Friday 7 January 2011

American ski school - a revelation


I really didn't know what to expect from ski school in the US. Two years ago when we went ski-ing in France, it took Littleboy 1 a good four days to actually join in with the class, rather than sitting in what we dubbed the 'crying hut' all morning.

As I described here, perhaps it wasn't surprising, given that the ski school met each morning at the bottom of a mini cable car. You waved goodbye to your child as he entered a crowded sort pigpen, clutching his little skis, surrounded by howling French children, and was taken off quickly by a ski instructor. It was emotionally draining, both for him and us, not to mention disorganised and chaotic - on the first day he came back with the wrong skis, and we never found the original ones (luckily the hire shop was very understanding....)

This time I was reassured by the fact that the two boys would be together - I thought this would be comforting for Littleboy 2 who had not skied before and is prone to tantrums when things aren't going his way. But I guess I was still a little apprehensive - would they be too cold? Would they lose their hats/gloves/goggles? (Littleboy 1 lost two pairs of mittens last term at school, so his track record is not good, and his brother has a tendency to take things off and throw them indiscriminately on the floor). Would they resent not ski-ing with us?

But American ski school was a revelation - or at least, the school at Smugglers' Notch, the resort where we holidayed. (It has in fact won many awards for its ski school - which is known as the Snow Sport University, a slightly pretentious name, but perhaps justified.)

We dropped the Littleboys each morning in a large, heated hall. On the first day it looked like chaos but in fact, it was highly organised, with each child being allocated a group led by two instructors. The children took off all their outer garments and immediately started playing with Lego or colouring. Meanwhile, their accessories and ski jackets were placed inside their helmets (labelled) in a crate, ready for when they started skiing. They managed not to lose a single item all week - not even a tiny ski glove went missing. (In fact, the only person who lost something was The Doctor, who sadly dropped a very nice hat I bought him last Christmas).

They were then taken to the ski slopes, where lessons began. Whereas in the French ski school, Littleboy 1 seemed to spend the best part of two weeks marching around in a circle on skis, in one week here both boys not only learnt to ski, but by the end of the week were ascending the mountain in a chairlift and skiing down a green run in formation behind their instructor. They even competed in a little 'race' one day, in which (hilariously) an instructor with a mike announced them as if they were Lindsey Vonn about to compete for Olympic gold.

They had frequent hot chocolate breaks, a hot lunch, and at 2.30pm finished ski-ing for the day. They then were entertained indoors (one day a magic show, sometimes a film) until the parents collected them at 4pm.

By the second day they were so excited to go to ski school that they barely even paid attention as we waved them goodbye in the mornings. They loved their instructor, were always enthusiastic about what they had been doing, and generally seemed to be having a fantastic time.

As well as going to sneak a look at them on a few occasions, we could also track their progress online due to a GPS device that was strapped to their leg all day and recorded every turn they made. At the end of the week they received a detailed report of what they could do, as well as a lovely 'diploma' from the Snow Sport University (yes, Americans just love to graduate!).

Now I don't want to knock the Ecole de Ski Francais too much - I'm sure we'll be going back to them, and they do a decent job - after all, The Doctor learned with them as a child and he is a brilliant skier. But we both agreed that there is much that they could learn from this system - efficient, very child-centred and also reassuring for the parents, so that everyone can enjoy their week.

As for the boys, Littleboy 1 was consistently praised by his instructor for being the strongest in his group - although his tendency to head straight downhill rather than turning, when he gets the chance, has not diminished. He has also already (horrors) asked if he can learn to snowboard (the answer was no, not until you can ski properly.)

But I was particularly impressed by Littleboy 2 - only just four - who progressed very well and did not complain about the cold once (unlike his parents, wussily huddled in the bar with our Irish Coffees). During the week he also appeared to have acquired a girlfriend - we arrived one afternoon to find him arm in arm with a little blonde chick who seemed to be all over him. It won't be long till he's chatting up chalet girls, I'm sure.........

10 comments:

Calif Lorna said...

Smuggs is wonderful, really well thought out. When I first saw the ski races I thought 'yuk, how American!' Then, of course, my sons come down and I'm desperate to hear the comments and loving it all.

Glad you enjoyed it!

Expat mum said...

My 7 y/0 loves the Copper Mountain ski school. They give him a number at the end of the day and we go on to the Flaik web site, where we can see where he skii-ed all day, what his top speed was and how many miles he's covered. And of course, when he does bomb down the hills faster than everyone else, the tracking thing makes me less nervous that we're going to lose him forever!

Iota said...

Sounds like you all had a wonderful time.

Mwa said...

Sounds excellent!

We have ours learn in an Austrian ski school, and that's pretty good as well. The little ones have a little "snow park" with play things to ski through (my description module is down today) and they can, if they want to, stay to have lunch. No indoor fun, though - sounds nice.

Rhiannon said...

So glad you had fun. We have been totally sucked into Smuggs culture over the last 3 years - we are no longer quite so derogatory about the Cookie Race! A family holiday where you don't see your children for most of the day is a winner. Everyone has a good time. You can't go wrong! Our children, 5 and 3 started off the week asking if they could ski with us and by day 2 we were unable to pry them away from their classes. My husband and I have been upset though to discover that getting older and kicking back the "hot chocolate" at lunch does nothing for our ability to ski in the afternoon.

nappy valley girl said...

Lorna - I loved the races, thought it was a great idea - but then I've been to Halloween parades and all kinds this year, so I think I'm already indoctrinated!

Expat Mum - yes, the Flaik was what we had to. (LB1 puzzled me by asking on day 1 'what's a flake?' I went on at him about snowflakes and cornflakes - to his bemusement. Then a few days later I realised....)

Iota - thank you, we did!

Mwa - the indoor fun was definitely what made it. Mind you, it was so cold it was definitely a necessity....

Rhiannon - I wonder if we overlapped! Let me know if you go next year - we could meet for a hot chocolate in the Black Bear...

Metropolitan Mum said...

The 'crying hut'? Haha. Great to hear that the boys enjoyed their weak this time. Happy kids, happy parents :)

'Cross the Pond said...

Crying hut had me laughing as well. My little ones are too young but once they are old enough we're going to brave the slopes. Now, where in England do we go? I suppose a trip 'cross the channel is in order?!

Bush Mummy said...

Wow that sounds fantastic.!! I am desperate for the girls to ski but dread them getting cold and refusing at the first fence..

Maybe we'll pile over there to learn..

BM x

Don't step on the cracks said...

I love the sound of this ski school! Just back from a v small Austrian resort where my nearly 4 yr old daughter attempted ski school. Not successful due to none of the teachers speaking more than a couple of words of English but more importantly totally and utterly disorganised. Never seen so many crying tots!! May be heading over the pond for our next ski trip.