PHOTOGRAPH: MARK READ
TRY SOMETHING NEWIt might not feel like it when you’re standing at
thetopofaskislopeforthefirsttime,butthe
sensation of swooshing smoothly down the
mountain is unmatched bliss. Skiing is a
pursuit where costs can add up quickly,
but since you’re less likely as a beginner to be
in search of perfect fresh powder, it makes
sensetolookfordealslateintheseason.
And if the slopes continue to test you,
there is always the après-ski...Learn to ski
Les Trois Vallées, FranceThree linked resorts form the
world’slargestskiarea.Thesheer
variety of options here, on-piste or
off,meansfirst-timerswon’tfeelleft
out. Try multi-altitude Courchevel
for glamour, Méribel for a
long-standing favourite with British
visitors, and Val Thorens for a
ski season that lasts longer than
almost anywhere else in the Alps.
les3vallees.comObergurgl, AustriaBesides sporting the best name of
any Alpine resort, Obergurgl is
family-friendly and – with its high
elevation – has an excellent record
on snow-cover. Beginner runs are
plentiful here; with a bit more
progress (but still on blue slopes)
you can take a lift up above 3,
metres to reach the Top Mountain
Star bar with its skyline views.
obergurgl.comSoldeu, AndorraVisit this vertically gifted statelet
sandwiched between France and
Spain, and you’ll not only add
an unusual entry to your countries-
visitedlist,butalsofindanoften-
cheaper winter alternative to the
Alps in the Pyrenees. Soldeu is
the top resort in the Grandvalira
ski area, with excellent English-
language instruction for newbies.
andorraresorts.comVoss, NorwayThelandoftheVikingsgaveusthe
word ‘ski’, so why not book a trip
here for a back-to-basics course in
the art? Voss is a year-round centre
for outdoor pursuits within reach
of the fjords. In its winter guise,
it offers a good variety of downhill
skiing, but for a change of pace
(or gradient), it’s even better in its
choice of cross-country routes.
vossresort.no