Could 2011 be the first time you’ve been on a ski holiday?

The News Of the World had a good article recently which might be of help:

Skiing? Pah! Why would anyone want to go to a place colder than the UK? And surely strapping plastic to your feet and throwing yourself down a mountain is bonkers? This had been my point of view until, during a Pinot Grigio-fuelled night with a ski-instructor friend, I agreed to hit the slopes in Verbier, Switzerland, and report back to the Fabulous office. I spent the next six months fretting about what I’d wear, how I’d cope and whether I’d come back alive. And if I’d known the answers to these questions beforehand, I’d have piste off years ago! It was brilliant. Here’s why you should embrace skiing too…

WHY GO?

Quite simply, it’s so much fun that the muscles in your face will hurt from your perma-grin. But don’t be fooled - learning to ski is challenging, too. It’s tough on a beginner’s legs: calves ache from tight ski boots and thighs get sore from the stance needed to fly down the slopes. It’s mentally tough as well. It takes a lot of guts, but nothing beats the feeling of conquering those slopes!

DO I NEED TO BE FIT?

The better shape you’re in, the easier you’ll find it. Running and cycling before you go will increase your stamina, while doing squats and leg lifts will build up your muscles.

WHAT DO I NEED?

For your first time, borrow clothes from friends, hire from stores in your resort, or rent kit from Skitogshire.co.uk before you travel. You’ll deffo need a waterproof jacket and a pair of ski holiday trousers, known as salopettes. You can wear the same outer layer every day, but you’ll need a selection of T-shirts, long-sleeved tops and thermals for underneath. Pack a fleece, and don’t even think about leaving the country for Swiss ski holidays without gloves, thermal socks, hat, goggles and sunglasses. When you’re not skiing you’ll need waterproof footwear with a good grip - trust me, forget heels. They may look smokin’ but you won’t look hot when you slip and get run over by a snow plough. I’ll admit, I packed a few 6-inchers - but soon realised the error of my ways!

SKIS OR BOARD?

In most cases complete novices will enjoy learning to ski rather than snowboarding. Frequent falls during boarding can be tough on your bum and most people tend to quickly improve when on skis. When it comes to equipment, don’t splash out before you get there - hire it at your resort. Prices vary, so do your research, and be prepared to pay deposits or leave your credit card details in case you cause any damage.

WILL I NEED LESSONS?

As a total novice, I needed help! My package included two days’ instruction so I spent my first morning with Julie Fletcher, chief instructor with tour operator Bramble Ski. This gave me the basics, but keen to learn more, later in the week I booked some one-on-one sessions with Nicol Kindness from Performance Verbier Ski School. At £170 for a two-hour lesson, it was pricey, but his expert tuition saw me skiing down the hardest runs by the end of the week! Those on a budget can opt for group lessons, which cost from £30 per person for up to six people for three hours.

WILL I FALL IN LOVE WITH MY HUNKY INSTRUCTOR?

You’re likely to develop a big crush on your teacher. Be warned!

WILL I MAKE A FOOL OF MYSELF?

Definitely, but any embarrassing moments will be quickly forgotten once you perfect a turn or learn a new move. Style-wise, beware hat hair. And it may be freezing, but you still need a good SPF. Sunglasses marks in February = silly.

WHAT ABOUT THE APRES SKI?

Many head for the bars as early as 4pm, and it’s common to see people in full skiwear drinking until gone midnight. Remember that boozing at high altitude means you get tipsy faster than usual - so watch out!

HOW MUCH WILL IT COST?

Prices vary depending on where and when you go. I stayed at the Victoria I chalet in Verbier, Switzerland, courtesy of Bramble Ski (Brambleski.com). Prices start from £1,200 per person for one week, including meals and two days of ski instruction, based on 10 people sharing. Inghams (Inghams.co.uk) offers a less-pricey option - seven nights in a catered chalet, including flights and transfers, from £481 per person. Try also Crystal Ski.

THE BEST RESORTS FOR VIRGIN SKIIERS
Switzerland - Wengen
French ski holidays - Les Arcs
Austria - Mayrhofen
Andorra - Soldeu

Skirebel report that Crystal Ski have launched their 2011 brochure, and one new product is Freeski camps - they report:

Crystal Ski is also introducing ‘Freeski Gromcamps’ in selected European resorts. These camps are for all ages and standards of skiers, from first time freestylers to pro riders, expertly taught by the UK’s top riders and coaches including Pat Sharples, a former England freestyle ski team captain.

