A Guide For The Skiing Beginner

It can be very scary to try anything new, especially when you could get hurt while trying this new activity. This guide is to help you relax and give you everything you need to know to get started.

Equipment, ski slopes and instruction are the three basic things you need to know before you start skiing. You need to know if you should rent or buy your equipment. You might end up hating to ski so you should probably not spend the money to buy the equipment at first. Make sure the equipment you rent is comfortable and fits your skill level. You will want to ask help from a salesperson since you will be a beginner. Having ski goggles is important and having your children wear helmets is a safety precaution. You should be able to find boots, skies, helmets and goggles at the rental shop.

When thinking about clothing, make sure you dress appropriately. Being warm is the goal since you will be out in the cold snow. Try dressing in layers with the bottom layer having a material that keeps water away from your body since you will be out in winter conditions. This will help you keep warm and dry. Without your teeth chattering, you will enjoy your skiing experience a lot more.

Plan when and where you are going to start skiing. Do some research and find the resorts and slopes near where you live or plan a vacation to find some slopes not so close to you. You need to know how much your skiing excursion is going to cost you. Some of the expenses you need to plan for are rentals for equipment, ski lift fees and facility fees. If you are planning to go skiing over a weekend, plan on the prices being higher. If you go with a large group you might qualify for a reduced price. Make sure to check out a resorts rate options when doing research.

There are several ways you can learn how to ski. You can teach yourself, have a friend teach you or take lessons from a professional ski instructor. It is dangerous to attempt to teach your self and this option should not be considered. You will miss out on a lot of important information and tips if you have a friend teach you but it will save you a great deal of money. The most practical option is to take lessons from an instructor. This will help you stay safe and learn important techniques.

It can be scary to learn how to ski but if you take the proper precautions then you can have a safe, exciting and fun skiing experience.

Italian Ski Resorts

Italy is a great skiing destination. The Italian Alps are home to many great and famous ski resorts such as Cortina d'Ampezzo and Courmayeur (Remember "The Pink Panther" with Peter Sellers? That's where it happens). The best ski resorts with the most modern facilities are found in northern Italy, in the Alpine area. However, there are some ski resorts in the south of the country too.

Skiing is a very popular activity in Italy. Many Italians take a week off during winter just to go skiing. It is possible to find a ski resort for anyone in Italy. There are very luxurious resorts, and very affordable ones. Some slopes are only for the well trained, others are moderate enough for beginners or rusty skiers.

The best way to arrive to Italy for a ski vacation is through one of these airports:

Turin, Milan, Bergamo, Verona or Venice Treviso. They are all well served by international flights, and offer the option of taking a city break with your ski vacation.

Turin, this winter's Olympic Games location, is a good place to arrive to. Going from Turin towards the French border (public transportation is available), there are Sestriere and Sauze D'aulx among other busy ski resorts. Sestreiere is a very modern and fashionable ski resort that offers 20 ski lifts, and ice skating rink and cross country trails.

Further to the north, on the border, is the area of Valle d'Aosta. In this area both Italian and French are spoken, and the food also has a lot of French influence. In this area you can find some of the highest mountains in Europe: Matterhorn, Monte Rosa, Mont Blanc and Gran Paradiso. The beautiful view of pine trees and castles is seen from wooden ski chalets. One of the most glamorous resorts in Italy is found here – CourMayeur, at the foot of the Mont Blanc. This resort offers all that a skier can dream of, even summer skiing. Also in that area is Breuil – Cervinia

In the north east of Italy are the Dolomites. The "Dolomiti Superski" is a network of 12 different skiing areas. A popular resort in this area is Madonna di Campiglio. This is also where the famous Cortina D'ampezzo is located.

In the winter, there are opportunities for ski in the southern mountains. Campo Felice is in the Gran Sasso, east of Rome, also has a ski school. The Sila massif in Calabria has 35 Km of cross country skiing, and only 2 downhill slopes.

Rachel Deutsch operates sites about Italy, such as http://www.dream-vacation-in-tuscany.com and http://www.dream-vacation-in-rome.com. These sites aim to give the potential traveller as information about Italy, its culture, food, histlry and views.

Stunning Switzerland

It is sometimes surprising to realize how a small country can have such a vast and extraordinary variety of attractions. Switzerland, a dream destination of every tourist is full of splendor and unparalleled destinations. The level of my excitement on being there was not unexpected considering the thrill I used to have while watching the beauty of Switzerland in films or television documentaries--the spectator’s realization in this country always conforms to those camera clips.

Situated in the Central Europe, this alpine beauty, never let you eyes go off the peaks and breathtaking scenery. These mountains are perfect for skiing areas. The Matterhorn in Zermatt is an awesome spot for skiing adventure. This famous peak of Alps in Zermatt is the most popular amongst mountaineers. Each of the cities in Switzerland has something in store to stun you when you are there. The exceptional lake side location of Geneva make the tourists extend their leaves. It is rich in museums, fountains and restaurants and several other worthwhile places.

In the eastern side of the country, the mountain valley of Graubunden offers spectacular views of mountain landscapes. The Bernese Oberland invites you to witness the most stunning mountain views especially that of Jaunfarau lying south of Interlaken. Abundant of worth watching scenery grace this highly appealing place. City of Zurich has its own charm. Known for the famous financial establishments and world class art galleries, this city offer a wonderful opportunity to enjoy swimming in the lake Zurich. Fantastic place!

