I assume that my foot was stopped from turning by the ski and my body twisted as I fell. Something had to give and it was my leg. At the time I was on a not very steep slope and not going that fast, the snow was a bit patchy and I think my ski hit some earth and I tipped forwards and to one side.
Do you have any tips for how to avoid breaking a leg, sensible ones only please. My confidence is really shattered and I don’t know if I’ll ever ski again. Maybe I could have avoided it by the way I fell and how I should have reacted as I fell. If I go again I intend to take some lessons, but doubt whether I will go again. I am 43 and not as flexible as the younger skiers. I have only 3 or 4 weeks experience skiing of which the first week I went to ski school.
I have recently started snowboarding but that seems more dangerous.
By: Barbar
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Filed under Snow Skiing by on Jan 23rd, 2010. 11 Comments. 
On mainland Europe, you have such a varied selection. From the world famous French skiing resorts to Austria, Switzerland and the tiny principality of Andorra, you’ve got such a wide range of skiing to choose from. France is known the world over as the true home of skiing, and the French really know how to do a quality vacation. With naturally amazing resources, and scenery that can take your breath away, France is an ideal location for a skiing trip. Why not try the Courchevel resort, which has four different ski resorts within one, providing the perfect blend of quality and affordability in a skiing trip. From the grossly overpriced 1850 resort, the playground of Europe’s film stars and playboys, to the seemingly remote 1350 at the bottom of the hill, you have so much to choose from in Europe’s finest skiing country. With the kids or with your friends, France is truly a destination that will make for a memorable skiing vacation.
Or how about some of the Italian resorts? Italy, famous for being the cheaper way to ski, also benefits from a diverse range of resorts, like the tiny Alba resort, as well as some larger, more sizeable areas to ski. Famous for passion and a depth of culture, Italy is the ideal place to take a skiing break in Europe, and the weather’s good too! Or how about Italy’s neighbor, Croatia? A rising European nation, you’ll find a Croatian holiday outrageously good value for money, not to mention top quality. From the international standard ski resorts to their world class restaurants, Croatia is certainly a country on the up, and its skiing facilities can only improve as more and more tourists flock to their slopes each year. Additionally, Bulgaria is an excellent skiing destination to take the kids. With open arms, you will be welcomed by the Bulgarian people, who are more than eager to tell you about their rich and deep past, and welcome you as part of their future. In these expanding and developing European nations, you will come to appreciate the value of tourism, and the quality of treatment and service they are prepared to offer for your investment.
How about Austria for your skiing trip? When we think of skiing, we often imagine the Alpine ideal, with breathtaking scenery and fresh, clean air. Well, it simply doesn’t come much better than Austria, and if you’re looking for a skiing destination that has it all, why not try Austria for that touch of class with your skiing. Or why not pop over to Switzerland for their Alps experience? Skiing the alps in the home of chocolate and cuckoo clocks, you will be amazed at how picturesque this modern nation has managed to be, whilst still becoming a world leader in financial industry.
Skiing in Europe is the ideal way to spend your vacation. If you love skiing, you are guaranteed to find a great resort somewhere, within your budget that meets your needs, and caters for your ability. With most resorts also boasting strong training academies, you can also work to improve your skills while you are there, ensuring that your skiing trip is both useful and memorable. Whatever you are looking for, choose Europe as your number one skiing destination, for that perfect blend of quality, tradition and culture, and for a holiday that is truly breathtaking.
By: Jasmine Stone
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Learn more about the best ski resorts and ski tips at the Ski Trip Planning site.
Filed under Extreme Sports by on Jan 23rd, 2010.
By: JSAL21
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Filed under Snow Skiing by on Jan 23rd, 2010. 7 Comments.
My family is looking forward to take a vacation this winter break and we are looking into a skiing trip.
I need to find the best deal possible for a day’s skiing lesson& rental equipment. Also, it has to be in Northern California, thereabouts.
Thanks!
Please input any useful information!
By: Joe 8 Pack
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Filed under Snow Skiing by on Jan 23rd, 2010. 1 Comment.
By: mister?
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Filed under Other - Sports by on Jan 23rd, 2010. 1 Comment.
Of course, you need skis. Beside that, you also need ski goggles, ski jackets, ski hats and ski gloves.
Ski gloves: Every seasoned skier knows that much of the body heat is lost through the extremities. Ski gloves keep your hands warm and dry. Do not compromise on the quality of these gloves. They must be well insulated and water proof. At the same time, they must allow enough ventilation. Leather ski gloves are particularly strong and waterproof. They also last longer. But these are expensive. So, if you decide to give leather gloves a miss, at the very least, your gloves must have leather seams. Mittens are a good choice but they may pose grip problems. In either case, gloves or mittens must carry elastic wrist welts and overlapping cuffs with Velcro.