More of the popular Crystal Ski Plus all-inclusive packages will be offered including flights, transfers, local lift pass, ski/board hire or ski carriage, self-catering and in-resort service from £389 (€436) per person for a five night stay. They’re valid for departures during non-peak times to the top resorts including Les Arcs and La Plagne in the Paradiski and availability is limited so booking a year ahead at a fixed price is a good way to budget. To read the full article click here

For more details of Crystal Ski visit http://www.yourandorra.com/crystal - ski holidays in Andorra are available, plus French ski holiday information.

The number of people taking ski holidays last year dropped by 6 per cent last year.

breakingtravelnews reports:

The UK snowsports market fell by 6% across all sectors in 2008/9 according to the Ski Club of Great Britain’s annual Snowsports Analysis report. The total UK snowsports market is now reported at 1.27 million people.

The decline in overall numbers can be attributed to the economic climate and the weak pound, although the report suggests that the excellent snow conditions may have influenced more people not to forego their wintersports holiday. Additionally the report discusses a returning confidence to the industry and last season’s great snow acting as a catalyst for more people to start skiing again or go for the first time.

A 2% rise in the tour operator market means it now makes up 79% of the overall market. This increase is at the expense of the independent sector, which now sits at 21%. It seems more skiers favoured a package holiday as this enabled them to know the upfront cost of their holiday. The increased cost of flying at peak times with no-frills airlines, and ski carriage charges, may also have impacted the independent market. To read the report click here

For more information about ski holidays including with Crystal Ski visit yourandorra.com

The Andorra ski resort of Soldeu is one of the top ski resorts when it comes to value for money, recent research shows.

The village is hoping that more people will visit for their 2010 ski holidays including those who often take French ski holidays

After experiencing a drop of 13 per cent in visitors last year, the ski holidays industry will be hoping that 2009/10 will see a pick up as skiers start booking again.

Fortune is on their side at least - early snow saw some of the Colorado resorts open in early October - the earliest for 40 years - and In Europe the Pyrenees had high snowfall in early November - benefitting both French ski holidays and Andorra.

But while the weather may be on the industry’s side, the long, deep recession in both Europe and Northern America casts doubts over their 2010 aspirations.

For many people ski holidays are a luxury item, while the family summer vacation is seen as much more of an essential item for expenditure, and while economies are coming out of recession many people have concerns about their own job security or the state of their business, and might hold back this year until they are confident of the future.

This is particularly relevant for the skiing industry - the recession was caused by a banking crisis and a disproportionate number of people who took skiing holidays in recent years worked in the banking and finance industries - often spending between four and eight thousand Euros on the trip and spending freely while in the resorts during their French ski holidays, in Andorra, Switzerland, Colorado and Canada.

And the lack of free spending Brits compared to recent years will be noticeable, and keenly felt in the upmarket Aspen and Swiss ski holidays resorts, as London and New York’s economies were impacted most by the financial crises sparked off by the failures of investment banks.

Normal spend level tourists from Britain will be thinner on the ground too not just because of their economy, but many of the European ski resorts are in the Eurozone, and Sterling has crashed against the Euro, with the cost of Italian, Andorra and French ski holidays costing more for British skiers once they are in their resorts, unless they opt for an all inclusive package from comapnes who offer them.

So if there is optimism, where are the people coming from who will be taking ski holidays this year?

In Europe’s case it will be from countries who have the Euro, and who won’t be impacted by currency fluctuations.

And that will be mainly Germany, whose economy has grown in the last two quarters, and is firmly out of recession, while France might see a good number of people taking domestic ski holidays in France.

For Andorra, their economy is one that doesn’t rely purely on skiing, although tourism is an important aspect. As a tax haven a good number of people are employed in the finance and banking industries, and as the Andorra banks are independent the recession was felt less there than many other areas.

Property in Andorra hasn’t dropped as much as other European countries either as it not only has a local market but also sees people taking Andorra residency, who look at the houses and Andorra apartments for sale.

Time will tell if the optimism in the ski holidays industry is misplaced, or if 2010 proves to be a turning point.

More information about Andorra is available with yourandorra.com - they also have a blog with some travel articles available.

