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Beginner Snow Skiing Lessons : How to Use Ski Poles

admin — Thu, 13 May 2010 06:53:37 +0000

Winter sports are great fun and they are great way to stay in shape and also enjoy the winter. Snow skiing is one of the most popular winter sports. Anyone from expert skiers, to very small children, will be able to enjoy the slopes of Snow Mountains.

Equipment required for snow skiing are skis and pair of poles. Skis used today are made up plastic, polyurethane foam and some other material. Traditionally skis were made up of highly polished wood. All these skis come in different sizes and styles, depending on type of skiing. There are different ways of doing snow skiing, cross-country, downhill, backcountry skiing and ski jumping. Special boots are attached to the skis by means of bindings. Use of poles is personal choice; each pole has a wrists wrap on top, sharp tip on bottom and circular ring about from the tip to prevent it from sinking into snow. Depending upon varying snow conditions skis are waxed for maximum glide. Along with skis, boots and poles, you will also need to have ski helmet to protect your head, good pair of goggles for eyes and plenty of warm clothing.

There are many different types of snow skiing. Apart from traditional downhill skiing, here are some other types of snow skiing option. Heliskiing, is very adventurous type of skiing. Heliskiing is downhill skiing but it done on a remote mountains reached by helicopter. Cross- country skiing, is a traditional type of skiing on snow in all types of terrains, but mainly it is done on flat terrains. Snow cat skiing, in this type of skiing skiers are delivered to the top of the mountain in a snow cat and ski down on the ungroomed trails. Snow cat skiing is for expert skiers. One more unconventional type of skiing is snow shoe skiing, it is walking on soft snow without sinking by wearing a snow shoe which is crossed with thongs.

You can go for snow skiing vacations, such snow skiing vacations are available for everyone. Most skiing resorts offer discount accommodation during off peak season, like end of the winter period. Holiday snow skiing is quite popular at many resorts.

Snow skiing is one of the exciting sports that have perfect combination of exhilaration, ambience and adventure for everyone. Everyone that takes up skiing, no matter their skill level, they will definitely find place on the slopes to be thrilled and challenged.

Just like any other physical exercise snow skiing has its own benefits. Snow skiing improves the circulatory system, which increases alertness making it easy for person to respond everything. Skiing provides excellent cardiovascular workout and improves circulation of oxygen.

One must seek proper tanning and good quality equipments as snow skiing is physically demanding sport that could results in serious injuries. The lack of oxygen on higher altitude can cause “ski sickness”, it is characterized by headache, nausea, dizziness, fatigue, insomnia, vomiting and loss of appetite.

Regardless of level of expertise, your budget; snow skiing is exciting sport that can enjoyed by anyone and everyone from family. You can go for snow skiing virtually anywhere around the world.

Holy S*** – eXtreme Ski + Snowboard

admin — Sat, 08 May 2010 06:53:30 +0000

You’ve heard about the skiing at Lake Tahoe or Mammoth, but one of the best ski or snowboard experiences you’ll ever have awaits you at Bear Valley, where the crowds are few, but the thrills are many.

While not on a par with Squaw Valley or Heavenly or other major California ski resorts, the Bear Valley ski area is still a prime candidate for a weekend or even an extended skiing vacation. As we discovered in early February, Bear Valley offers a surprisingly complete ski vacation experience – no frills, to be sure, but still rewarding and well worth the trip deep into the Sierra Nevada range.

If designer clothing stores, zillion-dollar condos, and Hollywood-style glitz are part of your criteria for a ski vacation, this ski area might not be the best choice. If wide-open ski runs, no lift lines and plenty of groomed snow are more important to you, then by all means give Bear Valley a try.

Coming originally from the Pacific Northwest, we could not help but compare Bear Valley to one of our favorite ski areas in Washington state – a place called Mission Ridge in a town named Wenatchee. The population in that part of the state is sparse compared with the big ski areas near Seattle, so Mission Ridge is able to offer wide-open skiing runs most days of the week.