Ski goggles: When you’re cruising across slopes laden with snow, proper vision could be a matter of life and death. Regular ski goggles are good for those people who do not wear any kind of protective eyeglasses. In case you wear eye glasses, your ski goggles must fit snugly over the glasses. Yellow or brown tints are helpful because they help you see contours better. Your goggles should fit snugly over the helmet so they can rest over the helmet comfortably. Adjustment straps are a must.
Ski helmets: Comfort and safety are the main things to look out for when selecting ski helmets because they can save your neck, literally. Besides, fashionable helmets make you look cool and sleek. Select helmets that have snug interiors. That will keep you warm and dry. Adjustable ventilation allows you to regulate the temperature. Adjustable straps are another wonderful feature.
Ski jackets: Ski jackets stand between you and the elements. So they had better be good if you want to enjoy your skiing. The most important features of ski jackets are waterproofing and ventilation. If you are on a tight budget, you could look for ski jackets that are only taped at critical seams. However, to be well and truly dry and warm, you must select a jacket that has all its seams taped. Ventilation is important because skiing can make you lose up to half a liter or more of liquid every day. If the jacket does not release moisture, then this moisture can condense within the jacket, making you feel cold and wet. Combining ventilation with waterproofing is the tricky bit and this is what decides the quality of the jacket you select. Ski jackets must have a base layer to keep the moisture out and an outside layer for letting out moisture. Jackets with hoods, pockets and stretch panels are helpful.
Ski gear has to keep you comfortable, dry and safe. Of course, if you are in a mood to splurge, there is no limit to what you can buy. But, if you are counting your dollars, then you need to buy those items that are most important and will give you maximum skiing pleasure.
By: quinlanmurray
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Get variety of superior & stylish ski hats gears that looks as cool as it is warm at affordable rates.
Filed under Shopping by on Jan 23rd, 2010.
France has become a very popular winter sports holiday destination. The explosion in the number of people snowboarding has led to tourists going to France on snowboarding weekends and also long weekend skiing holidays. The snowboarders like to stay in either self catering apartments or if they are in larger groups they rent one of the many fabulous ski chalets available in France. The ski chalets are also in great demand from family skiing holidays. They are close to the ski slopes and make for a great Alpine family skiing holiday in France.
The great thing about skiing holidays in France is that there are holiday home rentals available to suite all budgets. It is possible to have a cheap skiing weekend break staying in a small apartment or have a luxurious skiing holiday in Chamonix, staying in one of the superb holiday chalets in the Alps.
Norway is loved by cross country skiers and many families go there on skiing holidays and stay in a traditional chalet. Austria and Switzerland are also popular winter sports destination with people wanting to go snowboarding and on skiing holidays.
For people wanting to travel further afield, there is excellent skiing available in America and Canada. The Rockies is becoming popular with snow boarders and traditional skiing is still growing in numbers. In America there are some luxurious ski villas available to rent and some of them even come with their own swimming pools.
A skiing holiday is a great family vacation and families of all ages enjoy to ski. Age is no barrier to skiing as there are ski slopes for all skiing abilities. Most ski resorts have ski schools where skiers can learn to ski. As long as you are fairly fit and like to exert yourself, then a vacation to one of the world top ski resorts will provide you with a great family holiday.
For beginners to skiing or snowboarding, it can be a nervous experience the first time that you hit the ski slopes, but after a few falls, bumps and bruises you usually find yourself hooked on the sport. It is advisable to book lessons the first time that you go on vacation skiing or snow boarding. However don’t be put off if you have never been on a skiing vacation before as ski resorts cater for skiers of all abilities.
Skiing holidays have become popular in many mountainous countries around the world. Skiing is popular in France and the Alps provide excellent skiing conditions in hundreds of ski resorts across Europe. All now offer excellent self catering accommodation in apartments, chalets and villas.
Chamonix is best known around the world for its spectacular Alpine view of Mont Blanc and there are some luxurious skiing chalets available to rent in this location. Courcheval is a popular skiing destination with many designer shops and superb restaurants. Meribel and Morzine are also popular skiing resorts helping to make the French Alps one of the most popular winter sports destinations in the world.
Switzerland is another popular European winter sport destination with picture book wooden ski chalets. The Valais region is known around the world for its excellent skiing facilities and spectacular scenery. The Appenine mountains in Italy has good resorts at Le Marche and Abruzzo.
The one thing that renting skiing chalets, apartments or farmhouses from their owners have in common is that they provide the holiday makers with a great deal of freedom. They are able to sample the local way of life and get a true feel of the local culture of the country that they are staying in.
It is no wonder that many holiday makers on winter sports vacation return to the same country year after year. Whether it is a skiing weekend break, a snowboarding holiday to the Alps or a family skiing holiday to France, you are sure to have a great vacation.
