Top Picks for Girls Ski Wear

Sorel Yoot Pac Nylon - Bramble/Black, Bolle Amp Ski Goggles - Pink Birds, Barts Tec Mitts - Silver, Bolle B-Kid Ski Helmet, Trespass Bonny Ski Jacket, Trespass Marvelous Ski Pants - Azalea, Barts Comfort Thermals - Pink, Trespass Louviers Fleece - Viola, Buff Frozen Neckwarmer - Ana & Elsa, Barts Animal Ski Socks - Blue

NEW BRANDS: Quiksilver and Roxy

“Our mission is to become the leading global youth apparel company; to maintain our focus and roots while bringing our lifestyle message of board riding, independence, creativity, and innovation to this global community.”

When it comes to Quiksilver, care over quality is key.

Quiksilver is one of the world’s largest manufacturers of surfwear and other board sport-related equipment (including skiing, snowboarding, etc.). Based on Huntington Beach in California, this Australian, American-based company operates a whopping total of 834 stand-alone stores across the globe, as well as a number of separate Roxy and Quiksilver youth stores.

Quiksilver developed from a 1970s board short company into a whole multinational apparel and accessory company, after they debuted their first line of Quiksilver apparel in the summer of ’76, grounded in the philosophy of youth.

Then, along came Roxy...

Quiksilver launched Roxy in the year 1990 and it has matured into the ultimate action sport fashion apparel company for young women. Not only does Roxy produce apparel, they also create wonderful accessories, homewares, hard goods (snow & surf), wetsuits, footwear, books, and perfumes.

Visit Little Skiers to discover our wonderful selection of boys Quiksilver skiwear and accessories, as well as Roxy for girls.

"Individual spirit, an adventurous spirit, authenticity and a passionate approach are all part of young people’s mindset and are the essence of our brands. Combine this with the aesthetic appeal of beaches and mountains, and a connection is established that transcends borders and continents. Include thirty-plus years of quality, innovation and style, and you have Quiksilver."

 

May Johnson, October 2015

Top Picks: Quiksilver and Roxy

QUIKSILVER Little Rookie, Little Mission, Boogie

ROXY Jet Ski, Lima, Backyard

New Brand Spolight: Giro Ski Helmets

It was 1985, and a Californian man named Jim Gentes with an independent mindset for the outdoors, realised he was in the intersection of surf and mountains from which he discovered the wonderful brand of Giro.

Giro became a manufacturer of ski and bike helmets, apparel, shoes, soft goods for cycling, and goggles for skiing and snowboarding. Founded in Santa Cruz, but now based in Scotts Valley, California, Giro focuses on unique technology in their products that are not found elsewhere.

New for the 2015-2016-winter season is MIPS technology. This technology will be found in one particular ski helmet known as the Giro Crüe MIPS ski helmet. MIPS (Multi-Directional Impact Protection System) is the latest improvement in the level of protection this ski helmet will give to your child, as the goal is to further reduce any rotational forces. The Giro Crüe MIPS ski helmet is equipped with a liner that deforms on impact and reduces the transfer of energy to the brain.

The three components of MIPS technology are as follows: one interior foam liner, a low friction liner, and in-between is an elastomeric attachment. This means that in an impact, the elastomeric system stretches to allow the interior foam liner to rotate independently around the head. Although it only moves a few millimetres, we believe helmets equipped with MIPS technology can reduce the amount of rotational force that may be transferred to your brain in certain impacts. Just so you know, all this technology is based on a whopping 19 years of research, following extensive trials.

 “From the first lightweight, high-performance helmets from cycling and snow sports, to apparel that re-imagines what sportswear can be, Giro maintains a strong focus on creating products that enhance the feeling of freedom and independence that are at the core of a rider’s experience.”

May Johnson, November 2015

Top Picks for Boys Ski Wear

UVEX Airwing Pro, Barts Ghost Navy, Trespass Jotun, Barts Tec Mitts, Manbi Glove Liner, Trespass Damien, Trespass Marvelous, Icebreaker OTC Socks, Columbia Fast Trek II Fleece, Trespass Calum Thermals

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 

references: 

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 

What are the World's Most Recommended Resorts for Teenagers?

