Top five snowboard resorts in France

Lucy Grewcock    snowboardingholidays     Avoriaz, chamonix, Courchevel, France, Serre Chevalier, Snowboard Resorts, snowboarding holidays, Snowboarding Trips, Tignes

Home to some of the best snowboarding resorts in the world, picking out five of France’s finest is no easy feat. If you’ve not yet been snowboarding to France, I guarantee at some time you will!

Avoriaz, the first resort in France with a snowboard only zone. Image: Flickr/ John Williams / Eurapart

It’s a country that boasts a plethora of perfect pistes, super snowparks and outstanding off-piste terrain; an excursion to this part of the European Alps is unlikely to disappoint.

But amongst these many gems, there’s a handful that sparkle a little brighter than the rest. We take a look at five of France’s very best resorts for snowboarders, examining each for their unique appeal.

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Skiplex promises endless skiing but is the it real deal?

Lucy Grewcock    bestskiholidays, Ski Gear     ski training, Ski Trips, Skiing, skiing gear, Skiing Holidays, skiing Trips, Skiplex

It was the first time I had actually seen myself ski but I didn’t look as good as I’d imagined, despite having notched up almost ten years on the slopes.

Look good to get good. Image: Skiplex

Watching myself sliding and flexing in front of the huge mirror, I could see that my upper body was moving around far too much, and that I was leaning over my uphill ski as I travelled across the ‘piste’, rather than keeping my core upright and balanced.

Before long, these glitches in my technique unbalanced my skis and I fell onto the white carpet with a clatter of metal.

My Skiplex experience had begun!

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Ski Like a Girl: Freeriding females, this is your year

Lucy Grewcock    bestskiholidays     Crystal Wright, Freeriding, Freeskier, Freestyle, Lynsey Dyer, ski, ski holidays, Skiing, Skiing Holidays, skiing Trips

Women are raising the bar in the world of freeriding. They’re skiing bigger mountains, taking greater risks and proving that female freeskiers are a force to contend with.

Crystal Wright, one of the best skiers on the planet. Image: Arcteryx.

World tours have provided the ultimate arena for fearless females to test themselves against the best skiers on the planet, and this year the competition reached fever point with female freeriders better represented and receiving more coverage than ever before.

This year, three world tours – the Swatch Freeride World Tour, Freeskiing World Tour and The North Face Masters of Snowboarding combined, bringing together the world’s best talent on the snow in one event.

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Best places to ski in Canada are its hot tub havens

Lucy Grewcock    bestskiholidays, New Ski Holiday Ideas     Banff Upper Hot Springs, British Colombia, Canada, Fairmont Hot Springs Resort, Gwaii Haanas National Park, Harrison Hot Springs, Hiking, Iskut River Hot Springs, Kayaking, Kootenay National Park, Mount Layton Hot Springs, mountain biking, Ski in Canada, Ski Trips, Skiing, skiing in Canada

Canada has some of the finest skiing on the planet. But the best places to ski in Canada are those that are near to, or have their own thermal springs. It’s pure après-ski hot tub heaven!

Ski then bathe in natural thermal pools. Image: Flickr/ eliduke

The country is home to more than 50 hot spring sites, where visitors can bathe in natural thermal pools and feel the soothing benefits of warm mineral waters on their muscles.

This is hugely popular after a day of thigh-burning hiking or mountain biking in Cascade Mountains, punishing ski-descents in the Rockies, or a day of kayaking Canada’s white waters.

But where can you find these hot tub hot spots?

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Adventure Holidays in New Zealand: Activities in the Southern Alps

Lucy Grewcock    ash, New Adventure Travel Ideas     4x4 Driving, adventure holidays, Adventure Trips, Arthur's Pass National Park, Christchurch, Craigieburn Valley, cycling, Horse Riding, Mackenzie Country, Mount Aspiring, Mount Cheeseman, Mount Cook, Mount Hutt, Mount Lyford, mountain biking, New Zealand, Overland Adventures, Selwyn Six ski area, Skiing, Snowboarding, Southern Alps, Tramping

Extending along the western length of the South Island and dividing the landmass in two, the Southern Alps – or Ngā Pukemāeroero in Maori – is the country’s longest and highest mountain range. Adventure holidays here encompass everything life in New Zealand offers.

Mount Hutt is the best known ski area in New Zealand. Image: Flickr/ gregor_ronald

Crammed with awe-inspiring peaks, ice-blue glaciers, verdant rainforests, volcanic lakes and sparkling rivers, this is a true outdoor enthusiast’s paradise, and comes loaded with National Parks, ski resorts, welcoming towns and outdoor activity hubs that place an excess of adventurous opportunities right at your fingertips.

Here are a few ideas to get you started.

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Best Ski Movies: Après ski DVD heaven

Lucy Grewcock    bestskiholidays     Ski Movies, Skiing, Skiing Holidays

Sinking happy hour pints in the pub, refuelling on alpine fodder at home, or soaking your tootsies in a steaming tub: however you like to spend your après time, get yourself geared up with this season’s best ski films.

The best ski movies to watch in your après time. Image: Flickr/ Squaw Valley

But, you’d be foolish to just stick to the latest releases; we’ve included a stack of timeless classics, you can kick back to.

Here are the best ski movies to watch in your après time:

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Should off-piste be off-limits?

Lucy Grewcock    bestskiholidays     CAA, Canadian Avalanche Warning Services, European Avalanche Warning Services, Holiday Skiing, Ischgl, off piste, Ski Trip

On-piste safety can be controlled, to an extent, in ski resorts: graded runs lead to a natural sorting of ski abilities; first-timers can stick to the nursery slopes; avalanche threats can be monitored; and rescue or assistance is available on-hand.

Guides evaluating the avalanche danger. Image: Flickr/ lightcap

But once you venture off-piste, you enter unregulated territory, where potential risk increases dramatically and you’re expected to take full responsibility for your own safety.

Are all backcountry skiers aware of the risks they place themselves and others under? What measures to they take to ski responsibly? And should we restrict those who aren’t properly equipped?

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