You know what? I wait all year for our annual snow trip! And you know what else?
I don't even ski! But I do know how to have an awesome family snow trip!
Kids love snow, and they love it because they see it on tv, those northern hemisphere people have a lot to answer for. Kids think snow is some mythical wonderful thing, because of tv.
Making it live up to that reality in Australia is tricky, but I think after three years of doing the trek to the Snowy Mountains that I've got it down pat!
Let's go to the snow!
- Don't stay on the slopes. Unless everyone in your family is a ski bunny, you are going to quickly get tired of the super expensive and not super amazing food, of the crowds and of constantly feeling cold.We stay at a farm - Boloco Station and the added benefit is that we are far enough away from the slopes to have some peace and quiet yet close enough to get there easily in the morning. It's only 45 minutes from the farm to the slopes at Perisher!
- Book lessons! Not just for the kids, but for the adults too. Booking in advance means you can often get good deals, and that means you can do more days if you like.Booking 7 days in advance means about a 20% saving on lift and lesson packages, which is well worth it. To do any form of lesson you need a lift pass, even for kids, so don't think you can skip that!
- Dress for the snow. Whether you buy your gear from Aldi or hire it when you get there, you need to be sure that everyone is rugged up and comfy.
Get ski mittens for under 6's as they are much easier than gloves, and don't forget a snood and a beanie.Even snow play is very miserable if you're cold. Make sure you have snow boots too- your sneakers just won't cut it. Being warm is part of an awesome family snow trip! - Take snacks. Everything is overpriced on the slopes, and you might not find your kids favourite snacks. So stock up at the supermarket- we do Woolworths in Jindabyne, but on the way at Cooma there is also a Coles and an Aldi.
- Dress ½ ski for the car. Sometimes, you get stuck in traffic on the way to the slopes, so it's best to not overdress the kids for the car. We put on thermals, then ski pants and apres boots, then put the rest on when we get there.
- Layer up. Embrace your inner Michelin man and keep yourself warm. The kids each wear thermals (top and bottom from Kathmandu, followed by a fleece, then ski jackets. If they get super hot they can take off their fleeces and they are thin enough to fit in their pockets.
- Socks! If you don't buy any other piece of kit then YOU NEED SKI SOCKS. They breach the gap between thermals and ankles and make you so warm. We have some amazing rojo ones (myself and Miss 7) and the Mr Kidgredients and Master 5 have Elude (same brand but the boy version). They are so warm...I have been tempted to wear them at other times at home when it has been cold.
- Safety first! Even tobogganing is dangerous, so make sure your kids have helmets! At Perisher, where we ski kids can't go into lessons without a helmet. In my opinion, adults should have them too. If you're tobogganing, it's worthwhile getting ski goggles from the kids as the ice that kicks up as you toboggan really stings the eyes. And if there is any wind, you will thank me for telling you to get goggles.
- Hydrate! You might not notice it because it's so cold, but you get dehydrated just as quickly on the slopes as you do doing any other form of exercise. So make sure you've got water bottles.
- Sunscreen and lip balm. It seems silly, but you can get seriously sunburnt on the slopes. So slip slop and slap the kids into some sunscreen before they ski for the day and pop a lip balm in their pockets as the exposure to the cold and the wind wreaks havoc on lips.
- Have some time away from the slopes as well! There is a lot to see and do in the area, so go and explore! We always try trout fishing at Eucumbene Trout farm! That's our dinner in the net!
Now you've got all the tips you need for an awesome family snow trip-- don't forget the ski season at Perisher has been extended this year right through the september holidays!
Leave a Reply