So you have just about sussed skiing, however want to push yourself even further? That’s where we come in – especially for you, (undeniably, with help!) we have picked out some the best ski resorts for those of you who want a challenge, or just to take part in some non-skiing related activities, such as tobogganing or snowmobiling. With resort heights varying from 4,278ft in Austria to a phenomenal 9,600ft in the USA, what really does it matter? You’re on a mountain either way!

1. Now, a great place to start off is at Les Deux Alpes, France. This resort has been ranked amongst the highest in Europe, with a great variety of slopes to choose from, suitable for all levels of skier. When thinking about resorts for teenagers/intermediate skiers, you know you want a challenge! At Les Deux Alpes, you are given that opportunity - specifically for the more advanced skiers, there are some exhilarating off-piste runs. It is recommended that hiring a guide for a trip to the off-piste mecca, La Grave is even greater of an experience! However, if after you have finished your skiing for the day, and you just fancy going around the town to have a look around, you will find that Les Deux Alpes has a fantastic atmosphere, a great selection of shops, an outdoor pool and ice rink, and a grand choice of lively bars and restaurants. We asked AJ from Igluski which resort he would suggest as an intermediate skier “Les Deux Alpes is the king of the resorts for Teens. The whole place looks like a skater park. There’s a world class Terrain Park that attracts all the youth who hang out all day.”

2. Remaining in France, at a snow range of 1550-3550m and a resort of 6069ft in height, Val d’Isère is considered by many to be the world’s greatest ski resort, as many have found it very difficult to fault. The resort offers some of France’s best ski runs with the best après-ski to follow – just about perfect! The après-ski is hard to beat, and is renowned by the great choice of lively bars and the famous ‘Dick’s Tea Bar’.

This resort being linked to another, Tignes, forming the ‘Espace Killy’, which is one of the most varied ski areas in Europe and just happens to make this combination a true skier’s paradise.

3. Now over to both Morzine and Avoriaz – still in France! These two resorts make up the majestic Portes de Soleil area reaching an enormous 650kms of high altitude slopes, however couldn’t be more contrasting and similar all in the same. Morzine is a picturesque old-style Savoyard town, with an unspoilt centre allowing the town to be filled with character and charm. Then there’s Avoriaz; characterized by its stunning, modern architecture, having no disruption from traffic, and offers doorstep skiing and has a brand new swimming pool leisure complex which is said to be, “the most impressive Water Park in the Alps (Aquariaz) that attracts the kids”, however not forgetting about the highly recommended ski park which just happens to be in Avoriaz, the Burton Stash is said to be, “the best natural terrain park in France”. – both quotes by AJ from Igluski.

And if you’re looking for great après-ski, you have come to the right place! With its fun and friendly atmosphere, it’s a fantastic resort to meet new people or to stick with the ones you came with, and never fail to have a good time, whilst enjoying your stunning surroundings.

4. St. Anton, Austria being centered within the Arlberg Ski-Circus, has been highly recommended, as well as being one of the top ski resorts in Europe! Daniel Robinson, aged 18, summarised St. Anton, telling us, “there’s a lot going on in the town, and it usually has really good snow conditions”. Many others consider the resort to be firmly established as it has a large ski area with fantastic skiing and runs for skiers of all abilities. As well as in St. Anton, these runs are spread onto the neighbouring villages of St. Christoph, Lech, Zürs, and now Warth resulting in a total ski area of 340km.

The ski area is known to have unbelievable views, and the thing that is so great about this resort, is that you are in for definite consistent snow every winter. Whether on-piste, off-piste or cross-country skiing, you can be assured of a whole snow sure winter wonderland. If you feel like you need to take a quick break from skiing during the daytime, there are numerous non-skiing activities you may want to consider. You can choose from the following: tobogganing, ice-skating, ski shows (Wednesdays only), and even squash, climbing, tennis or bowling!

5. Last but not least, we head back to France, over to Flaine. Phenomenal sights surround the resort as it is placed right at the heart of the amazing ‘Grand Massif’, with over 265kms of fantastic ski runs. As a large, varied ski resort of 5249ft in height, Flaine is known for it’s fantastic snow conditions and promised sunshine along with the popular 'Jam Park' being the ideal place to practice your tricks and watch the pros too, with beginner through to advanced lines in a huge, open space.

