Ski Blog | Skiers - Advanced

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

So here we are in 2017!  

Lets hope that mother nature brings more snow for the rest of the season than she did at the start of this season!

What ever happens whether you are skiing, boarding, hiking, cross country skiing, sledging have fun but stay safe!

Make this the year you try something different - if you ski why not try snowboarding, if you're a snowboarder try skiing, learn to telemark, learn to cross country ski, go snow shoeing..... there are loads of things to do in the mountains that we tend to ignore in our rush to get up the hill and do what we always do!

Learning something new is a challenge and yes while frustrating at times it is also very rewarding, great fun and really worthwhile.

Why not look further afield than the usual known resorts - yes they offer great skiing but then so do a lot of smaller less know resorts as well and are often less crowded as well.

Whatever you do make sure you enjoy it, we don't have long here so lets make the most of the mountains!

When was the last time you did something new?  Why not make it this year?  

Have an amazing 2017, please do share your experiences with us.

If there’s not much snow you can always go for a walk!

Rich is in the Alps looking for things to do when there isn't much snow to ski on and went for a walk in the mountains! 

Extraordinary Piste Maintenance

I am always amazed at the lengths resorts go to to keep as much open as possible when there is little snow cover piste bashers, lorry loads of snow, helicoptors dropping it but I have never seen this before!  

So be assured most resorts do do as much as possible to keep as much open as they can! 

Great New Year Offers!

Rich reports from the Alps and has some great offers for New Year - check them out on the site here https://www.altitudeholidays.com/ski-deals.

There are loads of deals to be had from FREE champagne, HALF PRICE deals and rare New Year FLEXI BREAKS!  

Aware that there is limited skiing to be had he also has some ideas of things for you to try.  

Be one of the first to hear about our offers and deals by registering on the site here https://www.altitudeholidays.com/account/register

Surprisingly good snow in Flaine!

A couple of days on from a not very snowy Les Carroz Rich has gone up to Flaine to find out what the skiing is like there and has found some surprisngly good skiing! 

What’s the snow like in Les Carroz in December?

So what is the snow like in the Alps at the moment?  Here's Rich from a not so snowy Les Carroz on 18th December.

CAN YOU SKI ON YOUR BIRTHDAY?

I’ve always envied people who can ski on their birthday – I learnt to ski when I was 8 years old and yet have never been able to ski on my birthday. 

One of my sisters has a March birthday and has regularly skied on her birthday – including her 40th in Whistler!

My girlfriend only learnt to ski two years ago and has already skied on her birthday – celebrating in St Anton!

She did ski as well as apres!  

Me – I have a November birthday so it’s not as easy as it may sound. 

I mean it’s easy if your birthday is between December and April – the European and North American season are underway and you’ll have lots of opportunities.

If you have a summer or autumn birthday June to October and you’re prepared to travel you’ll find some options in Argentina, Chile or New Zealand and if you’re lucky Australia!

Even glacier skiing in somewhere like Tignes you could have skied from 2nd July to 28th August this year.

So it’s really only a couple of months that it gets a bit tricky! Yes I know a glacier will be open somewhere in Europe if I really wanted to but even Deux Alpes was closed on my birthday this year being open from 22nd October 2016 to 1st November 2016 and then again from 3rd December.

So this year after 30...er...ahem... something years I finally got to ski on my birthday!  I was on a road trip in the US and right at the end managed to get to Mammoth and get a days skiing in! With a visit to a ski outlet shop and hire kit I cobbled enough together to ski!

They only had about 6 lifts open and the conditions weren’t great and the lift pass still cost a whopping great full price 99US$!  Well unless it’s your birthday and they give you 50% off!

Nice birthday present and I SKIED ON MY BIRTHDAY!!  

So is November the worst birthday month to ski or are there other months that are as bad? 

Skimium, the exclusive ski hire partner of Altitude Holidays. Save over 50% off ski hire this winter

WHO ARE WE?

Skimium.com is a partner of Decathlon

The stores that are affiliated to skimium.com are independent stores located in the heart of the ski resorts. At these winter sports specialists, who all have a great reputation, you’ll find a wide range of the highest quality material that is available for either sale or rent. You can also find a variety of technical clothing and accessories and the men and machines that provide a highly professional workshop service. In the true mountain spirit, you’ll be looked after and advised by professionals that are passionate about their sport! 

skimium.com in a few words: it’s EASY, it’s the COMFORT of ordering from your own home and the BEST PRICE advantage through ordering on the internet (up to 20% discount off the public prices that are communicated in the stores), but it’s not only that...  

SKIMIUM IS EVEN MORE:

·       A wide selection of all the different categories of equipment in order to satisfy the requirements of all types of people, all types of ability and all types of desire.

