Keep Your Skiing Safe and Fun!

Whether you’re booking well in advance or at the last minute, ski holidays should always be safe and fun. Here are a few top tips to enjoy the slopes.

Skiing is a very popular winter sport, and for good reason: there’s no feeling quite like scything through clean powder snow against a dramatic alpine backdrop, the wind whipping your face as the landscape rushes past you. It can be graceful, adrenaline pumping and addictive, and takes place in some of the world’s most beautiful landscapes.

However, you should always keep in mind it can be a challenging sport, so here are a few tips for making sure you get the most out of your experience, while keeping your chances of injury to an absolute minimum.

Preparation

Even for those about to embark upon last minute ski holidays, it’s well worth putting aside as much time as you can to prepare. Have an accurate and realistic view of your own height, weight, age and skill level (as well as any relevant old injuries or medical conditions), and make sure you have your ski bindings adjusted accordingly. Well-adjusted bindings keep your legs comfortable, secure and protected, leaving you to concentrate on your technique.

Consider taking a lesson or two if you haven’t already; the increased confidence and greater skill set that expert instruction will provide can definitely lead to a decreased incidence of injury. (Even on last minute ski holidays, beginners should plan to invest in a couple of lessons.) If you don’t do much physical activity involving your legs, try to scale up your activity levels in the weeks approaching your holiday. Balancing and stabilising yourself requires a number of delicate, unconscious muscle movements, and if you make sure these muscles are properly exercised before you hit the snow, you’ll find it easier to stay balanced and ski for longer.

Sense and Sensibility

There are also plenty of common sense ways to stay prepared during the course of your last minute ski holidays. For example, save the alcohol for when you've finished the day’s skiing and, if you overdo it, considering taking the following morning off.

Don’t be afraid to take a rest day if you need it; your aches and pains will thank you, and you’ll find yourself with more energy when you're back on the slopes. As well as this, a day off can give you a bit of breathing room and time to really enjoy the magnificent surroundings.

Lastly, don’t feel like you have to push yourself too hard! If you’d rather stick to the easier pistes, then don’t be ashamed to do so, and take it slowly if you’re more comfortable at lower speeds. Off-piste skiing is not recommended except for experts, but if you do intend to try it, brush up on your knowledge of the surrounding areas and weather conditions, and always go with a qualified guide. Less experienced skiers are far better off to stay on the pistes.

As long as you take the time to prepare well and be sensible when it comes to your own abilities, last minute ski holidays are a fantastic way to take advantage of the colder months by enjoying something active and fun.

Article Tags: Last Minute