Andorra

Skiing is the most obvious sport Andorra is associated with, and not many would consider golf as something else on offer too, considering the country is high in the Pyreenees. But now Andorra has opened Europe’s highest golf course - a challenge many golfers will enjoy.

The neww golf course in Andorra is Grandvalira Golf Soldeu  located in Pla d’ Espiolets. Reachable by an eight passenger cable car, it is Europe’s highest elevated golf course at 2,590 metres (2,850 yards) high. The nine hole course is surrounded by the natural beauty of the mountains, creating a unique setting.

The Pyrenees Mountains make a beautiful backdrop for the new golf course. The scenic area has flowing waterfalls, interesting semicircle cliffs, wooded areas, great elevation, metallic ores, stratified rock, wildlife, mineral springs and hot springs. Though it makes a great place for a ski resort, it is also a peaceful place to be when the sun is shining and a warm breeze is in the air. Now holidaymakers can experience an Andorra that caters for golf as well as ski holidays.

The Planning of Grandvalira Golf Soldeu

Planning the location of the new golf course wasn’t easy. It took four years and 3 million euros to plan. The idea was to carefully embed the golf course in the natural environment of the Pyrenees Mountains without disturbing its surroundings. British expert Jeremy Pern led the project. He is famous for his work in designing golf courses.

Building the highest elevated golf course became a labour of love. It is a unique experience for golfers, since it is the only golf course that requires a ride in a cable car to access it. Aside from planning how to get tourists to and from the golf course, a lot of time was devoted to the project. Other time consuming details included construction, greens, planting trees, sodding grass, figuring out how to keep the grass lush, shaping the course and figuring out how to carefully weave the holes among the mountains without disrupting the balance of nature.

Boosting Tourism in Andorra

Andorra is mainly dependent on tourism for its economy to survive. The area brings in more than 9 million visitors per year, mainly for her ski resorts, but there is more to Andorra than the snow capped mountains. Did you know for example that Andorra also offers things to do in the summer months? Aside from skiing and snowboarding, holidaymakers enjoy the hiking trails, mountain biking, helicopter rides, para-gliding, trout fishing, bird watching and horseback riding to name a few.

Finding ways to bring holidaymakers to Andorra in the summer months is one way to build tourism, and golf may be part of the answer. According to the International Association of Golf Tour Operators, golf tourism is worth $17 billion globally. The U.S. is the current leader in the industry, but the UK also cashes in on golf tourism.

Golfers on holiday spend money, not only on the golf course, but also in the surrounding areas, at local attractions, at restaurants, at hotels, on transportation and on shopping. Package deals often include entrance to the golf course, airfare and hotel accommodation. All of which Andorra can offer.

The addition of the highest elevated golf course promises to bring added tourism to Andorra. Grandvalira Golf Soldeu is expected to host renowned golf tournaments throughout the season. It is also offering lessons, rental equipment, a driving range, a practice area and a clubhouse designed for social gatherings.

Golf tourism is expected to bring in extra revenue for Andorra with the opening of Grandvalira Golf Soldeu. While some golfers travel exclusively for specific golf courses or tournaments, others plan their holidays around such events, thus spending more money and staying for an extended period of time. Bringing a high elevation golf course to Andorra is a smart way to maximize the use of the land while attracting tourists on a year-round basis - smart thinking in today’s economy when people are cutting back on holiday spending.

More news about Andorra including skiing - French ski holidays too - is available at yourandorra.com

For Andorra properties and residency visit propertyandorra.com

We came across a really good article by Charles Starmer-Smith in The Daily Telegraph - Charles wrote:

“Campervan… skiing… Alps.” I typed in the words and pressed the search button.

“No. You will die,” said the first link I opened.

Die? The advice on the Snowheads message board, an online forum for skiers, stopped me in my tracks. I knew taking a campervan to the Alps might not be the smartest idea – the lack of comfort, unpleasant odours, even mild hypothermia, I was prepared for – but I did not think my mortality would come into the equation.

But the warning needs context – the advice was to a girl panicking about her penny-pinching boyfriend’s plans to take her away in a campervan without any heating for a romantic week’s skiing. Some users of the site offered advice on portable heaters, van upgrades and suitable campsites; one wisecracker simply suggested she should upgrade the boyfriend rather than the van. It was a good point.