Similarly, Bear Valley is less accessible than the many larger ski areas in the Lake Tahoe area. Bay area and Sacramento residents can drive Interstate 80 to the Tahoe area and find a selection of ski resorts a short distance off the interstate. To reach this ski area, you have to drive two-lane roads through the foothills and mountains for close to 100 miles.

But when you get there, most skiers and snowboarders will find it’s worth it. Our mid-week skiing was some of the best we’ve experienced – plenty of wide-open, groomed terrain perfect for intermediates and serviced by a number of lifts where there seemed to never be lines. It was ski down the run, get right on the chair and do it all again and again until just a few hours into our day we were growing exhausted. We probably skied in four hours what it would take us a full day to do at a resort with moderate lift lines.

There are no gondolas or high-speed quad chairlifts at Bear Valley, although there are 10 lifts altogether, mostly doubles and triples. About 1280 acres are available for skiing and snowboarding; some 100 acres are in an area where they can make snow – although at 7,750 feet, it’s likely Mother Nature will supply all the snow you need.

We mentioned the intermediate skiing because that’s our favorite – but rest assured this ski area has many black diamond or expert ski runs for those looking for more of a challenge. The day lodge is situated mid-mountain with lifts going both up the mountain to 8495 feet, and coming to the lodge from the lower part of the mountain. Most of the expert runs are located on the lower mountain.

The area’s day lodge also was wide open and easy to navigate. Instead of masses of people waiting in line to get their food and find a place to sit, we stepped right up and got our cooked-to-order Philly cheesesteak sandwiches in just a few minutes. And there was no shortage of menu options – lots of different types of food from sandwiches to Asian cuisine, from soups and salads to major meals.

But the Bear Valley experience is much more than a daytrip – or at least it should be given the time it takes to get to the ski area. For our trip we booked lodging at the Bear Valley Lodge, one of just a few hotel-type facilities near the mountain. Located about three miles from the mountain, the Bear Valley Lodge seems to be the hub of activity in the area and proved to be a good choice for accommodations. While showing some of its age – it was built in the 60′s – the lodge proved to be a comfortable, convenient base of operations. A ski shuttle bus will take you to the mountain, and you can even ski all the way back to the lodge.

When we say comfortable, we are not comparing the lodge to the high-end condos you find at most major ski resorts. The rooms at Bear Valley Lodge are more like a motel unit with two double beds a bath area and a TV/entertainment area that included HBO. But small touches – such as the bay window looking out onto the snowy landscape or the pine furniture – helped to make this feel much cozier than a motel room.

The four floors of rooms at the Bear Valley Lodge look out onto the Cathedral Lounge, a large open space in the middle of the lodge that offers guests a place to sit and read and enjoy the fire in the massive stone fireplace. Photos are mounted along the walls depicting the history of the lodge and Bear Valley ski area. Celebrities such as Spider Savich, Claudine Longet, Merv Griffin and several others are shown skiing or otherwise enjoying Bear Valley.

Adjacent to the lounge are several shops including an old-fashioned general store – with a deli to get quick sandwiches and soups – and a surprisingly complete ski shop with all of the latest ski equipment, clothing and accessories. But keep in mind this is not the type of resort where you can spend hours shopping when you’re not on the slopes; your down time here most likely will be spent in front of the fire reading a good book.

During our brief stay we dined in the lodge’s Grizzly Lounge – mainly because the other lodge restaurant, the Creekside Dining Room, was closed Mondays and Tuesdays. The lounge food was good and included a few menu items from the Creekside. We did learn that the Creekside has recently employed a well-educated and accomplished chef that has proven both creative and popular with guests – so we were disappointed we didn’t get a chance to sample the Creekside cuisine.

