The Ski Blog

That was the month that was.....

So January has given way to February and the ski season is set to be one of the best ever! Whilst the snow came late - the first weekend in December was when most resorts in Europe saw their first big snowfalls - it came in abundance. Following a white Christmas and New Year, January provided massive snowstorms - including the big "snowmageddon" storm which trapped holidaymakers in Zermatt for a few days whilst roads were cleared and avalanche risk was at the maximum 5.

More snow during the month now means that resorts are boasting record snowfalls for this time of year. The Paradiski area were quick to point out in a recent press release that they have recorded the most January snow in the area since 1966 - and they're not the only ones!

February is starting with a very cold spell as Arctic air covers most of Europe. If you're heading out to the mountains this weekend make sure you have those thermal baselayers packed - and don't forget snoods, mitts, face masks even. Temperatures in most alpine resorts are going to plummet to around minus 20 at most and with wind chill it won't be unusual to have -35/-40 at the top.

At the moment the forecasts are not showing anymore snow on the horizon - at these temperatures it's probably too cold to snow! However the cold temperatures will keep the snow in excellent condition.

With snow depths over the 3 metre mark in most places - which for January is a fantastic amount - winter 2011-12 is shaping up to be tremendous - something we're all happy about, especially after Europe's drought of last year. So if you've not yet booked your ski or snowboard trip then get out there and enjoy it!

A very cold, but beautiful morning in the Alps - taken this morning in Flaine as the sun starts to come over the mountain and cut through the wispy early morning clouds.

In Tartiflette we Trust....

Tartiflette - one of those real wholesome alpine dishes. It up there with a cheese fondue as one of those ski holiday experiences not to miss. Just saying the name conjures up rustic alpine chalets, snowflakes falling, log fires crackling, genepi glasses chinking - get the picture?

If you're still to take your tartiflette baptism then we recommend you do so on your next ski holiday to France. Tartiflette is a hearty French peasant dish, originating in the Haute Savoie, but which has since certainly become more international.

It's main ingredients include potatoes and reblochon cheese - a rich creamy cheese first produced in the Alps of the Haute Savoie. The story goes that the alpine dairy farmers were taxed by the landowners on how much milk their herds produced. To reduce the size of the tax bill they would not fully milk their cows so the yield appeared smaller. The second milking, which they'd do after tax return day, produced a creamier, richer milk which was perfect for cheese production.

Over the years recipes for Tartiflette may have changed and become more anglicised, but whatever recipe you choose, you'll end up with a filling, comforting and delicious dish - perfect after a tough day outdoors!

We asked our Chalets Direct members to share their Tartiflette secrets - here's a couple of foolproof recipes to dazzle your friends and family:

From Claire of AktivExperience of Meribel:

"Fry off onions and lardons, layer sliced potato with the lardons pour over cream that has been heated through with crushed garlic, then top with a good cheese, (not rape emmental) try reblochon for a good cheese, it tastes great and cooks well. Then bake your tartiflette in the oven, we make individual ones so they are baked for about 25 mins. A large tartiflette will obviously take longer to bake."

You can sample Aktiv's Tartiflette at either of their two chalets - Chalet Himalaya or Chalet du Fruit.

Neil of Alpine Fanatic in Les Arcs sent us this:

"A foolproof though not strictly speaking traditional recipe from Ed at Alpine Fanatic.

First boil potatoes (ratte or charlotte are ideal.) Whilst potatoes are cooking fry off lardons, pancetta for preference, drain on kitchen towel. Sweat off some sliced shallots with crushed garlic,season carefully with salt, add a splash of white wine and reduce to a trickle.Add cream and a handful of grated gruyere, sprinkle in a little parmesan. Slice potatoes in half add to a saute pan pour over cheese/cream mixture sling in the lardons and some ground black pepper, stir, check consistency and seasoning, at this stage can add some roughly chopped flat leaf parsley if desired. Then transfer to a suitable baking dish top with thickly sliced reblechon and bake for approx 25-30 mins at 180C/ gas mark 4. Serve with green salad and hard liquor :) Always goes down a storm with our guests at Alpine Fanatic."