This resort has everything to offer – everything being a fantastic skiing experience, picturesque surroundings, and a lively nightlife, with the high altitude ensuring reliable snow conditions throughout the season.

Other suggestions made on Little Skiers' facebook page, include:

·       Whistler, Canada – renowned as the number one ski resort in North America, sitting side by side with Blackcomb Mountain, combined having a vast selection of 100 runs in total, averaging a whole 10m of snow each winter season!

·       Les Menuires, France - situated between Val Thorens and Saint-Martin-de-Belleville, and is just a great choice for those skiers want 3 Valley skiing without breaking the bank! Go down to the village and you will find a fantastic range of restaurants, bars, shops and nightclubs.

·       Châtel, France – also another resort within the Portes de Soleil, is Châtel.  With a mixture of ski runs for skiers of all abilities, this resort is perfect when thinking of pushing yourself that little bit more. With a fantastic selection of bars and restaurants and a good après-ski atmosphere, ski holidays in Châtel are perfect for everyone!

Feel free to add your suggestions!

May Johnson, July 2014

Friends of Chernobyl's Children (FOCC) Vale of Belvoir visit

Who are the Friends of Chernobyl's Children?

FOCC are a registered charity started in 1994 by founder/director Olwyn Keogh MBE. The impact of just one little Belarusian child coming to stay with her, initiated the beginnings of this fantastic charity. Ever since FOCC began, the charity has spread nationwide and currently has 31 charities throughout the UK. All their energy is devoted to raising money to bring children, who are at risk, to the UK for one month annually. FOCC mainly focus on children with disadvantaged lifestyles from orphanages or broken homes. For these children to be able to come from difficult social situations, FOCC ensure that these children acquire all the care that they aren’t getting back at home.

What happened in the Chernobyl incident?

It all began on the 26^th April 1986, and just like that, Chernobyl was back on the map. The Chernobyl incident was, and still is, the World’s worst nuclear accident – releasing 190 tons of highly radioactive waste material into the atmosphere, exposing the people of Chernobyl to radioactivity 90 times bigger than that from the explosion of the Hiroshima atomic bomb.

When the UN conference meeting came around, Belarusian scientists stated this to be "the greatest international ecological disaster in the history of humanity". We now know that it will be at least 24,000 years before the land is safe and when no person will suffer for any longer.

FOCC Vale of Belvoir – Bottesford

The FOCC Vale of Belvoir group began 12 years ago in 2002, based in Bottesford, Leicestershire. During this time, they have hosted two groups of Belarusian children, with the current group being hosted coming from the Mogilev region. FOCC have welcomed these children with open arms.

The children arived on Saturday and have a started a jam packed programme of informal activities. They have visited Downtown already to get new shoes and will be visting The Maltings Dental Practice and Specsavers who generously allow annual checkups for each child, the children are given any dental work or glasses free of charge.  They will also receive immunity boosting vitamins and minerals not for just the visit but to take home.

When not out and about taking in part in all of these fun activities, with an overwhelming favourite of swimming, this year the children are housed at Bottesford Cricket Club in order to spend quality time together, relax and to work with their interpreter.

Also, with thanks to the National Trust, the children have been able to visit castles such as Tattershall and other local business like us here at Little Skiers and at Little Jacks Garden Centre and Farm in Bottesford have welcomed them for day visits. 


Visit to Little Skiers

13 children arrived Wednesday morning and we had a whirlwind of trying on and choosing ski jackets, ski pants, hats, gloves. scarves and thermals all to take back to brave the cold winter of -40.  

These visits happen yearly but the charity needs donations to fund these visits as there is nothing from the Government.  It makes a whole lot of difference whatever the donation. Donate here at https://www.justgiving.com/foccgb/ by making either a single donation, monthly donations, or by hosting a fundraiser event.


May Johnson, June 2014

How to measure and fit a skiing helmet correctly

Measure your head correctly:

The starting point for selecting the right size is measuring the circumference of your head, a finger width above the eyebrows (the head size range is given in cm)

Correct positioning:

Make sure that the helmet is positioned levelly on your head. The helmet should not sit too far back on your head, which leaves the forehead unprotected, nor be pulled too far down over the forehead, where it can affect your vision.

