Skiing in Les Gets

[kieran]

Hi ACC skiers out there, me and the family are off skiing at Les Gets, in February, this will be only our 2nd time skiing and first one abroad. Any info, tips, advice would be more than welcome!

[Michelle]

Hi Keiran

1. The best thing you can do is have lessons, all of you, and definitely not together, even the husbands and wives!

I don't know how old your kids are but a few years ago ESF (Ecole du Ski Francais) started a progressive ski tuition course that did not start with leaning snowplough, then snowplough turns. In fact it starts you on parallel turns straight away, but you start to learn on really short skis and then as you get better you progress to longer skis.

I have been in Les Arc with a complete beginner and saw her doing red runs at the end of the week. It really is a very good way to learn.

Quite a lot of other British Ski Schools also do this - you should ask.

2. Don't buy any clothing kit for your kids - rent it. You can rent in the UK - Snow and Rock maybe (Chertsey) but also Edge to Edge in Crawley.
Asda do cheap snow clothes for sale too. It's just no worth buying the really expensive stuff for them to have them outgrow it in a years time.

3. Rent your skis etc in resort - if anything goes wrong they can sort it out for you overnight. You can even rent helmets for the kids in resort.

4. Check out the website of the resort and see what is going on, which shops are there, is there a swimming pool you can take everyone after a day on the slopes? Is there a cinema with Version Original films? ie in English. What is there to do in the evening?

4. Don't stress, relax and have fun. You are on holiday!

But remember, alcohol has a greater effect at altitude and when you are dehydrated from the day out in the snow. So, my motto generally is, I can get pissed in Surrey and I can get pissed in a skiing resort...but I can't ski in Surrey! So maybe curtail the drinking a bit so you have less of a hangover and enjoy the days more.

Hope it helps

Michelle

[Sylv]

Kieran I know the place well as I always go to Avoriaz which is 10km up the hill. It's a fantastic domain (Portes du Soleil) and you're going to have a great time.

I will try to think of some other advice on top of Michelle's already comprehensive. Not sure about Les Gets but I know in Avoriaz there is a kids' ski teaching school where you can leave the kids (if that's what you intend to do). The place (Avoriaz) is very safe as there are no cars within the station (only horse carts) and the school is right at the centre.

As you're a cyclist you might also want to give cross-country skiing a go, if you have enough time. There are flat-ish pistes down the valley near Les Gets which are good for beginners.

Not sure the age of your kids, but might be worth them wearing a helmet for downhill skiing.

There are also other activities, like night-time skidoo, pool ice-rink etc ...

With the altitude, effort and calories burnt to stay warm you'll be knackered after the first day - don't try to do too much, maybe half a day to start with.

Don't forget to indulge in the cheese-heavy specialties in the evening ... tartiflette, raclette, melted Mont d'Or with patatoes and charcuterie ...

[kieran]

thanks guys, children are 6 and 9, both had 2 full day ski lessons in aviemore and the 9 year old was going up on those cable things and skiing down by himself by the end of day 2, leaving his mum far behind.

Some things we'd like to know:

out on the pistes what about toilets/picnic areas, restaurants (are they cheap? )

Should adults wear helmets too?

We've managed to borrow some ski clothes for the children and some in a sale in Decathlon, only me left to clothe, thinking about visiting TK Max in hammersmith, also wondering about just using my hiking jacket for skiing (Johanna's brother is a big skier and snow boarder (mainly in the US) and he said he just uses his mountain/hiking jacket).

In mid feb will it be possible to hike in the area or how hard and fun is it to do snow shoes?

[Dombo]

Toilets are generally at the restaurants. Designated picnic areas are rare on ski slopes, generally you either eat at a restaurant/cafe or take sandwiches and eat in a sheltered spot. For obvious reasons terraces attached to restaurants have "No Picnic" signs.

The restaurants in Western European ski resorts are rarely cheap, particularly in France. Figure around €10 for a plate of spag bol or similar.

