Ski Blog | Skiers - Beginners

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.

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

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·       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:

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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

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Where’s the snow?

Are you panicking yet?  Have you got a Christmas ski holiday or New Year ski trip booked and been scared by the media that you won’t have any snow when you go skiing?

Yes it’s the usual annual media free for all - writing scare stories, overhyping, sensationalising and making things up!  Really? The press do that? Surely not I hear you say!  Afraid so I say!

It seems to happen every year – either at the beginning of December or nearer Christmas depending on what they have to fill up their grubby pages with.

Right now if you believe the press you’d think it was a disaster but there are loads of resorts opening early.  How does that work then?

It will snow – it always does.  It’s just a case of when does it arrive? Sometimes it comes early and sometimes later – last year for example Christmas skiing wasn’t great but over one weekend it dumped and New Year week was powder snow heaven!

Not so great if you were out at Christmas of course but the panic and concern for New Year skiers was gone overnight – well unless you were stuck in a snowy traffic jam for 12 hours!  You can’t win can you?

Anyway we can’t control it and if you skied at a certain time last season it doesn’t mean that the weather and snow will be equally good or bad at the same time this season!

Yes I do really get phone calls asking to go the second week in March as last year the snow was…… anyway that’s a different story!

Whenever and wherever you go we hope you get a load of snow!  

And if you don’t then remember you are on holiday and get out and explore the resort and fill your days with all of those off slope activities you keep meaning to do every year but never do because you don’t want to miss a days skiing. Enjoy! 

The Do’s and Don’ts Of Skiing For Beginners

This is a guest blog by Amber Kingsley.

Amber is a freelance writer for RedSeven and loves sharing her tips for winter destinations. As an avid skier and snowboarder herself, she knows how intimidating that first ride can be but hopes these tips will encourage other wanna-be snow bunnies to give the slopes a try.

Nothing can ruin the perfect winter holiday by skipping out on the slopes. If you’re just starting out and you’re intimidated by the eight year olds dashing by you on their miniature skis like there’s no tomorrow, don’t worry.  There are a few tips you should look into before your first (or second) lesson, just to know what to expect and what you can do to make things easier for you so you can enjoy the snow covered mountains of your favorite winter destinations.

DO: Bend those ankles

As a beginner, bending your knees is the golden rule. But what they’re not telling you is that you’re not actually bending your knees per se, but your ankles. The knees follow along and this gives you a good stance. What it does is get your shanks to slide to the front of your boots, which in turn will make you have a better control over whatever you’re doing (we won’t call it skiing just yet). Bending your ankles also makes your whole body absorb shocks (like bumpy terrain) Check that your heel is sitting comfortably in your heel cap to make sure you’re doing it right.

DON’T: Lean forward

This is a general advice plenty of instructors tend to give, but if you’re smart you’ll aim to be central and avoid leaning forward. This way, you’ll be able to use the entire ski and turning will be a lot more precise. Leaning forward is a very imprecise suggestion anyway and what you should get out if it is the need to vertically align your body over your hips and over your feet. Stand up straight and see how that modifies your stance. You’re not going jet-fast, like pro skiers who actually need extreme body bending!

DO: Wear the right gear

Wearing jeans make you look silly. Wearing jeans also makes you never want to go skiing again, so try and avoid going to your first lesson in your regular clothes. Falling will be on the agenda for your first lessons, so you and the snow will get acquainted quite well and, if you’re not wearing special clothing, your encounter will get a little too intimate. If you don’t have a good pair of boots, snow pants and a warm jacket, you might as well just watch the sports channel at home. All of these items are usually rentable in resorts, so there’s no excuse to go unprepared.

DON’T: Learn from your friends

A good idea when you’re new to skiing is getting an instructor. With a teacher, you’re on neutral ground. The rules are unspoken and set because of the formal relationship you both know you have. Skiing is difficult and can get frustrating at first, so learning from someone close to you might turn into a disaster. If that someone is your lover or your spouse, you run the risk of directing the whole anger towards them and quitting the whole thing sooner than you should. Even if your friend is a professional skier, you’re still on safer ground with someone you’re not familiar with.

