Discover Our Specialised Tiny and Mini Arc Programs
- caroline1480
- Jul 5
- 4 min read
Designed for the youngest siblings of the family, our specialised Tiny and Mini Arc programs offer unique opportunities tailored to young skiers who are already navigating much of the mountain. These programs focus on developing strong foundational skiing skills for children in a safe, playful environment with specialist children's instructors. Establishing a strong early technique is crucial for a child's future in skiing, as it can be applied to alpine racing and other skiing disciplines.
What Is The Schedule For The Programs?
The Tiny Arc program is designed for 4-year-olds and runs for 2 weeks, aligning with the dates of our core programs in both January and April each year. This allows younger participants to join while their older siblings are engaged in alpine racing or all-mountain programs. The daily schedule includes:
Duration: 4 hours of skiing each day (9-1pm)
Lunch: Provided after skiing (1-2pm)
The Mini Arc program is tailored for children aged 5-7 years and also runs for 2 weeks in January and April, coinciding with our core programs. Participants can choose from:
Half-day: 4 hours of skiing each day and lunch (9-2pm)
Full-day: 6-hours of skiing each day and lunch (9-4pm)
Based on the groups' abilities, the skiing sessions incorporate games as drills to cultivate strong technique from an early age, plenty of ski mileage across the entire mountain in diverse snow conditions and an introduction to ski racing. Participants in our January program also have the opportunity to compete in our annual Family Fun Race, which is a major highlight!
What Level Of Skier Does My Child Need To Be?
Our Tiny and Mini Arc programs are designed for young skiers who are already navigating most of the mountain. In Australian ski schools, this translates to a level of approximately 5-8 where the skier is keeping skis parallel for most of the turn on blue slopes, through to linking strong parallel short turns on black slopes.
Specialised Kids' Instructors
The instructors for Tiny and Mini Arc are selected for their combination of excellent technique (as young children benefit from the "monkey see, monkey do" approach), a child-friendly personality, and attentiveness to children.
The instructors in our Tiny and Mini Arc programs possess extensive experience in teaching children how to ski, and many are parents of young, speedy skiers themselves! Every instructor at The Arc is a fully qualified, registered ski coaching professional in Italy, or an ski instructor with qualifications through the Australian Professional Snowsports Instructors (APSI). This status involves comprehensive training, clearances and responsibilities regulated by the state and/or organisation.
Easy Mornings
Beginning at 9am daily from the Valendrea base, the same location as our main programs, families enjoy a convenient start each morning with excellent facilities. The base features a modern, heated locker room equipped with clean, contemporary amenities and a lift that provides direct access to the ski hill, ensuring mornings are as smooth as possible for our families. Groups gather in the heated room located on-snow above the locker room, allowing kids and parents to stay warm while instructors check the equipment and warmth of the children before heading to the mountain.
Small Groups, Big Friendships
We limit these groups to a maximum of 4 skiers to ensure the sessions remain engaging and productive. This also provides an opportunity for your young skiers to form lifelong friendships with other like-minded young skiers from around the globe, learn some Italian and create lasting memories.
According to a mother of three young boys who have taken part in our Tiny and Mini Arc programs:
"The Mini Arc program is unparalleled (no pun intended!). My three sons aged under 6yrs have attended two of the programs and are booked for a third - we will be "lifers". The quality of training, care, cameraderie, support and snow - it's first class. Not only have the boys improved exponentially, they have loved the immersion into Italian culture. This isn't just a world-class ski program, it's an incredible opportunity to make friends across the globe. Despite my boys' young ages, the approach is highly professional and it gets results. "
On-Ground, Personalised Support
The Arc's team understands from experience how demanding family ski holidays can be. Our local on-ground team offers personalised support throughout your ski holiday in Livigno. To make things as smooth as possible from touch-down in Europe, we can organise transfers and suggest accommodation options for your stay in Livigno. Additionally, we offer chances for your family to enjoy some of the must-do experiences in Livigno, along with restaurant recommendations from locals, ski equipment assistance and more. Discover our Top Tips for planning your trip to Livigno.
Family Experiences
The Arc provides a variety of experiences beyond skiing on the mountain. Parents can enjoy day trips to nearby resorts such as St Moritz and Bormio, participate in race training, attend wellness sessions, indulge in wine and cuisine tastings, join ladies ski days and more.
The Arc also provides family-friendly experiences like Sunrise "Emotion," which allows you to ski the first tracks at sunrise and then savor a delightful breakfast on the mountain. Newly introduced this year and very popular, our Italian farm visit offered families the chance to learn about cheese-making, feed farm animals, and taste some local farm delicacies. Additionally, our favorite event of the year is The Arc's Family Fun Race, where the entire family can compete and outshine their siblings or parents!
How To Register?
The first step is to complete the registration form on our website. The Arc's team will then be in contact with you to discuss your child's skiing ability and suitability for the program. Once accepted into the program, The Arc is able to provide you with convenient accommodation recommendations, arrange your transfers, lift passes and any other particular requests you may have for your holiday. Visit our FAQs more information.
