Travel - Skiing

Saturday 6th October 2007
Pól O'Conghaile, travel journalist and ski instructors Jane McCarry and Laurence Young gave some advice on planning your next skiing holiday. Their tips were:

the ski season
Season runs December - April. Most packages include ski lessons for all levels. Check that travel insurance is included in the price. Most ski resorts are devoted to skiing so if you want sightseeing etc then check your destination. In Andorra there is little else but skiing but in St Wolfgang, Austria there are operettas & markets and Innsbruck is 30 mins away.

Ski destinations
Austria - Innsbruck, Salzburg, Soll, Niderau & Kitzbuhel
(from €750 - €3,000)

France - Espace Killy, Val d'Isere, les trois valées, Savoy Alps, Chatel, Portes Du Soleil, Lyons & Geneva
(3-star from €450)

Italy - Dolomites, Livigno, Sauze d'Oulx
(good for intermediates & families, €500 - €700 range)

Switzerland - St Moritz, Davos/Klosters, Zermatt, Crans Montana, Saas Fee, Geneva & Berne
(attracts upmarket crowds, approx €750 per week minimum)

United States - New Hampshire & the Rockies (Aspen etc)
(approx €1,000 with flights but lots of other attractions too)

Europe - Bulgaria, Scandinavia, Slovenia are emerging markets

Finding snow
Global warming means that many resorts have had little or no snow over the past few years. Many have invested in artificial snow-making machines but, as a general guide, the higher the resort is geographically the better the snow & the longer it lasts.

Low Resorts - Kitzbuhel & Sallbach-Hinterglemm, Austria
Crans Montana, Switzerland

High Resorts - Pas de la Casa, Andorra
Tignes, France
Livigno, Italy

Ski fitness
Before going a reasonable level of fitness is required - start walking or using the gym and horse-riding gives you great balance. The fitter you are the fast you'll learn.
Choose a destination appropriate to your skill level. Ski passes can cost a lot so make sure they aren't restricted to slopes outside of your ability. Classes at resorts cater for all levels.
Skiing is a very physical activity so you will be tired at the end of the day. If you want to ski every day then don't overindulge at night in apres ski.

"Cold Rush" by Pól O'Conghaile / www.explore.ie