Getting your children kitted out for family ski holidays can be a time-consuming and wasteful process, as they grow so quickly that you might only get one season’s worth for each set of gear. Although it’s tempting to buy the next size up so they can ‘grow into it’, this can make skiing difficult which, in turn, makes it less enjoyable and can put your children off the sport completely.
Most ski clothing and equipment can be hired, which is a good option if it’s your first family ski holiday or you don’t ski very often. However it’s useful to buy some ski gear such as underwear, balaclavas, and ski gloves, as these can be used for general winter use.
As part of the service in our luxury catered chalets, we will arrange for a selection of ski equipment to be brought to your chalet on your first evening so that you can make your choices in comfortable and relaxed surroundings.
Make sure your children wear a properly fitted ski helmet, and set a good example by wearing one yourself. These can also be brought to your chalet in advance of your first full day on the slopes. New technology means that helmets are lightweight, comfortable and ventilated – there’s really no excuse not to wear one!
If you decide to buy ski clothing, you’ll find a huge range of funky bright designs from brands such as Billabong, Bonfire, O’Neill and Quiksilver. Most jackets have been designed so they can be worn back home on the street, so you should get lots of wear out of them. In skiwear, all-in-one suits are good for younger ones as they tend to be warmer than separates.
Protect your children’s eyes by ensuring they have goggles that fit well, offer both UVA and UVB protection, and have vermilion or citrus-orange lenses for higher definition of shapes and bumps in the snow. It’s easy to forget how much glare there is from reflection of the sun’s rays off the snow.
Coming up soon will be a feature on choosing children’s skis and ski boots.