·       An on-line Advice Guide enabling you to select the material that is the best suited to your ability, your desire and to what you want to do.

·       Only 25% deposit required, no administration fees.

·       Get the most of your skiing holiday with your family and friends with at least a further discount of 5% off the store prices for any reservation that includes at least 4 (or +) pairs of skis or snowboards.

·       Benefit from the Professional Advice to get the most out of your equipment.

·       A Commitment to guaranteeing your Safety, through our on-line advice service.

·       A Direct and Personal Contact with your rental store.

THE STORES THAT ARE AFFILIATED TO SKIMIUM.COM ARE COMMITTED TO:

Operating a Transparent Pricing Policy:

·       Benefit from the most advantageous prices by reserving on the internet

A Technical Charter:

·       A selection of the most reputable brands

·       Up to date material (no more than 3 seasons old)  

·       Equipment that is checked and prepared before each individual rental (sharpening, repairing of bases and waxing of boards; shoes are dried out and treated) 

·       The equipment is adjusted by professionals according to what you are going to do, your ability and your size  

A Customer Services Charter:

·       A friendly and personalised service 

·       Expert advice 

·       A product range dedicated to Women 

·       Your kids treated like little Champions 

·       Comfort for the duration of the rental period

HOW DOES IT WORK?

RESERVING YOUR SKI EQUIPMENT ON SKIMIUM.COM IS VERY EASY AND ONLY TAKES A FEW MINUTES: 

Today:

·       Select a skimium.com store in the resort where you will be heading to and indicate the date of your first skiing day along and for how many days you want to rent the equipment for.

·       Choose your material from a wide selection of skis, snowboards, shoes, boots and helmets.

·       You can consult our ‘How to choose the right equipment’ guides to help you find the material that is best adapted to your ability and to what you want to do.

·       Validate your selection and enter the personal details about yourself (height, weight, sizes...) and your preferences so that your material can be personalised just for you.

·       Confirm your reservation by paying a deposit of only 25 %. A confirmation email with the reservation form (with all the details concerning your order and other practical information) will be sent to you immediately.

·       Print and retain your reservation form and start getting ready for your holidays with peace of mind that your equipment will be waiting for you when you get there.

When you get there:

·       With your reservation form and a proof of identity, go along to the skimium.com store to settle the balance and collect your material that has already been prepared for you, once the adjustments have been checked.

·       Your skimium.com advisor will be extremely happy to welcome you and advise you on the use of your material.

·       Get your skis on and make the most of your holiday!

For further information, feel free to refer to our General Rental Conditions

Start saving now with Altitude Holidays and Skimium!

Is Chamonix the perfect ski town?

Chamonix has been synoymous with skiing and snowboarding since the early 1900's and the first ever Winter Olympics - held in Chamonix in 1924 - put it firmly on the map as a premier winter sports destination. More than 90 years on, it still has a place in most skiers 'top 10'. But unlike some of the other mega resorts, Chamonix has kept a charm and sense of history, not to mention more accommodation options than almost any other ski resort. ranging from small self catering apartments up to 5* hotels.

The reason for this is the unique layout of the town, the Chamonix Valley encompasses 16 little hamlets and villages with a variety of accommodation unmathced by most other ski areas.

Earlier this season we visited and stayed in Vallorcine, lying to the east of Chamonix town close to Switzerland, Vallorcine is a pretty hamlet with some excellent restaurants, and direct access to one of the main 5 Chamonix ski areas - Le Tour. Crucially there is also a train station with direct access to the town, so staying here and skiing the multiple Chamonix areas without a car is perfecrtly possible, though personally we enjoyed the flexibility of a rental car, and saved the train for one atmospheric ride to town.

We stayed at the 5* Vallorcine Residence and Spa. Perhaps a surprising find in a small hamlet, this impressive property combines apartment accommodation with a large spa complex with indoor pool, gym, massage and other spa services and a stunning ice rink lying in the brooding shadow of Le Tour. 

Although there is no restaurant on site there are several excellent options within a 5 minute walk. Breakfast can be DIY in your apartment with fresh bread and croissants from the excellent on site bakery, who also offer a good value breakfast buffet. An on site ski hire shop is well stocked and friendly staff will arrange liftpasses and anythng else you need.

Snow conditions were best described as 'variable' but one of the beauty's of Chamonix is even when there is a lack of snow the sheer size, variety and layout of the ski areas means good snow can always be found somewhere, and boredom is never an issue as each area has its own distinct character. We skiied Brevent and Les Grand Montets over a 3 night stay and despite sunny skies more in keeping with Easter than Christmas skiing, we still had a great time with a mix of cruising pistes and more challenging terrain. Chamonix has a reputation as an 'experts resort' but really that's due to the extensive off-piste, for which you must have a guide, rather than the variety or marked pistes which offer plenty of options for intermediates.

