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Taking Kids Skiing? Mind the Goggle Gap
Just launched in the US, the Goggle Gap Project is an intiative designed to raise awareness of the problem of Goggle Gap amongst kids, pre-teens and parents. It's focus is on ensuring that your child's helmet and goggle system fits correctly and so erases the gap – any skin exposed on the forehead making it susceptible to wind/sun burn or frost bite.Whilst it's not yet in Europe, it's certainly something for all parents to be aware of.
When a helmet and goggle system doesn’t fit well together, it can leave a portion of the forehead exposed creating Goggle Gap. The space on your forehead, or Goggle Gap, can be left completely bare due to a poor-fitting helmet and goggle system, becoming severely sun or wind burned or exposed to frostbite on cold days.
“Like with any sport, there are many details to consider when purchasing ski and snowboard gear, the Goggle Gap Project is just another way that equipment manufacturers and specialty retail stores are collaborating to educate parents, teens and really everyone on the importance of proper fitting snow sports headgear,” says David Ingemie, president of SnowSports Industries America.
For a proper fit, the brim of the helmet should be flush with the top of the goggles. Any space larger than 1/4 inch means your helmet and goggle setup does not fit properly, 1/4 inch or more is probably acceptable only if the liner materials of the goggle and helmet cover all skin areas.
“With so many choices in goggles and helmets – there’s really no reason not to have a system that works great and looks great as well,” added Ingemie.
To fix the dreaded Goggle Gap, consumers can find information on helmet/goggle proper fit in the KidZone section of SIA’s consumer website Snowlink.com.
So whilst the campaign probably won't extend to Europe, we thought it was a useful point for parents to be aware of – especially if you're taking the family skiing at Christmas when there's less sunshine, it's cold and nursery slopes can often be in the shadows in lower parts of resorts.
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Meribel She Rides Freesessions – bigger and better for 2014!
Photo by Dan ReesBack in 2011 a group of seasonnaires in Meribel got together to create the first She Rides event. Their aim was to build confidence amongst female skiers and boarders and to provide coaching in park technique – so that girls could enjoy and be part of it as much as the boys. For the 2013-14 season She Rides is still going strong and promises to be bigger and better than ever.Here, Claire of AktivExperience in Meribel gives us a bit of the history of She Rides and tells us what's new for 2014.
"The ethos of She Rides is to encourage female skiers and snowboarders to enjoy the mountains, gain experience, confidence and have fun on the hill no matter what your standard.
She Rides Freesessions was born out of a love of riding the mountains & parks of Meribel. Fed up of feeling the parks were dominated by the guys, it was time to encourage, instruct and build confidence in the female seasonaires to hit the parks.
She Rides Freesessions was founded in Meribel in 2011, when the first She Rides day was held in the Moon Park of Meribel, a girls-only shred day. It was aimed at seasonaires from Meribel and beyond with local snowboard school Cab9 taking on the coaching and judging of the competition. The day included tuition to gain confidence and new skills then after lunch a bit of a comp to show off those skills and pick up some swag!
Since 2011 the day has returned in 2012 & 13, and with each passing year it is growing in size, popularity and reputation. 2014 will see the She Rides come back bigger and better, not just one day in March but there will be several half days for the female seasonaires to pop along to and try out something new."
This year AktivExperience are hosting their first ever She Rides Freesessions week, where girls who can`t make a season can still enjoy the whole She Rides experience, with the aim being to improve riding skills and have fun.
This unique camp for women takes place during the week of the big She Rides day (16-23rd March), so guests are entered free into the comp with a chance to win some amazing prizes (last year there were boards, boots, bindings, clothing plus more to give away). For more details on what's included take a look at their Chalet du Fruit – a great setting for a week of fun and the opportunity to learn new skills with like-minded females.
For more information about She Rides take a look at their Facebook page and for more information about AktivExperience see their website!
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The Quiet Times to Ski in the USA
More top tips from Helen of Chalets USA about skiing Stateside. If you're thinking of taking the plunge and crossing the pond to ski here's some really good advice about when to book and when it's best to avoid – it's a bit different from Europe!
