cold Start To Winter In France

2010-10-29T07:38:00.000-07:00

Météo Consult, a weather research consultancy in France, has released its latest forecast for the 2010-2011 winter season. According to the research centre, this winter will start off early and cold before the average temperatures rise slightly in February.

The La Niña in the east Pacific influences winter in western Europe, generally making for a colder-than-usual season. This meteorological phenomenon is not the only one that impacts winter in Europe. Air pressure from the north Atlantic and the Arctic zones also help chill European winters.

The effects began in the second half of October, when air from Scandinavia made temperatures in France drop. November will be cold and humid, more so than usual, with bouts of stormy weather. According to Météo Consult, the first snows could hit the plains in the more continental parts of France.

December is predicted to be colder than average but dry. The south of France, however, may experience a fair share of rain, wind, and the first snows on the mountains. Further north, snow may occasionally fall on the plains.
These trends are expected to continue throughout January, with temperatures progressing towards seasonal norms. Temperatures in France will rise slightly in February thanks to the influence of milder temperatures in the countries of northern Europe.
Although it is too early to precisely predict the weather for March and the rest of spring, Météo Consult's current data hints at a chilly, dry, and sunny spring.

25 Oct 2010 Christina Rebuffet Broadus, Editor OnTheSnow.co.uk

Competition Time!

2010-10-15T04:45:00.000-07:00

We've teamed up with one of our favourite travel companies: Crystal Ski part of the Tui Group. Little Skiers will kit out one child in our joint competition running until December 17th. See Crystal blog for competition details
http://bit.ly/3tGAA7

It's Snow Time Soon!

2010-10-14T02:23:00.000-07:00

It's that time of year again, the leaves are falling off the tree, the morning walk to school has a definite nip in the air, the ski and snowboard shows are starting again so our thoughts turn towards the mountains and start looking forward to our annual skiing holiday.

Nothing beats that feeling on your first day out on the slopes; the cool, crisp clean air, the breath-taking views with the most beautiful azure skies. Nothing clears your mind and sweeps away work stresses than that first run down.

If you have not booked your holiday yet, there are still lots to choose from. Half term is traditionally the time us Brits go skiing but it really is worth looking at other times. Christmas time is building in popularity, less expensive and provides a fabulous Christmassy atmosphere for the whole family. Plenty of family time playing in the snow and no boring television! Another popular time is Easter, but it is late this year, falling on April 24th so the options are limited to high altitude resorts.

Have a look at our HOLIDAY HINTS section, we have compiled a helpful list of recommended resorts from both travel agents and other parents - a good place to start!

Don't forget to come back to us at www.littleskiers.co.uk to kit your children out, our new ranges for 2010/2011 are arriving daily and with a massive choice from value ski wear sets to the latest in Swedish designed ski jackets, you will find everything you need in one place.

goodwebguide.co.uk website of the year

2010-09-08T04:16:00.000-07:00

If you love our site, please vote for us!

Thank you!

New for 2010/2011 season...

2010-09-08T03:11:00.001-07:00

.......Welcome to our new look website, we have upgraded our shop and included many new features to help you with your shopping experience. Many thanks to our customers who have submitted comments and feedback as these have been instrumental in our design.

NEW STOCK AND NEW RANGES FOR 2010/2011 SKI SEASON BEING ADDED DAILY THROUGHOUT SEPTEMBER. Please follow our twitter feed or blog to be kept updated when new ranges arrive, don't miss out!

New for the 2011 season: ski clothing range designed specifically for the different tastes of teenagers. With many technical features that are included on adult jackets but with specific designs to cater for this age group.

www.littleskiers.co.uk

Top 3 Family Ski Resorts

2010-08-19T01:37:00.000-07:00

If you're planning a family ski holiday with young children, it's important to pick a resort that is suitable for the little ones. The most essential thing to look out for is a resort with good beginners' slopes they can learn on, and ideally a good ski school. As they are unlikely to want to go skiing all day long, also look out for what other activities are available that the whole family can enjoy together. With that in mind, here are some tips for the best ski resorts in Europe for young families.

Alpe D'Huez/La Plagne
The neighbouring resorts of Alpe D'Huez and La Plagne are both family friendly and in recent years have linked together to form the large skiing area known as 'Paradiski'. Together they offer 425km of downward slopes meaning there is plenty for all skill levels. There is a well-reputed ski school in Alpe D'Huez which is particularly famous for its superb teaching quality and catering for a wide range of languages, making it a fantastic place for young children to learn to ski. Once you or your children have had enough of skiing there are plenty of other activities to be getting on with. Of particular note is the sports centre in Alpe D'Huez which includes an ice skating rink and a large outdoor swimming pool that your children will love. Access to both of these is free with a full area lift pass.