Adjust the size properly:

With the adjustable sizing system (IAS system), you can fully customize the size of your helmet. To do so, place the helmet in the proper position and turn the dial at the back of the helmet clockwise to make the helmet tighter, counterclockwise to make it looser. The helmet should basically fit, the size adjustment should only be for fine tuning.

Firm fit: 

You can test if your helmet sits firmly by shaking your head lightly with the chinstrap open. The position of the helmet should not change! An optimum fit is required for the helmet to fulfill its safety function 100%.

Adjusting the strap system: 
a) Remove the comfort cushion on the chinstrap.
b) Close the ratcheted closure.
c) Set the length of the chinstrap by pulling on the outer strap.
The chinstrap should fit tightly, but should not hinder your breathing or swallowing!
d) Reattach the comfort cushion.

Full range of mens skiing helmets, womens skiing helmets, girls skiing helmets and boys skiing helmets as well as infant skiing helmets available on-line at www.littleskiers.co.uk with fast worldwide shipping

Australia: Skiing With the Family?

The skiing regions in Australia are on the Great Dividing Range, which is the main range of mountains running along the east coast of Australia.

Australian ski slopes tend to be relatively short so while there is excellent cross country skiing the downhill resorts that we are used to in Europe there are only really two states in Australia with ski resorts.

In New South Wales there are the resports of Perisher and Thredbo and in Victoria, Tripadvsor recommends Falls Creek, Mt Hotham and Mt Buller as good places to start.

Perisher

Perisher is widely considered as Australia's premier skiing resort in Kosciuszko National Park in South Eastern NSW, and is Australia's biggest alpine resort. This resort is the combination of 4 separate resorts:
Perisher; BlueCow, Smiggin Holes and Guthega with the ski lift allowing access to all four ski resorts.

Perisher Ski Map

With 47 lifts over 3075 acres, the ski runs are divided into beginner 22%, intermediate 60% and advanced runs at 18% so it is the ideal resort to spend a week skiing with the family.

Opens Saturday 7th June 2014 until Monday October 6th 2014

Thredbo

500km south of Sydney is much smaller than Perisher and opens the same weekend on June 7th.  It has the longest ski run in Australia at 5.9 km but with only 14 lifts over 480 acres it is more limited than Perisher when it comes to skiing.

Falls Creek

An Alpine style modern family resort it is situated 300km from Melbourne adjacent to the Bogong High Plains which forms part of the Alpine National Park. Falls Creek’s Village is located at 1600m above sea level while the resort ranges in elevation from 1210m to 1842m. With 14 lifts over 1115 acres this is a fair sized resort with short intermediate runs.

Aussiesnow.com.au have a brilliant website that goes into a lot of detail about the skiing and snowboarding resorts in Australia.

If you are heading off to the slopes for the first time with your family shortly then have a look at our "What to Pack" page  This article goes into what you really need to take and what added extras really help when taking young children for the first time.  Click on the PDF packing list and you can print the summary list off and add any extras and start planning!

Little Skiers ship regularly to Australia and New Zealand and use a fully tracked courier system so if you need some funky designed ski jackets or ski trainer reins to help teach your kids to ski then have a look at Little Skiers - the bonus for Australian customers are a large amount of stock is on sale as our season has ended!

Missing the skiing mountains? what about summer sun in the Alps...

As the ever increasing obesity epidemic gathers pace not just in the UK, but globally, so too does the notion that something needs to change. According to the latest official NHS statistics, 65% of British men are now overweight or obese, compared with 58% in 1993, and the figures for women have risen from 49% to 58% in the same period.  Coupled with this is the fact that almost a third of children aged between 2-15 are now clinically obese. But what exactly can be done to slow, and eventually revert, these concerning figures?

Well, contrary to popular opinion, a family summer holiday is emerging as the fashionable antidote to a healthier lifestyle. However, rather than plumping for a lazy fortnight at the beach, Brits are now swapping their golden sands haven for a more active adventure in the mountains. 

The Esprit Sun programme is a new and vibrant summer holiday experience aimed at young families looking to incorporate both relaxation and high energy action into a fantastically fun-filled summer getaway.