When is the quietest time to ski in Colorado USA ski resorts?I’m often asked when is the best time to ski in Colorado, USA?
Lots of things factor into this of course snow conditions, pricing, but also when the slopes are least crowded. It’s quite different from skiing in the Alps in many ways, so here are some key things to know when considering what time of year to come skiing in the USA.Christmas / New Year:
Of course Christmas and New Year are busy times wherever you decide to ski, but there are some dates quieter than other within these times.
If you can come pre-Christmas and enjoy all the build-up you’ll find quieter slopes & cheaper rates. If you do need to include Christmas Day in your holiday, take as many days before Christmas as possible. Rates are highest from 26 Dec and that’s when many Americans take their Christmas breaks, so avoid those days if you can. Christmas Day itself can be a really magical time to ski, especially if you are up early and can get out on the slopes before everyone else. You’ll sometimes see Santa Claus skiing around and Christmas morning is relatively quiet, as many people are unwrapping Christmas gifts and enjoying a leisurely breakfast.
Bank holidays In the USA:
There are 2 bank holidays in ski season, which Europe doesn’t have: Martin Luther King and President’s weekends. This is a popular time for Americans to take time off, as they don’t have many vacation days and they use these long weekends as holiday time, perfect for skiing in the middle of Winter.
The Saturday and Sunday tend to be busy with the crowds tailing off on Monday as people travel home. Martin Luther King weekend is normally around 20 January and Presidents’ weekend around 17 February.
UK February half term / Australian January Summer holidays:
Apart from the President’s bank holiday weekend, the Americans don’t have any school holidays in February like the Brits do or in January as the Australians do, so these months are a good time for skiers to make their way to the USA. Especially if you’re a family travelling with children and need to keep to school holidays, it can be a real advantage to ski in the US over Feb half term without having to worry about crowded slopes.
Spring break:
So the time the Americans do have school holidays during ski season is in the last 3 weeks of March, when the “Spring breakers” are out in force!
The states and colleges normally pick one week out of those last 3 weeks for their vacation time, so at least the skiers & boarders are spread out rather than being all in one week. The ski resorts are definitely busier during these weeks and prices a little steeper.
Easter:
If Easter falls in April instead of March, coinciding with Spring break above, Easter can be a really lovely time to ski. The weather is warmer and the ski runs pretty empty. Again the Americans do not take school holidays for Easter, not even a long weekend, so it’s another good time to come skiing.
Rates really fall in April, roughly 25% from March and they can be as much as half the prices over Christmas, so you get good value for money.
Weekdays and weekends:
So Saturday can be a quiet day to ski in Europe as many tour companies use Saturday as their changeover day. It’s quite a different story in Colorado. Denver is a major city, within 2 hours drive of most of the big Colorado resorts, so there are a lot of “weekend warriors” who make the trip up to the mountains each weekend. Saturday is definitely the busiest day and then things slow down by Sunday afternoon, when people have to start making the trek in the traffic back down to the city.
This does mean that during the week the resorts are pretty quiet on the whole. So if you’re staying for a long trip, ski during the week and perhaps take your rest day on a Saturday and enjoy some of the other activities the ski resorts have to offer – snow-tubing, sleigh rides, snowmobiling or resting up with a good book in front of the fire!
I hope this gives you some good ideas when planning your next ski trip to the USA. Happy Skiing!
Chalets USA offers ski holidays in the top Colorado ski resorts such as Vail, Aspen, Breckenridge and Beaver Creek.
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Ski Holidays – Saturday or Sunday travel. Which is best?
Tim of The Tasty Ski Company offers his tips and advice for the best day to start your ski holiday!Should I travel on Saturday or Sunday?
Travelling to and from a ski resort is never a great deal of fun. Whether it be a 14 hour drive straight from home or the slightly quicker car-train-plane-bus route, the journey is very much a means to an end. It doesn’t help that skiing is one of the least practical sports in the world, with most of your luggage allowance taken up by long-johns and fancy dress outfits.
One of the most important decisions you make is whether you decide to travel on a Saturday or a Sunday. Traveling on a Sunday used to be the reserve of luxury ski chalet companies looking to set themselves apart from the pack. However, many holiday providers have cottoned on to this and now there is a genuine choice between the two transfer days.