We also enjoyed a meal down at BaseCamp, a lodge that is just a short walk from the Bear Valley Lodge and the only other hotel-style lodging this close to the ski area. We enjoyed our meal at BaseCamp where we got to know an English waitress who had come to Bear Valley simply because the skiing is so good. The BaseCamp, incidentally, offers the lowest cost rooms in the area with “bathroom down the hall.”

There are also condo and cabin rentals available in the Bear Valley area, as well as the Tamarack Lodge further west on Highway 4. Prices in general will be less at BaseCamp, moderate at the Bear Valley Lodge and Tamarack, and more when you rent an entire vacation home.

While in the area, there are several small towns and attractions that are worth a stop if you have the time. To reach Bear Valley in winter, you’ll be traveling through the historical town of Angel’s Camp and then a similar but smaller Gold Rush town called Murphys.

But our suggestion would be to allow plenty of time for skiing. You’ll want to ski or board Bear Valley just as long as the weather – and your legs – will hold out.

AT A GLANCE

WHERE: Bear Valley Ski Resort is on Highway 4, about 52 miles from the foothills town of Angel’s Camp, and 130 miles from Sacramento.

WHAT: Bear Valley is a throwback to skiing in the ’60′s and ’70′s – no high-speed quads or gondolas but lots of wide open groomed terrain in a gorgeous setting.

WHEN: Winter always means where is lots of snow for skiing as well as many other snow sports; the area also is a popular summer recreation area with numerous lakes, hiking trails and a pristine forest.

WHY: It’s refreshing to ski where there are no lift lines and little pretense – most of the “beautiful people” went to Colorado; the home-growns stayed here. Economically, this ski vacation is quite affordable.

HOW: For more information on Bear Valley Ski Resort, phone (209) 753-2301 or visit www.bearvalley.com. For more information on Bear Valley Lodge, phone (209) 753-2325 or visit www.bearvalleylodge.com.

Learn to ski (Chapter 1 – Philosophy of skiing)

admin — Sat, 24 Apr 2010 06:53:27 +0000

Val d’Isère is one of the most exciting winter destinations in the Alps and offers visitors a combination of top class skiing, lively après ski and upmarket boutiques while still retaining an authentic Alpine village atmosphere. As a result, it has come to be recognised as one of the world’s top ski destinations and is a firm favourite with ski enthusiasts, families and thrill seekers alike. It has also become a popular destination for celebrities – Hugh Grant, Cameron Diaz, Bono and Kylie Minogue have all been spotted there in recent years!

Now in its sixth year, Highlife creates bespoke ski chalet holidays, catering superbly for singles, couples, groups or families. The Highlife concept and the reason that guests return again and again lies in the combination of exceptional service and excellent facilities that every Highlife holiday offers.

Signature finishing touches to Highlife’s award-winning programme include cosy log fires and super ski detox facilities with outdoor hot tubs, saunas and Jacuzzis. Every Highlife guest also savours delicious food & excellent wines as each stunning ski chalet comes with its own talented chef and hosts.

Simon Egan, co-founder and Director of Highlife says, “Our decision to expand to Val d’Isère has come about as a result of feedback from our customers, many of whom are keen to visit this fantastic resort. The skiing in Val d’Isère is among the best available anywhere in the world, so we are very excited to offer our guests the chance to experience it with Highlife.”

Highlife’s award-winning ski holidays are available at a lead-in price of €940 for a catered week in January 2008. This price includes direct scheduled Aer Lingus flights from Dublin, private transfers in 8-seater mini-coaches, chalet accommodation with ski detox facilities and delicious food & wine, a range of exciting ‘Snowtime’ programmes and excellent value for money. Generous child discounts are available throughout the season.

Full details on Highlife’s exclusive range of ski chalet holidays in France can be found at www.highlife.ie. The company can be contacted on +353 1 677 1100 and by email at info@highlife.ie

oakley ski

admin — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 06:53:31 +0000

Meribel is in the heart of the Three Valleys skiing area in the French Alps. It’s Europe’s favourite skiing destination with stunning scenery and excellent snow conditions for a wonderful ski holiday. Travel to the ski slopes is now very convenient with budget airlines and trains offering their services from UK to the ski destinations in France.