With 1.5 million Britons skiing each year it is no longer an elitist sport – but there are fears it could go back to being one. As the pound reaches record lows against the euro and falls sharply against the US and Canadian dollars and the Swiss franc, resorts are in danger of pricing many people out. Tour operators privately admit that were it not for the recent heavy snow this season might have been a disaster.

The customary cost-cutting advice no longer holds. Self-catering, once a byword for holiday frugality, is becoming prohibitively expensive for Britons as supermarkets raise prices. Earlier this month, we reported in Telegraph Travel that a small jar of pesto sauce was selling for £5 in Val d’Isère and a bottle of digestible wine for £14. Over in Courchevel, a beer on the slopes can now cost £12 and a hot dog, £15.

Once considered a luxury, catered chalets and full-board hotels (where prices are fixed) now make more financial sense. So what of the alternatives? Low-cost airlines profess to be the answer for credit-crunch skiers, yet they continue to penalise those who carry luggage or ski equipment (checking in a bag and taking your skis on Ryanair now costs £100 for a return flight). Resort transfers are increasingly expensive, and while the Eurostar snow train may be convenient for France’s leading resorts, at a minimum of £189 return the fares are steep. Even the cheapest hostels charge £100 for a week in a shared dormitory.

For many, the cost-cutting measures need to be more drastic.

With this in mind, I returned to the search results and found Just Go, an Anglo-New Zealand campervan hire company based in Flamstead, Hertfordshire. Its affable owner, Nick Roach, assured me that winter camping was not just the preserve of dope-smoking students and ski bums but the answer for those with a limited budget and a limitless desire to ski in Europe’s best resorts. He added that forward bookings had risen by as much as 300 per cent this season.

“Beyond the money you save, these vans offer a freedom that other ski holidays can’t,” he said. “If the snow is good elsewhere, you have the flexibility to move quickly in order to get the best conditions.”

But is a camping ski holiday really a viable budget option, or a case of cost-cutting gone mad? I had plenty of time to mull it over.

I had persuaded three friends to accompany me. Where? We plumped for St Anton am Arlberg: it offers great skiing but at more affordable prices than its main Swiss and French rivals

to carry on reading this article click through to the Telegraph, by clicking here

A few snowflakes is all it takes for skiers to anticipate days filled with downhill runs through ideal powder conditions followed by evenings in front of roaring fires with family and friends. What could be better?

How about a resort that takes environmental issues seriously without compromising what skiers love about their sport?

 In North America, dozens of resorts, including Canada’s Whistler Blackcomb, have already initiated major changes that will put the resorts on a renewable energy plan.

In the United States the Sustainable Slopes Annual Report notes that 68 resorts are now purchasing renewable energy. Among the resorts purchasing renewable energy are Killington Resort in Vermont, Oregon’s Mt.Bachelor Resort and the Las Vegas Ski & Snowboard Resort. Each of these resorts has set as their goals 100 percent renewable energy. In other words, they replace the energy used by their operations. Breckinridge in Colorado is purchasing wind energy, while Jiminy Peak in Western Massachusetts is the first North American resort to build its own wind turbines in order to supply their own energy.

Whistler Blackcomb in Canada has been particularly aggressive in moving to 100 percent renewable energy. It is especially notable because Whistler Blackcomb is the largest ski resort in North America. Vail is half the size of Whistler in area. Since 1997 Whistler ski resort and Blackcomb resort have gradually integrated their facilities. While the two mountains are connected at ground level, by the time this is published skiers will be able to traverse the mountains at the 6000 foot level. These and other improvements made by Intrawest, which owns Whistler Blackcomb, have made the ski resort one of the largest premier ski vacation destinations in North America.

Largely for this reason the Winter Olympics in 2010 will be held at Whistler Blackcomb. Whistler Mountain will host alpine skiing events as well as bobsled, luge, biathlon, cross country and ski jumping events. To facilitate the Olympic games Intrawest has invested over $600 million to improve the Sea to Sky highway drive from Vancouver to Whistler so that visitors will be able to reach the ski area in two hours. For Whistler Blackcomb enthusiasts the best news is that 90 percent of the area will remain open to skiers during the Olympics.

