11.01
2012 Lifestyle

In 2007, Christian Lawler went on his first ski holiday in France. Now, he spends at least seven days each year at a French ski resort and has even invested in a few pieces of equipment. Here, Christian tells FrenchEntrée about his experience.

“I love the adrenaline rush that comes with moving so freely down an extremely icy and steep hill. The sense of satisfaction after completing a new run (without falling over) is quite something, but I would recommend taking lessons before you hit the real snow on the slopes.

In 2007, Christian Lawler went on his first ski holiday in France. Now, he spends at least seven days each year at a French ski resort and has even invested in a few pieces of equipment. Here, Christian tells FrenchEntrée about his experience.

“I love the adrenaline rush that comes with moving so freely down an extremely icy and steep hill. The sense of satisfaction after completing a new run (without falling over) is quite something, but I would recommend taking lessons before you hit the real snow on the slopes.

"It was a good friend of mine, a keen skier, who persuaded me to take my first ski holiday in the French resort of Val d'Isère. I’d taken a few ski lessons on a dry slope when I was younger but went back for another 10 hours of tuition in Gloucestershire before attempting to ski on real snow.

"When I go skiing with friends, we normally choose to go in March. It’s a bit warmer at that time of the year, there are fewer people on the slopes and it’s less expensive. So far, we’ve been to Val d'Isère, Morzine and La Plagne.

"Most of the big resorts are in a larger ski area, for example La Plagne is in the 'Paradiski' ski area. That means that you don’t have to be confined to your own resort and you can use the ski lift system and different runs to venture all over and find new places to visit.

"I would advise investing in a helmet, which should be a standard item for any beginner, as your chances of falling over are that much higher. It will also mean that you can ski with the added confidence of safety and I have found that means having a better time!

"Several years down the line, I’ve also bought my own goggles because I find this item very personal. I haven't bought skis or boots as I’d like to improve my technique before making such a big investment but rentals are very good for my level.

"My first experience with snow sports was actually a day’s snowboarding in Idaho, USA about a year before I went on my first ski holiday in the French Alps. I haven’t tried snowshoeing but I have been on a night snowmobile ride in La Plagne, which was excellent, if a little terrifying!

"As most of my friends are more experienced skiers, it is important that the ski resorts we choose in France have plenty of different coloured runs to cater for all of us. Both La Plagne and Morzine were excellent in that respect.

"Being quite young, good après ski is also essential and Val d'Isère was a natural choice. Some locations are better for après-ski than others but you can't go wrong with a mountain pub/restaurant that serves good vin chaud and has some decent live music.

"We’ve stayed in a self-catered apartment (where the living room was a bedroom) and a 5* fully catered ski in ski out chalet (where they brought you hot chocolate with rum as a wake up call). Both have their advantages and disadvantages and it depends on what type of experience you are after.

"Personally, I now aim for a bit of luxury, as it makes all the difference coming back to a nice place with a hearty cooked meal waiting for you. But even on a budget, you can still find some great self-catering apartments.

"Raclette is without a doubt my favourite alpine food. There is nothing nicer than a thick slice of baguette covered with hot melted cheese to warm you up after a good days skiing!"


This article first appeared on FrenchEntrée.com

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