How to make this ski season the best ever
We skiers are a resilient bunch. Following the Brexit referendum last year, the pound plummeted in value against the Euro, US and Canadian dollars; snow mostly didn't arrive until after Christmas in Europe; and then conditions were hit and miss in many resorts. Yet we remained undaunted and continued to head off to the slopes in similar numbers to the year before.
According to a large recent survey of skiers by the Ski Club of Great Britain, this wasn’t a last hurrah before an impending sense of doom. Far from it – the Consumer Research Report reveals that 97 per cent of people who skied last winter said they were likely to return to the slopes this winter. This is borne out by figures showing strong early bookings among tour operators, not just in the high-demand periods of Easter and half term but also in the low-season month of January.
Many resorts are investing heavily to keep us enticed and offer us an ever better winter experience. Last season, Brit favourite St Anton opened a lift connection to neighbouring Lech, and Val d’Isère created a new beginner area with dedicated lifts and a slopeside restaurant.
Developments continue apace for next season. Highlights include new lifts in the Swiss resort of Andermatt linking to the Sedrun ski area, a record-breaking cable car to the Zugspitze glacier from the valley floor, and a 10-year redevelopment plan in the heart of Val d’Isère. A clutch of hotels are due to open, including the first Four Seasons in the Alps (in Megève), the first Hyatt (in La Rosière), and a new Club Med in Samoëns. New flight routes will make the mountains more accessible with airline Powdair operating to Sion, Norwegian flying to Denver, and new BA flights from Manchester to Salzburg and Chambéry.
So there’s plenty to look forward to in the coming season. Now we just need to pray for snow.
How to make this the best season ever
1. Get fit and scrub up on your technique
We’ve all been there – the panic of the first morning of a ski holiday when you realise all you’ve done to prepare is a couple of stretches before bed the week before, a few frantic gym sessions, and some failed attempts to refresh your technique knowledge by flicking through YouTube on your commute. There are plenty of opportunities to avoid the pitfalls this season and make a change.
The best autumn ski skills courses
Why not book yourself on to an autumn technique course, either in the mountains or in the UK? A number of reputable ski schools organise these to avoid those first morning nerves and get you off to a flying start on your holiday. The Warren Smith Ski Academy is taking it one step further this October with its Technique Lab Tour, coming to stores across the UK. Looking at more than just your technique, these seminars also cover physiology and biomechanics – you’re bound to go home with a few new exercises to add to your nightly routine.
Talking of exercise, get a few sessions in when you can. Whether it's on your mountain bike at the weekends, taking the stairs instead of the lift, or following a series of ski-specific fitness videos in your front room, it’ll help prevent the exhaustion felt after just one day back on the mountain.
If that all sounds a bit too much, then nothing beats booking a lift pass for your local slope, dusting off your skis or board and hitting the snow for a couple of hours. Not only will this boost your confidence ahead of your holiday, it’s also a great workout for the whole family and a fun way to spend a chilly autumn afternoon.
2. Book early for the busiest weeks
With sterling’s tailspin threatening to spell disaster for the ski season recently, skiers and snowboarder are being encouraged to book early for the best prices and to make the most of incentives currently being advertised by some operators. This is sound advice, especially for those who want to head to the mountains during the busy weeks of the season – book now and pay as much as possible upfront and in sterling.
If you are planning to wait until the snow falls to book a last-minute trip, bear in mind – due to the timing of Christmas and Easter this year – that there will be fewer weeks when it's considered to be mid or low season. For that reason, it’s likely that there will be more pressure on bookings during the off-peak weeks and potentially fewer late deals. It’s still a good option if you have the flexibility, but it’s advisable to book a week or two in advance, rather than days.
3. Join us on the slopes
Make this the season when you can boast about experiences such as riding with Ski Sunday presenter Graham Bell or sampling Japan’s world-famous powder by booking an exclusive holiday with The Telegraph Ski & Snowboard.
We’ve been running ski holidays for more than 20 years, and there are many good reasons for their enduring appeal. We choose only the most interesting and snow-sure destinations and only work with tour operators we know and trust. This season, as well as the our infinitely popular early-season trip to the snow-sure slopes of Val Thorens, two weeks of skiing and partying in St Anton with Graham Bell, and the end-of-season money-saving blast in Val d’Isère, we’ve launched two exciting new trips.
In January we’ll be heading to the powder fields of Japan – it promises to be a truly memorable trip as we visit five of the country’s best ski areas, experiencing the waist-deep powder and sampling the fascinating Japanese culture. Another trip that’ll provide plenty of bragging rights down the pub is the tour of Kicking Horse hosted by Winter Olympic legend Eddie ‘The Eagle’ Edwards – not only will you get ski jumping training from the man himself, you’ll also get a chance to ski the varied and challenging terrain this Canadian resort has to offer.
Whichever trip you choose, you’ll be joining an eclectic bunch of couples, single travellers and small groups of friends of all abilities and ages, with one uniting factor – a passion for skiing and snowboarding.
Eight strange but true facts skiers should know about Japan