By: Andrew Gibson
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Andrew Gibson is MD of Direct Holiday Bookings. It is one of the fastest growing on line holiday home rentals websites. To see an example of why Direct Holiday Bookings is growing so rapidly have a look at Skiing holiday chalets
Filed under Destinations by on Jan 23rd, 2010.
By: Krunsters
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Filed under Honolulu by on Jan 23rd, 2010. 1 Comment.
Most Europeans by contrast have grown up with ski in, ski out lodging as the norm. Alpine villages, and the ski areas they were associated with, grew alongside one another and developed into the large ski areas we know today. The ski resorts began as part of the centre of the town and naturally as new ski lifts and runs were added and more people wanted to ski, the towns expanded around them to accommodate their needs. Ski in, ski out properties just became a normal part of the expansion and although often commanding a premium prices are relatively easy to find.
Skiing in the US is increasing in popularity with the Europeans, but especially the Brits due its superior snow conditions and uncrowded slopes.
Several US ski towns such as Breckenridge Telluride and Aspen started life as mining towns, before they grew into the world famous ski areas they are today. Steamboat Springs was originally a ranching town and still retains much of its Old West character. Many of these ski towns in the US were already established before the ski areas were developed, so the ski lifts are a mile or two from the town associated with them.
Winter Park was originally home to railway workers and gradually developed into a small town. The town is about 3 miles from the ski area, but an easy 5-10 minute free bus ride. The vast majority of accommodation is still in the town of Winter Park and the small towns of Fraser and Tabernash, a little further along US Highway 40.
However, gradually the powers that be are recognising the importance and desirability of ski in, ski out accommodation. The base area is now being developed to include more lodging options closer to the lifts in addition to the one true ski in, ski out accommodation already completed - Zephyr Mountain Lodge Restaurants and shops are now also being added at the base area to give ski in ski out residents more dining options near their accommodation. Chalets USA have added a luxury one bedroom and a luxury 2 bedroom apartment in Zephyr Mountain Lodge to their portfolio to give their guests the option of enjoying this newly improved ski in ski out experience. They only have one ski in, ski out catered chalet, due to the very limited properties available near the mountain. Thunderhead chalet is in Steamboat Springs, sleeps up to 14 in 6 ensuite bedrooms and is literally ski to the door.
Maybe with higher gas prices and Americans gradually relying a little less on their vehicles, ski in, ski out lodging will become increasingly popular and perhaps more ski in, ski out possibilities may be just around the corner….
For more info on these new chalets or other luxury ski accommodation in Colorado visit www.chalets-usa.co.uk
By: Helen Gienke
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Filed under Vacation Rentals by on Jan 23rd, 2010.
While not on a par with Squaw Valley or Heavenly or other major California ski resorts, the Bear Valley ski area is still a prime candidate for a weekend or even an extended skiing vacation. As we discovered in early February, Bear Valley offers a surprisingly complete ski vacation experience – no frills, to be sure, but still rewarding and well worth the trip deep into the Sierra Nevada range.
If designer clothing stores, zillion-dollar condos, and Hollywood-style glitz are part of your criteria for a ski vacation, this ski area might not be the best choice. If wide-open ski runs, no lift lines and plenty of groomed snow are more important to you, then by all means give Bear Valley a try.
Coming originally from the Pacific Northwest, we could not help but compare Bear Valley to one of our favorite ski areas in Washington state – a place called Mission Ridge in a town named Wenatchee. The population in that part of the state is sparse compared with the big ski areas near Seattle, so Mission Ridge is able to offer wide-open skiing runs most days of the week.
Similarly, Bear Valley is less accessible than the many larger ski areas in the Lake Tahoe area. Bay area and Sacramento residents can drive Interstate 80 to the Tahoe area and find a selection of ski resorts a short distance off the interstate. To reach this ski area, you have to drive two-lane roads through the foothills and mountains for close to 100 miles.
But when you get there, most skiers and snowboarders will find it’s worth it. Our mid-week skiing was some of the best we’ve experienced – plenty of wide-open, groomed terrain perfect for intermediates and serviced by a number of lifts where there seemed to never be lines. It was ski down the run, get right on the chair and do it all again and again until just a few hours into our day we were growing exhausted. We probably skied in four hours what it would take us a full day to do at a resort with moderate lift lines.
There are no gondolas or high-speed quad chairlifts at Bear Valley, although there are 10 lifts altogether, mostly doubles and triples. About 1280 acres are available for skiing and snowboarding; some 100 acres are in an area where they can make snow – although at 7,750 feet, it’s likely Mother Nature will supply all the snow you need.
We mentioned the intermediate skiing because that’s our favorite – but rest assured this ski area has many black diamond or expert ski runs for those looking for more of a challenge. The day lodge is situated mid-mountain with lifts going both up the mountain to 8495 feet, and coming to the lodge from the lower part of the mountain. Most of the expert runs are located on the lower mountain.