DO: Look forward

A long time ago, when you started riding a bike, you were told not to look at the wheel because, guess what, you were at risk of falling. Skiing is the same. When you look at the tips of your skis you lose focus and you end up missing obstacles or losing your direction. Look at least ten feet away to make sure you can anticipate whatever might come at you (or whatever you might ski into).

DON’T: Be a couch potato

If you’ve booked a two week skiing trip in advance and all you can do before you get there is google weather conditions and buy gear online, you might also mentally prepare yourself for a physical shock. Ok, you might be an athlete or you might work out three time per week. If that’s the case, there’s nothing to worry about, google away.

But if that’s not you, you might be faced with a problem when you reach the slope. Skiing is really challenging for your body and it will drain you (in the best way possible, really) of your energy. Getting your body in shape before the whole ordeal will make sure your muscles won’t protest on your second day of skiing.

Finally, take a moment to breathe and don’t worry about how bad your first lessons are. Hint: they’re all bad. Nobody is graceful on his first day. We all looked like idiots in the beginning. But the feeling you get when you look over the white slope with confidence, without worrying you might fall or hit something, is hard to compare to anything else.

On a Ski & Snowboard Holiday in Morzine

This is a guest blog from Anna Casswell who loves going on ski & snowboard holidays to Morzine - here's why...

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I love Morzine for two main reasons – The Stash and The Mutzig!

The Stash in Avoriaz is a fun snow playground with natural wooden features.  You can ride down through the trees and discover the rainbow logs, picnic tables, wooden benches and walls, look out for Shreddie the big wooden stash monkey. There are different routes with different hits, and it’s much less scary than going in the Parks with the big boys and the loud music and the hard metal boxes and rails!

Mutzig is the infamous lager that is served in several places, but the best place of all has to be Bar Robinson. No English Seasonaires serving here, Robbos is run by 3 old French locals and it closes at 8pm so you must go straight from the slopes, enjoy 3 or 4 glasses (any more and you might regret it) and have fun staggering back to the chalet in time for dinner remembering to pick up your board/skis on the way out.

I love getting tipsy whilst still in my snowboard gear, sobering up over dinner, getting to bed before midnight (I am nearly 40) and getting up bright and early with no hangover, ready to hit the Stash again.

When not skiing, boarding and er.....drinking Anna helps run Plumb Solar who are experts in the installation of, servicing and repair of Solar Thermal Systems - helping keep your energy bills down & slowing the global warming so we can all go on ski and snowboard holidays for longer!  

Debunking 11 Skiing Myths!

This is a guest blog by Sara from New Generation Ski & Snowboard School

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Whether you're a beginner or have skied for years it's hard to know if what you're doing is right, with so much contrasting advice out there. Especially, as what we know to be correct now, is very different from what was advised back when skinny skis were the norm. So if, like me, your legs appear to be tied together, or you're wondering whether you really should be leaning back off piste, here are a few ski myths demystified by one of our Courchevel instructors.

Bend the knees – MYTH!

Actually you need to bend the ankles. If you bend your knees then you sit back and will be out of balance. The flex should actually start from the ankle which means your hips and knees will follow and you'll stay centred

Lean forward – MYTH!

Try to avoid leaning forward. Instead, aim to be central. This is so you can use the whole of the ski from tip to toe, and your pivot point for initiating the turn is right under your foot.

Ski boots should hurt – MYTH!

Ski boots are not meant to be tight or uncomfortable. They should be well fitted. No movement in your foot, but you should be able to wiggle your toes.

Wear thick ski socks to keep your feet warm – MYTH! 

Wearing thin, non-cotton socks will give you a better feel for your boot and ski. Wearing two pairs, or socks to thick, will make you hot and sweaty, and then as you cool down will make you cold.

I'm too old / young to ski – MYTH! - probably not! It doesn't matter if you are three or 83. While learning to ski might be tiring, if you are physically active in everyday life, then you should be able to learn to ski. It’s like riding a bike.

I must ski with my feet as close together as possible – MYTH!

Having a wide, shoulder-width stance keeps you balanced and centred.

I need to dig my edges in when it's icy – MYTH!

Actually, you need less edge and more balance.

It's safe to ski off piste if there are tracks to follow – MYTH!

