Learning to Ski in lockdown
Buying skis and ski boots during lockdown may not be the first thing on the mind of an English ski enthusiast. But for our travel writer, who like most of us was unable to go abroad this winter, the purchase proved very useful.
If there is one purchase that I was glad of this winter it was the WEDZE skis, and boots, that we bought in anticipation – or should that be hope – of a ski holiday to France this year.
That might sound odd on the face of it, especially as travel has become more and more restricted since November. To be honest my heart did sink as the days went by, and what initially started as plans for France for a week, then became a few days in Scotland and eventually a day at Allenheads in the northern Pennines, before even that was cancelled by lockdown.
But even though all of these trips have become impossible, I’m still glad I bought the skis. So far this winter we’ve had six days of skiable snow where I live and when you tot up the hours my six year old has spent skiing on these days they probably amount to a half decent holiday on the nursery slopes. And it’s been a lot cheaper too!
I’ve written a number of ski articles for Mums and Dads and have usually focused on alternative destinations. So what could be more alternative than the local park – as long as it has hills of course?
To be fair, no matter how picturesque the local park is, it isn’t going to be as scenic as the Alps. Also you have to be prepared to be a human ski-tow and not ski yourself. But the advantage of skiing in the local park is plenty of outdoor exercise, and let’s face it we’ll take our kicks where we can find them at the moment.
Another point for younger children, or novices, like Ella is that she would have only been on the nursery slopes anyway, so the only real difference is the lack of a magic carpet escalator. So yes, I’m glad I bought the skis, especially since they’re adjustable – with boots that grow with her feet. So hopefully she’ll get to use them in the Alps next winter!
Skis review
We purchased the WEDZE Children’s Downhill Skis with kid 100 bindings for £64.95 from Decathlon.co.uk (they also have a store in Manchester). The skis are wide, so are very stable and ideally suited for beginners to stay on their feet. They are also designed to be easy to turn, and Ella took to them straight away.
The Kid 100 bindings are already attached, and they are very easy to adjust for different size boots, thanks to a quick release lever. The Kid 100 bindings also have a good adjustment range (from 119 mm to 254 mm) which means that they will be good for a few years use even when she grows out of her adjustable boots.
All parents know how quickly children grow out of shoes, which is bad enough for something that they can wear year round, but when it comes to buying something that you’ll use on one holiday a year it can be even more frustrating. That’s why I also bought the WEDZE Pumzi 500’s that are cleverly designed to be adjustable for four different shoe sizes. We bought the 18.5-20.5 size which fits children in shoe sizes junior 11 to adult 1. They are able to do this thanks to a nifty inflatable adjustment system that means they’re never too tight or too loose. Ella is at the bottom of this range so the boots (which cost £49.95 at the time of writing) should be good for this winter and next. They also come in a 16.5-18.5 (junior 8 to 11) for even younger kids.
Benefits of owning our own skis
As well as being able to play in the snow on them, when we’re fortunate enough to get some in the UK, the other main benefit for owning your own skis is that it opens up a variety of UK ski slopes and resorts to visit.
I wrote recently for Mums and Dads about our family’s experience at some of England’s ski clubs, like Chill Factore in Manchester or Allenheads in the northern Pennines. Unfortunately they’ve been hit by the lockdown this winter, but when things do get back to something more normal Allenheads is the perfect place for children to learn to ski – as long as they have their own equipment. The slope is gentle, and the rope tow is perfect for children that are just getting to grips with the sport. It’s only a two hour ride from Manchester and the main access road is well serviced and kept clear of snow in all but the most severe of weather.
Besides opening up ski opportunities in the UK you’ll also save money in the long run on ski trips overseas. We’ve spent over a thousand pounds on ski hire for the family since we started winter holidays as a family. The £115.00 we spent on each of the kids’ skis would almost have paid itself off in one trip, had it not been for the lockdown.
But I’m still glad I bought them, or did I already say that?
