What Level of Skier are you?

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It’s nice to know what level of skiing you are at before starting on your lessons, so you don’t get things repeated to you that you already know. You may be surprised at how high your skiing level is – I was! You can apply this to either yourself or your children. However, if you’re starting at L1, do make sure that you or your kids have had a go at skiing before you start your first ever lesson – it’s important that you do!

To start off at Level 1, you will firstly be introduced to your ski equipment (between me and you, you should already know it!). You will then be given an array of activities to increase your confidence on the snow. Firstly, you will try skiing in a straight glide down a gentle green run. After that, you can push yourself that little bit more, and make some gentle turns and manage to roughly stop under control using the snowplough.

After covering the snowplough in L1, by the time you get to Level 2, you don’t have to have completed it perfectly! It will be perfected even more within this level of skiing ability. Gradually, you will then start making extension (“up”) and flexion (“down”) movements as you start making turns in the snow.

When you reach Level 3, you will continue to extend and flex your legs, ankles, hips and spine as you turn. This will be made even more fun by taking you to a slightly steeper slope – the blue run. At this level, you are beginning to gain plenty of confidence in improving your balance on your outside ski. You will have covered this in L1 in order to get on to the slopes themselves, but by this level, you will have perfected the draglift (button lift, as I like to call them) without falling off! What you will gradually start to master is the chairlift – it’s not something you will perfect right away like the draglift, but that is what your instructor is there for!

At Level 4, as you are beginning to master the blue run, you are given more of an opportunity to perfect the tricky extension and flexion. The improvements built up over this, enables enhancements on the movements that you are making down the slopes. By this point, you will have good control over your speed and direction and maybe even start on those dreaded red runs!

Level 5 is a tad tougher – you have now covered greens all the way through to reds… confidently. What’s that much more trickier is now pushing yourself even harder and attempting the moguls, the black runs and also the un-pisted terrain. This means that you will now be more reliant than ever on turning with your shoulders, however you will also be lacking movement and rhythm with your legs. Unfortunately, this creates your turns to roughly be the same shape and size, but doesn’t always match the terrain.

Finally, there is Level 6. At this point, you can now carve clean tracks on blue and red runs in good conditions – you are now a fantastic skier! You may even be keen to get even better… ‘how?’ you may ask. Well, try out some of the icy pistes in more variable conditions. Remember when carving to push on the outside of your skis. It will five you a great rhythm and people will see you flying past and think ‘aren’t they such an amazing skier?’ Because you now are. At this level of skiing, you can even train to be a L1 Instructor!

So, if you weren’t sure about how to move up from the level of skiing you are already at, now you are. Feel more confident with your skiing in order to push yourself even further!

May Johnson, February 2015
www.littleskiers.co.uk on-line ski wear & accessories for all the family 

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Alpine Alternatives: Fancy a change to Snowsports for a day?

Ever thought of taking a day off mid week skiing and trying something different? Get inspired...

Paragliding
What experience do you need to attempt paragliding? Absolutely none. All you need is a small dose of courage and an instructor with a BIG dose of courage… it all evens itself out! If you think that you are brave enough to hover 1,000 metres in the air, then this experience is definitely for you. When you have managed to calm down after having adjusted to the fact that you have just leaped right off a mountain edge, it gradually begins to feel natural… rather quickly, actually. You will then remain in perfect balance for the rest of the flight.

Igloos 

If you were to take a visit to the Alps, on the slopes shared by Soll and Hopfgarten, Iglu Village at a 1,300 height, you’d find… an igloo village! They have been becoming increasingly popular to tourists, as it is a one of a kind experience. The village has a series of ice rooms that sleeps 35 people, and if you love beautiful, traditional food, you’ve come to the right place. Take a stroll down the large cavernous bar serving fondue meals, with tables and chairs constructed out of ice, covered in reindeer skin.