You don't know how experienced those skiers or boarders are, or what equipment they had. You might even be following parapent tracks! It’s best not to take that risk.

I have an airbag and transceiver. I am safe to go off piste – MYTH!

Unless you know the area and all your party have experience and training on how to use the equipment then you could be at risk. If in doubt, go with a guide or instructor.

When skiing off piste you should always lean back – MYTH!

You should try to maintain a centred balance to manipulate the skis under your feet. If you bring your skis closer together, bounce more and stay centred you’ll feel the joy of skiing powder.

I can ski black runs and fast so I don't need lessons – MYTH! Actually skiing in control and rate of descent is the challenging part. We can help you explore the mountain safely and improve your technique.

Hopefully that has cleared up some of those nagging questions you’ve always pondered as you your mind wanders on that cold chair lift. If you’ve got any other myths you’d like debunking then drop us a line to info@skinewgen.com and we’ll get one of our instructor team on the case. 

The Ski Season That Doesn’t Want To End!

Wow what a season that was!  Well when I say was perhaps I should be saying is, as it isn’t really over if you look at the snow that is still around!

Ok it is over in terms of the majority of the resorts now being closed but there is still a load of snow and if you are into your hiking and touring this will be a great touring season – take care of avalanches etc though as when things warm up it can be dangerous out there!

A was very luck to get a lot of skiing in this year and had trips to the Alps in December / January a couple of weeks in February and then again in March/April and each time I was there it snowed!

If you haven’t seen our YouTube channel then head over here and have a look at some of the videos that we put together. You can see snow reports and some skiing videos that we put together.

Everywhere we went there was great snow and tales of great skiing! 

We were lucky to visit Le Grand Massif (Flaine, Les Carroz, Samoens & Morillon), Avoriaz and Morzine, Verbier, Megeve, Chamonix, Courchevel and La Rosiere through the season.

The best skiing we had was probably in February – watch it here and see me nearly ski into a tree!

So now the resorts are all winding up and we have a summer to endure before the winter comes back!  Don’t worry we’ll make the most of it and enjoy the sunshine and maybe get a bit jealous of the powder days in New Zealand and other southern hemisphere resorts!

When is too late too late to take a ski holiday?

‘Isn’t that too late?’ I am often asked when I suggest looking at a March or April ski holiday. For some reason most people seem to think that the ski season finishes at the end of March and that is it for another winter. And some people seem to think that all the snow melts in February!

Most resorts this season do not shut up shop until around April 21st and some even later than that!  I have seen many a season end with the lifts closing while there is still some great skiing to be had.  Seems such a waste! I've had several powder days in March and even April! 

March can be a great time to ski as can April!  You have got the snow base down already so there is plenty of snow to ski on and the days are longer and often warmer, it is the perfect time to enjoy a bit of sunshine and longer days.  You may not know but a lot of resorts put the closing times of their lifts back half an hour or an hour as the season progresses so you literally do have more time to ski!

That said why not make the most of it and have a long leisurely lunch in the sun or an après ski beer on the terrace of a bar and soak up the rays?  Can’t do that because it’s snowing? Oh well more snow to play in – definitely not too late to ski then!  

There can be some great deals around at this time of year as well for March and April holidays.   Check out our Ski Deals page for all the latest bargains – you won’t regret it!

14th February - Snow Report from Le Grand Massif

Wow! The snow has been amazing!

I have been lucky enough to be staying in Les Carroz for the last couple of weeks and it has barely stopped snowing!

Half Term is next week and there are still some February Half Term deals available - take a look at our Ski Deals page to find out more and click here for specific half term ski deals.

There is 4.5 meters of snow at the top of Flaine and this is pretty much the same across the Alps.  I have been to visit chalet owners in Morzine and Verbier in the last week or so and they are all reporting exactly the same!

We made a video of us having some fun in the powder last week - if you haven't seen it then do take a look at it here and you can see how much snow there has been!

It really is turning into an epic season!  The snow keeps falling and whenever you have booked a holiday you should be up for some great skiing!  If you haven't booked yet then keep an eye on our ski deals page for some great offers!

Watch a video of our latet snow report here...