NINETIES classic Cotton Eye Joe blasts out of the speakers as my kids Poppy, six, and Raffy, four, attempt their first ever ski tricks on the “Indian piste”, gliding past cartoon figures and over obstacles like they’ve been skiing for years.
In fact, it’s only their second day.
And I’ve got Stacey Solomon to thank for this golden memory.
It’s been nine years since I last wore a pair of skis, but watching Stacey and her gang hitting the mountains in BBC1’s Stacey & Joe made me crave a family ski experience.
So we’re on a four-night break with Ski Weekends, in the buzzing French village of Les Gets.
Chalet Girl
Newly spruced-up Chalet Marjorie, with its alpine decor, makes for a brilliant base, just five minutes’ walk from the ski lifts and a 70-minute drive from Geneva airport.
With table football, a dinky hammam and a large hot tub, we have everything we need post-ski.
The kids share a bunk-bed room, husband Andy and I cosy up in a double, and there’s a piping-hot power shower for our aching muscles.
Each afternoon, showstopper cakes baked by sous-chef Emily welcome us home, while chef Markus rustles up an early kids’ tea, before presenting three courses of treats such as cheesy tartiflette, duck à l’orange and brioche pud for the grown-ups.
Conversation (and wine) flow between guests – this chalet sleeps up to 42 – and sharing stories of skiing triumphs and life’s adversities at the end of the day is special.
We hire boots and skis from Désiré Sport, just seconds from the gondola.
Staff here help the children each morning with huge smiles, and welcome us back each evening with mulled wine.
After two lessons with the lovely (and incredibly patient) Guglielmo, an Italian ski instructor from Maison Sport, the kids are confident enough to join us even higher up the mountain.
Riding the chairlift up above the clouds in prep to race down a stunning tree-lined run together, my heart swells with pride.
These children, who are usually first to complain back home that their legs are tired or that they’re cold, are lapping up every moment in this incredible landscape.
But while Les Gets is part of the mega Portes du Soleil ski area – home to more than 600km of pistes – we’re very happy to take things easy, grabbing cream-laden hot chocolates, £4.50, from Télébar du Mont Blanc, and spending afternoons enjoying the snow in so many other ways.
Sister Sledge
Handily, L’Aprèski Bar sits at the bottom of the slopes and serves up a stonkingly good soundtrack and cracking cocktails next to one of the resort’s sledging spots.
So, as Poppy and Raffy race each other down on sledges borrowed from the chalet, Andy and I toast them with an Aperol Spritz, £10.50 (Bellevue-lesgets.com).
Another afternoon, we stop by the 1.1km-long 4 Season Alpine Coaster, which can hit speeds of almost 25mph.
Opened less than two years ago, it’s ridiculously good fun and the kids beg to ride it again immediately.
Rides cost £8 per sledge (Lesgets.com).
Lungs full of alpine air and kids full of a new kind of confidence, we’ve all adored exploring the mountain and celebrating each other’s wins.
Give me family adventures in Mother Nature’s playground over a theme park any day.
FYI
Three-night, catered stays with transfers at Chalet Marjorie cost from £425 per person.
Three-day equipment hire costs £35 per child, £65 per adult (Ski weekends.com).
Private ski lessons cost from £44 an hour (Maisonsport.com).
Flights to Geneva cost from £37 return.