Saas Fee
One of the spectacular features of skiing in Saas Fee is that it is available all year round due to the glacier. What makes it such an excellent place for children is the large plateau right next to the village which is designed for beginners to snowplough on and allows you easy view of everything that's going on. There is particularly good snow cover and the beginning and end of the season where other alpine resorts often suffer, so Saas Fee is a great place to go at off-peak times too. Beyond skiing, Saas Fee also offers an indoor swimming pool, ice skating facilities and stunning winter walks. For those seeking something a little different, there is a toboggan run, sledging and even husky dog sledging.

Veysonnaz
An enchanting resort for children, the Swiss village of Veysonnaz boasts an undiscovered, unspoiled quality due to restricted building laws and not having been exposed to mass-market tourism as yet. As such it is a superbly relaxing place to take a family ski holiday. The snow-sure glacier caters for all skiing abilities. Beginners can stay local to the village whilst the more advanced can go further afield, where those inclined will be able to take advantage of the vast off-piste terrain, so if your family is mixed ability, everyone can be happy.

For more information on family ski holidays, please visit Eclipse Ski, specialists in group and family ski holidays.

Chile beckons world's best freeskiers

2010-07-13T07:11:00.000-07:00

6th July 2010

In two weeks time the Subaru Freeskiing World Tour (FWT) will fire up again and the first leg is to be held in El Colorado, Chile.

The world’s best skiers will be heading to Chile to pick their way down the 2430m mountain in the fastest most aggressive line they dare.

This is the second time El Colorado has hosted the FWT and the local and international skiers taking part will be judged on style, skill, speed and aggressiveness on their lines and control.

The competition kicks off on Tuesday 17 August and the final will be on Saturday 21 August, according to the FWT fan page on Facebook the next stop is likely to be Las Lenas in Argentina.

El Colorado is Chile’s answer to the Three Valleys in France. It’s 60km from Chile's capital city Santiago, at the top of a winding approach road. The slopes form a small network of well-groomed, mainly intermediate pistes that share links with those inValle Nevado and La Parva. Together they offer South America's most extensive and varied ski area, but there is no joint lift pass - you have to buy daily extensions.

www.metrosnow.co.uk

introducing our new blog ....

2010-05-24T04:57:00.000-07:00

.... www.littleskiers.co.uk

Our Blog is now on our main site as well and we have introduced a whole section now especially for teenagers. We will be offering a dedicated line of fab new ski wear and accessories for the youth market and all will be available from Autumn 2010.

Have a look and please post your comments about our new-look site and blog.

SALE NOW ON ....

2010-03-03T07:22:00.000-08:00

Sale just started, many ski jackets, ski pants and sets with massive reductions.

Grab a bargain for your spring ski trip or be organised and sort out next years skiing trip!

Boys Ski Jacket, now only 29.99!

VISIT LITTLE SKIERS NOW

New in - Wiggystyle comes to Little Skiers

2010-01-20T11:40:00.000-08:00

Buy wiggystyle for ski helmets at www.littleskiers.co.uk

Skiing exercises? help please

2010-01-14T10:21:00.000-08:00

6 weeks to go until my skiing holiday and I have managed 2x 2 mile runs in 6 weeks, I need to ramp up the exercise regime.

Does anyone out there know of any websites we can share that gives a fast track to getting ski fit? Does anyone swear by certain exercises they can share?

I did visit the Warren Smith Academy at the Snow show so will research some of their top tips but please post any weblinks or exercises!

Make the most of your toddler skis

2009-12-04T23:43:00.000-08:00

Have you bought some toddler skis?

The plastic toddler skis as seen being used with the ski trainer is excellent for pre-skis schoolers. If you now have a pair and are preparing for your ski holiday just take a second to plan when and how you can make the most of them. We found the use we got out of them was in the afternoon when we were as a family just having fun in the snow. We bought some bum whizzes in the local shop (just small plastic discs with a handle to pull through the legs) and took them and the skis to snowy bit round the back of the hotel.

After whizzing down the small slopes on the bum whizzes and lots of falling off, we put the skis on our toddler and just on the flat part let her walk around with her poles. After feeling very grown up and trying to actually ski like her big brother she soon got bored and wanted them off. Thanks to the easy grips round her normal snow boots this wasn't a hassle.

I was thinking, great thats £40 (yes they cost that much in resort!) wasted but after another 5 minutes of flying down the little slopes and laughing her head of she wanted them on again. And so set the pattern of the rest of the holiday. On off on off on off. But slowly she gained confidence walking in them, getting used to the odd feeling of these long things on her feet and just having fun. Towards the end of the holiday we put the ski trainer harness on her and she started going down little slopes which was such fun and seeing her little face as she realised she was skiing like her big brother!

We didn't set out to teach her skiing positions or anything formal, leaving that to ski school this year, but I hope we have introduced her to fantastic world of skiing and hope that when she starts ski school for the first time this feb she wont be scared but will be excited and will have an idea what this skiing malarcky that mummy and daddy (and now her big brother) are so addicted to!!!

Visit Little Skiers for the ski trainer and toddler skis

ski news!