Find their tartiflette and more at Chalet Les Sapins in Nancroix, Les Arcs in Paradiski.

Do you have a great recipe for Tartiflette? Is there a special ingredient in your tartiflette which leaves the others behind? Let us know about it! Or if you have top recipes for ski and snowboard specialities why not post them on our Facebook wall at facebook.com/ChaletsDirect

Top Tips for Skiing in a White Out

After the one of the best starts to the ski season for several years, it looks like 2011 will be going out with a bang! Many alpine ski resorts are expecting something in the region of 80 - 110cms of snow over the next 3 days. There are already record snow depths, great conditions and snow cover even in lower resorts.

This all means that Europe is well and truly set up for this ski season!

If you're going to be skiing when the snow is falling and the fog is closing in around you take a look through our top tips for skiing when visibility is limited.

1. Wear goggles not glasses. Goggles really are the best kind of eyewear for white out conditions. If you really must wear glasses then look for glasses with interchangeable lenses. When skiing in heavy snowfall you will usually be experiencing "flat light" - this is when you can't make out any contours of the snow beneath you. Red, pink or orange/yellow tinted lenses will help.

2. Ski/board where there's trees. Skiing above approximately 1800-2000m (in Europe) means that you'll be skiing above the treeline. So there are fewer "landmarks" around to provide definition to your surroundings. Staying a bit lower, in and around tree-lined areas help to provide that definition so it will be easier to see where you're going.

3. Keep the piste markers in sight. If you're high up and in very thick fog it can be disorientating. Keeping sight of the piste markers at the edge of the piste will guide you. Piste markers on the right hand side of the piste have orange or yellow tips - whilst those on the opposite side are all one colour ie the colour of the piste; red, blue, green etc.

4. Do not venture off piste. It may be tempting when you know that there's untracked powder all around you, but as a general rule of thumb in poor visibility - stick to what you know. Foggy, white-out weather means you can't see holes, bumps, rocks, drop offs. Fresh snowfall can easily disguise hazards. If you don't know the area - and even if you think you do - stay on piste.

5. Buddy up. It's always best not to ski alone in extreme white out conditions - at the very least make sure you let people know where you're going.

There can be some great aspects to skiing in a white out. The first few piste runs are often the best of the day - a layer of fresh snow on top of a smoothly pisted run can be the closest thing to heaven on a foggy, snowy day. Get there before anyone else and you'll have had the best skiing of the day!

After that it's also a great opportunity to work on your technique and will provide challenges that you won't get on a sunny, blue sky day.

We all love fairweather skiing - but white out skiing and snowboarding is just as much part of the mountain experience. It's just Mother Nature reminding us who's boss!

 

Quick tips for Driving in Snowy Conditions

Ski resorts all over Europe are expecting their first big influx of holidaymakers over the next few days. At the same time they are also expecting massive snowfalls - around 40cms and more is forecast for many alpine resorts to fall in a short space of time.

If you're driving out to resort or are picking up a hire car at the airport then chances are that you could be required to stop and put on snowchains, so we've got together a few tips which will hopefully come in useful.

1. Firstly make sure you have chains/snow socks etc. If you're driving out to the Alps it is obligatory to have some kind of snow equipment available. If you're buying them for your own car check your manual so you know the tyre spec, if you're using a hire car make sure the rental company has provided them - check before booking and check again when you pick up the car.

2. Make sure you know how to fit them. It really makes sense to do a practice run at home on your driveway. There's few things worse than having to stop halfway up a mountain road as night is falling, trying to make sense of a flimsy paper instruction leaflet when the snow is coming down and said instruction leaflet is quickly disintegrating. Having a couple of dry runs, if you can, in more comfortable ambient temperatures in full daylight, with the prospect of popping inside for a cup of tea afterwards, can make all the difference.

If you're hiring a car at the airport it's worth opening up the chains before you set off and having a good look through so you're at least more familiar with them should the need arise to use them.

3. Dress for the occasion. If you're driving out from home it really makes sense to put an old jacket in the car - one that you don't mind getting dirty or wet. Putting snow chains on can be messy - so avoid wearing your brand new white ski jacket. It's also worth having something you can kneel on - again something old which you can put on the ground which will save your knees getting wet. If you're fly-driving then check the weather and road conditions before you fly so you can anticipate what to wear.