Good quality hiking/mountain jackets are perfect for skiing, particularly the types that allow layering ie you just have a shell and wear two thin layers underneath. However always be prepared for the worst and take hat/gloves goggles and sunglasses every day. Wear either the sunglasses or goggles whenever you're outside in the daytime.

Weather can be extremely variable in the Alps - I have had my hair and eyebrows freeze solid in late April and been sunbathing in January. Re the sun take factor 20 as absolute minimum for you and the Mrs, SPF 50+ for the kids, and use it every day particularly on earlobes and nose. Also lip balm.

Helmets can be a good idea for adults - a colleague of mine swears by them and - and are seen more these days. For children they are a must, if only to protect against them smacking each other with awkwardly carried skis.

There may be hiking available, but if the snow cover is good you'll need snow shoes or x-country skis and there may also be designated hiking trails.

This link may help if you've not aready seen it

http://www.lesgets.com/

Finally, however tempting and safe it may look, do not ski off-piste without a qualified guide.

Finally finally, enjoy your holiday.

[Richard (Apples)]

Hi Kieren,

I've been to Les Gets a few times including mountain biking in the summer and its a great resort for families.

I found the ski school well organised and friendly ....the kids loved it.

The road that runs through Les Gets gets busy but if your staying on the slopes side of it you'll have no problems.

We found lunchtimes very busy at the reasturants so tended to book tables...

I'd agree with the advice about hiring equipment locally as you can change things if they dont fit

We also found there were pretty big queues for the lifts at the bottom, so dont hang around when dropping the kids at ski school

[higg]

I'll second the post about the mountaineering type jacket. All you need is something waterproof and very windproof, insulation can be got from inner layers. Many pockets are useful for googles, glasses, hat, suncream, lip balm.

Useful to carry a bottle of water even if it's just 500ml in your pocket. The air is cold and dry and will dehydrate and make the throat dry. I always bring Strepsils to help keep the bugs away.

[George]

The best deal you can get at the moment for ski jackets and salupets are from primark, I got a pukka jacket there for £25 it is fully waterproof breathable, has snow skirt around waist, lift pass holder pocket's and REKKO avalanche rescue transponder, believe me I couldn't beleive it for the price.

They got loads of different colours so me and the Mrs are all kitted out now.

The best cost saving measure is to get ski travel insurance!

[kieran]

I might go with the mountain jacket then as I already have one (I used it in aviemore, but it's not in cool ski colours), with regards to water etc I'm thinking of bringing my newish Deuter bag which can take one of those water packs so might use that. What's a REKKO avalanche rescue transponder (an emergency teleportation device?)

[Neil Mac]

HI Kieran, I just ski in a windproof, waterproof shell type jacket which I also use for hiking. Having a few different layers underneath gives you extra flexibility as the weather changes.

If your budget will stretch to a helmet I'd recommend it. Over the last 5-10 years they've become increasingly popular, probably because younger skiers now grow up wearing them. I always wear one having concussed myself several years ago. If you do decide to get one spend some time making sure it fits properly, otherwise you'll hate it, oh and some ventilation in the helmet is a good thing too.

And a Recco transeiver is a small device sewn into the lining of the jacket which will help them to find you if you get swallowed by an avalanche. If your not planning on skiing off piste this is unlikely, although some piste's do get closed due to avalanche risk (not sure if thats the case in Les Gets).

Hope thats some help.

[Elliot M]

[quote="kieran"]with regards to water etc I'm thinking of bringing my newish Deuter bag which can take one of those water packs so might use that.

[Michelle]

Recco is a small reflective square that sits in your jacket arm and in your jacket leg, and it is supposed to bounce a signal off sent by an avalanche tranceiver.

Transceivers are locating devices to search for people lost under the wet cement that is an avalanche. You can use them to search for others also wearing them, or for those wearing Reccos.

Don't worry, avalanches over pistes are very rare as the people in charge of the resort will make sure any risk is eliminated PDQ. Still, when you get to be an expert you may want your Recco with you at all times.