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Skiing with Kids – Great Australian, New Zealand and Canadian Ski Resorts.
With the quality of facilities now available in ski resorts there is no longer a reason to put skiing on hold until the kids are older.
There are many resorts with care available for babies and toddlers plus great kids’ clubs, and ski lessons. Some of our favourite resorts include:
Australia:
- Perisher Blue,
- Falls Creek
- Selwyn Snowfields
- Charlotte Pass
New Zealand:
- Cardona
- Treble Cone
Canada:
- Big White,
- Silver Star,
- Sun Peaks
- Fernie
Unlike other holidays where activities are divided squarely into those for the kids and those for the adults, skiing is one of the few sports you can do together as a family regardless of age.
Natalee Ward has this rundown on ski resorts in Australia and New Zealand, while Marc Llewellyn takes a look at what Canada has to offer.
In recent years, mountain resorts in Australia, New Zealand and Canada have turned their focus to families. The result is an outbreak of quality ski schools, crèches for children and alternative snow activities for those who don’t ski.
Package holidays offer deals where kids ski, and sometimes even stay and eat, free of charge.
The key to a successful, happy and safe family ski holiday is lessons. Ski schools (or “snowsport facilities” as many are now called) generally split children into groups of 3-5yrs and 6-14yrs.
The lessons are a mix of child-minding and an introduction to the snow for young children, or snowboarding and advanced skills for older kids. While some children shun the idea of being in a structured environment, most enjoy the group activities and the chance to ski and have hot chocolates with children their own age.
As the head of Perisher Blue’s ski school and father of two children who ski and snowboard, Don McInnes knows the importance of leaving teaching to a professional.
“It’s all about everyone having an enjoyable holiday,” Don says.
“When you try to teach your own child anything – how to swing a golf club or swim – it usually doesn’t go smoothly.
It is always better to let a third party teach them how to ski, and most kids prefer it.”
While the schools teach children skiing fundamentals such as snow plough and weight transferral, it is always done on kids’ terms. The instructors at Perisher Blue, for example, are selected primarily because they have childcare or teaching qualifications.
Don McInnes says children younger than 3yrs usually don’t have the strength to ski, but most 3-4yrs can learn to ski on beginner runs within about four days, depending on the child.
He says most 5-6yrs can ski down a slope unassisted by the second day, but progress is best measured over a week. Children from about 8-14yrs can usually pick up the basic skills within the first or second lesson.
Snowboarding is offered to children 6yrs and older, but Don says it is often better to wait until the child is 7-8yrs and has stronger legs.
The southern hemisphere ski season opens in June and usually runs until the end of the school holidays in October. But if you can’t get enough of family fun in the snow, then the Canadian season gets going in November and lasts through to Easter.
Canada is a sensational family destination for a white Christmas. Australia-based SkiTours Canada specialises in affordable family skiing; see www.skitourscanada.com or call 1800 446 302 for more.
Supplied courtesy of www.holidayswithkids.com.au