Where will you ski next season?

pandora205

:snow_laug

I know it's early but I've got the bug! And it would give time to save up as my tastes aren't very MSE!

I went on a Warren Smith ski clinic at Milton Keynes SnoDome yesterday and it was sooooo good, I'm looking at one of their weeks in Verbier. Anyone skied there?

Has anyone else starting thinking about the slopes yet and if so where?

:cool:

missyg_3

Great post!

I'm always thinking about the slopes Haven't booked anything for next season yet but Norway is my preference at the moment. I haven't been to Verbier.

What did you do at the ski clinic? Would you recommend it? I'm about an hour from MK.

Coolhandluke

I was in Verbier for a week in January and a guy in the chalet was on the Warren Smith course for that week,he said it was tough going with no hanging about but felt they should have concentrated a little bit more on the instruction side of things.They even skiied the day we had a dump of snow and it was a complete white out:eek:

PS.I felt Verbier over rates itself,not just as good as it makes itself out to be.

poe.tuesday

I will be in Yllas in northern finland (in the artic circle) for new year, love it there

pandora205

Fantastic to have these responses thanks! I love talking (well typing!) about skiing.

The Warren Smith Clinic at MK was a three hour course. There were about 7 of us in the group with one of the two instructors. I've skied quite a bit so wasn't sure about doing this at all. (I was only there as I'd bought my daughter the session for her birthday and she wanted me to do it too.)

We worked on turns for very steep slopes or moguls - i.e. doing this in control rather than survival skiing, which was very useful though really needs a steeper slope than MK to try it out. We also worked on carving at speed, interestingly by leading with the downhill thigh/knee after releasing the edge of the uphill ski. It sounded unlikely as a technique but worked a treat. Everyone's skiing improved noticably and the lower group moved from ploughing to parallels. I'd definitely recommend it and it was great as the slope was empty! My daughter is now investigating ways of funding a place on their gap year instructor training!

I am sure that the Warren Smith courses in Verbier would be very intensive with no hanging around. There is a lot of info on their website and ljournalists' (and other) reviews elsewhere on the net, which are very interesting. I don't think this would be the course for someone looking for a relaxing week away!

Verbier appeals to me even if it is rather expensive. It's obviously quite a big village (now) so chalet location must be important. I would definitely need to save up as Switzerland isn't cheap at the best of times and Verbier looks more expensive than many resorts. I do like traditional resorts though, for all their inconvenience..... I see that Easyjet are to release their flights for next season sometime at the beginning of June so better keep my eye open for these, not least as I'll be booking for Easter which is always popular/expensive.

Now Norway and Finland do sound different...... I've not tried Scandinavia (yet). I'm trying to avoid going back to old favourites as there are so many places to ski!

tomstickland

I'm a fan of France for skiing.
This year I went to the PDS (Portes Du Soleil) area.
Next year I'm considering Les Arcs.

I visited Verbier in the summer and didn't think much of it.

littlestar1981

I've never skiied before... starting lessons next weekend :rotfl:

OH has done it several years ago and really wants to get into it, he's already been collecting skiing brochures for new year!! So wondered if anyone had recommendations for beginners... and I mean beginners.... though would learn here, not on holiday.

pandora205

tomstickland wrote: »

I'm a fan of France for skiing.
This year I went to the PDS (Portes Du Soleil) area.
Next year I'm considering Les Arcs.

I visited Verbier in the summer and didn't think much of it.

I love the Portes du Soleil - it is so varied. I've skied there twice, staying at Morgins and Chatel. Again my preference is for traditional villages (to stay) though the skiing is good around Avoriaz. I did Les Arcs many years ago when I was on my second week and before it was interlinked. I'd like to go back sometime.

pandora205

Hi Littlestar - you'll love skiing (most people do) and you are doing the right thing by taking lessons first in the UK. Are you learning on 'snow' or on 'plastic'? Both are useful but a dry slope is harder.

My advice would be to take care in choosing where you go - you most definitely do not want to go to Verbier! There are two main types of resort suited to beginners, and a few are both. There are the purpose build convenient resorts where there is little walking or need for ski buses and there are the traditional villages and towns, which can be quite spread out. You would think the purpose built resorts are best but this is not always the case. Some of the traditional resorts in Austria (for example) are lovely to stay in, especially for apres ski, and the instruction there is usually very good (and for four hours per day).

It's a good idea to do your homework and read up on resorts. If your OH has skied quite a bit beware of being persuaded to ski somewhere not so suitable for beginners. And of course your budget matters too. My first holiday was in Borovets in Bulgaria which was very cheap and cheerful. Here are some suggestions:

http://www.igluski.com/which_ski_resort_beginners.cfm
http://www.guardian.co.uk/travel/2007/nov/19/skiing.top10

I haven't skied in USA or Canada and I think that would be very expensive for a first holiday, though those who have been rave about the resorts and tuition.

Finally, there are various types of accommodation. Personally I wouldn't go with a big tour operator now and have taken to arranging my own trip as it works out much cheaper. My preference is to stay in a catered chalet, where breakfast, afternoon tea, dinner and wine are provided in the cost, as it usually works out good value and is a very sociable way to meet people.

exprog

I've skiied in Verbier a couple of times. I was also underwhelmed. Nothing wrong with it, but nothing to enchant.

If the purpose of the trip is to do a course it doesn't much matter where you go and Verbier will be fine so long as the course is geared to your current standard.

For absolute beginners Andorra is not a bad choice.

poe.tuesday

pandora205 - I have only ever skiied in Finland so I don't know what it compairs to with other resorts, I think that most skiiers don't like it there as the highest peak is only 718 meters so it does not give the same type of challenge as in other higher resorts, the snow however is something else and the season is long, most years the slopes are still open at the end of april.

when we were there in feb we met another couple who said that the snow was better than that in canada!

The other thing about Finland is the other activities, snowmoibles, huskies and reindeer trips, ice fishing and driving etc, they also have these little huts around the slopes where people stop and cook their lunch over the open fires and just generally socialise

it's a really wonderful all round experience and I would say for beginners, it is ideal and the Fins are a lovely (if somewhat abrupt) nation