Long hours at work. Boredom waiting for the weekend to arrive.
Maybe it’s time for a change of scenery. A day out in the fresh air. An opportunity to engage with other people. Meet new friends.
Something new. An adventure. Opportunity to learn a new skill.
You want to ski. But where should you go? What equipment should you take? How should you prepare?
You want to do something different. Off-piste skiing is exciting. Off-piste skiing is not for the faint-hearted. Off-piste skiing is not for the unprepared. Off-piste skiing is for the adventurous. The thrill-seeking. The unique. The Sasquatch.
Skiing the slopes with traditional skis and snowboards is great fun. Engaging with the snow. Feeling the rush as you push further and further down the mountain. Feeling the spray as you dive through the gates and into the powder. Making the most of the snow. The challenge. The thrill. The rush.
But what if you want to go somewhere new. Experience a new culture. Try something different. Take your family with you. Traveling to a different country and relying on the local snow to provide your entertainment isn’t for everyone.
For the Sasquatch, off-piste skiing is the way to go. Going fast. Racing the clock. Flying down the mountain. Screaming as you plunge through the snow. Flipping and spinning like you’ve never done before. Immersing yourself in nature. Engaging with the snow and the wind. Feeling alive.
How do you prepare for ski slopestyle? You need to think differently. Instead of packing your ski equipment, take your everyday gear. Jeans. Tunic. Sneakers. Throw in some hiking boots. That’ll give you the basic necessities for your day out.
Where do you stay? You can’t stay at a hotel near the ski resort. It’s way too far for a night out. Instead, try one of the nearby towns. There are tons of nice little towns near the slopes. Find a cozy little bed and breakfast. Or a charming little hotel. Whatever you can find. Don’t forget about Airbnb too.
What should you bring? Besides your basic skiing gear, bring your swimsuit. And you don’t need a winter coat. You’ll get cold in the morning with that big blanket around you. Plus, when the sun comes out, you’ll need a break from the intense cold. A nice warm coffee might be just what you need to get through the day. You’ll also need a torch. It’s dark when you arrive at the top of the mountain at night. So you can’t rely on your phone’s flashlight. Especially not underground. The walk down is a bit chilly too. Especially if it’s icy or snowy. You don’t want to stumble down the hill in the dark. It’s not safe. Especially not at this time of year. In the middle of winter, when it’s dark and rainy, going down the hill is risky. Especially when you’re in single file.
What if something happens? This is the number one question among newbies. How is group travel different from going alone? How is it different from going with a large group of friends?
Going to a foreign country without having your own language skills is tricky. Especially when you’re in the middle of a disaster. When the snow starts falling and neither the locals nor the tourists seem keen on going outside, it can feel a little surreal. Especially when the panic starts to settle in. Looking for a way to pass the time. Wondering what’s going to happen next.
Skiing is a fantastic way to escape the stresses of daily life. To forget about everything else. To feel the wind on your cheeks. To listen to the sound of rushing water.
The slopes may be covered in the white blanket of winter, but that doesn’t mean you can’t have fun. Fun doesn’t always mean going slow. In fact, the faster you go, the more fun it is. Especially when you’re a super-human of a certain age. A superhuman who wants to break the record. A superhuman who wants to go bigger and faster and farther than anyone has ever gone before. A ski fiend. A Sasquatch.