With unrivalled child care services spanning over 30 years, Esprit Sun can testify to having unravelled the magic formula to a successful trip abroad, as our impeccable record of recruiting only the best in childcare expertise has seen us become one of the leading family holiday operators in the country.

Aided by a plethora of immaculately furnished accommodation in Italy's Lake Garda and Belle Plagne of France, a host of exciting outdoor fun and games for fresh air enthusiasts awaits. The children can run wild in our flexible SunSquad Club for a day of kayaking, rock climbing  and circus skills - all of which is supervised by our highly reliable Esprit Rangers. Should you wish to scrap the idea of pre-prepared sandwiches, you can opt to sign your children in a for a full day of child care which includes a supervised lunch. 

Safe in the knowledge that the little ones are having the time of their lives learning to make kites and honing their beach volleyball techniques, you will have the opportunity to explore and sample a taste of either Mediterranean bliss or mountainous charm.

Lake Garda is an endearing lakeside town tucked away in an idyllic and historic corner of Italy, with walks to the castle atop the hill a possible activity as well as day trips across to the Mecca of romance - Venice. Our other sought after destination is Belle Plagne; the attractive village on the edge of the Vanoise National Park. It is set amongst rolling green pastures and pine woods, with panoramic vistas of the mountains all around. The resort is also benefited by leisure excursions including a spot of white water rafting and a day trip to Europe's cleanest lake in Annecy.

Also on offer is a family outing to Europe's eighth most popular theme park: Gardaland Park and Gardaland Sealife Aquarium. With its burgeoning variety of roller coasters, log flumes and shows, there are activities for all the family and the good news is that Esprit Sun is offering a free family ticket to all families staying at the Hotel Parc between the 7th of July and the 23rd of August.

If, however, all the excitement of an outdoorsy summer holiday gets too much for some, Dad's will be delighted to hear that a number of our properties will be showing England's World Cup games live from Brazil. Hopefully there will still be Three Lions matches on the box for those of you who book after the 24th June!

Whichever resort you decide to sojourn this summer, rest assured that you will have glorious fun orchestrating your very own family adventure from start to finish. Even if you need a good sit down upon returning to Blighty, take comfort from leaving behind the crowded beaches for mystical woodland and entertaining lakeside games as it might just change your perspective on future summer holidays...

Written by Samuel Balls – Esprit Sun

To book your own Summer Adventure please visit the Esprit Sun homepage or call their friendly reservation team on 01483 791919.

Top 3 Skiing Accessories for Children

When taking your children skiing, there is a huge array of skiing accessories available from helping you teach your children to ski, important safety equipment to small useful gadgets.

At Little Skiers I get to see the huge range that is available each year and I have used a number with my own children.  Over the years there are a few that really stand out and that I get good reviews on.  In part one, I review the accessories I found most useful with my two young children and in part 2 I will look at some smaller best selling accessories.

• SKI HARNESS: I first saw skiing reins being used on the slopes in 2008 in Austria with my 3 year old

Lucky Bums Ski Reins

and set about finding one for us as well as stocking it for Little Skiers.  I chose the Lucky Bums Ski Trainer and it has been a consistent best seller since.  It is robust with 2 easy buckles at the shoulder making it simple to get on and off.  The reins are long at 7’, which I found to be a perfect distance for my child to ski in front of me.  To start with I used them to help her turn by gently pulling on the side she needed to start her snowplough turn.  It controlled her speed when the slope suddenly got a bit steeper but the rest of the time it was slightly slack.  When she fell over the handle on the back made lifting her up easy: you literally lift up high and their legs and skis just untangle!  It also proved invaluable on the chair lifts.  I would pack the reins into the backpack, and when the chair lift came to me I used the handle to lift and pull her back into the seat.  I thought I would only use it for a few years but she only just stopped using it when she was 7 yrs. old.  It was perfect for when she skied the much steeper parts of blue runs as I could stop her at any time if she started speeding off. As they grow in confidence they do tend to speed off very fast so this is great to control those moments!  I also used them to pull her along those hated green flat sections.  There are a few copies of this but the Lucky Bums Ski Trainer is the most popular brand used in USA.
Recommended: Lucky Bums Ski Trainer: the handy backpack is a simple yet really handy feature.