But travelling with all your bulky winter clothes, accessories and the heavy, large bags of your ski equipment is not an easy thing. At the same time, buying ski equipment is not an option if you are only going for a season.

Also, ski gear is expensive and requires maintenance and care to keep it in top condition. With the constant upgrades and latest models available in skis, your gear can quickly become outdated. Another issue is that your ski gear needs to match the snow conditions at the ski resort. With your own equipment, you are stuck with equipment that’s not quite suited to the snow conditions at Meribel.

For all these reasons, many skiers prefer ski hire at Meribel. The advantages are many: its convenient- lighter and hassel free travel, cheaper than buying your own ski equipment. You are also assured that you will get ski gear that’s in excellent condition and just suited to the snow conditions and for your skiing level. The ski hire services at Meribel cater to all levels of skiers from beginners to advanced skiiers. Hiring ski equipment may also be a good idea for young children. They’ll outgrow their boots, if not their skis, in a season, sometimes quicker.

Here are tips on ways to save money when skiing, including purchasing equipment inexpensively in Meribel.

Start your search well before you plan to go on your ski holiday. The best place to start your search is the internet. There are many ski hire websites which offer their services for hiring skis and skiing equipment in the Meribel resort. You will find several cheap ski hire packages to match your requirements and your budget.

When you hire ski in time equipment online, you will have a range of options to choose ski equipment for your family or group based on their personal requirements.

Give all your details accurately: your height, weight, and ability level are the most important things that you will be asked while hiring ski equipment online. This information is important to get you the right equipment and also for setting the release weight (DIN setting) on your bindings.

Insurance recommended: Many shops will offer optional ‘insurance’ on top of normal rental. This will typically cover all of the costs should you lose your skis, damage them or have them stolen. Its important given the risk of unpredictable snow and weather conditions on the pistes.

Are discounted lift tickets available when you book your ski rental? If so, check out all the options (multi-day tickets, mid-week tickets, etc.) to make sure you’re getting the best deal.

These are some of the important things to bear in mind while hiring skis and ski equipment at Meribel. You can visit (website URL) for details, information and discount offers for ski hire at Meribel.

Carving – Ski Lesson

admin — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 06:53:31 +0000

Skiing and snowboarding holidays have grown in popularity in recent years. This has been made possible by the growth of the low cost airlines and the increase in the availability of holiday home rentals.There are now many ski chalets, self catering apartments, farmhouses and holiday villas to choose from all over Europe and the rest of the world.

France has become a very popular winter sports holiday destination. The explosion in the number of people snowboarding has led to tourists going to France on snowboarding weekends and also long weekend skiing holidays. The snowboarders like to stay in either self catering apartments or if they are in larger groups they rent one of the many fabulous ski chalets available in France. The ski chalets are also in great demand from family skiing holidays. They are close to the ski slopes and make for a great Alpine family skiing holiday in France.

The great thing about skiing holidays in France is that there are holiday home rentals available to suite all budgets. It is possible to have a cheap skiing weekend break staying in a small apartment or have a luxurious skiing holiday in Chamonix, staying in one of the superb holiday chalets in the Alps.

Norway is loved by cross country skiers and many families go there on skiing holidays and stay in a traditional chalet. Austria and Switzerland are also popular winter sports destination with people wanting to go snowboarding and on skiing holidays.

For people wanting to travel further afield, there is excellent skiing available in America and Canada. The Rockies is becoming popular with snow boarders and traditional skiing is still growing in numbers. In America there are some luxurious ski villas available to rent and some of them even come with their own swimming pools.