One can never afford to overlook the panoramic view of White Mountains at Engadin. One of the most thrilling attractions, Mt Pilatus in Lucerene is a spot wherefrom you can enjoy the awesome vistas. The amazing journey to the 7000 ft high peak on cable car makes you encounter the dream sight of mountains and amazing vistas. And this is not the end of journey; one has to have a lot of stamina to cover up the entire fabulous attraction of Stunning Switzerland. You can find more information on Switzerland tourism on the site.

http://www.stayresswitzerland.com/travel-guide.html

Skiing in Austria

If you're a skiing enthusiast, then your images of Austria are probably all of snow-covered mountains that you'd love to explore. While there are plenty of magnificent cities to explore in Austria, such as Vienna and Salzburg, the snow capped mountains are definitely the place to go if you're interested in winter sports. The Tirol region, located in the west of Austria, has a number of different snowfields you can visit, so pack up your snow gear and start exploring.

Kitzbühel Region

This area is serviced by the resorts of Kitzbühel, Reith, Kirchberg and Aurach. It's a varied region, with skiing available for all levels of experience. In the 1930s the "Hehnenkamm Race" was held in this area for the first time, and has gone on to become one of the most coveted titles in the men's World Cup circuit. The downhill race on the "Streif" is nothing short of spectacular. If you've watched the race, you can try the run for yourself, except just prior to the World Cup event.

Ischgl Region

The Ischgl region is close to the border of Switzerland, and recently it was linked together with the Samnaun skiing area to form a huge winter sports playground. The Silvretta Ski and Fun Sports Arena has proven to be one of the most celebrated skiing and snowboarding destinations, and almost any type of winter sport can be catered to in this area. Most of the skiing is between 2,000 and 2,872 meters, which means that the northern slopes are covered in snow for up to 7 months of the year. The Ischgl area is also renowned for its après ski pleasures, with the end-of-season celebrations becoming a magnet for celebrities and party lovers from around the world. Concerts are held on the Idalpe, which is around 2,300 meters above sea level, and in recent times well known performs such as Jon Bon Jovi, Enrique Iglesias and Atomic Kitten have starred.

Seefeld Region

This area has become something of a cross-country skier’s paradise, with Nordic events for the Winter Olympic Games being hosted here in 1964 and 1976, the Nordic Skiing World Championships in 1985 and the Cross-Country Skiing World Cup in 1999. So if Nordic skiing is your passion, you can visit Seefeld and know you're skiing on the same trails as some of the world's best cross-country skiers. Seefeld is situated in the largest Austrian nature reserve, and is a charming village situated at an altitude of 1200 meters.

Stubaital Region

Have you ever wanted to try skiing on a glacier? Then visit Stubaital, which contains Austria's largest glacier skiing area. There's over 70km of pistes serviced by 22 lifts, and you can ski all year round. Stubaital also boasts the longest high alpine downhill tour in Austria, with numerous events set against the spectacular Stubai Alps. There's also an extensive fun park designed for snowboarders, with quarter pipe, tabletop, projump, spine and a half pipe.

Sölden-Ötztal Region

This skiing area boasts a large variation in heights, covering from just 1,400 meters above sea level right up to 3,249 meters. The season opens in mid October with the first events in both the FIS Alpine Skiing World Cup and the FIS Snowboard World Cup. So if you'd like to sample world-class runs surrounded by majestic 3,000 meter peaks, visit the Ötztal Arena.

Zillertal Region

Mayrhofen is the lively heart of the Ziller Valley. The Zillertal is a broad side valley, covering over 1,000 square kilometers. You could spend the whole ski season in this one area and never get bored, with over 589km of runs and 173 ski lifts to choose from.

If you want to read more about skiing in Austria, click over to Gordon's site at http://www.travelaustriainfozone.com

Ski Vacations

Upon the arrival of winter, ski enthusiasts around the world start searching the Internet and visiting various websites to find a suitable ski vacation package. With so many ski vacation destinations around the world, it is undoubtedly a difficult task to pick one. Planning is an essential ingredient for a successful ski vacation. Create a list of the activities you are interested in pursuing and choose a destination that successfully delivers all.

Skiing is usually the principal purpose of any traveler going for a ski vacation. But there are a good number of travelers who prefer the après-ski and other facilities offered by these ski destinations. With such a large choice of ski vacation destinations at your disposal, you can certainly find a ski vacation destination that fits your preferences and needs. The northwest includes ski vacation destinations like Colorado, Utah, Canada, etc. The northeast includes Maine, Pennsylvania, Vermont, etc. Europe includes destination like Austria, France, Italy, Switzerland, etc. And the southern hemisphere includes Argentina, Chile, and New Zealand.

Before planning your ski vacation, search the Internet thoroughly to get some idea about the number of piste (black, red, blue, and green), and off-piste available; the length of the piste on offer; après-ski facilities; etc. The après-ski facilities on offer are also important, as after a tiring day of skiing, it may be a good option to relax at the clubs, discos, and other places.

Select a vacation package that suits your budget and serves the purpose your of ski vacation. Lastly, no matter which ski vacation destination you visit, be sure to enjoy yourself fully.

Ski Vacations provides detailed information on Ski Vacations, Canada Ski Vacations, Colorado Ski Vacations, Ski Vacation Packages and more. Ski Vacations is affiliated with Luxury Vacation Homes.