In One Trip, My Family went from Beginners to Experts in Apres Skiing
Our ski instructor said in a charming French-accent as we rode up Le Massif de Charlevoix Mountain, Quebec. I was unable to recognize my children who were wearing balaclavas and bundled in ten layers of clothing, including goggles, foot and hand warmers, helmets and balaclavas. I was not going to let the freezing temperatures defeat us. We were determined that skiing would become a family sport. We needed to get the girls on board.
In truth, I was not entirely sure that I would enjoy going down a steep slope with limited control. We had all started skiing together about a month earlier on what could be called a small slope in upstate New York. Prior to that, I’d only skied a handful of times. My first skiing experience was actually on a class trip to the eighth grade, where I wore ripped jeans. Although my equipment improved over the years, I hadn’t advanced beyond the magic rug.
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As someone who is always promoting the benefits of being outdoors with your family, I was compelled to incorporate some breathing fresh air in our daily routine, when I realized that my daughters, aged 8 and 10, had become little homebodies over the past few years. My strategy? My strategy? Get them to enjoy apres-ski so they will join the downhill part of this tradition, with their frozen fingers crossed. We needed to go somewhere cold.
After deciding to book four nights at club Med Quebec Charlevoix a family-friendly all-inclusive ski resort located an hour and half from Quebec City, the goal was to maximize the fun of a day spent on the slopes and minimize the hassle. Best part? Best part?
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Even though I was eager to enjoy it as soon as we arrived, I knew that we had to spend some time on the slopes before we could do so. The girls had little time to hesitate, given how quickly we went from the suite to the snow. The resort is ski-in/ski out, and includes group lessons and lifts. I rented boots and skis in advance so they would be ready for our locker. There are no excuses!
The highest point of the mountain range is over 2,500 feet above sea level and offers a view of the St. Lawrence River. Eight of the 53 runs were greens with signs that read “Route Facile”. These eight runs caught my attention. When our instructor, who was well-intentioned, ushered us along an intermediate blue run without warning, midway through the lesson, I thought our hopes to be a cool family skiing were dashed. All of us made it down, but not without some tumbles. She said, “I thought you’d be ready,” as she led us down the slope in a more gentle way. “Um, no,” I blurted.
The experience was a shock to us all (mostly mine!). It also inspired our lunchtime conversations as we settled in to the apres-ski part of our day. Le Marche, the resort’s main dining room, was the place where we had lunch. We ate brick oven pizza, dumplings and poutine. The buffet-style restaurant, with its large windows that overlook the wintery landscape and trees on the walls, is designed to bring nature inside.
We teamed up, kids against adults. The only time we left was when a group French-speaking teenagers with their paddles arrived for the daily tournament. We were glad we went, as a variety of sweets and cakes had been set out in the resort’s theater area where a DJ played music for skiers to toast their achievements.
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The rest of the afternoon was spent in a similar fashion. My husband and the girls hit the indoor pool, while I soaked in the outdoor hot tub at the spa. We ate a lot of cheese at Terroir & Co. before watching the night’s entertainment. It was performed by the Club Med staff. My husband pointed to the trapeze artist in silver spandex and asked: “Hey, was that the guy who fixed the binding on my boot?” They were astonished when they realized that it was the receptionist and the Kid’s Club counselor. ).
We all went to bed happy and tired after the first day of our ski vacation. The balance between our time on and off the slopes was perfect for my family. We were still beginner skiers the following day, but by 1 pm we had become expert apres-skiers. Mission accomplished!
Family Ski Vacation Tips
Find a resort that is family-friendly. You’ll want to choose a resort that offers beginner terrain, easy access to chairlifts and a friendly atmosphere for families. This will help you avoid having to lug around heavy equipment when your kids tire. It should have fun programs for both adults and kids.
Layer up. You don’t want your child to say “I’m Cold!” when you’re trying to get them to go downhill. It’s easy to avoid with the right equipment. Pack warm socks, waterproof outerwear and wool base layers to wick moisture away. Protect your children from the weather with a helmet and goggles.
Book lessons. Booking lessons can help your child to learn the correct technique and gain confidence on their first ski trip. It will also be less stressful for both of you, if you are still practicing your “pizzas” and “French Fries.”
Take breaks. Hot cocoa is a good thing. Allowing your child to take breaks every few hours for refueling, resting, or even defrosting will make it more enjoyable for them and you. ).
