Where To Ski With Kids In Alpe d'Huez

Everyone wants to be able to experience the fun of skiing as a family. The kids have come back from ski school dying to show mum, dad and elder siblings that "they can do it too!", and are clamouring for you to take them out! However, many parents are understandably nervous about taking their children out without an instructor. Its difficult to know what they are actually capable of, and no-one wants to end up stuck half way down a run with your terrified child in floods of tears, unable to move! Here's a handy guide to the best ski runs for kids in Alpe d'Huez - and how to know when they are ready for them!

For tiny tots and absolute beginners!

There are two ideal nursery slopes for total beginners in Alpe d'Huez. One is a long, very gentle slope from the bottom of the DMC down to Des Bergers. There is a button lift, or (if you're really stuck) a fleet of free buses to take you back to the top again, and if the going is tough you can always take a break for a spot of sledging at Des Bergers! The other nursery area is on the far side of the DMC. Its a bit of a trek (you might want to consider pulling tiny tots in a sledge) but worth the effort. There's a 'magic carpet' through a tunnel that the kids will love, leading to a gentle and usually very quiet slope with a tiny button lift. This area is great for when they have gained their balance but are still working on control, as its quiet enough and has a large enough flat area at the bottom that its perfectly safe for fearless tots to go straight down. For more nervous beginners, try taking them between your legs (if they are small enough) or let them hold your hand or ski pole so you can slow them down.

Getting the hang of it

Stick to the nursery slopes until you are sure that they have gained some control. But once they can slow themselves down and they have learned to turn, Alpe d'Huez has the perfect playground to practice in! One of the largest beginner areas of any ski resort, the lower slopes of Alpe d'Huez are a maze of green runs certain to keep your family entertained. Steep enough to get the feel for really being on the mountain, but wide enough to inspire confidence, there's oceans of room for the kids to show off all they've learned in ski school, and the rest of the family won't be bored by having to ski the same run over and over again. There's also a choice of button, chair and cabin lifts to access most of the runs, so its less of a trial getting the kids up there and you can also make sure they have plenty of practice on all three types of lift before they start tackling anything more challenging.

Got it under control

Stick to the green area until you are sure they have it under control. Once they are proficient at snow plough and can do as many turns as it takes to get down a steeper slope (without panicking!), you might like to try out some blue runs! Here are a few good ones to try:

• Village - a lovely run down the mountain to Huez village, it is a good choice for a first attempt at a blue as it is not too tricky, and also has the advantage of being very very quiet most of the time. The kids will love the bubble car ride back up to Alpe d'Huez. Avoid after a long period of sunshine however as the slope then becomes extremely slushy.
• Petit Prince - Head up signal to find this nice blue run, also a good choice for a first try as it is very wide. You can then carry on down the chemin du patre to Villard Reculas - this blue is not difficult but is much narrower and with a steep drop to one side, so nervous skiers are recommended to take the button lift back up when you reach the bottom of petit prince.
• Ancolies - Head up the Marmottes 1 chairlift to find this blue and also vachettes, both fairly wide if steep in places. Best avoided at peak times as they can get very crowded.

Building confidence

Now they are getting really confident, starting to parallel turn instead of snow plough, and their nerves can stand a bit more of a gradient, here a few runs to try that are more of a challenge:

• Signal - a good choice for a first red run as its not too long and very wide. 
• Olympique - take the Marmottes 1 chairlift and start down the vachettes blue run, then branch off onto this red run. Its one of the easier reds in resort so another good choice for a first try, especially as you can join back onto vachettes halfway down if it proves too much for them!
• Ski to Oz en Oisans - Take the DMC to the first station. Head to the far right where you'll find the boulevard des lutins, a narrow blue run, branching off from the green. Or if you prefer you can take the steeper but wider red run poutran from the same starting point. At the bottom of these two you have a choice between the l'olmet red run or taking a short button lift up to the champclotury blue run, both of which will take you down to the village of Oz en Oisans. From here you can take the Poutran cabin back to the start, or you can take the L'Alpette cabin lift and continue skiing right over to Vaujany - mostly on blue runs. Its a gorgeous trip, but can be tiring for small legs.

Skiing superstar!

Once they have mastered the red run, they should have very little trouble. Check with their ski instructors where they have been taking them, and if the answers are mostly red runs, you are probably safe to take them almost anywhere! However if they really are advanced and confident - and you feel up to it! - have a try at these:

• The Sarenne - starting from the very top at Pic Blanc and descending all the way down into the Sarenne gorge, this is the longest black run in the Alpes. However its not steep all the way (steepest at the very top) and there are a couple of picnic stopping places to give your legs a rest if need be. 
• La Foret - Head up Signal and start down les vallons blue run. Part way down you will come across a turning on the right onto this challenging black run - great if you're a fan of moguls! There's also a nice restaurant at the bottom if you need some refreshment afterwards!