Here are a few things to look out for:Sunday Travel
Traveling is unquestionably less busy on a Sunday. This is particularly true on the final ascent into resort. It is difficult to widen a road that is perched on the side of a mountain, so traveling at peak times on a Saturday is only going to get worse.
Because most people are traveling on a Saturday the slopes are likely to be less busy on that day for people traveling on a Sunday. Beware of a false economy in certain resorts – destinations that are popular with locals are likely to be just as busy on both Saturday and Sunday.
Empty slopes also mean smaller queues for ski hire and lift passes. If you arrive on the Saturday chances are you will be buying these things on the Sunday morning. Queues will be smaller on the Monday morning for Sunday arrivals.
Saturday Travel
The majority of ski accommodation providers still operate on a Saturday to Saturday changeover so there are more accommodation options for this option. It can be frustrating to find your dream chalet only to find they insist on a Sunday changeover. Most accommodation providers will not be flexible.
Returning on a Saturday gives holidaymakers a day off on the Sunday before heading back to work on a Monday. This is also an important point to consider for families with children in school.
Thanks Tim for the pros and cons. The Tasty Ski Company operates luxury chalets in the Grand Massif and the Portes du Soleil.
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Time to get fit for skiing – useful handbook helps you get the best from exercise.
It's that time of year. You are thinking about your ski holiday, browsing the web and shops for the latest gear and grabbing moments of ski instruction clips on Youtube.
How’s your fitness? Do you need to get down to the gym? Dust off those running shoes? Lose a few pounds? How do you get really ski fit and reduce your risk of injury?
A book out by David Murrie, an expert skier and lecturer in Biomechanics, makes a very interesting read.David has coached many professional athletes at elite and Olympic level. His main point is that for exercise to be most effective it has to simulate the actual movements of the activity itself. You might be thinking you are getting fit but actually you are just getting better at whatever activity you are doing.
Dave focuses on the skier's knees and back, statistically the most vulnerable parts of the body, which can prevent skiers making the most of their ski holiday. He gives examples of exercises that should be done to enhance your ski experience and reduce injury risk. His key emphasis is on accuracy and the need to recognise when you are balanced whilst doing the exercises. Performing exercises just for exercise sake is far less effective than doing accurate well balanced sport-specific movements. Recognition of when you are balanced and how that feels is a vital part of that process.
Other chapters cover altitude, muscle soreness and recovery and are both educational and practical. Next time you are exercising for your ski holiday wouldn’t it be great to know you are doing it correctly and in the most accurate way possible?
Do not be put off that the book is published under the Ski Instructors Handbook series. There is a tremendous amount of knowledge a recreational skier can pick up, which if implemented will improve your ski fitness and allow you to have more fun on that mountain.
His book can be purchased on Amazon.
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Christmas Skiing in Colorado
Another great and informative blog from Helen of Chalets USA. Here she explains what you can look forward to if you decide to take the plunge and do Xmas skiing Stateside!
What happens at Christmas & New Year in Colorado USA ski resorts?
Christmas is truly a special time of year, particularly for families with children, who have anticipated this day for days, weeks or even months. New Year is naturally a great time to celebrate and welcome in the New Year with style. Experiencing these festivities in a stunning mountain setting makes memories that can last a life time for immediate family, extended family and friends alike.
The ski resorts love having visitors at this magical time of year and work hard to make sure their guests have a wonderful time and want to come back year after year.
Here are some of the events you can expect if you decide to spend Christmas or New Year in the Colorado ski resorts, USA:PRE-CHRISTMAS
A tree lighting ceremony kicks off the festive season in many ski resorts including Vail and Breckenridge & tends to take place early to mid Dec, completed with hot cocoa and carolers.From then on the ski resorts burst with action: Vail hands out candy cane at its base areas and show movies suitable for all the family. Family Christmas themed activities occur in both Lionshead & Vail Villages including concerts and the famous Winter Solstice on Ice” ice skating show.
Beaver Creek has “Winterfest” which lasts until New Year’s Day and you can help Santa out in his cottage, create your own personalized elf hat and gawp at the characters meandering around Beaver Creek base village. There are also ice skating shows, a skate night for teens, kids games for all ages & winter wonderland parades.