4. Know your car. This might seem obvious but, as seasoned mountain drivers will tell you, it's not unusual to see rear wheel drive cars with chains on the front and vice versa. So just make sure you know which set of wheels should be chained!

5. Other useful equipment to have in the car include a head-torch which frees up both hands so you can fit the chains and still see what you're doing. Fingerless or thin gloves will also be useful.

6. It's important to fit chains sooner rather than later. Don't wait until you're stuck as you'll have less room to manoeuvre. If you have standard summer tyres then it is highly likely that you will need chains on a snowy road. If you see snow on the road then start thinking about stopping to fit chains, as you gain in altitude the snow on the road will increase. If the road is clear then you don't need chains.

We've found a useful youTube video below - and there are lots more available - so spend sometime planning and researching.

If you are heading out this weekend we'd like to wish you a comfortable and safe journey - and it will be worth it when you get there!

Beginners Tips: essential equipment for your ski holiday!

Are you taking your first ski or snowboard holiday this winter? As well as the worry of finding skis, boards, lessons and accommodation, there are a few "accessories" which in fact can add an enormous amount to the enjoyment of your first time on snow.

The wonderful Francesca from ace chalet company Powder N Shine in the Three Valleys has written us this great piece with some excellent advice for the first timer about what not to leave behind.

"As anyone who has skied in their life knows, the first time can be extremely daunting – and that is before you even see any snow! Many first-time skiers are unsure of what essentials they will need to buy, beg, borrow or steal before making their way to the snowy mountains, so Powder N Shine have put together a list of basics to aid the novice skier before departure:

Ski jacket

These are very warm, but breathable jackets that often contain a number of pockets for things such as lift pass, iPod, wallet, snack bars etc. Classic makes are brands such as The North Face, Helly Hansen and Spyder, while at the trendier end of the spectrum you have the likes of Burton, Quiksilver (Roxy) and Oakley. Branded jackets can be as expensive as £400 (Snow & Rock is a good place to start), whilst budget brands such as Dare2Be (in TKMaxx or online) can start at just £35.

Ski pants

Made by the same manufacturers as jackets, ski pants are warm, but often zip-vented for comfort in warmer conditions. Again they often have multiple pockets for storage and are fully waterproofed. Prices are similar to jackets and of course, all the rage of late are the combined one-piece suits or “onesies” as an homage to the 1980s piste-style, though I wouldn’t recommend these for absolute beginners.

Ski gloves

Hands are one of the first places to feel the cold, and a good pair of gloves are essential. This needn’t mean breaking the bank, but the best gloves (or the even-warmer mittens) are fleece-lined and can cost in the region of £80-100 from the same sort of retailers as the above merchandise.

Thermals

Thermal base layers are definitely required when it is cold, but most people wear them all of the time on the slopes. You can buy lycra-style fitted base layers these days – known as compression garments (e.g. Nike Pro or Under Armour), whilst the older-fashioned undergarments are more cotton style thermals. For thermals, you should budget from around £30.

Thermal ski socks are also vital and can be snapped up for about £7 per pair.

Goggles (and/or sunglasses)

For novice skiers, goggles are a good way of protecting the eyes (a must) from the cold, the glare of the sun and wind. Virtually interchangeable with sunglasses, goggles are more compatible with helmets – which are essential for learning to ski, but can be hired for the week – but a pair of sunglasses is preferable at lunchtime. Goggles begin at around £20.

Layers

Many skiers like to wear around 4 layers, including the items mentioned above, so it is important to have enough clothes. A standard person might wear a thermal base layer, a t-shirt, then a fleece/hoodie and then their ski jacket. It is necessary, therefore, to bring a suitable number of each on a skiing holiday, for example one thermal layer, a number of t-shirts, one or two long-sleeved fleeces and a ski jacket. Thermals and ski pants usually suffice for the bottom half.

Scarf/Snood

In colder weather, the face can feel rather exposed, so it is a good idea to have a scarf or snood at the ready to keep your neck, chin and sometimes nose a bit toastier!

