Skiing For Beginners
When the first intrepid British tied planks of wood to their feet and slide down the snowy mountainsides of Europe, I doubt that they realized they were starting a multi-million-pound holiday industry.
As many winter holiday makers now know, skiing isn’t just for the rich and leisured classes. It is open to all of us who can afford the price of a winter package holiday and there is a whole range of companies offering to fly and bus us to the slopes.
Fans of the sport don’t need me to offer any dos and don’ts. However, if you are considering buying you first skiing holiday, read on. And bear in mind that. Whatever the brochures and travel features say, not everyone enjoys their time on skiing. Thousands of the first-time skiers of all ages do come back, enthusing about the sport. For what it is worth, I hated every miserable, cold and painful minute of my first and last skiing trip.
Before you book: Find out exactly what y our holiday price includes. As well as the journey and accommodation, first-time skiers need to budget for lessons and boot and ski hire. You will also need special insurance (an ordinary holiday policy won’t cover you) and possible a lift pass. Some companies include a ‘ski pack’ in their holiday price which covers these expenses.
Find out how far you will have to travel everyday to get to the slopes. Ideally, they should only be a walk away.
Steer clear of the purpose-built ski resorts if there is any chance that after a day or two you won’t like the sport. There will be very little else to do there. The Austrian resorts offer the most alternatives to skiing, which makes it the most suitable country for families where one of you is not too keen on the art and needs something else to occupy themselves.
Ski tips:
- You can pay for the hire of your boots and skis in advance – but then you’re stuck with the hire shop that the holiday company uses.
- Be prepared for a mad rush on arrival as everyone queues to hire their skis and boots.
- Carry some mini-sized Mars bars for a mid-session pick-you-up on the slopes.
- Don’t ski when you’re tired. Many accidents happen towards the end of the afternoon and are caused by tiredness.