A skiing holiday is a great family vacation and families of all ages enjoy to ski. Age is no barrier to skiing as there are ski slopes for all skiing abilities. Most ski resorts have ski schools where skiers can learn to ski. As long as you are fairly fit and like to exert yourself, then a vacation to one of the world top ski resorts will provide you with a great family holiday.

For beginners to skiing or snowboarding, it can be a nervous experience the first time that you hit the ski slopes, but after a few falls, bumps and bruises you usually find yourself hooked on the sport. It is advisable to book lessons the first time that you go on vacation skiing or snow boarding. However don’t be put off if you have never been on a skiing vacation before as ski resorts cater for skiers of all abilities.

Skiing holidays have become popular in many mountainous countries around the world. Skiing is popular in France and the Alps provide excellent skiing conditions in hundreds of ski resorts across Europe. All now offer excellent self catering accommodation in apartments, chalets and villas.

Chamonix is best known around the world for its spectacular Alpine view of Mont Blanc and there are some luxurious skiing chalets available to rent in this location. Courcheval is a popular skiing destination with many designer shops and superb restaurants. Meribel and Morzine are also popular skiing resorts helping to make the French Alps one of the most popular winter sports destinations in the world.

Switzerland is another popular European winter sport destination with picture book wooden ski chalets. The Valais region is known around the world for its excellent skiing facilities and spectacular scenery. The Appenine mountains in Italy has good resorts at Le Marche and Abruzzo.

The one thing that renting skiing chalets, apartments or farmhouses from their owners have in common is that they provide the holiday makers with a great deal of freedom. They are able to sample the local way of life and get a true feel of the local culture of the country that they are staying in.

It is no wonder that many holiday makers on winter sports vacation return to the same country year after year. Whether it is a skiing weekend break, a snowboarding holiday to the Alps or a family skiing holiday to France, you are sure to have a great vacation.

Ski Tips for Advanced Skiers

admin — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 06:53:34 +0000

There is nothing more exciting than doing the ride that interests you the most when you are into snowmobile riding. It’s about riding on the snow with the most comfortable and preferred Ski Doo that you can own. As there are numerous models and types of Ski Doo snowmobile, you can’t help but wonder what others think about each type, whether that others are owners of Ski Doo are mere users. What they think may matter to you as you consider replacing your current Ski Doo or still in the verge of buying one.

In marketing, consumer perspective and preference matters a great deal. Without such feedback, the manufacturer or the distributor would not know how to position certain products in the market and would not know if they have interested customers. When it comes to Ski Doo, the same things happen. Ski doo reviews and Ski Doo ratings from various sources would help manufacturers, distributors, and consumers alike on how well the particular Ski Doo performs and functions.

You can view different types of Ski Doo in the online site for Ski Doo reviews. In this site, all Ski Doos are displayed and featured in an organized way, starting from top rated Ski Doos to any kinds of Ski Doo that you may find in the directory list. The main purpose of this site, aside from providing information on the types of Ski Doo, is to present Ski Doo reviews and Ski Doo ratings that would be beneficial for those who are seeking feedback on particular Ski Doo model or type. Anybody can input Ski Doo reviews and Ski Doo ratings as they find necessary to participate.

Visitors to this site can read and write Ski Doo reviews and vote for Ski Doo ratings. The site motto “unbiased review by real people” hold true as it accepts any reviews from people who wish to participate in the site. Ski doo reviews can be written in the directory list where the Ski Doo models are arranged alphabetically. The review can also be written on the top rated Ski Doos featured on the site which are updated regularly. Ski doo ratings, on the other hand, can be readily voted through a five-star scale ranging from very poor as the first star, to excellent as the fifth star. As soon as the Ski Doo reviews are posted and Ski Doo ratings are voted, it will instantly be displayed in the site.

So if you are interested in various Ski Doo models and types for your needs, just visit the Ski Doo review site. You can get information about different types of Ski Doo. They are presented as featured top rated items, from directory list, news, or advertisement. Most importantly, you can read relevant Ski Doo reviews and evaluate Ski Doo ratings for you to compare Ski Doo and choose the Ski Doo that you think would suit you best. It is an easy, reliable, and accessible way of searching for the best Ski Doo for your Ski Doo needs. After all, it is what consumers and users have to say that matters.