Go for a Ski Weekend and Save Your Holiday Days for a Summer Vacation

This is a guest blog by Mark Barber from Ski Weekends.

I hate February!  With Christmas decorations boxed up and packed away in my loft long ago and the New Year’s Day annual hangover being all but a distant and fading memory, the days are short, nights are long and it is cold!  Not that I have ever been a morning person, but getting up from my warm, snug, duvet for work in the midst of winter requires more will-power than bending spoons.

It is always at this time of year that I want to get away from it all and being a keen snowboarder, I have a yearning (or is it a spiritual calling?) for the mountains.  But, the problem is, and I am sure this is the same for the majority of people, my holiday days allowance from work are at a premium with spare ones rarer than magical Pixie gold dust, or silverware in the West Ham Trophy Room.

It goes without saying that the bulk of the allocation of days will be for the summer vacation with spare days needed for those unknown circumstances such as weddings, funerals and those excessively long stag/hen weekends in Las Vegas or Barcelona (what is wrong with a weekend in Bournemouth?).  With all this in mind, quite often a week skiing or snowboarding can seem like a luxury that your holiday days allowance will not permit.  Even the office king of taking ‘sickies’ could not hold off with pretending to have the flu all week, especially if calling from the airport with flight announcements being a complete giveaway.

But have you ever considered going skiing or snowboarding for a long weekend?  Although we do not have the ease of passage to the Alps that our continental friends enjoy, where all they need to do is throw their skis, snowboard, cheese and salami sandwiches, and a bottle of Red in the back of a car and head to the mountains, it is a lot easier than you probably realise!

With Geneva Airport your gateway to a white snowy paradise, the majority of French Alpine resorts are easily reachable.  For instance, the flight to Geneva from a London airport will only take about an hour and a half.  From Geneva, it is possible to be sipping a glass of wine while sitting in a hotel bar at the ski resort of Morzine, in just over an hour (I have tried and tested this theory with success!).

Morzine has grown in popularity over the years and, with its neighbouring ski resorts of Avoriaz and Les Gets, makes an ideal location for a ski weekend.  Quick and easy to get to, it is ideal for both skiers and snowboarders of all levels.  Morzine also has a lively après ski scene that is not as expensive and damaging on the wallet as some of its French cousins such as Val d’Isère.

Also, a hop, skip and jump away from Geneva are the two heavyweights of the Alps, The magnificent Three Valleys and Paradiski ski areas.  Paradiski is the joining of forces of Les Arcs and La Plagne by the giant Vanoise Express double-decker cable car.  Paradiski is vast and is mainly built up of purpose built ski in - ski out resorts that are well designed for skiing and very convenient.  For those in your group that would like to explore other activities, the new Mille 8 complex should keep them busy with toboggan runs, themed ski areas, cinema, restaurants and themed swimming areas.

One of the biggest ski areas in the world, the Three Valleys offers something for everyone of any ability.  The endless terrain of slopes would keep you busy for months, let alone just for a weekend!  An ideal base to explore the Three Valleys is the beautiful resort of Meribel.

If you do not fancy flying then a coach journey is an ideal budget friendly alternative as it will take you to the resort of Brides Les Bains, which is situated in a valley just under Meribel and only a chair lift away.

Not only is travelling by coach easy on the pockets and more environmentally friendly than flying, it will also give you more slope time because you travel and sleep through the night, picking up your ski lift pass when you arrive at the hotel early morning.

If you think coach journeys are like those old school trips with coaches that looked like they were designed by bored soviet engineers with dusty flowery patterned curtains across the windows, then think again.  Luxury coaches are comfortable, have on-board toilets and tea/coffee making facilities, and are an ideal way to travel and take the usual stress out of the journey - just sit back and relax!

For those who do choose to fly, the trip starts on a Thursday, returning on the Monday. Ideally designed to save the amount of work days you need to take off while maximising slope time.  Ski lift passes are pre-booked and handed out on arrival so you can catch that first ski lift in the morning, without the hassle of long queues to get your lift pass.

So here is the perfect scenario; don't worry about having to book a whole week off work to get your ‘ski’ or ‘snowboard’ fix out on the slopes.  Book a long weekend which will give you plenty of time to shake off those winter time blues and relax, take the stress out on the mountain and enjoy a touch of après ski.

Leaving you with enough guilt-free holiday day allowance to enjoy that summer vacation that you spend all year looking forward to.  Go soak up some sun and laze on a beach, go surfing, or go on an African Safari.  Whatever you do, enjoy yourself, knowing that by going on a ski weekend, you really can have the best of both worlds.

Mark Barber