These are the basics of what you are likely to need. Once you have done a few weeks’ skiing, I would suggest the next thing to consider is buying your own ski boots as these are the most personal item of skiing equipment, and should be tailored to your own feet.

However, at first you should ensure you enjoy the sport and want to do it regularly before forking out £300+ on a pair of ski boots! Hire shops tend to have very up-to-date boots which are plenty good enough for you to get your ski legs and the same can be said for the equipment they stock. Only when you have truly caught the ski bug should you start to look at buying all the kit."

Thanks Francesca! Find out more about Powder N Shine's great catered chalets in Les Menuires.

Thanks also to Ski Bartlett for providing the images. If you're looking for gear, Ski Bartlett have an enormous selection of ski hardware and all the extras you may need. They can also give you extremely helpful advice whether you're a nervous beginner or a confident expert (the top GB racers are regular clients). They also provide a great range of services - such as the latest in custom boot fitting and top notch ski servicing,

 

 

Setting the Slopes alight - the Top Ten ski accessories for this Winter

Snow in the Alps, the Ski Show in London - the Relentless Freeze next week (more about that to come) - the ski and board world is just buzzing right now. It's now just weeks till Winter 2011-12 kicks off and we're jumping for joy!

So maybe you'd like to treat yourself to a few new gizmos and gadgets, or update that faded one piece for a fresher look? We asked Michael of great online store Simply Piste for his take on what's hot for this season!

"You may be wondering what to wear on the slopes this season, I know I am. As always the ski and snowboarding world gives brand designers the license to break the barriers of exuberance with some rather spectacular colours and radical techie integration systems. Here's what in our opinion are the best garments and gadgets to hit the slopes this season, including the much acclaimed Zeal goggles with head up display.

The Simply Piste Top 10

What do you call an Elephant on Ice Skates........? An Ice Breaker, and that’s where we’ll start.

10: Flexi-Chute Neck Gaiter

New from Icebreaker is their flexi chute neck gaiter. For those of you that find style a compromise of practicality, this is a lovely garment that allows you to keep warm whilst also looking on trend. It’s made with Bodyfit 200, so it’s perfect for the winter conditions on the mountain. We personally love the practicality of neck gaiters. They’re zero fuss and look great. 

 

9: E-Gloves

At number 9 we have a set of E-gloves. Not the newest gadget to hit the market. However e-gloves are a genius and practical piece of Kit. They’re invention cuts out the problem of answering phone calls whilst out on the slopes. This removed fuss allows the experience to become more comfortable, convenient and reduces the risk of dropping your device. They work on an array of touch screen devices, so if you’re lucky enough to have an ipod touch, ipad or a touch screen phone, e-gloves are worth considering when you need a new set of ski gloves. The North Face offer a good range of e-gloves, however if price is a factor, you may be willing to give F3 ski a go. 

 

8: Heli Pro Re Gen Backpack

Number 8 brings us to the Heli pro Re gen from Dakine, who have for an added benefit of public relations decided to manufacture this bag solely out of plastic bottles. So for the eco conscious out there this bag will go some way in giving you peace of mind, whilst also looking cool. The backpack has the same features as the Heli Pro 20 litre, including a ski and snowboard carry plus many pockets, including a goggle pouch and laptop sleeve. 

 

7: Giro Link Audio Drops

Powered by skull candy, Giro’s link audio drops are applied throughout the Giro ski and snowboarding audio range. They feature 40mm speakers that produce a crisp and clear treble with a deep and pokey bass. The system is easy to use, their speakers drop into the latest designed Giro ear pads, which be integrated into your helmet. The latest 2011 range can feature a Bluetooth link up, allowing you to answer your phone wirelessly.  If you have the pleasure of owning a Giro Helmet, please make sure it’s audio compatible before purchasing link audio drops.

 

6: Scott Zuri Jacket

One for the ladies out there, the Scott Zuri Jacket looks fantastic and has some cool features. It’s completely reversible, allowing you to alter the design of the jacket into a stylish puffy jacket, allowing you to mix up your look a bit. It also comes with an invisible chest pocket, fully taped seems, adjustable hood, hand warmer pockets and adjustable Velcro cuffs. Check out our Scott product video for more information.