It’s all in the name: winter walking. 
Walking in the winter… to make it even more specific, walking in the snow in the winter. Go wherever you like! As typical as this sounds, it’s a wonderful experience to get your family or châlet neighbours involved in. If you haven’t had the chance to yet, take the opportunity to take a gander around the town or village that you are staying at, or even around the bottom areas of the mountain, in all the wooded areas, whether day or evening, but… BEWARE OF THE ICE. You could maybe take a break and nip into the nearest café for a ‘chocolat chaud’ and warm right up!

How adorable are huskies? 
Take your kids down to see the huskies’ very own ranch… even let them take a sleigh ride with them! Don’t deny yourself this opportunity; as for all you know, it could be as fun and as exciting as skiing or snowboarding. The huskies love the ride, as much as you’d love the ride, so here’s one question: why not give it a try?

Apparently, huskies are seen are seen to be more as wolves than dogs… not in the scary way! However, you are expected to approach them, as they don’t tend to approach humans themselves.

Sleigh Riding
At Hopfgarten, every late afternoon in March, that is where you’ll find sleigh riding! Do you fancy doing something a little different on your ski break, instead of sticking to the regular of the café? If so, sleigh riding gives you the opportunity to relax whilst enjoying the surrounding countryside; what is really exciting about it, is that you will be experiencing the pace that the regular person used to travel daily. It gives you a bit more ‘chill out’ time, rather than heading down a slope at a super fast speed.

Other opportunities include:

1.     The Bobsleigh & Skeleton at the La Plagne resort, France: Take your chances on the 1,500m long Olympic track with 19 bends… if you dare. The three activities to choose from are the Olympic Bobsleigh, Luge or Skeleton, and attempt hitting speeds of up to 120km/hour!

2.     Then at the Saas-Fee resort, France, there is the ice climbing – there is a 40-metre high World Cup wall, constructed in the multistory car park.

3.     Also in France at Chamonix, try the resorts’ vast Mer de Glace epic explorations, organised by the Mont Blanc and Guide Company.

4.    Finally, try the ice-karting and Verbier resort in Switzerland. This resort has a full size ice-karting racetrack with 4-metre high-banked corners, which will leave you zooming around the corners of a phenomenal 30mph speed!

May Johnson, January 2015
www.littleskiers.co.uk on-line ski wear & accessories for all the family 

Apres-Ski Ideas for Teens

Teenage Disco

After lots of research, it has been discovered that Morzine is one of the best resorts for young teens, ensuring that they have anything and everything to do, even when not skiing.

If you fancy yourself as a bit of a dancer, every Tuesday night from 8:30-11pm from the 15^th February to the 8^th March, there is an evening disco solely for teenagers from the age of 12 years and above. It takes place at the Opera Club on the Taille de Mas du Pleney Road, costing only 5€ entry for teens of all styles and preferences!

Paintball

If you fancy something wildly entertaining and out of your comfort zone, then take the opportunity to have a go at paintballing! This is an outdoor, interactive play consisting of 2 teams armed with paint pistols playing out a scenario set by the organiser. It is supervised by professionals and all equipment (overalls, helmet, goggles, chest guard and pistol) is provided, lasting only 2 hours that include the briefing and the game.

Can’Nyon Style

Take part in the Can’Nyon Style event on Nyon border cross, with plenty of wonderful goodies up for grabs and… party time is guaranteed! For those skiers and boarders from the age of 14 years on Wednesdays during the French school holidays, from 1:30 to 4pm. The great thing about this event is that you only need to remember to bring one item (however important this item may be) which is your ski pass – incredibly important for accessing all of the lifts.

Yooner – “Parets sledging”

You can’t deny it… everyone loves sledging once in a while. However, have you ever tried sledging on Parets? If you are unfamiliar, a Paret is an old-fashioned sledge supported by a ski shaped piece of wood or more recently, plastic.

This event is for persons from 16 years old, but as difficult as this style of sledging looks in order to keep your balance, it is bundles of fun!

Did I not mention what was more intriguing about this event? It takes place in the dark,with of course - a guide.

May Johnson, January 2015

May Johnson, February 2015
www.littleskiers.co.uk on-line ski wear & accessories for all the family