travel
April 26, 2024

Skiing with child: And on the fifth day the downhill run ...

Skiing with a beginner of 7 years means for the mother above all: towing. I wear his skis, his helmet, his snow goggles and his gloves. Joris (7) himself is fully occupied with running in the heavy ski boots. And to keep the excitement in check, that he will! here! the! Mountain!? is down nozzles. At least that's what he imagines when we're floating in the Ratschingser Gondola to the top station, below which is the? Kinderparadies? The South Tyrolean ski school is located. There he should learn, so the promise, drive so well within a week that he can handle simple runs independently.

? Magic carpet? bring the children up the mountain

With the "idiot hill", where I learned the snow plow in many weeks of ski lessons more than 40 years ago, what in the? Kinderparadies? is commanded to do nothing. First, because it is not a hill at all, but rather a small depression, within which it hardly goes downhill. And because, instead of frightening platter lifts, there? Magic carpets? There are treadmills that move the skis uphill.

At the moment, our problem is that from the mountain station to the? Kinderparadies? over a hundred meters of piste. "We still have 20 minutes left, can we make it easy?" I say, so that Joris relaxes.

I adjust his skis and kneel down to help him straighten up. He puts his right leg in the binding and falls into the snow. Get up, rearrange your skis, try again. This time it works. I adjust Ski No. Two, circling around the child, sorting the left foot into the binding, pressing the heel down. ? Clack? makes the bond. ? Uuargh? make Joris and fall over. The bond dissolves. He does not manage to get up on his own, but there's a ski on his right leg. So I get up and pull him up. Back on your knees, buckle up ski number two. ? Clack.? ? Uuargh !?

As fast as I can, I am looking for the distance

After the fourth attempt, Joris finally stops. I'm soaked through. Joris freezes. Five more minutes until the ski course starts and there is still a hundred meters between us and the "Kinderparadies". I push my ski poles into the child's hands. "Hold on tight, I draw you !? This works great! For four or five meters, until the slope gets a minimum of slope and Joris takes a breath of drive. "Maaaamaaaa!" He whines. Panicked. And lets himself fall. I'll put it back. "Come on, we'll go down there, the course starts right away?" I decide. And get in answer: a tantrum. So I put on my own skis and transport my roaring child like a wet bag to the assembly station. I hand him over to the ski instructor and search, as fast as I can, the distance.

Powder snow and sun in the Ratschings-Jaufen ski area: What more could you ask for?

Until 12:30 am I have time to go skiing myself? Gorgeous! The slopes above me glitter seductively in the sunshine, only a few other skiers are on the way. As I drive by, I can watch my son's progress. And those are amazing: After only an hour, Joris drives the small hollow that was created for the first attempts quite rapidly along. Maybe because he does not have to slow down? because at the end of the mini-slope a hill was heaped up, which stops the children. That they fall backwards into the snow does not seem to bother us.

And that Joris reliably loses at least one ski, he does not care: ski instructor Sarah, who cares only for another beginner except him comes running every time briskly, lifts my son to his feet, kneels down in front of him and straps the lost ski on. He does not even hesitate to call her impatient when she is busy with the other child. Quite embarrassing, I think.

Therefore, I do not give myself to recognize, but enjoy my ski time. At 12.15 o'clock I am brimming with happiness hormones at the? Kinderparadies? and watch with pride filled chest that Joris already the second level in the? Kinderparadies? has reached: the? camel hump? ? a largely horizontal track, on which two small hills were shoveled. Pride like a peacock he drives in snowplough and with a good swing over it, raises his arms when he is up and lowers them again when it goes downhill. "I'm a great skier, Mom !? he roars. "Without falling down !?

The snow plow is now called? Pizza ?, the shot ride? Fries?

The next day Joris drives the 100 meters (blue slope!) From the mountain station to the? Kinderparadies? already alone ? and falls into the snow only twice to slow down. When I pick him up at noon, he delivers himself on the "Camel Hicks"? a wild race with a slightly older girl.He proudly shows me that he has learned to drive the first corner and speaks the rest of the day from "pizza"? (formerly called the snow plow) and? fries? (Schuss).

When I pick up Joris on the third day, he has the third (and last) level in the Children's Paradise? reached: There it goes clearly downhill and through a slalom course. "Tomorrow morning you do not need to bring him up here anymore," says Sarah. She changes with her group to the plate lift in the valley. And instead of thinking, "Madness, is she doing a good class?" I think, "Madness, is my child talented?" - and offer Joris to practice with him that afternoon.

He does not let Mama say anything anymore

Not a good idea. Because of course he falls out of the plate lift and gives me the blame angrily. My advice on how to make the bends the easiest, when to load or relieve which ski, and what role your arms could play is neither welcome nor obeyed. "You have no idea, Mama, you are just saying wrong things! Let! me! in! Ruuu! hey? he howls.

