Skiing with teenagers
They’re too old to hang out with Mum and Dad the whole week or be shipped off to kids’ club but too young for total independence. So how do you prepare for a successful ski holiday with your teenagers? The key is to give them a little independence plus lots of opportunities to mix with their peers. Resorts are beginning to recognise the different needs of teens and many are improving their services and facilities for this age group. So, what should you be looking out for if you have teens in your family?
Dedicated youth or teen tuition
Teens often don’t take kindly to getting stuck in a class with younger kids, or adults for that matter. More and more ski schools are developing special programs to cater for this age bracket with services such as teen-orientated ski & snowboard camps and clinics.
If you have several teenagers of the same ability, consider booking them a private lesson together. This will be completely geared to their age and may be more economical than a week of group lessons for each.
Terrain parks
Freestyle skiing and boarding is huge – expect your teens to spend much of their time in the terrain parks. These areas have become the unofficial teen hangouts at many resorts so it’s no surprise resorts are pulling out the stops to improve and develop their parks into world-class destinations.
La Plagne’s Teenager Zone is a great example, offering a half-pipe, 2 freestyle zones and a snowpark for all ability levels. And you don't need to worry about their safety either - all terrain parks are built to strict safety standards, and there are often resort staff patrolling them to make sure everyone's sticking to the rules.
Resort activities
Keeping them amused when off the slopes is key. Look at resorts that offer a good choice of off-slope activities such as tubing, ice-skating, snowmobiling, floodlit skiing and designated places for them hang out.
The right accommodation
Choosing slopeside or centrally located properties means your teens can get around the resort easily without relying on you or the bus to ferry them around. This means more peace of mind for you, and a little more freedom for them.
Après ski
Like at home, you probably don’t want your teens drinking unsupervised. In Europe although the drinking age limit is 18, bars have a fairly relaxed approach. In our featured Canadian ski resorts the age limit is 19 and laws are very strict: no ID, no sale. If you’re worried about your children being tempted to drink while away, choose a resort with quieter nightlife so there's less opportunity. Many hotels have games rooms and lounge areas that are geared towards teens, which is a good way of keeping them occupied after a day on the mountain.
Discounted lift passes
Many resorts offer discounted youth lift passes – check the Ski Essentials information on the resort pages for more details.