While all of these developments are good news for skiers, the decision to take Whistler Blackcomb green is like icing on the cake. Whistler committed to the Fitzsimmons Creek Hydro Project, and construction has already begun to bring it to fruition. The Hydro Project is a renewable energy project that will offset entirely the total annual energy consumption of the whole resort. With an anticipated production of 33.5 gigawatt hours of hydroelectricity each year, the Hydro Project will be able to power both the winter and summer operations. That includes all 38 lifts as well as 269 snowguns, 17 restaurants and all the surrounding buildings and the services each provides.

Whistler Blackcomb has been vetting and planning this project for six years. The commitment of the operating management and the thorough and careful project assessment and planning helped to move things along quickly. But Whistler also has conditions conducive to a small hydroelectric plant. Fitzsimmons Creek has all the water necessary and its vertical drop is crucial. Fortunately, the creek is not a fish-bearing stream, nor is it used recreationally. The ski area has been using Fitzsimmons Creek for years as part of their snow-making operation. All of this helps to make the area ideal for the project development and for the greening of the entire ski area.

With its Hydro Project, Whistler Blackcomb is one of the ski resorts worldwide that have made the commitment to go green and reduce their carbon footprints. In the last year the number of ski holidays resorts that have earned environmental management certification has increased by 75 percent. Acquiring certification requires an extremely high standard of environmental management. Patrick Thorne, the author of the Green Resort Guide notes that he has been awarding more and more 5 star ratings to ski resorts committed to reducing the environmental impact of their operations.

Thorne also notes that just a few years ago any discussion about going green was met with a great deal of skepticism from ski resort owners and management. That attitude has almost entirely disappeared. Resorts are much more interested in knowing what they can do to preserve the ski resort environment. Global warming is encroaching upon all aspects of life, and ski resort managers are as aware of the rapid changes as anyone else.

Skiers have a lot of good reasons to look to Whistler Blackcomb and other green resorts for their ski holiday. Just as ski resort managers are paying attention to preserving the environment, so too are the skiers who visit those resorts. It is a good guess that besides assessing the usual enticements in deciding where to ski, asking how green the resort is will become more and more a routine consideration in that selection of a ski holiday.

Keen skiers looking forward to their annual holiday are more than likely busy poring over information on the numerous ski resort destinations available to them this Christmas time. Some of them just want confirmation that the resort they loved last year is still the best place to go. Others like to change things up every year, experiencing new ski challenges and collecting new stories to relate to their friends back home. Either way, the choices are abundant and depend mostly on what the skier is comfortable with, whether it is a familiar resort or new ground.

If the annual ski holiday includes beginners, Andorra, nestled in the Pyrenees, is a great choice. The interconnected resorts of Arinsal, Pal and Arcalis offer something for everyone. All three cater to beginner skiers and provide kindergarten facilities for the youngest family members not quite ready to don skis and take the plunge down the bunny slopes.

Arinsal and Pal are actually now a single resort linked by cable car. One ski pass allows skiers to venture onto either set of slopes. In effect, wherever you are staying at the resort, you can ski from your backyard right onto the slopes. Snowboarders will also feel quite comfortable whether they are beginners or experienced. Arcalis is about 20 kilometers by car from Pal and Arinsal but close enough to be considered part of the three-resort area. A fourth resort, Pas de la Casa, is also close by but tends to be much more crowded. However, it does offer very good value if that is the major criteria in selecting a resort. With its numerous cafes, restaurants, happy hours and discos, Pas de la Casa tends to attract livelier young adult crowd. Andorra is a well known tax haven too and areas like La Massana and Arinsal attract those looking for an Andorra property and residency.

For strictly family vacations Kaprun resort in Austria is a good bet. With its beginner to expert slopes, myriad accommodations to fit every budget, restaurants and cafes, checking into Kaprun is the start of a great family holiday. Hotels and restaurants are noted for their child friendliness. Besides the skiing vacationers can snowboard, snowshoe, swim, play tennis and squash, ice skate, bowl and take a sleigh ride. Of the 59 runs, 31 are for beginners, and nine are expert runs.

Shops abound for those who want to take a break from other activities. You can even arrange to tour the Kitzsteinhorn glacier. One of the most welcome features is the short hop from the airport to the resort. Nothing is more tedious for vacationers than to get off a plane and have to face a several hour ride to the resort. Not so in Kaprun.

