Ski Instructors - Sarah Musson

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Nottingham's not renowned for its snowy slopes, but it's produced one of Tignes' Evolution 2 based female British ski instructor. Here we talk to Sarah Musson about teaching in Tignes, and how you can make sure the lessons are right for your children.	"The slopes of Tignes have many areas around them for the children to play in and enable them to have fun whilst learning to ski!"

Sarah's a familiar face in the Espace Killy, having moved to Tignes six years ago. "My love for skiing started when I was fifteen and moving to the mountains permanently has given me the opportunity to work with the sport I love."

She clearly relishes the opportunities the vast ski area affords her, both in summer and winter, and it certainly provides her with the opportunities to practice for her exams. "I passed my first skiing exam when I was eighteen and have been progressing upward through the rest of BASI (British Association of Snow sport Instructors) ever since."

Sarah teaches many children over the course of a season and talking to her, it soon becomes clear that she has much in common with Tignesie Tots, especially when it comes to how children learn best. "I'd say if children are under 4 it's great for their parents to introduce them to skiing by simply playing with them in the snow, or with their skis on the flat areas of the nursery slopes." But she advises against too much parent-led teaching once the children are familiar with the environment.

"We don't want them to learn any bad habits from their parents! But parents are welcome to stay with their children in a private lesson if they wish."

In some resorts it can be hard to find schools that take children under 5 years, but we're talking about under 4s - how young can children learn to ski? "Well, I've seen children 'learn' from the age of 2, but of course this is more about playing with their parents and siblings then formal teaching. I'd recommend private lessons from 3 and at that age an hour and a half lesson would be plenty."

"From 4 upwards I'd suggest an hour and a half to three hours and some of the teenagers I teach take whole days." This is not to say that Sarah discourages the more economical group lessons available in resort. "Group lessons are good but check they have a guaranteed maximum number of people allowed in the group, otherwise you can be stuck at the back of a long line of people not learning anything. They can be great for children and adults alike to meet people if you’re on your own - it's good fun getting to ski with others."

And it's not always the case that when booking group lessons with a French school, the rest of the group with be French. "If parents book group lesson in the school holidays it is more likely that the ski schools will try and put the French and English in separate groups as there are so many lessons going out. However, out of school holidays things are not so straight forward because there's less demand, but they do try their best to accommodate you."

One occasion where Sarah would always advise private lessons is when a child has special needs. "I think that they'd get more out of their skiing - one on one attention also makes for a safer environment and the lesson can progress as slowly or quickly as they need."

Sarah's also passionate about ensuring her children are well equipped for their skiing. "Children definitely need to be wearing the same type of clothing as their parents, even when on the nursery slope. They need to be warm and dry." Our nannies know how cold it can get even when keeping active and Sarah's quick to point out that for the majority of the season (December through to March) the nursery slopes are in the shade in the morning. "A scarf or turtleneck can be a real help here. And of course, no matter what the weather's doing, children should bring good quality sunglasses or goggles, gloves, sunblock, a snack, and last but not least a helmet. They might be in control, but there's a good chance others will not be."

Occasionally, children won't want to continue with lessons which can be distressing for everyone. Sarah thinks that in these cases, trying a short private lesson can help. "I'd suggest that the parents go along for part of the lesson as well. This will hopefully bring back their confidence and enable them to carry on with group lessons throughout the rest of the week."

However you choose to introduce your children to the delights of skiing, Sarah's sure that Tignes will fit the bill. "What I like about Tignes is the many enclosed areas for children to learn to ski safely, where there are games and obstacles arranged for their enjoyment. Once progressing from the enclosed areas there are three different nursery slopes, all ranging in difficulty, and they progress nicely on to blue runs. The slopes of Tignes have many areas around them for the children to play in and enable them to have fun whilst learning to ski!"

Sarah Musson works exclusively with Evolution 2. To get in touch, please visit her website at www.skiwithsarah.com/contact.php