Ski Crash Montage

admin — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 06:53:28 +0000

Highlife is delighted to offer you a unique opportunity which brings together world-class 3 Valleys skiing with a refreshing yoga programme. Combining the best of skiing in the magnificent French Alps with the effective and thoughtful courses of Irish company Sunrise Yoga, this excellent holiday is designed to be as flexible as its participants!

The exciting programme gives you the perfect mix of the finest skiing and the most relaxing yoga at Highlife’s Chalet Amelie in Méribel. Start each day with an invigorating morning yoga class, followed by a wholesome breakfast, which includes cereals, porridge, French pastries, smoothies, yoghurts, fresh fruit, juices, tea & coffee, and a range of hot options including a Chef’s Special every morning. You can relax over your breakfast indoors or enjoy the crisp morning mountain air with your muesli (breathing deeply!), out on your private sundeck.

To ensure you enjoy a great week on the slopes, ski lessons or exclusive ski guiding with experienced Highlife guides is arranged each day. A second restorative yoga class awaits on your return from the slopes to help ease any tired muscles, as will a wind down in your Jacuzzi. The evening continues with your private chef preparing a delicious three course meal which you can enjoy with a range of carefully selected French wines and, of course, Highlife chefs are happy to provide excellent vegetarian and vegan options.

Sunrise Yoga teacher Caragh Egan will lead the yoga classes, offering a very special holiday combination for yoga lovers and novices, as well as practiced skiers and beginners alike. So relax and ski, all you yogis and yoginis – whichever combination suits you, Highlife has the perfect holiday!

Local ski areas bring in big crowds

admin — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 06:53:25 +0000

When planning a vacation, all-inclusive packages are still most popular. It is the easiest way not to worry about the finer details of planning a holiday. With the rise in the pre-arranged vacation packages, there are several resorts that are offering holidays where many of the facilities are clubbed together. If you are planning to hit the slopes on your vacation this time, ski packages will be the most affordable as well as fitting option for you.

There are big independent sellers of ski packages in North America and other places who will provide you with a total ski vacation and in some of the best resorts around the world. Skiers come from around the world to experience Colorado ski vacation both on and off the slopes. You can also book ski packages which have been tailored according to your requirements and budget. The tour arrangers will find some of the best ski packages deals and also offer a personalized service.

There are several ski resorts all across US including Colorado and you can plan an ideal ski trip. The ski package will include accommodation, airfare, airport transfers, car rentals, and sometimes the rent for the equipment. This will make tour ski vacation planning and travel efficient and easy.

There are a number of options to find a ski package. You can get in touch with travel agents, who are the best resource for getting even the unpublished deals. Make sure you work with a travel agent who has a good reputation and is also knowledgeable about ski resorts in Colorado so that you get the ski vacation package according to your preference.

The other option is to go online and search for ski packages or travel agents who are ski vacation specialists. They will help you create a vacation package to some of the best ski resorts in Colorado including Breckenridge, Winter Park Beaver Creek, Steamboat Vail and, Aspen.

SKI JUMPING EXTREME

admin — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 06:53:29 +0000

If you are new to skiing, the whole idea of going on a ski holiday can be quite daunting. On a number of occasions I have seen people who have never skied before worry about things which just aren’t true. So, here I expose the top 10 ski myths:

1. A skiing holiday has to be expensive

Things have changed in the world of skiing – no longer is it an elite sport for the rich. It is quite possible to take a family of beginners skiing and for it not to break the bank. How?

- Go self catered. Self catered ski accommodation is often excellent and doesn’t cost very much per head. You can also choose to squeeze more people in on sofa beds to bring the price down even more. Don’t book via large tour operators – go directly to local estate agents or independent property suppliers.

