snowy holiday

[sammyteach]

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Hi advice needed please. We are thinking about going for a snowy christmas holiday this year. We live in the UK and dont get much snow at all. We are thinking about Canada(Cheapish flights from uk). Me and DH have never been skiing and we are not that fit so we might just do some taster sessions. the kids DD10 and DS8 have never skied either but they are fit so we,ll probably enrole them in a ski school for a few days.
Really we are going for the snow, scenery, wildlife and snow fun.

My questions are can anyone offer their advice and experiences of Christmas snow holidays in Canada and what about 10 days as non skiers do you really have to be fit?
Is there likely to be enough things to do?
Can you get snow/ski clothes in slightly pooh sized sizes
Will it be Christmassy enough?
Do the Canadians offer the great customer service and friendliness we recieve and love in Florida(Im sure they do)?

thanks very much, sorry about the long post

 

[ely3857]

No advice but it does sound like fun

Also, you could try some practice sessions on the real snow slopes at Xscape in Castleford



Jodie

 

[Obi Wan Kenobi]

I can't comment on Canada, but we have just returned from Vermont (on the Canadian border) and we love to ski there.
You need to be a little fit, but the amount of work you do is entirely up to you.
The first couple of tries can be wearing on the muscles, but you enjoy it.
Canada has many good shopping malls (some underground) and plenty of beutiful scenery to take a drive in.

I would get you ski clothes in the UK ski shop sales at the end of this season. that's the cheapest way of togging up.

You need thin layers of thermal clthing, plus a ski jacket, gloves, hat and pants.
Also get some goggles, the sun shining of the snow is pretty harsh without them. Bolle's are good
You will hire boots and skiis at the resort.

 

[CustardTart]

We went to Tremblant (East Canada) a couple of years ago and loved it. Short-ish flight, lovely self-contained resort with loads going on, great hotels and fantastic customer service. The ski schools are excellent - approachable teachers, small groups and all abilities are catered for. We had a really wonderful time. Take a look here... www.tremblant.ca/index.htm

 

[Mrs Dazzle]

Ooh - my favourite subject

A ski holiday at Christmas is simply magical This year the snow in Europe has been scarily abysmal (but sadly only to be expected with global warming).

Of course you cannot 'guarantee' snow anywhere, at any time. But for skiing, find a resort that has good historical snow stats - and as important is a good snow making facility.

There are plenty of places to search - a good first step is the Ski Club of Great Britain http://www.skiclub.co.uk/skiclub/default.asp - you can obtain all sorts of information from here, including resort guides.

Since it's your first time, look for a resort that has other things to do than skiing, just in case someone doesn't take to it (hard to comprehend, but it does happen ). Look for pretty resorts too - Canada would be perfect, but do research about the resorts themselves, see what they offer. Some Canadian resorts (like Whistler) can be very expensive.

We skied in the US for the first time last Easter - it was superb, so much so we're back this year. We travelled to San Fransisco where we spent the first few days, then drove to Lake Tahoe on the Californian/Nevada border. Our resort was Heavenly - in name and beauty. It was simply stunning. They have a fantastic snow record there; the ski school were superb (and this is important for first-timers, especially children - I've been to a few resorts in Europe where hardly any English is spoken and for nervous people this can be a bit offputting), the scenery stunning, the people incredibly friendly.

A good place to look for skiwear is TK Maxx - they do good brands at very reasonable prices. Alternatively, do you have access to a relative/friend's salopettes, save buying it all. (but it is fun kitting yourself out!). And yes, I'm "pooh" sized. I have to say, after many years of skiing, "fat people" aren't supposed to ski, if the clothing manufacturers are anything to go by . But there is sufficient out there, if you look hard. Dedicated ski shops now stock larger sizes, thank goodness. Try starting to do some thigh/leg strengthening exercises (PM me if you need any) around 8 weeks before you go, because your legs really will ache. For all my size, I'm actually quite fit - can keep up with the skinnies in our party, even going longer most days

This year we are off to Killington in Vermont, after travelling to Boston - can't wait

Please should if you need any further info; in the meantime, many happy hours of planning.

 

[carolfoy]

Personally I think you can't beat Banff - probably the prettiest place in the world and with loads of things to see on the days when you're not skiing. Don't worry about the fitness thing, its the suppleness of your muscles you need to practise as you use a whole new set of them for skiing, (you are basically standing in an unusual stance so they ache in places you didn't know you had muscles!)
I will ditto the remarks to get a bit of dry ski practice in first but the real thing is soooo much better

 

[neilybealy]

my cousin and his now fiance have just got back from Whistler in Canada (he proposed on top of a mountain) and they said the snow was amazing - the pics look wicked

 

[Andy B]

Not really on topic but when we went to the Grand Canyon the Week before Easter last year we had a blizzard! 4 inches of snow.

 

[AlanUK]

Just going to pop this over to the Community Board as it's not Disney related