2009-11-30T10:41:00.000-08:00

There was fresh snow in the Alps over the weekend and with forecasts predicting more snow, more resorts should be opening soon. Les Deux Alpes, Tignes & Val d'Isere opened this weekend. Lets hope the predicted snow forecasts will enable the resorts in Andorra to open soon after their delays.

Swiss Air (www.swiss.com) is increasing their services between Heathrow & Geneva. Goods news as it is one of the few remaining airlines that offers free ski & snowboard carriage. If you haven't booked your ski trip yet, look at our info pages which shows transfer times from airports. Geneva is well placed to reach many resorts.

Crystal is holding a last minute sale, with ski holidays to a variety of european resorts : crystal sale

and finally, according to onthesnow.com, the Gstaad ski area is offering family discounts with children under the age of 9 skiing and staying free of charge (in your room). Look into resorts such as Les Diablerets (6 hotels with this offer) and Saanen and Chateau d'Oex (which has a kiddie ski area.

More ski resorts open

2009-11-10T09:54:00.000-08:00

After yet another weekend of snow, more European glacier ski resorts have opened now. This excellent start to the season means that popular resorts such as Tignes are starting to build a healthy base of snow and are skiable now.

Even better, next week looks like most of the Alps will see some heavy snow making it a promising start to the season.

So fingers crossed for weeks to come!

November offer at Little Skiers....

2009-11-03T10:46:00.000-08:00

FREE NIKWAX WITH EVERY JACKET, PANTS OR SKI SET

We want your fab new ski gear to remain in pristine condition, hopefully lasting your children as their school winter coat as well as their ski holiday jacket.

If your kids are anything like mine then you will be regularly washing their ski jackets. My little boy regularly comes home with his red trespass ski jacket (as modelled on our site!) caked in mud as apparently you must skid when playing football.

His jacket's waterproofness is maintained by Nikwax, who are renowned for their technical washes and waterproofing agents. Never ever wash ski jackets in detergents as they strip the waterproof layer, allowing water to soak in. Every 3 washes I then follow the wash with a nixwax waterproofing in-wash and his jacket is as good as when he first wore it last winter.

So with every purchase of a child's ski jacket, ski pants or ski set we will send you a full sized Nikwax wash to try and you will never risk your clothes with anything else!

www.littleskiers.co.uk

its snowing in the Alps!

2009-10-19T09:29:00.001-07:00

October has been a great start to the ski season. Many ski resorts in the Alps have opened already thanks to heavy snow falls. Austria took the lead, with an incredible snowfall of 1.8m in the Tux glacier area, closely followed by the Molltal glacier with 1.4m. Other ski areas getting fresh snow include Kaprun, Cervinia, Tignes, Zermatt & Saas Fee.

Lets hope it continues...

Metro Ski & Snowboard Show - got your tickets??

2009-10-14T06:09:00.000-07:00

We are looking forward to next weeks show, starting wed 21st Oct until the 25th oct.

Its a fantastic way to kick-off the skiing season - our top of the list attractions are:

50ft kicker - can't wait to see the tricks & stunts by top UK & international skiers & boarders - and make me feel inadequate!
following that, we will be visiting Warren Smith Ski Academy to have a 30 minute assessment on my skiing and hopefully how to to improve it

So if you haven't got your ticket yet, treat yourself at www.metrosnow.co.uk

Full details of all the attractions are on the site

Fantastic offer on Barts hats - this weekend only!!!

2009-10-10T01:10:00.000-07:00

Buy a Barts hat & receive a fleece neck warmer for free...

To celebrate our fab new range of Barts hats & accessories, for this weekend only, with every Barts hat you buy, you will receive a free fleece neck warmer worth £5.99!

Barts is renowned throughout the european skiing world for their stylish hats and accessories. Soft, thick chunky knits, cute designs or trendy beanies, it is a crime to save these hats for the ski holiday!

So, for this weekend only, starting today & ending midnight Sunday, all Barts hats purchased (including adult hats) will receive a complementary fleece neck warmer in either black, red, off white or pink which are currently selling on line for £5.99*

*while stocks last. Should stocks sell out over the weekend we will endeavour to secure new stock in within a week. Please state in the comments box when at checkout, which colour neck warmer you would prefer.

PLEASE VOTE FOR LITTLE SKIERS....

2009-10-06T02:49:00.001-07:00

PLEASE VISIT www.thegoodwebguide.co.uk and complete the simple feedback form on what you think of our website, Little Skiers - please be nice!

voting ends tomorrow...

Booking with a travel agent?

2009-09-28T02:53:00.000-07:00

Fellow parent & Little Skiers customer, Geoff Caddick, has some interesting thoughts on booking your ski trip independently.....

Why not do an exercise to comapre what you can do yourself versus what the travel agents and ski comapnies offer? The hard works is up front in researching putting together a package but this can be fun.

