Skiing on the cheap and skiing links
Skiing and walking are two activities that I love to do. They both combine often spectacular scenery and marvelous perspectives with fresh air, sunshine, good company and a physical challenge.
Keeping Costs Down
Skiing, of course, is often considered to be a very expensive sport but it need not be ridiculously so. Here are some ideas for keeping the costs down:
- If it's your first time, borrow clothing rather than buying it
- If you are buying clothing, try to buy at the end of the previous ski season when there will be lots of bargains
- First timers should head for cheaper (often smaller) resorts but look out for begginers slopes fairly high up with easy access from cable cars/gondola's this should help you with better quality snow. Andorra can be very cheap for a European resort and has good skiing for beginners
- Larger groups will normally end up with cheaper holidays. Look out for self catering chalets
- Go by coach rather than flying. It will probably save you about UKP100 each and you may even get an extra days skiing in as well (if the coach travels overnight).
Skiing Links
If you are interested in skiing and want to enjoy Christian surroundings on your holiday, there are a number of organisations that run Christian based skiing trips through the season. I can especially recommend Gold Hill Skiing for its friendly, family based, organisation. I have skied and helped lead with GHS for over 10 years now and always enjoyed it. Why not get in touch with them (and let them know you found out about them from this site).
Here are a few skiing links that I've used in the past, please let me know of any good ones
Snowsport Scotland (used to be the Scottish National Ski Council)
Run the excellent Alpine Ski Leader courses, an excellent introduction to ski group leadership and instruction. Holding an ASL certificate provides professional indemnity insurance for anyone leading ski groups anywhere in the world. It also allows exemption from the Snowsport England Club Instructor certificate
British Association of Ski Instructors (BASI)
The main professional body for skiing in the UK.
Snowsport England (used to be the English National Ski Council)
Run certification schemes for dry slope instructors.
Some Skiing Key resorts
See the section called "Ski Locations" for more information about ski areas I have been to.
You should be aware that pretty much all ski resorts around the world now have web sites. Many have current weather and snow reports and even web cams so you can see what is happening right now!
Latest Snow Conditions
Many of these pages are only available during the ski season. Unfortunately, their transient nature means that they sometimes disappear or change locations, let me know if there is a dead link here.
Great Outdoors Snow Reports (USA)
Swiss reports (including Saas-Fee)
Skiing and walking are two activities that I love to do. They both combine often spectacular scenery and marvelous perspectives with fresh air, sunshine, good company and a physical challenge.
Skiing, of course, is often considered to be a very expensive sport but it need not be ridiculously so. Here are some ideas for keeping the costs down:
- If it's your first time, borrow clothing rather than buying it
- If you are buying clothing, try to buy at the end of the previous ski season when there will be lots of bargains
- First timers should head for cheaper (often smaller) resorts but look out for begginers slopes fairly high up with easy access from cable cars/gondola's this should help you with better quality snow. Andorra can be very cheap for a European resort and has good skiing for beginners
- Larger groups will normally end up with cheaper holidays. Look out for self catering chalets
- Go by coach rather than flying. It will probably save you about UKP100 each and you may even get an extra days skiing in as well (if the coach travels overnight).
Skiing Links
If you are interested in skiing and want to enjoy Christian surroundings on your holiday, there are a number of organisations that run Christian based skiing trips through the season. I can especially recommend Gold Hill Skiing for its friendly, family based, organisation. I have skied and helped lead with GHS for over 10 years now and always enjoyed it. Why not get in touch with them (and let them know you found out about them from this site).
Here are a few skiing links that I've used in the past, please let me know of any good ones
Snowsport Scotland (used to be the Scottish National Ski Council)
Run the excellent Alpine Ski Leader courses, an excellent introduction to ski group leadership and instruction. Holding an ASL certificate provides professional indemnity insurance for anyone leading ski groups anywhere in the world. It also allows exemption from the Snowsport England Club Instructor certificate
British Association of Ski Instructors (BASI)
The main professional body for skiing in the UK.
Snowsport England (used to be the English National Ski Council)
Run certification schemes for dry slope instructors.
Some Skiing Key resorts
You should be aware that pretty much all ski resorts around the world now have web sites. Many have current weather and snow reports and even web cams so you can see what is happening right now!
USA, Heavenly / Kirkwood / Squaw Valley
Heavenly is right on the California/Nevada border in the USA. This is a great resort that I can highly recommend. I went there at the beginning of March 1998.
Great skiing, great views (mountains, lake and desert!), good instructors and mountain hosts. The ski pass covers half a dozen resorts including Kirkwood and Squaw Valley which are also excellent resorts. Each of the resorts has a different flavour & there is good skiing for everyone.
Main downside is that you really need a car (don't forget snow chains either!)
Switzerland, Flims/Laax
This is one that I'm really reluctent to share (up to May 2003 at least) because it is the relatively unknown gem of Switzerland. It has a series of bowls where you can often ski pretty much anywhere, much more like the USA. Great resort and it is only an hours drive from Zürich.
By the way, many people think that Switzerland is very expensive - it's not! It is generally no more expensive that skiing in France and though the ski areas may not be quite as large, they tend not to suffer from the terrible queues that France does. Even when you are in a queue, it is a rather more genial affair with much less pushing and shoving. Oh, and by the way, the petrol is still cheaper than the UK (up to 2003 at least when I last updated this).
Switzerland, Wengen, Lautterbrunen, Grindlewald and Mürren
This is probably the oldest ski resort in Europe. Started in Victorian times as a trendy place to be seen, it still occupies that place for many Brits.
It has a friendly, family atmosphere and is fairly laid back.
It is good for intermediates but not so good for absolute beginners or Pro's.
It tends to suffer from a relative lack of snow sometimes as it is sandwitched between other mountain ranges. None the less, it is my favorite resort for all round enjoyment with some of the best scenery anywhere.
Switzerland, Four Valleys
If you want to sample a big resort but don't like the crowds, this one is for you.
Switzerland, Crans Montana
Nice resort with some great skiing and at least one wonderfully long red run.
Sadly, the slope is south facing so gets a bit too much sun.
Switzerland, Saas Fee
Guaranteed snow! Sadly, also guaranteed to be freezing cold as the best part of the resort is on a glacier which tops out at over 3,000m (over 10,000ft).
Skiing can be rather limited.
Latest Snow Conditions
Many of these pages are only available during the ski season. Unfortunately, their transient nature means that they sometimes disappear or change locations, let me know if there is a dead link here.
Great Outdoors Snow Reports (USA)
Swiss reports (including Saas-Fee)
