Skiing trips are an integral part of winter holidays. In order to get the most out of the trip to a ski resort, follow these simple and useful tips.
Choose the right skis
- Beginners choose shorter skis, as longer models slide much faster.
- The optimum ski length is determined by the chin level.
- Harder skis are designed for professionals while softer ones are suitable for beginners and amateurs.
- Occasional skiers will quickly get tired in hard boots, so it is recommended to choose softer models.
- It is better to buy ski boots in the afternoon, when legs are a little swollen.
Be money-wise and save easily
- It is worthwhile to purchase a ski pass for several days, not one. With extended validity, the price becomes lower.
- Expensive resorts are efficient in terms of their infrastructure. Many of them give the opportunity to use one ski pass in the neighboring territories.
- At ski resorts, prices for New Year holidays are growing significantly. Best prices for ski holidays are during the first half of December and the whole month of February.
- If you have your own car or you do not want to spend all days skiing, it's cheaper to rent a place somewhere near the resort.
- Food and drinks at lift stations are not of high quality, but tend to be much more expensive than in local cafes and restaurants.
Look for color-coding of ski tracks
- Green tracks are for beginners. The slope is not steep, the runs are well-kept, there are no bumps.
- Blue tracks are for beginners already familiar with skiing. The slopes become more steep, the relief is not uniform.
- Red tracks are fit for experienced skiers. The slopes are not gentle anymore, and occasional steep patches may come up along the way.
- Black tracks should be run only by expert skiers. The track may be bumpy, the angle is more steep, there may be some narrow places, twists and quick turns as well as rough snow.
Remember safety rules
- Protective helmets are crucial to safety, especially for children and hardcore skiers.
- It is forbiddent to go to closed slopes, beyond safety nets, prohibition signs and stop at narrow passes and bends or behind hills.
- You should always keep a distance of 5 meters between yourself and other skiers.
- Skiers on your right should be passed on the left and vice versa.
- When crossing the slope, make sure that no one is going down.
Use mobile apps for skiers
Mammut Safety
A useful thing for security control. The functions help to assess the difficulty of the route, and also have a button to call emergency rescue team.
Ski School
A great opportunity to watch video lessons simultaneously and compare them with the footage of your own skating.
OnTheSnow
The application will help you choose a resort with the best weather conditions and filter the distance. It has many useful user reviews.
Ski Webcams
Describes what is going on at the slopes of more than 600 ski resorts around the world.
World Ski Resorts
The guide will tell you about the key features of the world's major resorts, evaluate the service and the cost of recreation.