The rationale: If you hate sitting on coaches that often linger at airports waiting for several groups to arrive on different flights and then throw your children around on mountain roads when they do set out, often with dire alimentary consequences .... and .... the flights being offered are leaving UK at ungodly hours....... and you arrive at a resort where half of France is in residence for a with with prices set to match the pockets of rich Russian oil tycoons.... then you might want to look at ski trains or even fly drive via airports with scheduled flights. You could be surprised by how good a deal you can get on car hire and airline tickets. Plus there are some real little hotel gems out there. I own up to having limied experience of catered chalets as they seem to focus primarily on afternoon cake baking versus real food provision!

Admittedly it helps if you speak a little of one or two languages but European tourist offices are very helpful and usually cater for UK mon-glots. Plus there are some great ski resorts guides available from your local book shops and the tour operators web sites are often useful if read carefully and sceptically, especially when they say that the resort caters for all abilities. Always review the piste maps carefully!

I have booked ski holidays this way for the last few years and really love working to a more relaxed and family specific agenda. This is especially useful - if like me - you have 4 children and on-line booking tools don't cater well in terms of detailing hotel family rooms.

The other big plus is you can target smaller resorts with less ski traffic and more local charm if you wish.

Again, this is something I do based on ski guides and mini "reccies" of different areas when at a neighbouring resort.

In summary, I would say that this DIY strategy is worth exploring if you have the time and drive and you are willing to go beyond the single single booking transaction that gets you into an all found package in the mainstream resorts.

Good Luck!

new stock in....

2009-09-25T06:58:00.000-07:00

... we are very excited at Little Skiers as our new seasons stock is now available. We have fallen in love with the super soft Barts hats (and the children have picked their favourites!).

Visit Little Skiers shop now and order some of the super soft fleeces and gorgeous hats to keep your little ones snug as a bug!

Any items you want but not there? We love to hear feedback on what you would like to see on the site. Thanks to previous customers suggestions, we are now stocking the fabulous sorel boots and children's ski helmets. All suggestions gratefully received!

first snow flakes have fallen...

2009-09-17T05:58:00.000-07:00

According to the Ski Club of Great Britain:

Snow reports

AUT	Snow has fallen in Austria! All glacier reports are reporting fresh snow. Winter is coming...
FRA	No skiing available, but it's been snowing! Tignes will re-open in two weeks.
ITA	Fresh snow has fallen at Val Senales so the pistes are in great shape.
SWI	It's been snowing at Saas Fee and the week started well with fresh snow on the slopes.
N.A	No skiing in the resorts we report on in North America.
AUS	Lovely spring snow conditions in Australian resorts.
NZ	Excellent late season conditions. Cardrona looks good with their best snow base in ten years.
ARG	Great skiing and snow conditions, particularly in Las Lenas.
CHL	Excellent piste skiing across Chile now that the snow has packed down.

skiclub GB website

Barts just arrived!

2009-09-16T03:51:00.000-07:00

Our fab new range of hats, mittens & helmet covers have just arrived ready for those chillier days. Barts are well known for their uber stylish designs on the ski slopes but why just wait till then?

so buy yours now & your children's hats (yes we couldn't resist having some for us grown ups too) before they go.....

Boards and skis fly free with bmibaby

2009-09-08T10:50:00.000-07:00

Wednesday 02 September 2009

As more airlines start charging for ski and board carriage on top of their airfares, it's refreshing to see that one carrier is actively welcoming winter sports enthusiasts with all their kit!

Low cost airline, bmibaby, has announced that travellers can take their skis and snowboards for free on flights to Geneva, Grenoble, Malaga and Toulouse. The offer is available for new bookings made from 1st September 2009 for a limited time only.

The promotion celebrates the launch of the airline’s new low cost flights to Grenoble from Manchester, Cardiff, East Midlands and Birmingham Airport. The recently launched winter route for 2009/10 makes it easier for skiers wanting to access Chamonix, Chamrousse, Méribel, Vaujany and Brides-les-Bains.

Julian Carr, commercial director at bmibaby said, “Many travelers including families, couples and students, are heading to the rich ski and snowboard scene in France every year. We look forward to carrying thousands of passengers on the Grenoble service over the winter months.”

The airline offers ski routes from Manchester to Grenoble and Geneva and from Cardiff, Birmingham and East Midlands Airport to Grenoble and Geneva, with prices starting from £35.99 one way.

article taken from www.skiclub.co.uk

Ski Operator cuts nearly half of its chalets.....

2009-07-31T23:48:00.000-07:00

It is really worth while booking your next ski holiday as soon as possible. There are still some good offers around at the moment but a recent article in the Telegraph by Caroline Shearing, highlighted a potential problem that could mean limited choices if you leave it till the last minute:

TUI Travel, Britiain's largest ski operator, has announced that it is cutting back on the number of chalets available for next season.

Accommodation choices for skiers will be more limited next season after Britain's largest ski operator announced that it is reducing the number of chalets it offers by almost half.

TUI Travel group, which owns Crystal, First Choice and Thomson, said this week that it is cutting its number of chalets by 40 per cent. The move comes after bookings at the group's ski companies were down 20 per cent last season compared to the previous year.