• TODDLER BEGINNER SKIS. These were the best things ever!  After putting my son too early

Lucky Bums Toddler Skis

into ski school and him absolutely hating it, I decided I wouldn’t start my daughter until she was older and had already started school.  She was desperate not to be the only one not skiing so armed with a pair of toddler skis we explored Flaine.  As they are light I put them in my rucksack and when we found a snowy hill (Flaine has great beginner green areas with slopes and hilly areas around the hotels) we simply strapped them onto her normal snow boots (I didn’t wear my skis) and I ran alongside her.  She learnt the snowplough position, to balance and we had such good fun.  When she’d had enough they were easy to take off and then we would go off to find the next place, ride in the gondola or go and have a hot chocolate.  We had such fun together and she progressed fast when she started ski school and now aged 8 she skis with us all day – leaving me in her snow spray….
Recommended: Lucky Bums Beginner Skis.  These have adjustable plastic bindings, (which easily accommodate a boot up to about size 1), they encase the heel securely and they have a funky design!


• CHILDREN’S SKI GOGGLES vary quite a bit; generally if you buy from a trusted brand the quality is sufficient for a week’s skiing.  A basic pair will have a single lens and as long as it has air vents it shouldn’t fog up.  If you want a bit more reassurance then a double lens creates a thermal barrier and combined with an antifog coating and air vents ensures that the goggles will not mist up.

If you want a few more features it may be worth spending a little bit more and invest in a pair of goggles that will last quite a few years.  Previously, my son wore a mid-range pair from Trespass (under £20), which worked well but when we went spring skiing in Tignes, he really struggled with the bright glare from the snow.  I gave him my Bollé goggles with a citrus dark lens and he was so much happier and comfortable skiing in the bright sun.  Bollé also sell a modulator lens in adult ski goggles that adapt to the different light conditions without changing the lens.
Bollé Kids Ski Goggles come with a choice of two lenses: Vermillion lens which is suitable for part cloud and part sunny conditions and is a good all-rounder with 37% VLT (visible light transmitted through lens or the Citrus dark lens which is suitable for full, very bright sunny conditions (17% VLT).
Finding goggles for the smallest in your family is not easy, I found the UVEX Snowy pro are an excellent choice for infants as the frames are more flexible and soft to the touch to ensure a good comfortable fit on small heads.

In part 2, I will review and recommend useful smaller accessories.

This post was written by Tess Bradshaw, Director of LittleSkiers.co.ukLittleSkiers.co.uk and busy mum to two little skiers; Sam aged 10 and Amelie, aged 8

Why you need a glove liner....

Do you take your skiing gloves off when you stop along a beautiful alpine run to take a photo, when getting kit out of your rucksack or even to zip up your ski jacket at the top of an exposed mountain? 

Hestra Merino Liners

You will rapidly lose heat that takes a while for the body to get back so, especially if you feel the cold, wear a glove liner under your regular gloves so that you don't need to expose your skin as you will always have a protective layer on your hand.

If, like me you hate cold hands and really feel the cold while skiing, there is no better system than the layering system with Hestra.  I wear (and can highly recommend) the Hestra Merino Liner as this transports any moisture away and creates a warming layer of air.

I then chose the Army Leather Heli Ski Female glove which comes with a removable liner or base glove which has Bemberg insulation.  This thicker liner really keeps your hands warm in normal weather and protects against the wind.

Hestra Army Heli Female 

Then when you add the third layer, the outer shell part of the glove, it protects against the extreme weather you experience whilst skiing.  The Army Heli I wear has a soft leather palm which grips well on ski poles, extra long cuffs that go easily over the ski jacket and stops any unwanted draughts and chills getting in and cuffs that loop over your wrists so you don't drop them in the snow when you take them off!

Hestra advise that  mittens are warmer than gloves but I chose the gloves as a personal choice, however they do do a cross between the two with one finger!

If you combine a liner, base glove and shell outer you increase the warmth by 50%!

I've worn mine for 3 skiing holidays, in freezing windy exposed resorts and my hands have never been warmer.  I keep them in good condition using Hestra Leather Balm when I return from my skiing holiday and I expect them to last many years.

Tess Bradshaw, Little Skiers

What makes a good ski jacket?

