For many people the après ski bar is as important a feature of their ski holiday as the skiing itself.
Snow Party by Charlie Adam
It's traditional, it prolongs the feelgood effects of the physical exercise, it's a reward after a day in the great outdoors. It's getting together with like-minded people with whom you really have something in common, it's powder discussions and piste talks, it's like walking into your local, where everyone remembers you and says hello. It's meeting and making new friends, it's an exercise in pulling power but there's no shame if you crash and burn.
It's a key ingredient for a memorable holiday - years afterwards ski areas may blur into one great mountain panorama, but that time you danced on the tables in ski boots will stand out as a massive fun-filled frivolous highlight.
Obviously apres ski bars will vary across national borders but from Courchevel to Colorado the main elements will be the same. And those elements will be the same if you're 25 or 65 - it's just the proportions that will change.
The key ingredients that will get punters strolling in at 4pm and rolling out at 8pm or later are service, value and music. A simple formula which works time and time again. Adding in extras like mountain views can help but are not essential - since ski resorts began some of the most memorable bars have mushroomed in basement, windowless venues - which are cheaper to lease but require more imagination to establish the ambiance.
Friendly service is essential - at the risk of sounding controversial this is possibly why the Austrians are generally much better at apres ski than the French. We need smiling faces who are happy to have our business and will not look down on us if we are not the best skiers on the mountain. We also need the service to be good.
Value for money is important - it means people will buy 2, 3 or even more rounds rather than have one drink and walk out - a killer for any apres ski atmosphere! Value doesn't always mean the cheapest prices - and canny bar owners have already worked this out. Get the mixture right and people will want to stay, and it won't matter if prices are slightly more than the empty bar down the road. Happy Hours, ski videos, the weekly race sponsored by the bar - all these elements give people another reason to walk in and hang out.
Music - a very subjective area, but crucial when it comes to creating an atmosphere. The success of scores of apres bars has been based on the quality of their music. Many bars will have resident bands - cool ski bums with guitars who can knock out popular tunes that everyone can sing along to. Music doesn't always need to be familiar - the Austrians (again) have made it cool to like oompah bands - at least after a few steins of beer with schnapps chasers. This is possibly another area where the French are at a disadvantage - Edith Piaf and the greatest hits of Jacques Brel will never be great background music.
A great apres ski bar will not make up for lack of snow, terrible accommodation, or splitting up with your girlfriend because she can get downhill faster than you, however the apres ski experience can certainly be the cherry on the top - and make a good ski holiday a truly great one.