 

5: Wesbeach Alibi Peacoat

The Westbeach Alibi Peacoat is a stylish alternative for this season. The jacket shares many of the same features as your standard jacket, however it’s smart and stylish appearance allows you to wear this whilst out on the slopes or stood in the local bar. It also boasts an impressive range of practical features, including pockets for lift passes, goggles, music and also hand warming.

 

4: Men's Root Jacket

The Mens root jacket by Eleven is a brilliant new snowboard jacket to hit the market this season.  Having looked at personally buying one for myself I found the jacket to be very comfortable but also has an amazingly simply design. I think the denim style is quite cutting edge whilst refreshingly pulling away from the everyday flashy design with exuberant colours. The jacket comes with a full list of features including, Insulated standard lining, single hand hood adjustment, climate control vents, stash pockets and EZ track zippers. 

 

3: The Dry Guy

The “dry guy”, I think this bit of kit is great. Priced at a very reasonable £50, these allow your trip to become all the more enjoyable and organised. The machine gently dries items placed upon it within an hour whilst also working to eliminate odours. The design allows you to dry up to four garments simultaneously and will not harm any liners or stitching. This unit gives you peace of mind and makes the next morning on the slopes that much more comfortable.  

 

2: HD Summit Video Goggles

The penultimate piece, the HD Summit video camera Goggles. For £250, these goggles are the toast of gadgets for ski geeks. Replacing the need for an external camera that attaches to your helmet, these goggles integrate the camera within the goggles, perfect for capturing POV action on the slopes in stunning 720p HD. Capture footage as your see and hear it, the ability to take snap shots and a no-wind noise mic adds to an already boastful spec. 

 

1: Zeal Optics GPS Goggles:

No surprises then. These amazing things have been around since last year but they still fascinate us here in the office, I’d absolutely love to get my hands on a pair. Prices in the UK starting at £399, the goggles featured a colour LCD display that is projected in the right side lens, showing real-time stats such as, speed, altitude, temperature and more. Questions have been posed at the designers of this gadget, about the safety issues. 

To clarify, the experience is likened to that of driving. The head up display is an estimated perception of 5 metres away and non invasive. Similar to driving and a dash board, you have the choice whether to look down to view your gages as and when you need to or feel is appropriate. The goggles are also USB compatible, and allow you to upload, share and compare stats. Finally a full integration with Google maps allows you to map out your journey on the slopes."

Thanks to Michael and the guys at Simply Piste - hopefully this little list will get you excited too. If you'd also like to see his "what's not hot" list take a look at their blog.

 

It's Ski Show Season!

As we get into the second half of October everything starts to hot up in the ski and snowboard world as the UK ski shows get underway. As every seasoned ski bum will tell you, that's when it starts to get really exciting.

The ski shows give you the chance to enjoy the buzz, you can hear all the gossip, see and touch the latest gear, find a job, discover holiday destinations you might never have considered, even try out the apres ski. There's also loads of entertainment such as live demos, bands, competitions, and the chance to see pro-riders and skiers go through their paces. There's lots of action and loads of fun. So here's a quick round up of the main shows.

Scotland's Ski & Snowboard Show - 15-16th Oct 2011, SECC Glasgow:

The Scots traditionally are the first to get their show on the road - maybe it's because they have their own mountains. This year's Show also gives you free entry to the Scottish Outdoors show which is taking place at the same time. Pre-booked tickets cost only £10 and will also get you a free day pass at one of Scotland's ski resorts. This year's attractions include a live freestyle show featuring some of the UK’s best free-style skiers and snowboarders. More info...

Ski & Snowboard Show, London - 19th-23rd Oct 2011, Earl's Court:

A new venue for the London show this year where you will find 160 ski resorts, 22 different retailers, a 50ft hip kicker, fashion show & brand arena, live music, 4 bars, 230 shops and stands plus loads more. Events over the 5 days include the 3 Valleys Cook Off - a competition to show off your culinary skills and maybe win a week's holiday in a gourmet chalet this winter. Judges include Michelin starred chefs from the 3 Valleys and Heston Blumenthal! Plus there's all the usual thrill and spills - freestylers, fashion shows, apres ski sessions and even petanque. Tickets start at £10 for adult weekday pre-booked entrance, discounts for students, kids and family entrance available.  More info...