So the next morning I give it to the valley station and drive alone on the mountain. And what I get to see at noon, is sensational: My ski gear goes down with his group in cute little birds the beginner hill. Although ski instructor Sarah advises, I suggest Joris to take his first chairlift ride with me.

The slopes at the Kalcheralm lift are prepared piccobello, very wide and less frequented. I'm sure that's what he will do. He himself is strangely calm during the elevator ride, but he does have respect for this floating bench, which transports him to the mountain. ? We drive down the whole route ?? he asks meekly. ? Yes, and tomorrow the valley run? I say, to give us both courage.

1000 meters long is the track that lies ahead, normally I drive it in a few minutes. With Joris it takes almost half an hour, because he always needs breaks, to take a deep breath, to look and wonder: the other skiers? how fast they are! The mountains, the snow and the sky? Only up here does he discover how far that is. And of course the fear? his, in the steeper or icy places, and mine? that he could collide with another skier. Like a guard dog, I cruise close behind my child, shielding it with full body use against piste raiders. Below we are both exhausted - but happy.

The ski school has kept its promise

Proud as Bolle: Joris with a gold medal

The following day is our last. In the "big race" Joris occupies fourth place at the beginner hill, but gets it? like all children? a gold medal. "As a reward we go to the pool all afternoon? I promise. He is sobbing: "You promised me the valley run !? "Uh, yes, huh? Of course that had not meant anything serious. But he seems to be bitterly bitter. So we take the gondola up one last time.

I do not feel good, because the valley run is 2500 meters long and sometimes very icy. But Joris is determined and does his job really well! Completely fearless and fluid he turns down the mountain in front of me. Sometimes I have to warn him not to cross too much in the middle of the slope, once he slips on an ice plate. But otherwise? The ski school has kept its promise: after one week, my son is no longer a skier, but a skier!

The travel information for Racines in South Tyrol

THE SKI AREA

Racines-Giovo, The ski area is only five chairlifts, a gondola lift and 25 mostly "red". (ie medium-difficulty) kilometers of slopes of one of the smallest South Tyrol? but because, located at over 1800 meters and aligned to the north - very snow sure. This winter season sees the opening of the? Enzian? Chairlift, Italy's first 8-seater chairlift. Day ski passes for adults from 39 euros. Children who were born after 1.12.2008 get the ski pass for free, all others pay 27 Euro a day. Weekly ski passes are much cheaper (from 199 euros for adults and 140 euros for children). The ski school Ratschings works with the most modern teaching methods, a 5-day children's course (daily 2.5 hours) costs 155 euros, there is also a ski kindergarten, where the children are looked after from 9.30 am to 3.30 pm, including lunch and 2.5 hours Ski course 190 Euro for 5 days (www.ratschings-jaufen.it).

STAY

Beautifully colored: the pool in the "Hotel Almina"

Hotel Almina. Newly opened design hotel at the end of 2015, which manages to be at the same time casual and informal in a sympathetic way and with exceptionally friendly employees. Reduced chic and colorful colors, swimming pool with water slide, evening menu and large salad buffet. The rooms are so cleverly split with curtains that they seem much bigger than they are. DZ / HP from 140 Euro, for families there are cheap ski packages (Mittertal 12, 39040 Ratschings? South Tyrol / Italy, Tel. 00 39/04 72/76 41 20, www.almina.it).

Hotel Schneeberg, The? Family Resort? with its various houses, restaurants, spa, pool and fitness areas almost covers the entire Ridnauner district Maiern, which is picturesquely located at the end of the valley at the foot of the Schneeberg. Extensive guest program from torchlight hike to cross-country skiing and winter golf. Large children's bathing area with several, long and steep water slides, baby pool, outdoor pool and several saunas. DZ / F 178 Euro, for families there are favorable ski packages (Maiern 22, 39040 Ridnaun, South Tyrol / Italy, Tel. 00 39/04 72/65 62 32, www.schneeberg.it).

TO SKI

Racines-Giovo. The ski area is dominated by only five chairlifts, a gondola lift and 25? Red? (ie medium-difficulty) kilometers of slopes of one of the smallest South Tyrol? but because because of more than 1800 meters and oriented to the north - very snow sure. This winter season saw the opening of the new? Enzian? Chairlift? the first 8-seater chairlift in Italy. Day ski passes for adults from 39 euros. Children who were born after 1.12.2008 get the ski pass for free, all others pay 27 Euro a day. Weekly ski passes are much cheaper (from 199 euros for adults and 140 euros for children, www.ratschings-jaufen.it).

TO EAT AND DRINK

Rinneralm, Very nice self-service mountain restaurant with a huge sun terrace. Completely untypical for self-service restaurants: It is cooked, not warmed up, the delicious Kaiserschmarrn arises? À la minute ?. Below the mountain station of the gondola lift.

Saxnerhütte, To drive past here is difficult for hungry stomachs, because the Haxn and chicken, which fry from early morning on the grill, smell far to the ski slope. Also delicious: homemade dumplings. Halfway up the Saxner ski runs.