Bulgaria Ski discussion board

We started ours at around 3 and 4. It varied tremendously from child to child. My son took to it quickly and had good stamina so aged 4 held a good snow plough and could ski with us - but went on our poles on some steep bits.
One daughter found it harder, colder and got upset easily but was ok in ski school aged 5. The other daughter wasn't bothered, we did some private tuition and she had fun but didn't really progress. This year aged 7 she went into ski school (as a beginner) and picked it up really quickly. I can see why places say 7 - any younger and they can often really struggle which would affect the whole class.

If they are going to learn under 7, then I would probably suggest short lessons perhaps with a private tutor - then some time in kindergarten.

I agree with Snow White that 31/2 may need a combination of kindergarten and private lesson-I brought my grandson at 3 1/2 to Borevets but the snow was bad so he went to kindergarten-they did get them on skis but not a lot because of the lack of snow-I then brought him again at 5 and he had a private instructor and ended up sking Yastrabets 3 (he had learnt in Cervinia the season before so had some skills) The granddaughter went to kindergarten in Andorra at 4(they had a combination of indoor play and play skiing with a magic mat) and then at 5 I put her in the older ski group in Courchevel by mistake and she ended up by sking for 4 hours daily and 2 days they skied for 5 1/2-that was the making of her and she hasn't looked back.It however was very expensive for the long days (£300) so private tuition in Borevets may be a good deal. I believe at 3 1/2 they need a warm refuge as they get cold and in Borevets there are a lot of drag lifts which is not so easy for tinies. I would think group lessons don't start until 7 because of this reason.

My daughter has just turned 3. Last year we had her on ski's just for fun and to pull her around. There legs need to be strong and they also need to be able to understand and communicate. This year we haven't had much chance to take her up but she again has been on the skis just for fun and to get her to enjoy the snow. We also take her sledge with us to make it fun. We were thinking of putting her with an instructor end of season but as only 1week left and we still have work it may prove difficult.. Next year we will definitely get instruction for her as she will be stronger and more able to understand and communicate.
I have friends who have 2 children and both of them started at 3 with private instruction. The main companies will not take them as Fraser said until they are 7. They both came on quickly and are both now skiing quite well.
They use Sankyski in Bansko as they have a lady dedicated to just teaching very young children. She is very good with them and so this is maybe who we will be using next season.

-Any age will do.
My kids started year and a half one on my sholders and then sliding OK after that skiing with me and progresses then few times ski schools (in Alps is best) In BG they count under 7 as a machines for milking the parents in the kindergarden.
My younger one started at 2 with kindergarden which took them on skis.
Season after he started to catch his brother on the slopes so was pulled quickly up to proficiancy.
I must say that in BG the slopes are not the best for kiddies.
No markings to slow down sign and barriers no proper facilities for shortes humans.
Take a look at some resorts in the Alps where they have introduced Magnetistick vests which is a magnetic bit on the back of the vest which autamatically stick with the back seat on the chair and it is released jest before coming off.
There are special queues for them so they don't get smashed squashed and trumped down while waiting for a chair.
Once only I have taken my kids to try Bansko in the pass and all I remember is trying to shelted them at the end before they get into the gondola and to prevent another Hillsborough disaster BG style.terrible experience.
In short: BG resorts are far far behind as regarding the care of the young .
The word in BG resorts is:-''There is no money in looking after them(apart of babysitting or kindergarden)
Better care for the drinking and alcoholic habbits of the type of ppeople which will visit rather than spending on something with no immediate returns''
Conclusion: Take your young ones if you care about them to the Alps or the states if you want no trouble.
Happy Easter!!

Dear God Mr M! you really are off your trolley! How dare you insinuate that those who take their kids to BG don't care about them. Sometimes you really do spout the biggest load of drivel. Scaremongering using tragedies like Hillsborough as your quoted examples of what could happen. That really is below the belt. I have been witness to far greater crushes of crowds in the Alps than I have ever seen in BG but even then wouldn't stoop so low as to liken them to a disaster like Hillsborough.

And as for skiing with a child on your shoulders, I for one would never EVER put my kids at risk by doing anything so stupid as to ski with a child on my shoulders however good a skier I thought I was - I have never in my life heard such hypocrasy. Children are something to be cherished - not abused in such a fashion. Get off your egotistical arrogant high horse and get in the real world with those of us who actually care about our children.

Nice one.
Sorry if I had touch some facts which are not to your liking but hey this are facts and figures.
BG resorts are far behind in the avove matter (you can shout as much as you like but facts won't change-cos they can not change just like that)
If you have been a racer and all of your life been in the mountain you can take your child anywhere if you think this is appropriate.
If you are holiday maker and very occasional mountain goer then Please do not this at home! But Please do not try to turn this into somr kind smoothing session.
The end of the queue for the gondola in Bansko just before you reach the last few metters to get into one cabine is a terrible exprerience and if you are with small souls you are going to have to fend them left right and center to avoid smash,squash, and a damage in a sort mentioned above.
Abused children in what fashion SW ?
These were their best first experiences with their dad on the slopes.
Please do not try to teach others -leave this to your own close circle.is that OK

Mr M -I think that you enjoy 'throwing in a firework and watching it explode'-are you having a bit of fun at our expense? There are many people who cannot or don't want to afford the prices in the Alps-as I previously mentioned that both of my grandchildren mainly learnt in the Alps ,but the ski pack for a child was about £500 on top of the holiday -this meant that lunch was a piece of bread and cheese as the lunches on the mountains were very expensive. We don't however have any French friends that we visit, whereas we have many Bulgarian friends that we have made in the last 23 years that we enjoy seeing. My grandchildren appreciate the hospitality and grand daughter was very impressed by the invitation to visit one of our friend's mother in the village-important part of our visit and her education. The sking in Borevets is so bad, Mr M, that one of my Bulgarian friend's daughter is now ski racing successfully in Europe having lived and learnt to ski in Borevets!! Please don't assume that all visitors to Bulgaria are pouring alcohol down their throats non stop-there are a lot of families who come for the whole experience-something they may not be able to afford if they plan to go to Aspen or Val d'Isere!I am always grateful that I learnt to ski in Borevets and actually had lunch with my very first instructor(198 and his family this Good Friday in UK-at that point he could never have dreamed of even visiting the UK yet to be living here- just one of precious friendships made in Borevets.