After what is normally a year’s break between ski trips, as you get off the bus or train in your resort of choice, you probably remember what it was like last year once you had become used to the resort, and life on the snow, glugging glüwein and troffing tartiflette. Unfortunately, even though the brain is willing, the body has more than likely completely forgotten what it is supposed to be doing.
Arriving in Zermatt for example, the village a good mile above sea level, you may well find yourself huffing and puffing as you drag your luggage across the station square..
You forget how cold it can be, and how the cold air catches your breath.
You forget how to walk on the slippery snow and ice in the village, which for the first few hours consists of arms outstretched, testing small patches of snow with your foot, and occasionally slipping, throwing any shopping, skis, and small children in the air, as you land unceremoniously on your backside.
As scant consolation, many locals also come to grief on the roads around the village; just as many accidents that happen on the mountain midwinter as it happens. So, how can you stay a little more upright and generally look a little more as though snow is your home; a little more James Bond and a little less Goofy, shall we say..
Here are our 5 tips to surviving a ski resort:
Adequate Footwear
Nothing says city dweller more than a pair of slick-soled London loafers. You need a bit of off-road tread on your shoes, but this doesn’t mean they have to be unattractive; check out Sorel Boots for a bit of luxury ski resort footwear; they have the added advantage of keeping your feet warm, and let’s face it, we all know what it’s like to lose the feeling in your toes despite bopping along to the oompah après-ski music in the evening.
Carrying Ski Kit Around the Village
To be avoided if possible, but if you do have a little hike to the ski lift in the morning, invest in some cat tracks (available in most ski shops in resort, and Snow & Rock); they’ll give you grip and stop you slowly wearing away at ski boot bases.
Added on to this; many lift stations have ski lockers, so if you know you’ll be starting from the same place the next morning, leave your skis at the lift station at the end of the day. Then you don’t risk forgetting them outside the après ski bar.
Coping with the Altitude
There isn’t a definitive remedy for this; it really is just a matter of waiting until your body has become used to the height. And, annoying some people suffer from it much more than others, but if you having a really hard time, there is medication you can take, although this is generally intended for people at over 3,000m. Generally, make sure you drink plenty of water (also helps combat those over-zealously heated hotel rooms), get enough sleep in the first day or two and don’t go too high for the first couple of days. All easier said than done when you’re only on holiday for a week, but it will help if you are suffering.
Bring a “Village” Jacket
Space is always at a a premium when packing, plus of course you need to leave space for the giant Toblerone, and ten packets of local cheese you need to take back, but there is nothing worse than putting your ski jacket on the morning after a night out only to realise it stinks of booze, cigarettes and whatever else you may have come into contact with… so if you can, bring an alternative village and/or pub jacket.
Love the Snow
Basically, if you try to take on the snow, there’s a good chance the snow will win, so, you’re best off going with the flow.
So, buy yourself some hand and foot warmers, don your fur-lined hat, and head into the snow with a steely Roald Amundsen look in your eye…!
With thanks for this blog to Matterhorn Diamonds, a highly reputable ski school in Zermatt. Offering freeride, freestyle, telemark, and both adult and children’s ski lessons with instruction in English, German, Russian, French, Spanish, Italian, and Portuguese.
If you are interested to ski with Matterhorn Diamonds this year in Zermatt then take a browse through our luxury chalets in Zermatt or drop us an email to discuss your requirements in more detail or call us on +44 (0)1202 203650.
