Extreme Sports

Best Of: Ski-Ing in the Snow

Winter is when skiers start to think about booking their skiing holiday. In Europe there are hundreds of destinations to choose from. France, Switzerland and Austria all have very popular ski resorts, but if you are looking for a bargain then try Eastern Europe. Borovets in Bulgaria and the high Tatra mountains in Slovakia are attracting increasing numbers of skiers. A survey by pricerunner.co.uk and travelex.co.uk revealed that not only are the Eastern European resorts much cheaper than the popular destinations in the Alps, but they are also rated quite highly. Bansko in Bulgaria, Jasna in Slovakia, Zelezna Ruda in the Czech Republic and Kranjska Gora in Slovenia all got a mention.

If you are unsure which resort to pick, companies such as Forbes create a list of the top ski resorts in the world. The list will contain many Western and European resorts primarily because of the quality of the snow and the village atmosphere. New England has snow, but it won’t feature much on the list. This is because its snow tends to be icy, not powdery like the snow in Europe which is better for skiing. However, skiing holidays are about more than the quality of the snow. Resorts such as Aspen are hugely popular and the slopes are crowded, meaning that you probably spend more time waiting for the chair lift than on the slopes. Another consideration is the après-ski scene. For some people this is the best part of the holiday. There should be plenty of opportunities for dining, drinking and swapping stories in front of a log fire. It is also a good idea to choose somewhere that has activities other than skiing, just in case your legs need a rest from the slopes. Your accommodation is also important and should be comfortable with easy access to the slopes.  Read more...

Handbook to Skiing the Alps

The ski region has four major ski resorts, the Claviere, the Cesana-Sansicario, the Sauze d’Oulx, and the Sestriere. The Claviere ski resort is ideal for families in which the parents are teaching the young ones how to ski.

Romantic couples that enjoy the private rustic settings prefer the Cesana-Sansicario ski resort. Groups of people who loved a lively après ski would go to the Sauze d’Oulx ski resort. The serious skiers, however, who demand challenging pistes as well as comfortable amenities, the ski resort of Sestriere is the superior choice. The Sestriere was built in the 1930s. As innovations and improvements are implemented every year, the Sestriere is always a new ski resort.

At the Sestriere ski resort, the skiers will have access to 105 ski runs that total to about 400 kilometers. About half of these runs are designed for intermediate skiers. For example, the ski runs in the Monti della Luna area go through the woods with the widths perfectly suited for those who love to combine pleasure and challenge in skiing. There is a total of 15 kilometers of cross-country trails and a snow park. The longest ski run is about five kilometers, which means extended skiing fun. Sestriere is also the location of the famous Giovanni Alberto Agnelli piste, the ski run used by the Alpine World Championships in 1997. The same ski run is open for nighttime skiing until 10 pm.

Amenity-wise, the Sestriere ski resort is both inclusive and state-of-the-art. The resort was purposely built with skiers in mind. There are numerous hotels, restaurants, and shops. The cost of hotel accommodations is average but the skiers can reduce their expenses by renting apartments. Various international cuisines can be enjoyed from any of the 33 restaurants and 30 bars. There are shops for ski equipment and boutiques for those who are keen on Italian fashion. And if skiers wanted alternatives to skiing, the new ski resort has facilities for bowling, paragliding, ice-skating, and even golf. Of course, the gym is well outfitted with physical fitness equipment, including sauna tubs.

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Product Description
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