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Verbier Skiing for Children
| Children's Skiing in Verbier |
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Verbier is a great resort for children to try their first taste of skiing. As well as having a number of quiet and safe beginners areas there are also concessions on lift passes for children and families. Most ski teachers wouldn’t recommend starting skiing before the age of three or four at the earliest. The right age will vary from child to child, and depends upon the child’s strength, co-ordination and attitude. For this age group skiing should remain a play activity, so don't expect a young child to ski all day - a couple of hours is ample. |
| Ski School |
Most ski teachers wouldn’t recommend starting skiing before the age of three or four at the earliest. The right age will vary from child to child, and depends upon the child’s strength, co-ordination and attitude. These days, most ski schools have a good number of instructors that speak if not fluent English, certainly sufficient to teach the class and explain what is expected. Particularly during the UK school holidays it is normal to find several English speaking children in each group. The French Ski School take children from 5 to 13 (For younger children see information under "What are the Crèche...services available in Verbier).
It is strongly recommended to pre-book ski school for the busy New Year and February school holiday period. Classes are often fully booked many weeks in advance.
Remember - children lose heat faster than adults so dress according to the weather conditions and make provision for it changing - hats, waterproofs, gloves, UV sunglasses/goggles, and SPF30 suncream are essential. Helmets are recommended too. It's a good idea to have a contact phone number and address in your child's pocket in case you become separated on the mountain. |
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last updated 4-Jan-2008 |
| Family Lift Pass Options |
Verbier lift pass company offers free passes for children under 5, and a reduction on the adult price for children under the age of 16. (For all children’s passes it is advisable to bring proof of date of birth to the pass office).
There is also the option of a family pass, which offers a reduction on the cost of buying passes individually. Should you be holidaying ‘en famille’ you can benefit from 5% discount on a one-day pass and 15% discount on a 2-day or more pass. A family is classified as a minimum of 3 people, including 1 parent.
There are a number of beginners areas throughout the resort, so it is worth finding out where you are most likely to be skiing before deciding which pass to purchase. Children are made more than welcome in the following beginners zones: Les Moulins, Les Esserts and Le Rouge. The Swiss Ski School runs a Kids Club at Les Moulins for 3 to 6 year olds. |
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last updated 4-Jan-2008 |
| Après Ski and Entertainment |
The options for kids après-ski is endless. Tobogganing is always a big hit, and in Verbier, there are two areas where luging (toboganning) is allowed: La Tzoumaz at Savoleyres and La Côt at Bruson, where there are two marked 10km runs. You can buy full or half day passes to these areas for around CHF 15-20. Most ski hire shops also rent toboggans for a minimal charge but make sure you keep off the main pistes!
For older children (usually over 8 years old, but depends on the size of the child) paraskiing could provide a more daredevil experience. Safe in the hands of a qualified instructor your child can ride in tandem over the Verbier mountains! There are 4 take-off zones throughout the resort and a number of companies that can provide this sport, see our listings section for more details.
The Médran Parc features a suspended footpath 800 m long letting you move from tree to tree using Nepalese bridges, Tyrolean traverses and clamping stirrups. Great for little monkeys!
Cross-country skiing is another excellent activity that is suitable for the whole family and Verbier probvides plenty of terrain to practice this serene sport: a 6-km trail from Les Ruinettes to La Chaux at an elevation of 2200 m, with a panoramic view that will take your breath away; a 4-km loop trail in the resort: a 10km trail in Le Châble and a 2km trail in Plamproz.
Verbier also boasts an ice rink and a leisure centre with swimming pool, for those days when the weather makes the mountains look less enticing! |
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last updated 4-Jan-2008 |
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