“May I ask how old Liam is? We are in Gastein in February and our youngest son, four years old, also wants to take ski lessons then. I like your travel stories and I wonder, would you say is it possible? Many kind regards”, Marlijn de Kock writes to me from the Netherlands after following my InstaStories about Liam learning how to ski in the Gastein Valley.
My family and I had the same thoughts prior to Liam taking his lessons. Is it really “that easy” to hand over a three-year-old to a motley group of toddlers or ski instructors five times a week for two hours at a time (from ten in the morning until twelve noon)? Does he have a real chance of learning how to ski in that time?
“You didn’t stay in class. You were always crying”, my mum adds dryly about her own experiences with me back in the days. Well … challenge accepted, I thought. Prior to Gastein, I took Liam to our local Hochkar ski resort for a day, in preparation for his Gastein lessons. It’s not that far from where we live; it’s also where Liam expressed his interest in skiing and “sliding around in the snow”.
So far, so good. So how did it go from there?
First – no, second sliding around in the snow for Liam: Let the ski fun begin!
Handing over our “Minis” to the ski instructors in Bad Hofgastein
Ski lessons for under-six-year-olds at the Bad Hofgastein Ski School are called “Mini Week”. Five days of two-hour ski lessons each is perfectly adequate for such little bunnies. The meeting point for the lessons is at the Angertal Ski Centre, which is about 15 minutes by car from Bad Hofgastein.
Tip: We borrowed Liam’s skis and ski boots on site the day before (he already had a ski suit, gloves and helmet). This made things easier in the morning, waking up, having breakfast, getting dressed – and off to the ski school! “Are you excited?” – “Yes,” our junior beeps bravely. He is a good three and a half years old at the time of the course.
At the Angertal Ski Centre, by the Bad Hofgastein Ski School Offices: Liam’s dad hands over his little ski …
… here are Romy + Neline, the wonderful, warm-hearted and very talented ski instructors looking after Liam and six other little ski bunnies aged three to five years …
… handing over the young kids is well organised too: By “hopping aboard” these little wagons, they get distracted from crying, from having to say goodbye to the parents – and venturing into the unknown!
“Mini Week” at the Angertal Ski Centre, Bad Hofgastein: Location and arrival
As already mentioned, the Angertal Ski Centre can easily be reached by car, and of course by ski bus. The latter runs almost every few minutes and is probably the best alternative to taking your own car. The ski centre itself is ideal for beginners; all the beginner courses of the Bad Hofgastein ski school take place here. Young children, like Liam, naturally have an advantage over the adults, who we also watch practising.
A view of the Angertal Ski Centre, its restaurant, shop und ticket offices …
… and here is the view of the practice slopes from above, i.e. photographed from the nearby gondola. Very nice, idyllic location of the (flat) practice slopes at the edge of the forest, don’t you think?
Graduation, certificate & ski medal: On his fifth day of training, Liam really can ski.
Proud as a lord: This is Liam on the last day of his lessons. While we parents and family members are expressly advised not to approach the little ones on their practice slope during the first few days (you can guess why), we are told that on Friday, the last day of the course, we are very welcome to watch everything from the edge of the slope.
It’s Race Day! On the last day of the “Mini Week”, small ski races take place, even organised for the little ones. We parents cheer on as fans at the bottom of the slope, where we watch our young children take their first turns, having learnt how to stop with the pizza slice (!) and squat a little on their small ski. Cute, I can tell you!
On the last day of his ski lessons, Liam finds it very natural to join his beloved ski instructors Romy + Neline.
This is how the little ones “get up” every day …
… and after the little race course, why not relax on this bumper carousel …
… Liam feels proud indeed!
Holding his certificate …
… there is nothing left but standing ovations: Well done, little Liam!
Note: We were invited by the Bad Hofgastein Ski School to the “Mini Week” at the Angertal Ski Centre. All opinions are my own.