With global warming and the environment a world wide concern, many skiers are beginning to make going green a criteria for their choice of ski vacationers. If that is a concern, Les Arcs in France should be on your list of ski destinations, and is one of the best places for a French ski holiday

Take the Eurostar to Bourg-St-Maurice. From there it is a short hop to Les Arcs. The management is actively committed to maintaining preservation of the environment. At the same time the facilities are first rate, including accommodations for the youngest family members. Les Arcs has been awarded Famille plus Montagne certification. Four star living quarters are the norm, and the restaurants and shops are among the best in the French Alps.

If the apres ski experience is what makes your holiday, then you may want to check out the Italian resort of Livigno or Austria’s Bad Gastien. Livigno is just across the border from St. Moritz in the Italian Alps and through some quirk in geography enjoys tax free status. It offers excellent skiing because of its altitude. With 81 bars, restaurants and nightclubs, the apres ski possibilities are almost endless. Restaurants feature French, Italian, U.S. and traditional cuisine as well as the ubiquitous fast food. In other words, something for everyone’s taste. Bad Gastien is actually one of the grand spa resorts that just happens to be located in the midst of one of Austria’s largest ski holidays areas. The skiing is excellent, and the apres ski scene is more sophisticated than many deluxe resorts with its famous thermal spa and lively nightlife.

If you are looking for the perfect ski weekend, don’t overlook Lillehammer in Norway. The site of a Winter Olympic, Lillehammer is a short hop from the airport. The hotels are first rate and off slope activities include sleigh rides, tobogganing and ice skating.

Where’s some of the best skiing in Europe, apart from Andorra and the Pyrenees?

According to the British skiing fraternity who ski there more than anywhere else - it’s the French Alps.

The Alpine Mountain Range is often referred to as the ‘Alps’ and stretches across much of Europe. The Alps are often divided into two categories - Eastern Alps and Western Alps. The Western Alps include the mountains located in Italy, France and Switzerland.

Skiing in the French Alps is an adventure like no other. Royalty, celebrities and people from all walks of life can be found at various times skiing in the French Alps. The highest mountain in the Alps is Mont Blanc at 4808 meters.

La Plagne

Nestled atop a magnificent glacier on Mount Bellecote is the world class skiing area of La Plagne.

Surrounded by the majestic Vanoise Massif Mountains in the Graian Alps, La Plagne resort beckons the avid skier. It is spread over an altitude of 1250 to 3250 metres. The result is a variety of terrains and altitudes appealing to beginners and experts alike.

The ski area was built in 1961 with the hope of attracting tourism money. It was largely conceived in the interest of four small mountain villages. The fledgling towns were dying and hoped to capitalise on the gorgeous natural beauty of the area. Today’s La Plagne is comprised of many different and distinctive villages. All are linked to one another by ski lifts and trails for those who prefer cross-country skiing. The villages continue to expand, giving it a competitive edge for ski holidays when it comes to tourism revenue.

Even the non-skier will find something to love about La Plagne. Non-skiers may choose from over 50 pubs and restaurants ranging from casual to fine dining. After dark visitors can hit one of the resort’s many night clubs for an evening of dancing and partying. Numerous daytime activities entertain and engage those who choose not to ski as well. Winter-sport activities include ice skating, snowmobiling and cross-country skiing.

Les Menuires

Located in Belleville Valley, the Les Menuires ski holidays resort hosted the 1992 Winter Olympics and is part of the largest ski area in the world, Les Trois Valleys. The Three Valleys are comprised of several resorts that host millions of skiers per year. Les Menuires boasts 62 ski trails, advanced and beginner ski slopes and 39 ski lifts. The resort’s 48 restaurants offer foods ranging from fast food to fine cuisin and is an excellent location for a  French ski holiday

La Grave la Meije

La Grave is a commune in southeastern France and the location of La Meije. Three summits comprise La Meije with the highest summit being 3,984 m. Mountain climbers and rock climbers challenge themselves to reach the highest summit of La Meije. The very first successful climb was by Emmanuel Boileau de Castelneu and Pierre Gaspard and his son on August 16, 1877. Glacier climbing or ice climbing is a very popular sport in La Grave as well. One hundred to 300 metre climbing routes offer a variety of difficulty.

Much of the La Grave la Meije ski area is glacier and considered dangerous. Guided skiing is recommended. Extreme skiers find a great deal of fascination and appeal in La Grave la Meije due to the enormous vertical drops and extreme ski conditions - not for those having a first ski holiday maybe!