Ski break for new skiers

rebbypebby

Hi there,

Looking to book a short ski break over christmas for my hubby and I. Just europe and we are total beginners. Just a trial break, between christmas and new year?

Any advice appreciated...flying from north east UK if possible!

Thanks

CountryGoose

Leave it until the week before - wait to see what the weather is like. If there's been poor snow, go to the Canaries for the sun, or Manchester for the Chill Factore

If you're learning it doesn't really matter where you go as the first week will be spent on you @rse. You will get more out of your time if your spend some money on lessons at a dry or indoor slope in the UK.

My skiing wisdom:

In France Skiing is a sport - lots of runs, very fast, very athletic
In Italy Skiing is a passtime - wide runs, stylish turns, long lunch
In Austria Skiing is a party - Beer, Ski, Lunch, Beer, Ski, Beer........

Paul_the_Painter

If you do book in advance, bear in mind that you need to go HIGH! You are not going in peak season for conditions, but you are going in peak season for prices.

Some resorts will be on sale at very tempting prices, but you are by no means guaranteed snow that early in the season.

You want a resort with a glacier, and direct access to it!

The glacier itself is usually actually pretty tame compared to other areas of the mountain, but is guaranteed to have snow on it!

1st time Christmas - I'd go to Austria - They just do Christmas better

Be carefull of resorts that are "good for beginners" these are often at a very low altitude, and at that time of year there is no substitute for altitude!

Have you thought about having a couple of lessons at an indoor ski place or artificial slope? I would "invest" in a couple of 1 hour lessons (Xscape are running £10 lessons at the moment to celebrate 10th anniversary - no doubt with loads of restrictions!)

My advice to people considering any snowsport it to pay for a private lesson (just you and partner) before you go. You will learn a lot more, a lot more quickly than in a group. It is one of the few times when paying more costs less. You will learn more from a 1 hour private lesson than a whole day in a group.

When you get to the resort, join the beginner group, but you will not be "behind the group" and will be one of the better ones, you will therefore get a lot less tired, and have a lot more fun.

My personal opinion based on over 25 years on the snow, and teaching a good few people to snowboard.

Dave_Z

Not really feasible for a short break (unless you're rich perhaps), but i love to ski in Colorado. Perfect snow, quiet slopes, cheaper than many European destinations (once you're there of course) and i've never queued more than a couple of minutes for a lift there. I took my Wife in January for her first skiing trip. She'd had private lessons in the UK (at Snow Centre Hemel Hempstead) before we went so we could get straight on with things once we got there. As Paul above said, it is worth paying for private lessons. My Wife did a group lesson first but didn't get on well at all. Yet after a 60 minute private lesson she was making turns, controlling her speed well and was basically ready to tackle the bunny slopes. It's worth the money and if you have a couple before you go then you'll get much more out of your trip.

poe.tuesday

have a look at finland via inghams, they have short breaks too - their learn to ski package is good value and snow will be fine, just go as far north as poss, the only issue is that that time of year is the most expensive

kr15snw

Learn before you go!!

As an ex ski instructor I can promise you will literally spend 3 days on tiny nursery slopes and it will only be at the end of the week when you will be took on the slopes where you can turn etc. If you visit your local dry slope / snow dome get up to a level where they will let you ski on your own (turning and stopping happily). This way you can go on lessons that are a higher level and you'll be able to fully enjoy your trip

Where in the UK do you live?

Ski_Austria

Yes that's true, learning before you go is a must to get anything out of your trip!

Try Austria- much more affordable and friendly than the French Alps and great for beginners...Our favourite resort's Zell am See where there's usually good snow in December, especially on the glacier. Try searching a company called Sun and Ski Zell am See- we always book through them and they always give us good deals and advice. I'm going out there this year in mid December and it worked out really cheap, think accommodation was around £350 for the 5 of us and flights about £100 return each.
Have a good trip!