Ski Touring? Why skiing without ski lifts isn’t rubbish.

James    Adventure Sports & Travel Thoughts     off piste, ski holidays, ski resort, ski touring, Skiing, Skiing Holidays

In the first of a new occasional series explaining the basics of less well-known adventure sports, we use the classic journalistic trick of a fake interview to give a basic overview of the activity, starting with SKI TOURING

So, What is Ski touring?

Ski touring is skiing without lifts. Using special bindings you can hike up and then ski down slopes and make cross country routes.

Ski Touring and free from the slopes. Image Flickr/ Stephan Mantler

So it’s like skiing but with no ski lifts? Sounds rubbish.

If you think of it purely as hugely inconvenient regular skiing then you’d be right. The ski touring experience has more in common with hiking but with the added bonus of having a lot more fun on the downward sections.

I’ve tried walking up hills in skis. You just slide backwards!

With ski touring you attach a grippy felt layer called a skin on the bottom of each ski. The skins, which were made from seal skin in the old days, ensure that you can grip the snow with the bottom of the skis and can easily walk up slopes. You then take off the skin when you want to ski down.

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Top Dubrovnik tourist spot named

Mark Pawlak    sailingbreaks     Croatia, Dubrovnik, Sailing, sailing holiday, Yachting

Tourism bosses in Croatia have issued their top tip for holidaymakers planning a visit to the city of Dubrovnik.

Any sailing holiday in Croatia this summer is likely to include Dubrovnik in its itinerary, and the local tourism board has highlighted East West Beach as one of the most exciting attractions in the popular coastal city.

The renowned venue has been named as a top site for a chill-out session thanks to its famous day beach soirees, which provide the perfect opportunity to lie back and relax on one of the world’s top coasts.

Those on a yacht charter in Croatia can spend a memorable day at East West Beach and enjoy its restaurant, club, lounge and pampering facilities.

The venue even provides a speedboat that can be used to explore Dubrovnik and nearby islands including Lokrum.

At night, the club becomes a fashionable and exotic party spot where revellers can boogie the night away.

Other recommendations from the Dubrovnik Tourist Board include Culture Club Revelin in the historic area of Fort Revelin.

Travel smoking: why smokers love the open road

Jonathan Tait    trekkingholidays     backpacking, RTW, rtw trip, Travel, trekking, Walking

The cigarette, for smokers, is a metaphor for travel. And, whether you like it or not, it’s inextricably linked to the world of backpacking and the flow of adventure.

Smoking a hookah - all part of the experience? Image: Flickr/ timsnell

We can divide travel smoking into the tangible and the abstract. There are two instantly tangible or recognisable reasons for ‘travel smoking’: it’s cheap and it kills time [kills more than time].

In some, less health-conscious nations, 50 pence will get you a 20-pack of cigarettes – great if you smoke, but not so great if you are trying to give up.

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Sailors face rough weather in island race

Mark Pawlak    sailingbreaks     Isle of Wight, Sailing, sailing holiday, sailing race, sailing races, Yachting

It is not just yacht charter holidays around exotic islands off the coasts of far-off countries that can tempt sailors out onto their vessels.

A race around the Isle of Wight has proved to be a strong enough attraction to draw in over 1,900 boats and 16,000 sailors.

One of the largest yacht races in the world, the J.P Morgan Round The Island Race took place on the 25th June.

The largest ever number of competitors faced rough weather conditions to take part in the sailing event, which is now in its 80th year.

TV presenter Denise Van Outen signalled the beginning of the race from the Crowes starting line, but because of the severe conditions – with up to force seven winds and waves around 20 feet – many boats were forced to retire early.

The winner of the epic race was Lionel Lemonchois, which crossed over the finishing line with a time of three hours, 49 minutes and 58 seconds.

Heli-skiing in British Columbia

Neil Skilton    ash     heli skiing, heli-ski British Columbia, off piste, ski, Skiing, Skiing Holidays

The day you’ve been waiting for has finally arrived.  It’s a crisp morning heli-skiing in British Columbia, and the fresh mountain air fills your lungs as you head outside to admire the spectacular scenery.  A hearty and delicious breakfast is devoured and will provide necessary fuel for the day ahead.

Route up. Image: Flickr/lucelu

Morning briefings on the weather, snow conditions and departure times are relayed by the lead guide to the small group of enthusiastic, yet slightly nervous people, among who you stand.  You feel excited, yet there has been a knot in your stomach since you awoke.  Avalanche beacons are tested and everyone gets a good opportunity to perform several practice searches.

Outside, by the helicopter, you’re introduced to your pilot and given a review on helicopter safety procedures.  Then it’s into the chopper and before you know it the ground is disappearing.  Nervous, excited exchanges of glances between your co-passengers intermit with views you’ve only ever seen out of ski movies.

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Estonia: Adventure Holidays with a Nordic twist

Mark Pawlak    ash     4x4 driving holidays, canoeing, cycling, Estonia, kayaking holidays, mountainbiking, off-road, trekking, Windsurfing

With new routes opening all the time, Estonia is seeing a massive upsurge in visitors. And the director of the Estonian tourist board recently made it clear that much of the attraction is because of the country’s unspoilt countryside.

But what’s this republic really got to offer the adventure traveller? Here’s an intro to what’s to be found in Estonia and some destinations worth considering.

Introducing Estonia

The most northerly of neighbours Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia, this country sits on the south side of the Gulf of Finland and is strongly influenced by Nordic culture. Independent since 1991, it’s slowly developing into a tourist magnet – so far it’s been its capital, Tallinn, that’s drawn most of the attention. A popular weekend break/stag do destination, this enchanting city is actually the front for a European adventure destination that’s slowly revealing its true potential…

Town Hall Square in Tallinn. Image: Jaak Nilson/ Enterprise Estonia

Tallinn

The capital is a fantastically preserved medieval city (European Capital of Culture, 2011) and it’s from here many of the more popular activities are organised. With so much uninhabited land around, it’s little surprise that off-road driving and Lada racing are local favourites.

Tallinn’s a great base camp for further adventures, but to see just what’s on offer, we’d recommend you use the national parks as your stepping stones.

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Tall Ships Race gets under way

Mark Pawlak    sailingbreaks     Sailing, sailing holiday, Yachting

The 2011 Waterford Tall Ships Race has got under way, with the 45 vessels taking part as the flotilla left the Irish port.

Crowds gathered to cheer the majestic ships on as they sailed out of the quays and along the River Suir after assembling off Dunmore East for the Parade of Sail.

The gruelling race – one of the premier sailing events in the calendar – saw the vessels head around the west coast of Ireland to Greenock in Scotland.

However, the sailors were forced to head along the Celtic Sea as bad weather descended on the race – of which Russian ship Mir emerged an early leader.

Once the vessels begin arriving in Greenock they will embark upon a cruise to Lerwick in Shetland.

The second stage of the event will see the vessels race to Halmstad in Sweden.

Among the vessels docked on the north quays was past winner Sorlandet – a Norwegian ship built in 1927.