I recently asked the following questions before my ski holiday to El Tarter in Andorra. Thanks to everyone who helped out it was very much appreciated.
With the benefit of hindsight here are the answers to my own questions now. I hope they will be of assistance to all budding first timers !!
Q.What is the format of ski school?
A.There are two sessions morning and afternoon. Try and get into the morning session.
Q.How do you get allocated to a school/instructor?
A.You book the school at the nursery slope which is always very near the top of the main gondola at your resort. I had a voucher from my tour operator.
After about one hour,the instructors divide the members of the ski school into smaller groups depending on ability of the beginners. My ski school initially had 48 %26#39;students%26#39;. On the first day, four instructors divided us into four groups of 12 people.
Q.How long is each session?
A.Three hours long. Usually there is a 30 minute break also, depending on how the class is going.
Q.Have you any tips about Ski School?
A.Get on the morning session, that way you can practise your skills in the afternoon.
On the second and subesequent days, get to the slopes as early as possible before ski school and start practising before class.
Concentrate, the instructors are fantastic but do not easily tolerate %26#39;messers%26#39;
Bring water in a small rucksack.
Q.Where will we get the rental gear from?
A.I got mine from Nordic rentals in El Tarter. It was organised through my tour operator. Each ski resort has it%26#39;s own hire company. They are very professional and have plenty of gear for everyone. Having boots and skis fitted takes about 10 minutes.
MAKE sure you hire your equipment on the evening before your ski school begins. The hire companies stay open until 6pm.
Q.Is it essential to rent lockers? Why?
A.As you cannot take your skis, boots etc into the hotel you must have a locker. My hotel provided lockers free gratis. However we were a difficult 10 minute walk from the gondola. Next time I would hire a locker nearer the gondola. Cost of locker hire depends on the location. On the piste it%26#39;s about €50, while at resort level it%26#39;s about €35. You can fit two pairs boots, skis,poles into each locker.
Q.Are Skis etc allowed to be taken into the hotel public areas?
A.No.
Q.Are there other activities that you can get involved in such as snow boarding and tobogganing, or should first timers concentrate on skiing?
A.There are other activities available but first timers should concentrate on skiiing as this activity will tire you out enough.
For an extra cost we were offered Snowboarding, Huskie Sledding, Tobogganing. We did none of them.
Q.Is it recommended to take a day off mid week and do something else?
A.If you are there for a week it is best to ski every day and not take a day off unless you are very tired.
Q.Is it expensive to buy ski clothing in the resorts?
A.I found that Ski Clothing and equipment in the resorts is cheaper than at home in Ireland. All the rental companies there sell excellent clothing at reduced prices. If I had known this I would have purchased some clothing in Andorra rather than in Ireland.
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BUMP - for first time skiers.
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