"The 40 per cent cut is not industry-wide," said Mathew Prior, managing director of Crystal. "We've been more aggressive than anyone else as it is a small part of our programme (amounting to less than 15 per cent). Chalets have a lot of fixed costs - you can renegotiate the lease cost of the chalet, but you still have to pay for staff, food and wine," he added.

France remained the most popular destination for British skiers last season, despite a 0.5 per cent decline in numbers, while Austria and Italy both saw an increase in the number of Britons visiting their resorts.

Switzerland maintained its position, attracting six per cent of the market, but Andorra's popularity continued to fall - largely due to an attempt to move into the luxury market - and was down two per cent from the previous year.

The US and Canada also fell in popularity last season partly due to the strength of the dollar against the pound and a cut in flight capacity after the demise of the low-cost airline Zoom.

Article by Caroline Shearing, telegraph.co.uk

family friendly ski resorts

2009-06-05T09:46:00.000-07:00

1. With very young children and toddlers it is worth finding a resort with minimal transfer times. Some resorts can have a 3 or 4 hour transfer time on a coach from the airport, which many small children (or parents) couldn’t cope with. Consider Austrian resorts such a Kaprun, Bad Gastein and Kitzbuhel which are near to Salzberg Airport or French resorts such as Flaine or Morzine which are close to Geneva airport. Older children may survive the longer journeys so you will have a larger selection. For more details and a list of resorts worth considering, look at our section on holidays at www.littleskiers.co.uk/holidays-explained.

Top Family Friendly Destinations to consider:

Valmorel, France

Flaine, France

Borovetz, Bulgaria

Rauris, Austria

Galtur, Austria

Choosing ski holidays???

2009-06-01T03:13:00.000-07:00

Useful website which has all the piste maps for various countries.

Check out : www.skipistemaps.com so you can be sure what runs (and their levels) are available in the resorts you are looking at.

09/10 flights now released

2009-05-21T01:59:00.000-07:00

Easyjet & BMiBaby have just started to release their winter flights for the skiing season 2009/2010, consider booking now to get the best flight deals.

Easyjet website:

Easyjet are currently offering £25.99 per person (including taxes & charges) from East Midlands to Geneva on Monday 18th Jan, returning monday 25th January for only £20.99.

A good site worth looking at is SKYSCANNER where you check out all the flights from a majority of the low-cost carriers, including all the add on charges and taxes, making it easy to compare fares.

www.littleskiers.co.uk

New Helmet law in the Alps after spate of deaths

2009-05-14T03:56:00.000-07:00

A new law requiring all children under 14 to wear helmets on the slopes has been rushed into resorts in Austria following the death of a mother in a high-speed collision on the piste. Beata Christandl died of head injuries after a collision with a German politician, Dieter Althaus, at a combined speed of 60mph. Althaus, who was wearing a helmet, survived the impact, but suffered a skull fracture and remains in a coma.

Mrs Christandl is the 17th skier to die in an accident on the piste in Austria this season, and the authorities are under increasing pressure to extend the law to cover snow-sports enthusiasts of all ages. Doctors say sustained sub-zero conditions have created faster pistes, making impacts significantly more severe when skiers collide. Christian Kaulfersch, an A&E doctor, said: “Crashes at 30mph are like falling onto concrete from a second-floor balcony.”

Austrian authorities predict 5,500 serious head injuries on the slopes this season, and Swiss resorts report about 150 cases every day. Josef Schmid, of the Austrian skiing federation, supports making helmets compulsory for all skiers. “We recommend that all skiers wear helmets,” he said. “It’s not just young children — adults also need protection. With the new carving skis, people tend to ski faster and overestimate their abilities. The slopes are very busy; it’s safer for everyone if you wear a helmet.”

Before now, helmet use has been mandatory only in some Italian resorts, and only for skiers under the age of 14, but Betony Garner, of the Ski Club of Great Britain, which recommends helmet use for under-14s, says increasing numbers of skiers and snowboarders are seeing the benefit of head protection: “Lots of twentysomethings wear helmets because it makes them look like a freerider, but I’ve seen increasing numbers of mothers and older men wearing helmets.”

Yet Dr Mike Langran, of the International Society for Skiing Safety, warns that wearing head protection won’t necessarily save a skier’s life. “Helmets may prevent or reduce the severity of many minor or moderate head injuries, but there is no data to support the idea that they will protect against fatal head injuries,” he said. “The absolute risk of a serious head injury is extremely small, and in my opinion — and that of most ski-injury experts — does not warrant making the wearing of ski helmets mandatory.

“The single most important thing is for skiers and boarders to ski/board within the level of their ability — don’t try speeds, slopes or tricks way beyond your ability level.”

www.timesonline.co.uk

Spring skiing continues in Scotland

2009-04-07T08:10:00.000-07:00

Monday 06 April 2009
British Ski Club of Great Britain writes:

Three of Scotland’s five snowsports areas will be offering Easter skiing, making this one of the longest snowsports seasons in recent years.

