(skiarmadillo.com) in Verbier is a
superb, high-end chalet company
offering a reasonably priced, true
chalet experience that your whole
family will appreciate, especially older
children.
Further afield is Whistler,
Canada, and from Hong Kong you
can fly direct to Vancouver with a
resort transfer of two hours. The resort
is family-friendly, with a designated
“Family Zone”. There is a beginner
snow park where teenagers can
practise their first tricks, and a ski and
snowboard school established purely
for 13- to 18-year-olds – the “Ride
Tribe” – which offers park and pipe
and freeride lessons.
Or, stay a little closer to home
at Niseko, Japan, via direct flights to
Sapporo and a two-hour transfer to
a resort. Niseko Hanazono, Grand
Hirafu, Niseko Village and Annupuri
Ski Area, all part of Niseko United,
offer fantastic powder skiing (for
more advanced skiers) and good
intermediate terrain, too. And why
not give night skiing a go?
Mixed-ability groups
If you are a mixed-ability family,
research resorts with a variety of
terrain to suit beginners through
to experts. Find a ski school that
accommodates a wide range of levels
and, who knows, you could all be
skiing together by the end of the week.
Alpe d’Huez in France is
ideal for mixed abilities with wide
nursery slopes at the resort base
and the Sarenne, a 16-kilometre
black run from the top of Pic Blanc.
Alternatively, Cervinia, Italy, near
Milan airport, has good terrain for
mixed abilities, and the option to
ski across to Zermatt, Switzerland,
extends the terrain further.
Your final checklist
Skiing with children can be
expensive – think equipment,
clothing, travel and accommodation!
Until your children have committed
to skiing and whilst they are still
growing quickly, consider renting skis
and boots, rather than buying. When
renting equipment, look for offers in
advance to help with the holiday cost.
Other items to pack (some
of which can be hired), include:
waterproof gloves, goggles, helmets,
fleeces and thermals, snow boots,
socks, hats and sun cream.
When skiing with the family, it
is important not to push your family
members beyond their abilities. A
negative skiing experience early on
may deter children in the future.
Always put your children in ski
school, as it is the best way to learn
and understand the sport and slope
etiquette. For further information
on slope safety advice, and the
International Ski Federation’s (FIS)
ten rules of conduct, visit
fis-ski.com.
CK Ski (ck-ski.com) is a Hong Kong-
based snow sports information service
and representation company that helps
organisations worldwide that are keen to
promote their offering in Asia. Planning your
next ski holiday and need advice? Please get
in touch:
@CK_Ski on
Twitter; or search CK Ski on Facebook.
Photos: Top centre: Marco Spataro; Middle left: Club Med, Delphine Coutant; Middle: Club Med Sahoro, Kei Yoshida;
Middle right: Club Med, Delphine Coutant; Bottom: Yves Garneau, Rocksteady Chalet, Ski Armadillo, Verbier; Top right:
Marco Spataro
January 2014
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