In Aspen visiting Father Christmases real live reindeer can be a highlight of your trip, plus you’ll listen to Christmas carolers & can decorate cookies.CHRISTMAS EVE
Most ski resorts have evening celebrations leading up to the big day for all the family, so you can keep the kids occupied.Winter Park ski resort for example has Santa strolling around the Village and sometimes even on skis and you can pat his reindeer.
The Christmas Eve party is fabulous for families. Pop home and put your warm evening gear on and comfortable boots & then go to the bottom of the mountain to check out the dancing Christmas trees and Christmas Carollers around the bonfire. Before long the torchlit descent will begin with the ski patrol and ski instructors skiing or boarding down the main slope Hughes, with their flaming torches. Santa can usually be seen coming down the mountain too, complete with his sleigh. The finale is the dancing snowcats lit up with fairy light how march down the slopes, do some twirls before slowly disappearing.CHRISTMAS DAY
Christmas morning can be a fantastic time to ski if you happen to be up early or the kids have woken you up! Slopes are relatively un-crowded until lunchtime while others are opening their gifts. Or perhaps you prefer to relax over breakfast or brunch and then stroll around the resort at your leisure.You may see Father Christmas on skis on Christmas Day, so watch out for the traditional red & white suit.
NEW YEAR'S EVE
New Year’s parties abound in the ski resort of Colorado.Aspen has legendary parties & nightlife all year but for New Year’s Eve they pull out all the stops & the bubbly is free flowing. Pick one of Aspen’s many restaurants – there are many to choose from, both fine dining and the more affordable. Then head to see the fireworks from the park in the centre of Aspen. This family friendly event has a bonfire to keep you warm & DJ to keep you entertained. A little later check out one of the many hot spots in Aspen – Belly Up nightclub for live music, Eric’s often has a DJ and the Regal Watering Hole has a New Year’s Eve gala and dancing.
Vail is another focal point for New Year’s Eve celebrations and this year the Dobson Ice arena will be transformed into Vail’s largest nightclub. Celebrations at midnight include champagne, traditional ball drop & confetti snowstorm.
Has that whetted your appetite? Chalets USA can organise your holiday in top Colorado resorts, including Breckenridge, Vail and Aspen – check them out on Chalets Direct !
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The best ski resorts in Colorado
Thinking of trying the USA for your next wintersports break? Helen of Chalets USA has provided a useful lowdown on the top Colorado resorts to help you decide where to go.
Which is the best ski resort in Colorado?
As I live in Colorado and spent quite a bit of time skiing the various ski resorts, people often ask me which is the best ski resort in Colorado?
Well I certainly have my favourites, but of course the answer is it depends on what you like…
Here are some key points about the flavour of each ski resort & the skiing so you can choose which might suit you best:Breckenridge Ski Resort
Breckenridge is a picturesque Victorian mountain town with Main Street lined with boutique shops, independent coffee shops, bars & restaurants.
The resort is well known for its nightlife & offers a range of restaurants from affordable to fine dining of every genre.
Everything is close together in Breckenridge & you can walk nearly everywhere or take the free shuttle if it’s chilly or uphill!
- The slopes, lifts & ski school at Peak 9 come right down into town just by Main Street.
- The gondola runs from the centre of town up to Peak & 7 and onto Peak 8.
- Peak 7 has mostly cruisy blue runs, perfect for intermediates.
- Peak 8 has a newly built base area & is home to a variety of green, blue & black runs.
- Peak 9 has some good beginner runs, plus other terrain.
- Peak 10 has some fantastic tree & mogul skiing.
- The Imperial Superchair is the highest chairlift in North America and accesses some fantastic black diamond and double black runs.
- Peak 6 is being opened this year with new runs & 2 new lifts.
See Breckenridge ski accommodation on Chalets Direct.
Vail Ski Resort
Designed in an alpine style Vail has 2 main pedestrian base villages “Vail Village” & “Lionshead Village” with gondolas rising up from each. The pedestrian villages have a large variety of shops (including the obligatory fur coats), restaurants & bars to stroll around, plus ice rink & fountains, although Vail village is livelier at night.- Golden Peak base area is 5-7 minute’s walk from Vail Village and is home to the main children’s ski school (there is ski school in Lionshead too).