Cairngorm webcam-Monday
"Scotland was amongst the first snowsports country in Europe to start operations this season, with the Lecht opening on 31st October 2008”, says Marian Austin, Chair of ski-scotland. "Scotland’s normal winter weather pattern means that, while the east usually gets good early snow, the west and centre often benefit from late snow, which is what we’re seeing now.”

According to our snow reports, Cairngorm still has a 23cm on its upper slopes and is offering good spring skiing thanks to overnight grooming. The pistes will be hard at first, but will soften as the day warms up. The Nevis Range has 28cm on it supper slopes thanks to some recent fresh snow, and similarly to Cairngorm the snow cover is firmly packed in the morning but this quickly softens as the day heats up. Off-piste skiing is still available in the Back Corrie if you're prepared to make the 25 minute walk to access the terrain! And finally, Glencoe is currently closed but will be re-opening for snowsports over the Easter weekend.

RECORD NUMBERS OF SKIERS THIS SEASON

Winter 2008/9 attracted record numbers of skiers to the Scottish resorts thanks to heavy snowfalls in February. All the areas reported high numbers of first-time visitors who normally ski or snowboard abroad, possibly linked to the attraction of saving money by skiing more locally.

“What we find at this time of year”, adds Marian, “is that when people don’t have snow in their back gardens, they think there’s no snow in the mountains. That means a good, crowd-free experience for those who do come to ski or snowboard at this time of year, with some really great good-value offers and the chance of fair weather overhead to go with it.”

The three ski areas of Nevis Range, CairnGorm Mountain and Glencoe Mountain all have some special offers and events planned for Easter. On Good Friday, Nevis Range is offering a day’s skiing or snowboarding for the price of a gondola ticket (£9.50 adult, £5.50 child), whilst CairnGorm Mountain will be celebrating the 90s from Saturday until Monday, with free skiing for those who can produce a CairnGorm season ticket from the 90s.

Glencoe Mountain is also offering limited-availability Saturday or Sunday tickets at £20 (adult) and megadeals including full day ticket, ski, board or blade hire and 2 hours instruction for £50 (junior). Both Nevis Range and CairnGorm report their terrain parks are open and CairnGorm will be hosting Freestyle coaching sessions from 9th to 11th April (pre-registration necessary) and the Highland Freestyle Event on 11th April.

The forecast is for predominantly cloudy weather this week across the Scottish resorts which could deliver some fresh snow. Fingers crossed!
Related websites

* > www.ski.visitscotland.com

How much snow???

2009-02-15T13:05:00.000-08:00

Well, what a skiing holiday. We've just come back from Flaine in France and it has been fantastic. It snowed every day and night, apart from the last day, so we have been skiing on-piste in snow well above the boots and off-piste in snow up to our knees!

Europe has had the best snow fall in years so if you are off skiing soon or even as late as the Easter holidays you should be in for a real treat. One thing to note if you are going soon, it is very cold! I have never known it so cold, I even had to buy some tights for under my ski pants! It was between - 14 and -20 degrees every day so do check the temperatures where you are going and pack thermals accordingly - I was so thankful my two Little Skiers had theirs.

2009-01-17T00:54:00.000-08:00

European Snow Reports (01/13/09 weekly)
Ski Resort	Lower Slopes	Upper Slopes
Chamonix	70 cm	190 cm
Cortina	80 cm	220 cm
Lech-Zürs	70 cm	105 cm
St Anton	50 cm	140 cm
St Moritz	130 cm	200 cm
Saas Fee	95 cm	285 cm
Sölden	20 cm	200 cm
Val d'Isère	105 cm	165 cm
Zermatt	235 cm	250 cm

Snow Reports

Good snow, sunny in Austria. New snow for Bad Gastein (30/160cm) and Saalbach (40/125cm).

In France, cold, sunny. Alpe d’Huez (70/125cm), Les Deux Alpes (60/150cm).

Good skiing in Switzerland. Andermatt (50/280cm), Wengen (40/65cm) have great snow.

In Italy the Milky Way resorts have great snow. Sauze d’Oulx (160/260cm). In Andorra. Pal/Arinsal (70/120cm), Arcalis (60/170cm). New snow expected in Bularia Bansko (80/105cm), Borovets (60/110cm).

thanks to www.ski-europe.com/

2009-01-09T12:18:00.000-08:00

Ski Club Remind Skiers to Take Out Insurance

15-12-08

The Ski Club of Great Britain has warned skiers and snowboarders to ensure they have travel insurance before going on any snow sports holidays this season. 34 per cent of respondents to a poll on the Ski Club’s website revealed that they did not have insurance at all or their policy only covered them for the basic.