The British Ski & Board Show, Birmingham - 28th-30th Oct 2011, NEC Birmingham:

Highlights of the Brum show include; Big Air freestyle and aerialist shows with international World-Cup and Olympic stars, tops tips from experts on ski fitness, ice climbing, cross country skiing courses, plus talks, films, offers, and lots of information and advice for beginners to experts. Adult entrance is just £6.50 on Friday and £10 on the weekend. Kids get in for £2.50! More info...

See what it's all about - highlights frm last year'sLondon show at Olympia!

The Importance of Good Ski Boots

Snow & Rock are holding a boot-fitting training session for their staff at their Manchester Chill Factore store on 21st September (more details at the end if you'd like to be a guinea pig).

It's a great idea but it also got us thinking about how important it is to get the right ski boots. Ski boots are what connect you to the ski - so get it right and you will feel in control and confident. Get it wrong and your dream of ripping up the slopes can very quickly turn into a nightmare.

If you're thinking of buying your first pair of ski boots, or are fed up with the pain and torture of rental boots, or if you just need to know how boots should feel, then these top tips should help you out!

1. Don't over estimate your skill level:
Most seasoned bootfitters will tell you that men will usually over-estimate their skill and experience, whilst women will tend to under-estimate how they ski. Whether in the rental shop or in the process of buying ski boots it's important to be honest about how well and how often you ski.

Less experienced skiers require softer shells (the outer casing of the boot) so they can flex the boot and get more feeling back from the ski itself. World cup racers will require extremely rigid shells to give them the control and precision they need when negotiating high speed turns through a race course. But put one in the other's boots and they'll have a miserable time.

Most good shops will have a chart/scale where you can identify your level so that the boot fitter will know which range of boots will suit you.

2. Don't choose by colour:
The last time I bought new boots I took my old boots into the shop, showed the boot fitter, told him what I skied and how much. He looked at my feet, asked me to flex forward from the heels. He then showed me just 2 models of boot that could be right for me.

There was no question of what colour I would like or what brand I wanted. The point is; how they look on the outside really bears no relation to how right they are for you.

Once a good boot fitter has determined your level he can then narrow it down, and by looking at your feet can work out the kind of boot that would work best for you. With his/her knowledge of brands they will know what boots will match your foot shape best - so if you like the silver Atomics but your feet are more suited to gold Salomons - that's what you should go for.

3. Be prepared to customise:
Getting the right make and model is only the first part of the process when you're buying boots. So your feet can fit into the shell ok but what about if you have long toes, higher arches, narrow heels etc? It's very rare with feet that one size will fit all. So this is where you will now start to customise your boot.

Modern ski boots will usually have mouldable inners - the softer padded inner part of the boot. This should fit snugly around your foot and calf. Don't be tempted to go for slipper-like comfort - your skiing will suffer.

Once you have decided upon the boot, the boot fitter will then begin the process of moulding the inner to your foot and calf. Something else to consider is getting customised footbeds - and whilst not obligatory this is highly recommended.

A customised footbed is a separate product to the boot - there are a number of brands available, Conformable possibly being one of the best known. The footbed is heated and then moulded to the sole of your foot. The footbed can add around £40 - £80 to the cost of your boots. They will last for years however, you can take them with you when you move up to your next pair of ski boots, so they are a great investment.

4. Don't rush it:
You might have guessed that with all this customisation going on you've got to allow the time to get it done.

If you're buying ski boots be prepared to take your time. Allow 2 hours plus and be patient. If you get the feeling that the bootfitter is trying to rush you then don't let them. There was a shop in Chamonix not so long ago who would offer their customers a beer whilst they were waiting for the inners and footbeds to be moulded - good practice but probably not practical for every boot shop!

5. Check the after sales service:
Check, before you make a purchase, that after having spent the time and money on your new boots that you can go back to them if something is wrong.

Good fitters will tell you to test out the boots at home, or if possible at a local dry slope or indoor snow centre. Wearing the boots on a warm weekend afternoon will be different to trying them out clipped into bindings where the temperature is considerably lower.

