Skiing in the Snow

Skiing in the snow is perhaps the world's favourite winter pastime, and can be both an exhilarating and challenging form of exercise, as well as a leisurely and extremely social activity. Available to all age groups, from toddlers to senior citizens, and welcoming all kinds of skiers, from those with special needs to the professional competitor, skiing in the snow offers a unique winter getaway that one can enjoy with friends and family alike.

 

The act of travelling on skis dates back hundreds of years, with skiing in the snow only becoming a recreational pastime and sport in the late 1800's. Skiing in the snow, and in particular alpine skiing, evolved from the original telemark and cross-country technique in Norway, using lifts at mountain resorts to carry skiers up slopes so they could slide down the hills time after time. Today skiing in the snow has progressed immensely to become a hugely successful winter sport, attracting millions of recreational skiers and prompting a wide range of international competitions all over the world. Skiing in the snow can mean a weekend or short break with friends for some fast-paced action, an annual week with the family to a familiar Alpine town or a leisurely week or 10 days venturing further afield, to the US or Canada, and exploring a new part of the world. A holiday spent skiing in the snow can be based in a range of towns and resorts, from authentic mountain villages with plenty of alpine charm, to purpose-built centres high up the mountains, offering optimum skiing conditions and the most convenient accommodation. For many, skiing in the snow is about more than the runs and trails, and also features essential socialising and apres ski fun, and plenty of winter entertainment and activities such as snow-mobiling, sledding or ice-skating.     

 

For a holiday spent skiing in the snow, there are a host of varied and diverse resorts available, with some of the most famous winter ski centres based in the European Alps, and most easily accessible from a range of regional airports in the UK. Resorts such as Val d'Isere, Meribel and Chamonix in France, Verbier in Switzerland, and Kitzbuhel in Austria are some of the most popular places for skiing in the snow, with long-haul resorts such as Vail in Colorado and Whistler in Canada offering some of the best conditions in the world. Skiing in the snow is accessible for all budgets, with basic resorts in Andorra, Italy and Bulgaria being favourites for low-cost value holidays, and glamorous destinations such as Gstaad, St. Moritz and Aspen all known for their luxury hotels, elegant restaurants and high prices.