- Drive. With four people in a car, and if travelling to areas in the Northern Alps, driving is a very cost effective way of getting to a ski resort. – Try and avoid the main school holidays (Christmas, New Year, Half Term) if at all possible.

- Keep an eye on when budget airlines release their flights and book early!

- You don’t need to go to the world’s biggest ski area if you are beginners. Go to a smaller resort where you willÂ find everything in resort (lift pass, ski hire etc) to be a lot cheaper.

2. Skiing is dangerous

Although skiing does involve travelling downhill on planks of wood without any breaks, the vast majority of skiers who learn to ski with instructors and ski within their limits will have a happy lifetime of incident free skiing. Yes accidents do sometimes happen, but more often than not ski related accidents are less to do with the actual skiing and more to do with amounts of alcohol consumed and not taking care on icy surfaces etc. If you learn to ski properly, you will also learn to ski safely.

3. The weather is cold and horrible when skiing

Well, yes, the weather is usually cold. And sometimes it can be snowing. That is a fact about holidaying in the mountains in winter. However, when the sun comes out in the mountains there is nothing like it. Alpine sunshine, clear blue skies and temperatures of -5 degrees can certainly feel a lot warmer than a UK winter day when the temperature might be 10 degrees. That is why people come back from ski holidays with sun tans!

4. I won’t understand what the ski instructor tells me

Gone are the days when your only choice of ski instructor would be a moustachioed instructor who’s only English was “Bend ze Knees”. Now there are many progressive English speaking ski schools and independent instructors, indeed there are many excellent British instructors working out in the Alps.

5. If I don’t enjoy the skiing, my holiday will be rubbish

If for any reason you don’t get on with the skiing side of a skiing holiday, wintering in the Alps is still an excellent experience. Most resorts have plenty of non skiing activities on offer such as dog sledding, snow shoeing, thermal springs, ice diving, para gliding. Plus many alpine resorts are very picturesque and so sightseeing and shopping aren’t out of the question.

6. Because of global warming, there won’t be much snow

It is true that global warming was blamed for the bad winter of 06/07 in the European Alps. However, this was down mostly to lazy journalists not researching their facts properly. The bad winter that year was down to the weather, and not the climate. Plus, the skiing wasn’t actually bad – it just wasn’t as good as it could have been.

The last few years have seen some of the best winters for skiing on record. Global warming MAY start to affect European skiing over the next 50 years, but at the moment there is no real evidence that it has started.

7. It is a lot of hassle on a ski holiday

It doesn’t have to be any hassle. You can opt for a catered chalet holiday where all you need to do is get yourself to the airport. The rest is taken care of by the chalet hosts. You are picked up at the airport and taken to your chalet, they arrange your lift passes and ski hire, they cook for you, they clean for you and they take you to the slopes every day. Where is the hassle in that?

8. My kids will have problems in French speaking creche/ski schools

Like the point about ski instruction, things have changed a lot in the world of Alpine childcare. Creches and kids’ ski school usually have English speaking staff, and it is not unusual to find a number of British kids in classes during the school holidays. Teaching your kids to ski at a young age is one of the greatest gifts you can give them!

9. I don’t like mountain food

Nowadays, eating out in ski resorts isn’t all about cheese and ham (although there is plenty of that on offer for those who look forward to their annual fondue or raclette). Most resorts now sport a wide variety of restaurants – some with real cosmopolitan ambiance and menus. And if you don’t want to eat out every night, a trip to the local supermarket will reveal that the gap between French and British food shopping has narrowed considerably over the last few years.

10. I can’t take a baby skiing

Nearly all ski resorts have excellent creche/nanny facilities. And for those people who worry about the cold/altitude etc, don’t forget that babies are born in the mountains every year and they do OK!

Hopefully the above will help to dispel the main worries of a nervous first time skier. And if you never try it, you might never know what you are missing!