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

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.