Alyn Morgan, Information Manager at the Ski Club of Great Britain, said, ‘People who are unlucky enough to have an accident on the slopes can often get caught out by either forgetting to take out insurance, thinking they can risk going away without it or not taking out adequate cover. The key is to read the small print and make sure your policy covers you for all the activities you will be taking part in.” said Alyn Morgan, Information Manager at the Ski Club of Great Britain.’

Some of the cheapest snow sport insurance policies don’t cover off-piste skiing, snowpark activity, snowmobiling, dog sledding, tobogganing or ski touring, whilst some don’t even cover snowboarding. Insurance is particularly worthwhile when you consider the huge costs involved in receiving treatment abroad, with air ambulances costing up to £10,000 in Europe and £30,000 in North America before any treatment has been administered.

www.ultimate-ski.com

2008-12-01T11:05:00.000-08:00

Ski Resorts Open!

December 2008

Monday 1 December, 2008

With Thanks To The SCGB

Many resorts in Austria opened over the weekend and enjoyed the fantastic snow conditions!

Lots of resorts across France opened this weekend and many areas enjoyed fresh powder and virtually no crowds.

Lots of fresh snow has fallen across Switzerland over the weekend. 40cm on the fell on the upper slopes at Zermatt providing fantastic powder skiing!

Heavy snowfalls across the whole of Italy mean awesome powder skiing on Monday! Some resorts have seen their snow base double since Friday.

Winter is in full swing in Andorra as all of our reported Andorran resorts are now open for the winter season!

20cm of snow fell at Hemsedal in Norway over the weekend and as a result the conditions are very good.

Garmisch in Germany has opened some of its lower runs and Feldberg continues to offer good skiing on its open runs.

Bansko in Bulgaria opened over the weekend offering good skiing on limited pistes.

Our reported Scottish resorts are all closed but fresh snow and cold weather is forecast for the week ahead!

http://skiingthealps.com/

2008-11-26T06:30:00.000-08:00

Top 10 Xmas Skiing Destinations - No 10

10. Vars

Older children and teenagers have a ball in Vars. This action-packed resort offers snow bikes, ‘seal skin’ hikes, tobogganing, and helicopter flights, as well as a host of treats for grown-ups, including saunas, spa treatments and Turkish baths.

December deals

Residence L’Albane has four-person studios available for seven nights from 690 Euros, from 20th December.

Top 10 List compiled by www.pv-holidays.com

2008-11-26T06:29:00.002-08:00

Top 10 Xmas Skiing Destinations - No 9

9. Serre Chevalier

A network of charming villages and hamlets, the resort of Serre Chevalier has a lovely tree-lined ski area. Families love its peaceful, traditional atmosphere but there’s also plenty to appeal to young thrill-seekers. Horse and carriage rides, and snow scooter trips are among the highlights.

December deals

Residence L’Alpaga has seven nights in four-person studios from 630 Euros, from 20th December. Baby-friendly apartments are also available.

2008-11-26T06:29:00.001-08:00

Top 10 Xmas Skiing Destinations - No 8

8.Courchevel

Ice karting, snow mobiling, snow rafting and tobogganing are just a few of the attractions to keep active kids entertained. Courcheval is a great choice for skiers of all levels and offers excellent crèche facilities and ski schools. There’s also the Olympic ice rink and a cinema.

December deals

Courchevel 1850 – Chalets du Forum, is right at the foot of the slopes, and offers easy access one-bedroom apartments (which sleep 5) from 1970 Euros for seven nights from 20th December.

2008-11-26T06:28:00.000-08:00

Top 10 Xmas Destinations - No 7

7.Alpe d’Huez

A fun, relaxed resort, Alpe d’Huez caters for both experts and novices. The designated ‘slow zone’ is perfect for any first timer, or mini-skier. Attractions include igloos, glacier tours, snow mobiling, and a sports centre with ice rink and heated indoor pool.

December deals

Residence Les Melezes has seven nights in studio cabins for families of four for 430 Euros, from 20th December. The ‘Les Eterlous’ children’s village is nearby.

2008-11-26T06:27:00.000-08:00

Top 10 Xmas Destinations - No 6

6.Valmorel

Frozen waterfalls, horse -drawn sleigh rides and an igloo village are among the highlights of the magical resort of Valmorel. Surround by rustic residences, this picture-postcard resort looks like Disneyland in the snow!

December deals

The comfy Athamante & Valeriane has seven nights in four-person studios from 621 Euros, from 20th December. The residence is baby-friendly, and has a toboggan run just for kids.

2008-11-26T06:26:00.000-08:00

Top Ten Xmas Destinations - No 5

5.Flaine

Nestled in the heart of a natural, tree-lined bowl, Flaine is a modern, car-free resort with fabulous views of Mont Blanc. The highlights for children include a go-karting track, indoor pool and climbing wall, while parents with an eye for art will love the monumental works by Picasso and Dubuffet on display in resort.

December deals

La Foret residence offers seven nights in apartments that cater for up to five from 550 Euros, from 13th December.