Walking around at home in your boots will give you an idea if there are pressure points or anywhere that is causing you pain. A good boot fitter will be confident that you are in the right boots but there may be minor adjustments they can make to make them fit better. It could be something very simple - reheating a footbed slightly to change the shape in one area, shaving a little bit of the footbed off under the toes, adding a little more padding at heel.

It will be rare that you'll have to start again from the beginning and experienced fitters will have little tricks of the trade which will make the fit more comfortable.

Of course if you're buying boots in resort you will be able to test them out on the slopes. Expect them to feel tighter to begin with but if you do experience pain don't be afraid to go back to the shop.

For more details of Snow & Rock's training afternoon for their boot fitters take a look at their Facebook page.

For more advice on choosing ski boots take a look at the following links:

Snow and Rock's Ski Boot Buying Guide

How to choose downhill ski boots from US outdoor store REI

Boots - how to find the best fit

Check out Graham Bell's tip for ski boots too;

 

Why a Christmas Ski Holiday is a Great Idea!

Chestnuts roasting, sleigh bells, snow glistening - you'll find all those traditional Christmas trimmings and more on a ski holiday!

With only four months to go before the first of the keen skiers heads out to get a taste of the white stuff, we take a look at the first of the popular holiday weeks – Christmas – and ask Heather from Ice and Fire about spending Christmas in the Alps.

What’s it like spending Christmas in a chalet?

Having the Christmas cake made, the turkey cooked and the washing up all done for you is probably the main reason why guests return to Christmas chalet holidays year after year. There is so much work involved in organising a family Christmas at home, but in a chalet all you have to do is sit back, relax, and enjoy yourselves.

Isn’t everything closed on Christmas day?

Everything that you’d normally use in a ski resort is open on Christmas day. Lifts, hire companies, mountain restaurants and ski schools operate as normal, albeit often with a Santa hat and a few carols!

I like to go to midnight mass - can I do that in a ski resort?

Most ski resort churches are open to visitors and are extremely welcoming but you should check with your chalet hosts before you go. Midnight mass is a popular service across France and it’s a great opportunity to sample a bit of real French life. Be prepared for a long service though – most Christmas services incorporate carols, nativity plays or sometimes even both.

What if the whole family doesn’t ski?

Christmas is a great time for non-skiers in the Alps with lots of things like Christmas markets and carol concerts as well as the skiing. Granny coming with you could be a win-win situation as she gets quality time with the kids, whilst you go up the hill!

My top tip if you’ve got non skiers would be to think carefully about what you are going to do on Christmas day before you go. If younger children are in crèche or ski school during the week, you might want to consider a family activity for Christmas day instead. You could book a husky ride or a snow shoe walk, have a snowman building competition or sledging races, or ski together as a family for the day.

What about packing all the presents?

Plan your present buying before you go as there often isn’t a great selection of shops in resort. Pick small, packable items and wrap them up before you travel so that no-one can take a sneaky peak! Once in resort pick up one or two ski themed items to bulk out the pile – sledges go down a treat especially if you can let the kids use them straight away!

Christmas falls on a weekend this year – will the travel be difficult?

No, most chalets are running an alternative schedule over the festive season. Typically you’ll arrive on the 19^th or 20^th and depart on the 26^th or 27^th.

Isn’t a Christmas ski holiday really expensive?

If you’re normally constrained to school holidays, I think that you’ll find Christmas prices a nice surprise cost wise as they usually work out as a cheaper alternative to New Year or Half Term. You get plenty included for your money too with many chalet companies like us also offering a whole selection of extras from decorated trees to complimentary champagne included in the price.

Ice and Fire are offering a £100 per person reduction on all their Christmas holidays – check out this offer at Chalet Campanules in La Plagne, Paradiski for more details.

 

Top tips for family ski holidays!

From the emails and enquiries we're getting, it looks like quite a few of you are looking at booking your family ski holiday for next winter. We've looked back at our archives and this blog might help! Some useful advice to make your family ski trip a success

Click the link for the full article: Top Tips for Family Ski Holidays