With snow being something of a rare occurrence here at the tip of Africa, the notion of a skiing holiday can be more than a little daunting. While you might enjoy fantasies of graceful gliding down soft powder slopes, the reality is often more of Bridget Jonesian images of ghastly pink tracksuits, tangled limbs and utter humiliation.

If the thought of strapping long planks to your feet and sliding (or tumbling) down a mountain is a little scary, here's a helpful guide to where to go, what to wear and how to cut costs…

A little (preparation) goes a long way

Preparation minimises pain. This is a good principle to bear in mind when planning a skiing trip. While this covers organising accommodation and some equipment, it certainly doesn’t stop there.

Get fit. Skiing is fun, but it is also a sport, which means that you need to be fit to do it properly. Your festive mood may be dampened slightly if your muscles are cramping and you are struggling to breathe after your first morning on the slopes. For at least a month before your trip do regular cardiovascular exercise such as jogging or hiking. A few squats and lunges probably won’t go amiss either.

Get the right gear. Yip, that ghastly pink tracksuit takes some planning. Wearing the right clothes and having the right accessories will make the whole experience a lot more pleasant.

  • have synthetic/wool (not cotton) layers for top and bottom
  • a water resistant jacket/parka is essential
  • snow/water resistant pants are also a good idea
  • buy warm (not cotton) socks
  • a warm hat and gloves/mittens are also important
  • get goggles/sunglasses... you need serious UV protection on snowy slopes
  • don't forget to use lots of sunscreen (SPF 15 or more) and lip balm
Cutting costs
A skiing trip will be pricey — just accept it. Good, now that we’ve got that out of the way, there are ways to cut costs and make it that little bit less expensive.
  • Go off-season. Lodging and lift tickets are much cheaper
  • Buy tickets in advance. If you book online (at least a week before arrival) your lift tickets will be considerably discounted.
  • Book a package: many include flights, lodging, lift tickets and even ski school.
  • Stay in a nearby village, not at the slopes — you’ll pay much more to stay near the resort. Self-catering apartments are often significantly cheaper.
  • Rent equipment. It is pointless to buy equipment if you have never been skiing before. And may never again
Choosing a resort
As a beginner, there are a few factors you should consider when picking a resort.
  • Does the ski school have a good reputation?
  • Do the instructors speak English?
  • Are there many nursery/beginner slopes?
In case you didn't know, a ski-run (the skiing area down the mountain) is called a piste. There is a colour grading system which differentiates the pistes according to their difficulty, although these colours vary slightly from one country to the next. A general rule though is that black or orange signifies advanced pistes, while green or blue signifies a beginner piste.

If you choose a resort which has largely difficult/advanced pistes, you will probably end up paying for facilities that you can’t use.

Top ski resorts for beginners

  • Flaine; France
    Situated close to Geneva airport, Flaine is France’s fourth largest ski area, with 51 slopes — 59 percent of which accommodate beginners. Those learning to ski are spoilt for choice with five ski schools. Due to a large number of British tourists, English speaking instructors are not hard to find. If you tire of skiing, you can try ice-quading, paragliding or take a nighttime trip on a snow scooter.
  • Geilo; Norway
    If you are looking for a fairytale ski resort Geilo has it all, from fir forests to the reindeer sleigh-rides. Although a large portion of this resort is dedicated to cross-country skiing, there are 18 lifts for downhill skiing and as Norwegians generally only start skiing after lunch, foreigners have the slopes to themselves before then. There are three ski schools and the child care facilities are great. The only con is that the cost of alcohol is very high.
  • Mayrhofen; Austria
    Two hours drive from Munich, this lively, family-oriented resort offers 157km of pistes with ideal practice slopes for beginners. There are four ski schools and an additional three snowboarding schools. When you are all skied out, you can take a winter hike, go snow-tubing or even try your hand at curling. During the high season, the slopes can become a little crowded.
  • Tremblant; Canada
    Tremblant, which is ninety minutes from Montreal, is an accessible resort with a lively social scene, a state-of-the-art lift system and 80km of well-maintained pistes (including 16 beginner runs). The ski school offers small groups and tailor-made packages. For the more adventurous there is a snow park where you can practice all your snowboarding tricks and for the romantic there is the option of dogsledding and snowy horseback riding.
  • Copper Mountain; USA
    Copper Mountain, which is situated 120km from Denver, has a distinct trail layout that separates skiers by level so that all the beginner runs are in the same area. The ski school has a good reputation with certified instructors. Although the day care facilities are top notch, this resort, with its clubs, pubs and vibrant village community, tends to attract a twenty-something crowd.

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