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:
France
Flaine, La Plagne’s Teenager Zone, Alpe H’uez, Meribel, Les Deux
Alpes, Les Arcs(one of the best parks in Europe suitable for beginners
to pro freestylers)
Austria
Zell am See, Kaprun
Italy
Val di Fassa, Madonna di Campiglio
America
Breckenridge, Buttermilk, Aspen, Copper Mountain, Jackson Hole
4. Choose central accommodation
As with younger children, it is worth trying to secure accommodation
close to the slopes rather than relying on ski buses. This will allow a
greater amount of freedom & independence. But these do book up early
so try to get an early–bird package with discounts to offset the
increased cost of close accommodation.
5. Consider GOING in half–term
A lot of parents (us included) try to go skiing outside of the
holidays, mainly for the cost but also for the quieter slopes. With
pre-teens and teens this is a lot harder as schools are less
accommodating but the upside is that during the school holidays resorts
often have more activities geared to that age and ski school lessons
often have more of that age group present. As Sarah from Crystal said “
Skiing in school holidays don’t have to mean crowded slopes and queues
for lifts. Consider a larger resort with a few gondolas going up to a
large ski area and you should be fine”.
For a full range of youth ski jackets, going into adult sizing, along with lots of accessories visit our
ski wear shop.