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We know how difficult it is to choose a ski jacket for you and your children. We have done our research and put in what we already know to give you the best possible idea of what to search for when looking for a perfect ski jacket - don’t just assume that tons of padding is the way to go!

The more expensive a ski jacket is, the less the thickness of a ski jacket should actually matter. Usually the more expensive ski jackets tend to be made to feel and appear a thinner material, but this is made up for by the amount of time that has been spent on the technology and the design of the ski jacket. The features of adults and children’s ski jackets really do depend upon the brand.

Taped seams are 100% essential - think when you're stitching - every stitch you make creates a tiny hole in the material? Well, you may not realise it, but that is what allows water to flow in! A little bit of an exaggeration, but this is one of the most important elements when it comes to waterproofing in ski jackets. It involves taping every single seam on the jacket (regardless of where it is situated), to make sure that there is optimal waterproofing! It also adds valuable strength and makes your ski jacket last a lot longer.

In a ski jacket, snow gaiters are extremely useful when it comes to preventing snow from getting up the bottom of the ski jacket or up the sleeves, should you fall over. These usually come with zips, poppers or Velcro to make it easier to loosen to get the snow out.

Air ventilation and breathability are absolutely essential when looking for a good ski jacket for you or your children. You need to look out for zippers in the sleeves and underarms which prevent sweating by wicking moisture away from the skin, they are great for Spring skiing or if you really work hard on the slopes.

Look for insulation! The best ski jackets have three layers especially designed for cosiness and warmth - not ones that are just layers and layers of padding, but ones that are layers and layers of specially designed fabrics and materials. A bit later on I will tell you all about the three different layers in a ski jackets and their uses.

Weatherproofing is a necessity when it comes to ski jackets. You need to have waterproofing and windproofing features otherwise the ski jacket will not last very long at all! Further on in this blog I will also give you an idea on what the best unit of waterproofing to look out for is and why.

One of the most important factors of ski jackets is the use of technology within them. When it comes to waterproofing, you must always check the label! Manufacturers typically describe the waterproof breathability of fabrics using two different units:

·       Millimetres (mm) – measure how waterproof a fabric is. The higher the number, the higher the waterproofing.

·       Grams (g)/square metre (m2) – measure of how breathable the fabric is, expressed in terms of grams of water vapour that can pass through a square metre of the fabric from the inside to the outside.

Waterproof Rating (mm)	Resistance Provided	What it can withstand
0-5000	No resistance to some resistance to moisture	Light rain, dry snow, no pressure
6000-10,000	Rainproof and waterproof under light pressure	Light rain, average snow, light pressure
11,000-15,000	Rainproof and waterproof except under high pressure	Moderate rain, average snow, light pressure
16,000-20,000	Rainproof and waterproof under high pressure	Heavy rain, wet snow, some pressure
20,000+	Rainproof and waterproof under very high pressure	Heavy rain, wet snow, high pressure

It’s also really important for you to stay warm on the slopes.. That’s why you need to consider the different elements and layers included in clothing insulation – its not just padding!

For optimal insulation in a ski jacket, there are three different layers which all have their own importance:

• The first layer near the body is for hygiene. The role of the first layer, such as polyester, is to get rid of sweat so it does not remain in contact with the skin;
• An outer close-knit or closely woven layer of polyester or merino wool, as a wind breaker, usually thin — if there is a risk of bad weather this should be impermeable, the ideal being a textile that stops water droplets but allows water vapour to pass so as to remove evaporated sweat (a textile like this is said to "breathe");
• And between the two, a thick layer of fleece traps the air and prevents contact between the skin and the wind-breaking layer.

The RECCO® Rescue System is a technology which has been used by ski resorts and mountain rescue teams for a while now, all just to keep everyone safe on the mountain if you ski off-piste. 

The RECCO® Rescue System has two uses - RECCO® detectors and reflectors.

The RECCO® detectors are used by ski resorts and mountain rescue teams which send out a search signal after a bad accident on the mountain or an avalanche. But to have a built-in RECCO® reflector, you need to do your research! They can only come in specific ski clothing, such as Trespass ski jackets. The reflectors then bounce back a directional signal which then directs the rescuer straight to the reflector and the person/people in harm. This one thing is what can make the best possible ski jackets around. 

May Johnson, November 2013