Three Days to Change Your Life
All the Grandkids
We live in crazy times. This year’s family ski trip in December would be different. I would take three of my teenage grandchildren skiing, “sans parents.” I had taken one of these kids skiing before and she was a competent skier. The other two were starting their lives as skiers. We planned to visit Serre Chavelier in France, a large ski resort spread along a valley connecting four towns. The area has 250 kms. of trails, 80+ pistes, mostly red, and 60+ modern lifts. We choose to stay in the small village of Chantemerle in the middle of the area.
The hamlet of Chantemerle is compact, maybe a quarter of a mile from end to end. Our apartment, the ski rental store, the gondola going up to the skiing and central commercial area were all within a five-minute walk. We started our adventure at the ESF, (Ecole de Ski Francais). I wasn’t sure how fast these kids would progress, so for starters, I booked three days of private lessons; two hours in the morning and an hour after lunch. We met our ski instructor and I handed over the kids, confirming where I would collect them at the end of the lessons, and off I went with my other grandchild taking advantage of some new snow on the red runs. We all met up for lunch at one of the restaurants near the gondola and then back to ski school.
Christmas Market Chantemerle
The next day we were joined by my son and two more grandchildren; our group got bigger, but our ski school program remained intact. The two beginners were in ski school and the rest of us were skiing the resort. On the afternoon of the third day, I met the kids and the ski instructor, thinking that maybe I should add another day or two of lessons, but to my amazement the ski instructor thanked me for the three days of private lessons and told me the kids were making nice parallel turns and she told me to enjoy our remaining stay in the resort. That was it! Our whole group took another run to initiate our new skiers into the family ski team. Up we went on the lift but I wasn’t sure how we would get down. To my great surprise these beginners skied down really nicely, making the turns and keeping in control on blue and red runs.
Three days, that’s all it took. What would have taken two or three weeks fifty years ago, is now accomplished in nine hours of ski lessons; hardly any snowplows, no stem Christies, no heel pushes, just skiing naturally and turning the skis. For these kids, this was any easy introduction to the world of skiing. Skiing will be an integral part of the rest of their lives. Three days can really change your life in unexpected ways.
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Love this review Stan… and I too loved Serre Chevalier!
Beautiful historic French ski resort few know about… tres bien!
What a wonderful thing to read to start my day….ski instructing. Thanks for sharing.
WOW! What am amazing family memory you made possible. We too were able to share the joy of skiing with our grands and now that they are older occasionally ask if I remember those special days on the mountain with Grandpa. Thank you for the memories.
Your trip brought back memories of helping my 5 grandchildren to ski. The oldest now 28. And the oldest female is a graduate of Hobart-William Smith College, and she and I skied numerous slopes around the Hobart area.
Yeah, I still remember “Greek Peak” near Cortland………….
Wonderful experience to ski with your children. Unfortunately for me mine traded her skis for horses. The horses became a lifelong passion and profession as she trains and competes in FEI. Unfortunately skiing and riding come with physical risks which she and I have weathered and are still at it.