Few would disagree that skiing holidays have really come into their own over the last few years.
There was once a time where, to most of us at least, they were completely inaccessible. Sure, the costs are still high, but with more resorts in lesser-known locations now available, they have become at little more competitive.
If we sway away from the costs for the purposes of today, there’s no doubt that a skiing holiday prompts a lot more safety concerns than the typical beach break. At the same time, a lot of thoughts regarding safety and skiing are misguided, and through today’s post we aim to debunk some of the main myths.
As you’ll soon find out, not everything you read about skiing (both good and bad) is true.
Myth #1 – The mountains are where all of the danger lies
First and foremost, this myth is correct in some respects. After all, there is a lot of danger on the mountains, and one only has to look to some of the high-profile, serious accidents over the years to see this in its full glory.
However, it’s not the ONLY place where the danger lies. Footpaths are incredibly treacherous, and falls are common. On a particularly cold night, it’s not uncommon for paths to be like a sheet of ice the following morning, rendering them almost impossible to walk on.
Myth #2 – Anybody can ski
In short, not everyone will be able to. While the pros make it look very easy, skiing is in actual fact a really strenuous activity. It’s something that will exhaust your body and as a result, you need to be in shape. If you’re not in proper shape, like any sport, you run the risk of suffering some form of injury.
Having said that, many resorts have equipment that make it much easier for people with reduced lower body strength to go skiing. While, primarily reserved for those with a disability, you will be able to use a Dualski (which are a seated version of the skis) to take advantage of the slopes. If you have a disability or cannot use regular skiings, you can use this resource here to find resorts who may offer this equipment: https://wintersports.staysure.co.uk/.
Myth #3 – You can jump on a ‘black’ on day one
A lot of novice skiers take to the mountains with the primary aim of getting to a black slope in record speeds. Put simply, it’s not going to happen.
If you take a look at most black slopes, they’re actually pretty quiet. This is because they are far too advanced for most people who ski. If you attempt to hit these on your first trip, having never skied before, the chances of injury or worse are sky high.
Myth #4 – It’s all about the cold
This final myth is quite interesting. A lot of people think of bitter cold temperatures when it comes to skiing, and rightly so.
However, there’s something else that can enter the picture – the sun. That’s right, the sun’s rays are incredibly powerful when you are perched high upon a mountain, and it means that the risk of suffering sun burn is surprisingly high. It means that when you take to the slopes, you simply must arm yourself with adequate sunscreen so you don’t fall victim to this.