- There is also some accommodation in East Vail, a less expensive residential area about 15 mins bus ride from the slopes. West Vail also has some larger homes.
- Vail is the largest single resort in the USA and is famous for its 7 legendary back bowls with fantastic powder after a snowstorm. There is so much terrain though in Vail it takes a while to cover it all and mid-Vail is an area which shouldn’t be overlooked.
See Vail ski accommodation on Chalets Direct.
Aspen / Snowmass Ski Resort
Aspen / Snowmass is known as the “power of 4” and consists of the 4 mountains of Aspen, Snowmass, Buttermilk & Aspen Highlands, all interconnected by bus.All 4 resorts are on the same lift pass and Aspen being Aspen you can even arrange for your skis to be transferred to a different mountain for the next day's skiing so they're ready & waiting for you.
Aspen town itself is well known for its sophisticated, lively & varied nightlife and has a plethora of restaurants, bars, designer shops, art galleries to choose from, plus an ice skating rink & even a rugby field right in the middle.
- The rich & famous often frequent Aspen, so people watching is a sport in itself here.
- Aspen mountain has a gondola from the middle of town and consists of blue runs and above but is not really for beginners.
- Snowmass has the most skiing of the 4 areas, but is a little quieter especially at night.
- Snowmass is great for families with its new ski school & childcare centre “The Treehouse” & has tons of ski in, ski out accommodation, making getting to the skiing very convenient.
- Snowmass is a huge ski area, covering every type of terrain. It even has a people mover lift which the locals call the “skittles” to take you from the base area to the mall area part way up the mountain
- Buttermilk is the beginner mountain and home to the X-games, Aspen Highland has advanced & expert including hike to terrain.
See Aspen accommodation on Chalets Direct.
Beaver Creek Ski Resort
"Not exactly roughing it” is their slogan and that pretty much says it all. Guests skiing in Beaver Creek are spoilt by the escalators taking you up to the slopes so you don’t have to walk up the steps, the chaps unloading your skis from the ski bus and the complimentary freshly baked cookies at 3pm each afternoon.On the same lift pass as Vail, Beaver Creek is only about 20 minutes away and has a quiet sophistication. It is slightly more reserved than the flashier Vail. It is home to the rich & famous and ex-presidents and celebrities have their homes here.
- Beaver Creek Village is compact and designed around the ice rink and has a high standard of restaurants, boutique shops, galleries & bars.
- It has some good ski in, ski out accommodation including The Osprey, Beaver Creek, which is the closest hotel to a chairlift in North America.
- Bachelor Gulch is the second base area at Beaver Creek with the Ritz Carlton Hotel and its outdoor pool at the bottom of the slopes & other ski in, ski out accommodation.
- The third area of Beaver Creek ski resort is Arrowhead. The town of Avon 10 minutes outside Beaver Creek has more affordable accommodation and has a gondola which goes up to Beaver Creek Landing, from where skiers can take another lift to access the Beaver Creek ski area.
- Beaver Creek seems to groom its intermediate slopes non-stop, plus is host to the “Birds of Prey” world cup race, which is skiable but not for the faint-hearted!
Steamboat Springs Ski Resort
The historic town of Steamboat is about 10 minutes drive from the main ski area. The town has a western feel to it with shops selling cowboy boots & hats, amongst the sophisticated restaurants. The strawberry hot springs are natural mineral springs, just a few minute’s drive from Steamboat and are a must after some strenuous skiing.- The ski area has 6 peaks of world class skiing, including some fantastic glade skiing.
- Steamboat coined the name “Champagne powder” and is incredible on a powder day
- The base of the ski area is developing more and more each year and there is now the main area around the gondola and Ski Times Square just a little further along.
- There are some top notch ski in, ski out places to stay at the base with every amenity you could imagine.
- Steamboat is pretty family friendly & offers free children’s lift passes with an adult pass, a nice touch.