2008-11-26T06:25:00.000-08:00

Top Ten: Family Ski Destinations Xmas 2008 - No 4

Written by Luna, eNewsWire, PV Holidays.

4. Les Menuires

Ideally located for some of the best 3 Valley pistes, Les Menuires is not only very child-friendly but offers free ski passes for children under five. There are plenty of ski schools for beginners, and a magnificent snow castle for the little ones to play in once they’ve tired of the slopes. Highlights for older children include snow mobiling and husky dog sledding.

December deals

Residence Aconit offers one-bedroom apartments for families of four, for seven nights from 19th December. Prices start from 949.97 Euros. Recently renovated, this residence now features a great new swimming pool and ice rink.

2008-11-26T06:23:00.000-08:00

Top 10 Destinations for Xmas Skiing - Number 3

3. La Plagne

Comprising a network of ski villages, La Plagne is well-connected until midnight by an excellent system of lifts and buses. The ski area is an intermediates paradise with long reds and blues to explore making it a great choice for more experienced skiers and families with snow-mad teenagers. There’s an excellent ski school and crèche, too.

December deals

A popular self-catering apartment in La Plagne, The Residence Les Hauts Bois has one-bedroom apartments (for up to six people) for seven nights for 1550 Euros, from 20th December. The residence also has a food shopping delivery and bakery services.

2008-11-22T00:20:00.001-08:00

Big snow on the way from SkiClub.co.uk
Friday 21 November 2008

Here it comes, heavy snow is set to fall across the Alps over the weekend followed by cold mid-week temperatures. Switzerland and Austria are expecting up to 115cm in places, and temperatures are set to stay down preserving the great conditions. Time for an early season trip perhaps?

Well where do we start? Four resorts in Austria are hoping to open this weekend including Axamer Lizum, Obertauern, Schladming and Zell am See. Obergurgl opened last weekend, a week ahead of schedule, and now has runs open down to the village.

In Switzerland, Crans Montana, Davos/Klosters, St Moritz and Wengen are all hoping to open on Saturday and the forecast means it should be a great first weekend for them.
Zermatt has by far the most skiing available at the moment, with a massive 163km of pistes open and the snow is deep enough to ski over to their area linked with Cervinia.

Over in France, it's currently possible to ski back down to the bottom of the funicular at Tignes only via the Double M piste, but the new snow should help to open more runs.
Val Thorens is set to open on Saturday, and though they have been operating their snow cannons all week, Mother Nature should be able to help ensure some good snow good cover!

In Italy, 54cm of new snow is forecast to fall in Cervinia by Monday and temperatures on the upper slopes will fall to -20ºc. The snow conditions should be fantastic over the weekend but be sure to wrap up into next week as it will feel cold.

AND THE SNOW JUST KEEPS COMING...

Good news in Andorra, as all resorts we report on are all planning to open a week early. The Grandvalira resorts of Soldeu and Pas de la Casa as well as the Vallnord resorts of Arcalis, Pal and Arinsal are all opening on Saturday 22nd.
Oppdal in Sweden is ahead of the game as it has already received lots of new snow this week. It's forecast to last until Friday afternoon when the skies are expected to clear. The sun should stay for the weekend and temperatures will be low, so expect some fantastic powder conditions up there!

www.skiclub.co.uk

2008-11-21T23:34:00.000-08:00

2. Les Arcs
Overlooked by Mont Blanc and next to the Vanoise National Park, the Les Arc ski area is also car-free and easy to navigate, making it a great choice if you’re taking your first ski trip with young children. A bowling alley is close by, as is a spa if you manage to secure an afternoon away from the slopes.
December deals
One of the best family-friendly self-catering apartments in Les Arcs, Residence Le Belmont has four-person studios, from 940 Euros for seven nights, from the 19th December. Little ones love the onsite kids play area, there’s a wide choice of games to borrow, and the property has a library, too.

If you've been here, what did you think?

Xmas 2008 - Family Ski Destinations by Luna, PV Holidays

2008-11-21T12:29:00.000-08:00

Top Ten: Family Ski Destinations Xmas 2008

Written by Luna, eNewsWire, PV Holidays.

If you'd rather swap the drizzle and Brussels Sprouts for a festive family ski holiday adventure, why not take your brood to the beautiful french Alps? We've rounded up ten of the best family friendly ski resorts in France with some top deals for comfortable self-catering ski holiday apartments that won't break the bank.

Most of the featured apartments in these resorts are also ski in ski out locations - perfect for little ones, and a white christmas is guaranteed!

1. AVORIAZ

One of the biggest, most beautiful and innovative ski areas in the world, the bustling resort of Avoriaz also boasts pristine eco credentials. This car-free ski heaven is home to ‘Le Stash’ – Europe’s first environmentally friendly snow park, and the fabulous Children’s Village, created by top skier Annie Famose, who is also a mum who understands the demands of kids on holiday. There is also a skating rink, a fully equipped sports centre, and sleigh rides to get you in the Christmas spirit!

Number two .... next post