Most Sports enthusiasts can indulge in their hobby regularly. Skiers are generally not so fortunate. Even those lucky enough to live in a ski resort. Skiing is obviously a seasonal activity which is confined to the winter months and in any case many skiers don’t live close to the slopes. With the high cost of the holidays and the need to take time off work, skiers are often confined to just one trip each year. The only way to squeeze in another winter break is to travel at the weekend but that has its own problems.
If you choose the wrong destination for your weekend of skiing then you could spend more time trying to get there than you do on the slopes. You could also find that much of your precious time is taken up queuing for the lifts. Before you know it the weekend is gone and it is time to head home. The choice of resort could make or break the experience so how do you choose the perfect resort?
Location
Clearly the biggest issue is travelling time. You have to find the right balance between the time spent in transit and time on the snow. There is little point opting for a resort that it takes an entire day to reach. The best weekend breaks will see you on the snow the day you arrive. Look for destinations which are within an hour of the airport. For the record, the closest resort to an international airport is Krvavec in Slovenia which is just five miles from Brnik, Ljubljana. Vogel, also in Slovenia, is just forty minutes from Brnik. Megève in France and both Schladming and Mayrhofen in Austria can be reached in 60 minutes from the closest airports. Naturally these locations are only advantageous if you can book a flight at a convenient time.
Terrain
If you are skiing for a week or more then the extent of the available terrain will be a factor in your choice of resort. However, this really isn’t an issue on a weekend trip because you won’t have time to take advantage of an extensive ski area. That being the case there is little point paying the premium price for a lift pass in one of the larger resorts. Smaller resorts tend to be cheaper but many will still offer enough runs to keep you happy for a couple of days. Here the Slovenian resorts really come into their own. Prices are low and if you do get bored, Vogel, Krvavec and Kanin are all within easy reach of each other.
Queues
The smaller resorts are also a good choice if you want to maximise the amount of time you actually spend skiing rather than queuing. Queues are common and sometimes lengthy at the prestige resorts and so these are best avoided. Choose somewhere with a lower profile where you can always hop straight back onto the lifts.
Night Skiing
If you only have a couple of days to enjoy the white stuff then the longer you can stay out on the runs the better. Look for destinations that offer night skiing to maximise your skiing time. Resorts which offer night skiing often only do so one or two evenings each week but these are generally at the weekend.
If you find somewhere close to an airport with a modest amount of terrain and some night skiing you are on to a winner. In this regard it would be hard to top the aforementioned Krvavec in Slovenia. It won’t suit everyone but with cheap lift passes, night skiing and that ten minute ride from the airport it has its advantages.
Article by Sally Stacey