Winter Park Ski Resort
Winter Park is a down to earth town, more low key than many of the other ski resorts and thus good value for money. They say that the only time you see a fur coat in Winter Park is when it’s on the animals!The town is where most of the shops, bars & restaurants are, set along its main street and has quieter nightlife, some late night bars, but no clubs as such. The base area is about 10 minutes drive or bus from town and is the closest resort to Denver.
Winter Park Resort is known as Colorado’s favourite, is where many Coloradans learnt to ski and is still very popular with local residents
- A skiers mountain Winter Park has the most consistent snow year after year, 30 feet or so.
- Winter Park Resort consists of the main base area at Winter Park with its beginner area, intermediate & advanced runs, Mary Jane, famous for its epic moguls, Vasquez Ridge a quieter area, with blue & black runs, Parsenn Bowl, above treeline with intermediate & advanced skiing & the Cirque for expert skiers. If you're into tree skiing, there is some fantastic natural, gladed terrain on Eagle Wind.
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Summer in the Mountains!
Has the heatwave broken where you are – or are you getting tired of the hot, sticky UK summer? It's not too late to grab a summer break in the mountains and sample some fresh alpine air.
The mountains come alive in the summer months with a massive choice of things to do. Road or mountain biking and hiking are all popular past times – with most resorts offering trails and routes for all levels. It's also a great place for triathlon training – altitude forces your body to work harder. But if you're not a top end athlete, and have no intention of becoming one, there are still lots of things to see and do. Hire a car and explore some of the most spectacular scenery you will ever come across – mountain passes that may be closed in winter are easy to navigate in the summer months. Some great roads to try are the both the Great and the Little St Bernard Passes.
The Great St Bernard crosses the Valais alps between Martigny in Switzerland and Aosta in Italy and is the third highest road pass in Switzerland. The Little St Bernard pass connects France to Italy, from Bourg St Maurice, ascending through La Rosiere and coming down into the Aosta Valley – it's a route that's been featured a few times in the Tour de France.
The Alps are also home to some of the most beautiful historic towns in Europe; Annecy, known as the Venice of the Alps in France; Innsbruck, capital of the Tyrol, Chamonix, of course, at the foot of Mont Blanc.
If you want to stay put there's usually enough going on to entertain you – choose a base such as Morzine and a lot of facilities such as the swimming pool, are included in one pass which is a very small fraction of the price of a winter lift pass.
For some of the best ideas of tthings to do and places to see this summer take a look at our range of summer offers available here!
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Great forecasts for Easter Skiing!
As the holiday rush begins it's looking like most places in Europe will be having a chilly, wet Easter. Not so great if you're going to the Lake District but excellent if you're heading to the mountains.
Snow is forecast for most resorts across Europe for the weekend, providing a good top up to the already generous snow depths we have. Late season snow can be quite different to the early season variety – a bit wetter and heavier generally, and doesn't hang around for as long on roads and warmer slopes.
Next week's forecasts look as though the weathermen could be hedging their bets a bit – a mix of snowy showers, sunshine and cloud. It does appear that temperatures will gradually be creeping up towards the end of the week – so there is a chance that you'll return with those fashionable tell-tale ski and snowboard holiday tans. Check out the forecasts on Netweather or Meteoblue.
We've said it before but this season has been a record – it feels like the snow hasn't let up that much since early December and as we head towards April, conditions are exceptional. There are still very few rocks to be seen, and snow depths are extremely healthy. On a ski trip to the Portes du Soleil this week, CD staffers were amazed that even in late March the run down to the bottom of the cable car at Les Prodains in Morzine was still perfectly fine and skiable, albeit a bit slushy in the late afternoon sun.
So next week could be a bit of a mixed bag – a bit of this…
and a bit of this…
Either way it looks like this year's spring skiing will be truly exceptional. There are some amazing deals to be had for now to the end of the season – take a look the Last Minute offers.
Happy Easter!
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Can ski holidays seriously damage your relationship?
Happy Valentine’s Day! Remember this post from 2009 – just a word of caution if you’re surprising your loved one with a ski holiday!It’s Valentine’s Day tomorrow. There’ll be lots of cards, flowers, chocolates, romantic gestures – and maybe a promise or two that you will have your first ski holiday together.
