Skiing: Scary stuff, or adrenaline-fuelled family fun?
As a family, we’ve been discussing skiing holidays.
The hubby, being a sort of sporty, devil-may-care nutter type, has been skiing once – with a group of friends that could already ski quite well. He decided the best way to learn was to throw himself in at the deep end and hurl himself down the black runs with his mates. As usual, golden boy didn’t fall or hurt himself and came back fitter, more tanned and with a very red nose.
I, on the other hand, being a cake-obsessed sofa surfer, would have had no such luck and would have spent the entire week sulking on the nursery slopes perfecting my snow plough while my mates had all the fun.
De brevren, of course, are well up for it. The Death Wish Child, inheritor of his father’s nutter-ness, would be of the same ‘fling yourself down the mountain’ school of learning. The Mad Professor would probably have to get his calculator out, do a few algorythms and work out a few equations first, but he’d love it too.
So what’s stopping me? Well, a desire not to break any limbs for one thing. And then there’s all the choice. Inghams, who Hubby went with, do skiing holidays to about 90 different places. There’s ski holidays in Canada, France, USA, Switzerland… and there’s plenty of more diverse options too: Andorra (no, I didn’t know where it was either, but check out their Andorra ski holidays here), Bulgaria, Slovenia… (I had to google that too).
I did spy this little beauty too, though:
(If you’re interested, this is Chalet Polar Star, in Lapland: ’a beautifully appointed modern pine log cabin tucked away in the snow-laden forest, with a crackling open fire and wonderful meals‘ – and yes of course I checked out the meals). Maybe I could just loaf by the fire while the sporty types went and did their skiing?
But then, why go to such a beautiful place without embracing the lifestyle? I can picture myself skiing with aplomb – I just think the reality would be a bit different.
So here’s the thing. I need advice. Are you a skiier? What do you recommend for a family that runs the entire gauntlet from pansy to headless chicken?
Answers on a postcard, please…
(PS: Big huge love to Inghams for giving me permission to pinch bits off their website)
My first trip was to Andorra – loved it. Second in the US – loved it.
We are thinking of going with our little fella (age 6) in next couple of years).
I think do it – it’s the only way you will know!!!!
I always think it is best to live a life trying things rather than always wondering “what if”.
Having said that, my brother was 13 the first time he skied and didn’t bother with lessons. The basics can be taught by a patient family member (ducking as the professional instructors throw snowballs at me). My husband will be a first-timer when we eventually get a trip booked, and because he has a history of ice skating (don’t laugh) I think we’ll just wing it.
If you’re looking for a chilled holiday and aren’t the sort of person who picks things up easily, avoid snowboarding. Spending a week smashing your knees, then tailbone, then knees into the snow is utterly soul-destroying.
We bloody loved it.
Err hello? Have you not heard of apres ski – reason enough to go!
We went to Bulgaria first year (cheap and cheerful)
Austria (very pretty, more villagey)
Andorra on Millennium eve – the best best memories.
Can’t wait until we can afford to all go as a family – good good times x
oooh, ooooh Bloggers on Ski’s 2012
But saying all that think you should go for it – and let me know how it goes!
x
I am the biggest wuss (despite growing up the in the countryside, climbing over a gate fills me with dread) and I have been skiing twice and LOVED it! That’s not to say I was any good (at all), but after some lessons I learned how to stop (very important) and steer (equally important), and even though I was on the babiest slope, I had the best time. Once you fall over once (and realise it doesn’t hurt), then the fun begins
Also big glasses of gluhwein at break time give dutch courage a-plenty.
Anyway, moving on I have done several ski trips since and have still not been bitten by the bug. Hubby and kids have but I still just freeze, not with the cold but out of sheer terror. It isn’t the best way to spend a holiday, very tense, tearful and wishing I had gone somewhere hot on my own!
I bet we go again….! xxxx
Looking forward to it, though it means we’ll be doing summer hols on the cheap (visit relations in UK). Do it! Do it! Bring pain killers!
Yeah, broke a rib by being silly, avoid being silly. Then had to finish out a week of a training course on frequency domain analysis despite discomfort.
Whistler is, of course, the #1 skiing resort of North America.
We’ve been out with various companies: Nielson were great, Inghams OK but I didn’t like Crystal. This year we’re asking href=”http://www.alpineanswers.co.uk/enquiry”Alpine Answers to find us somewhere good – put in your criteria (e.g. age, experience, budget, presence of non-skiers) and they will try and find something to suit.
Go to ski school when you’re there. You probably won’t learn with the kids as they’ll pick it up faster. But school is good fun for meeting similar folks that never thought they’d be skiing either.
Where to go? – Stay in Europe. You’ll nearly get the holiday paid for the cost of the flights to the US/Canada. Once you’ve been a few times, then you can head west.
Who to go with? I’d recommend DirectSki, although the last few years I’ve booked it all myself.
When? I guess you’d be constrained by school holidays. Try and avoid the local school holidays for wherever you decide to go, if possible.
Andorra or Livigino in Italy are great for beginners, and are fairly cheap. Snow quality can very a lot in Andorra. You’ll have plenty in Lapland. But I’ve skied in Lapland in -20C, and I’ve skied in Andorra in +21C.
Bigger resorts will probably have more to offer for things to do during the day (in the unlikely event someone doesn’t like skiing).
Smaller resorts can be friendlier, but might be harder to get to on a package deal. You’ll discover this in later holidays.
Fitness can help (but it’s not everything) Good exercises here http://www.ifyouski.com/more-home/Guides/ski-fitness/legs.aspx
Let me know if you have any more questions.
Pack your bags.