GO SKIING WITH CHILDREN... AND NOT DIE IN THE TRY!
Sometimes planning a ski trip in the middle of the hectic pace of work can be challenging. Material, clothes, classes, meals. In fact, if you add to that the fact of going with children, it can even scare you. But not at all! In today's article we want to give you some advice that will surely be very useful if you are thinking of going skiing with the little ones.From advice, best stations for the little ones, to how to start them skiing. In the end, we are the ones who have to transmit the values of sport and nature to them! And unlike sports, being a parent doesn't come with an instruction manual.
What better than a morning skiing to spend time with the family and enjoy a day of chairlifts, sun and snow?
EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW BEFORE YOUR SKI TRIP WITH CHILDREN
Propose skiing to them as something of the most fun so that they go with enthusiasm. If from the beginning it seems boring to them, they will never want to put on skis. It is also important that you inform yourself well about the place to go, since we are going with children we do not need to go to the best slopes either, so it will be better to go to stations that are not crowded with people. In this way you will avoid the queues and the impatience that many children have.
It is recommended that they not put on skis until they are three years old because their motor skills are limited and contact with the snow must be done gradually. Other options at these ages is to rent sledges so that they get used to the atmosphere of the ski slopes and the incredible sensation of sliding through the snow.
Between three and four years will be a period of first contact and learning of basic techniques. It is recommended that at least until they are 5 years old you do not put them on skis and that, before starting to sign them up for a ski class with an instructor, that they have their first contact in a Snow Garden where they can give their first Steps. Here they can get used to carrying ski equipment. Most of the stations contain this closed area that can even have a tape so that they can practice their first descents.
Another factor for them to enjoy is that they are well wrapped. Children lose heat more easily than adults, so the trick is to put several layers on them that insulate them well from the cold, wind and humidity, but also allow them to breathe. At first, it may be uncomfortable for them to carry all this material on them (glasses, helmet, skis...), but it will always be better if they are cold. If you are looking for ski goggles for your little ones, Uller's are undoubtedly the best option thanks to their lightness and comfort. They won't even know they're wearing them! In short, it will be important to cover their heads, ears and feet well, since they are the areas where the cold escapes the most.
THE 4 BEST SEASONS TO GO WITH CHILDREN
Next, we are going to talk about the four best resorts in Spain to go with children.
1. GRANDVALIRA
First of all, Grandvalira in Andorra has three themed areas for children. It has Imaginariumn circuits that have a lot of characters that accompany them in different obstacles such as the super tunnel or the imaginarium Forest. It also preserves an area for snowmobiles, slides, snowshoes and many other attractions where you can enjoy the snow and your first contact with it.
2. BAQUEIRA-BERET
Baqueira Beret in the Catalan Pyrenees has up to three snow gardens perfect for children aged 2 and over who still don't ski. It also has a covered and hot space that allows you to play if the environmental conditions are not the most appropriate. In Baqueira, many of the ski schools are aimed solely at children and the teachers are true masters of skiing and teaching.
3. FORMIGAL
In the Aragonese Pyrenees, particularly in Formigal you have nothing more and nothing less than 9000 square meters for the use and enjoyment of children from 4 months. They are looked after and entertained by professionals so that they feel at home while they enjoy the snow attractions. In the Panticosa sector there is Animated Forest which is a thematic track about the animals that live in this valley, an incredible moment for your children.
4. SIERRA NEVADA
Finally, in Sierra Nevada you have the famous Kids Park for all those little ones who want to start Freestyle, here they can practice it safely. They will also be able to enjoy their roller coaster or bouncy castles so that their first trip to the snow is up to their imagination.
INTRODUCING KIDS TO SKIING: WHERE TO START?
According to the Royal Spanish Winter Sports Federation, the best age for them to start enjoying skiing with us is four years old. In addition, he also recommends that they start with a professional, although it depends on the dependence they have on their parents. Parents can accompany them in the different classes so that they feel more comfortable in the first times they take a chairlift. But be clear that this is like taking them to school: even if it is hard for you to leave them at first, they will learn much more if they are in a group with more children like them, they will make friends and have a great time.
The most important thing is to overcome the fear factor so the more fun the activities are, the more they will enjoy a day of skiing. According to the director of the Federation, there are three key concepts that a teacher must show a student and they are security, confidence and tranquility. The security that despite not being in their comfort zone since they are on a snowy mountain, there is an adult with whom they feel that everything is under control; the confidence so that they can tell them about any problem (from the helmet being too tight to questions about how to improve their training); and finally, the peace of mind that everything is going to be perfect and that your day is going to be incredible.
To finish, the importance of learning to ski as soon as possible should be taken into account, since the gestures we learn as children are internalized and are then executed quickly. On the other hand, when we get older, the learning processes are much slower.
SKI COMPETITIONS FOR THE YOUNGEST
Youth competitions also exist and are held at many of our stations. For example, in Panticosa the ski club holds a tournament with more than 200 participants between the ages of 12 and 16. In addition, it houses people from Spain and Argentina who could be the next promises of Spanish skiing.
On the other hand, in Sierra Nevada the Royal Spanish Winter Sports Federation holds a youth championship for the disciplines of slalom, giant slalom and super-G.
From Uller we hope that the little ones will enjoy the snow like us. In addition, we have the responsibility of transmitting values such as companionship on the slopes or caring for the stations. As you can see, there are plenty of options and possibilities for children to fall in love with skiing in the safest way.
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
- WHAT IS THE PERFECT AGE TO START SKIING?
The perfect age to start skiing is 4 years old since they can begin to internalize movements that they will learn for the rest of their lives and they will become more mechanized as future skiers.
- IS IT RECOMMENDED TO SIGN UP FOR SKI LESSONS IF WE DO NOT KNOW HOW TO SKI?
The best thing to do is to go to a professional who will guide you through the slopes and teach you the basic movements so that you can enjoy the sport from scratch.
- WHAT MATERIAL IS RECOMMENDED FOR A CHILD TO BRING WHEN SKIING?
When skiing, it is convenient for a child to go very warm with several layers because the most important thing is that they do not get cold. As for the materials, a helmet and glasses will be essential, here you can consult Uller's catalog of children's glasses. The poles are not always necessary since being so small the movement of the legs is more important. In addition, we can use ours to do balance exercises and guide them.
- WHICH ARE THE BEST RESORTS TO SKI WITH CHILDREN?
The best resorts to go skiing with children are Grandvalira in Andorra, Sierra Nevada in Granada, Formigal-Panticosa in the Aragonese Pyrenees and Baqueira Beret in the Catalan Pyrenees.
- ARE THERE AREAS WHERE WE LEAVE CHILDREN WHILE WE SKI?
Yes, children in their early years have children's areas in the lower part of the stations, they are usually sunny and protected from the wind. Of course they have adult staff who attend to him and do activities for him.
- HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO LEARN TO SKI?
When they are four years old, they normally begin to slide on flat areas without slopes. Their levels of balance and coordination are what determine how long it will take them to learn to ski.
- IS IT DANGEROUS TO GO SKIING WITH CHILDREN?
It is not dangerous to go skiing with children since the resorts offer all kinds of services, from teachers to ski equipment so that they feel safe and so do you.
- ARE THERE ACTIVITIES OTHER THAN SKIING IN THE RESORTS?
Yes, if your children don't dare to ski yet, they can enjoy a whole series of activities from sledding, snowmobiling or excursions. In addition to the services offered by many nurseries on the slopes.