The area’s day lodge also was wide open and easy to navigate. Instead of masses of people waiting in line to get their food and find a place to sit, we stepped right up and got our cooked-to-order Philly cheesesteak sandwiches in just a few minutes. And there was no shortage of menu options – lots of different types of food from sandwiches to Asian cuisine, from soups and salads to major meals.
But the Bear Valley experience is much more than a daytrip – or at least it should be given the time it takes to get to the ski area. For our trip we booked lodging at the Bear Valley Lodge, one of just a few hotel-type facilities near the mountain. Located about three miles from the mountain, the Bear Valley Lodge seems to be the hub of activity in the area and proved to be a good choice for accommodations. While showing some of its age – it was built in the 60’s – the lodge proved to be a comfortable, convenient base of operations. A ski shuttle bus will take you to the mountain, and you can even ski all the way back to the lodge.
When we say comfortable, we are not comparing the lodge to the high-end condos you find at most major ski resorts. The rooms at Bear Valley Lodge are more like a motel unit with two double beds a bath area and a TV/entertainment area that included HBO. But small touches – such as the bay window looking out onto the snowy landscape or the pine furniture – helped to make this feel much cozier than a motel room.
The four floors of rooms at the Bear Valley Lodge look out onto the Cathedral Lounge, a large open space in the middle of the lodge that offers guests a place to sit and read and enjoy the fire in the massive stone fireplace. Photos are mounted along the walls depicting the history of the lodge and Bear Valley ski area. Celebrities such as Spider Savich, Claudine Longet, Merv Griffin and several others are shown skiing or otherwise enjoying Bear Valley.
Adjacent to the lounge are several shops including an old-fashioned general store – with a deli to get quick sandwiches and soups – and a surprisingly complete ski shop with all of the latest ski equipment, clothing and accessories. But keep in mind this is not the type of resort where you can spend hours shopping when you’re not on the slopes; your down time here most likely will be spent in front of the fire reading a good book.
During our brief stay we dined in the lodge’s Grizzly Lounge – mainly because the other lodge restaurant, the Creekside Dining Room, was closed Mondays and Tuesdays. The lounge food was good and included a few menu items from the Creekside. We did learn that the Creekside has recently employed a well-educated and accomplished chef that has proven both creative and popular with guests – so we were disappointed we didn’t get a chance to sample the Creekside cuisine.
We also enjoyed a meal down at BaseCamp, a lodge that is just a short walk from the Bear Valley Lodge and the only other hotel-style lodging this close to the ski area. We enjoyed our meal at BaseCamp where we got to know an English waitress who had come to Bear Valley simply because the skiing is so good. The BaseCamp, incidentally, offers the lowest cost rooms in the area with “bathroom down the hall.”
There are also condo and cabin rentals available in the Bear Valley area, as well as the Tamarack Lodge further west on Highway 4. Prices in general will be less at BaseCamp, moderate at the Bear Valley Lodge and Tamarack, and more when you rent an entire vacation home.
While in the area, there are several small towns and attractions that are worth a stop if you have the time. To reach Bear Valley in winter, you’ll be traveling through the historical town of Angel’s Camp and then a similar but smaller Gold Rush town called Murphys.
But our suggestion would be to allow plenty of time for skiing. You’ll want to ski or board Bear Valley just as long as the weather – and your legs – will hold out.
AT A GLANCE
WHERE: Bear Valley Ski Resort is on Highway 4, about 52 miles from the foothills town of Angel’s Camp, and 130 miles from Sacramento.
WHAT: Bear Valley is a throwback to skiing in the ’60’s and ’70’s – no high-speed quads or gondolas but lots of wide open groomed terrain in a gorgeous setting.
WHEN: Winter always means where is lots of snow for skiing as well as many other snow sports; the area also is a popular summer recreation area with numerous lakes, hiking trails and a pristine forest.
WHY: It’s refreshing to ski where there are no lift lines and little pretense – most of the “beautiful people” went to Colorado; the home-growns stayed here. Economically, this ski vacation is quite affordable.
HOW: For more information on Bear Valley Ski Resort, phone (209) 753-2301 or visit www.bearvalley.com. For more information on Bear Valley Lodge, phone (209) 753-2325 or visit www.bearvalleylodge.com.
By: Cary Ordway
About the Author:
Cary Ordway is a syndicated travel writer and president of Getaway Media Corp, which publishes websites focused on regional getaway travel. Among the sites currently offered by GMC are http://www.californiaweekend.com , covering California spa vacations and other Golden State destinations, and http://www.northwesttraveladvisor.com , covering Washington vacation ideas as well as other Pacific Northwest travel destinations.
Filed under Travel by on Jan 23rd, 2010.