Snowboarding Break - For A Newbie...

[garylythgoe]

So me and a mate, have pretty much decided it's time to go snowboarding.

We're both looking to escape a little, neither of us have skied/snowboarded before, and we like a drink.

So what/where/who/how much etc is why I'm here.

Ideally it'd be nice to buy a 'package' trip, and not worry too much about it all.

I literally have no idea where to look, or how much it should cost. We're both noobs, so anything too extreme is out the window, but with my DH/Enduro Mountain Biking background, I have a tiny element of self control built in when it comes to 'graded' runs. Amusingly the only thing I've done on snow, is the Megavalanche... on a bike.

Feel free to post some links, advice, feedback, experiences, things to watch out for.

Criteria:-
-Newbie friendly
-Not a million miles away
-Preferably less than a week but open minded
-Good night life
-Not sure on budget, so a rough guide on budget would be good

Thanks!

[hast2]

look on Crystals website. They do a variety of offers, some include (or you can add) tuition and equipment hire.

If booked 2 holidays for this season, one was booked 4 months ago (8 of us going) the other was a last minute deal booked a few days ago (just 2 of us leaving on Saturday). All I can say is they are by far the cheapest company at the moment for budget ski holidays, and far cheaper than trying to do it independently.

I go 2 or 3 holidays a year and have been to most places in France and Austria over the last 20+ years, if you have any questions, just ask.

[garylythgoe]

Thanks for that.

Any recommendations or avoids(!) for locations etc?

Someone has suggested Pamporovo in Bulgaria for a beginners trip?

[Shnozz]

Would recommend Livigno.

[hast2]

Depends how much you want to party and what your budget is?

Bulgaria is limited for skiing - but as a complete novice that won't be an issue - The accommodation can be a bit basic, but the food and drink is cheap. I've not been, but those that I know that have have enjoyed themselves

French resorts are a bit hit or miss - plenty of night life in the big resorts, but it can be a bit expensive for what you get (think in the area of 8euro+ a pint) in the big resorts of Meribel, and Val D'Iseire.

Austrians know how to do Apres Ski - all the bars will be heaving with folk dancing on tables from 3 till 8, then everyone goes back to their very nice hotels for some really nice food. The beer isn't expensive, and everything is of a very high standard. I kid you not, some of the toilets in the bars are better than a 5* hotel in the uk.

You might tell I'm slightly biased, I used to go to France a lot, but then I went to Austria and won't entertain france again, the hotels and bars etc are so much nicer for the same budget.

(all of the above is very sweaping generalisations about each country, and it does vary from resort to resort)

[Timbuktu]

Have you considered skiing? I can tell you from experience it is a lot easier to pick up skiing than snowboarding - unless you are a skateboarder.

It depends totally what you want to do though - if learning to snowboard is your first priority that's absolutely fine but if you want to be able to do most of the runs by the end of the week without doing them on your arse then I would suggest skiing.

Not anti-boarding at all as I did it myself for a few years just trying to give you some ideas

[Condi]

Would also suggest learning to ski if you want a good week on the snow. Boarding is fine, but expect to spend at least the first week falling over and a lot of it sat down.

[RobDickinson]

Timbuktu said:

Have you considered skiing? I can tell you from experience it is a lot easier to pick up skiing than snowboarding - unless you are a skateboarder.

You are the first person I know who has said that!

I learned snowboarding in a day and a half (from learners to a blue slope anyhow..) that was without any tuition apart from tips from a mate. Ok I surfed a bit before so that helps but.. its not that hard.

OP I would suggest though wearing as much protective gear as you can for the first few days. padded shorts, knee pads, elbow pads, wrist guards. You fall over a lot, catch a lot of edges, and learners slopes tend to be flat ( easy to catch edges) and pretty bashed ( hard surface).

I'm lucky enough to have the ski fields an hour from home so I went one a weekend, going multiple days on the row will hurt, minimise that

[Whoozit]

RobDickinson said:

You are the first person I know who has said that!

I learned snowboarding in a day and a half (from learners to a blue slope anyhow..)

Ditto! Learning parallel carved turns on skis confidently on red runs takes a minimum of a couple of weeks full on tuition, even for the more powerfully built company director. Doing the same on snowboard takes 3 days (admittedly with a lot more bruises).

Relevant experience is i) CSIA ski instructor and ii) the 3 days mentioned, after which I said sod this for a game of soldiers, I'm off back to the steep stuff on two planks.

In all seriousness, if you just want to have a laugh and may not go skiing again, try the snowboarding. You'l advance far quicker than on skis.

[Nobby Diesel]

To answer the OP's questions, I would strongly suggest Austria. Kitzbhuel, Soll, Saalbach and St Anton are all good resorts and would tick your nightlife requirement too.
If you can go at short notice, check the forecasts and head for somewhere with a good snow report, with some sunny weather due.
The sun being out, will make a heap of difference to your learning experience.
Research the snowboarding school you intend to use - good spoken English will help a lot too.
Get yourself along to your local snow dome before you go. 3 or 4 sessions will put you in good order, for when you hit the mountains.
Take more money than you think you'll need.
Get proper insurance.
It will help if you are reasonably fit - you will spend a fair bit of time doing what are effectively sit ups or press ups, depending on which way you fall.
Have fun!

[Cold]

Buy kneepads.

[garylythgoe]

Thanks for the responses, guys.

Will get on Crystal Ski and start browsing.

We talked about skiing, but we both just fancy Snowboarding. We're not looking to excel or become pros, it'd just be nice to get away for a distraction and try something new.

I've got lots of padded gear from my mountain biking, so that's a good start.

Austria. Kitzbhuel, Soll, Saalbach and St Anton - I will check these out. My mate is a bit more budget restricted than I am, so I think money will talk on the final deal, but at least I know where I'm looking now.

Thanks for all the tips guys!

Are the beers really 8 euros a pint in France? cripes.

[blueg33]

Cold said:

Buy kneepads.

But buy an arse pad first!

Its best to have a few lessons here at one of the snowdomes so you don't waste valuable and expensive mountain time sitting down, falling down and crying with frustration!

Once you can link turns you are fine on the gentle runs. Exiting a chair life remains a challenge sometimes even after 10 years of boarding, and as for drag lifts marked "difficile"

[hast2]

garylythgoe said:

Thanks for the responses, guys.

Will get on Crystal Ski and start browsing.

Austria. Kitzbhuel, Soll, Saalbach and St Anton - I will check these out. My mate is a bit more budget restricted than I am, so I think money will talk on the final deal, but at least I know where I'm looking now.

Are the beers really 8 euros a pint in France? cripes.

Kitzbhuel, Saalbach and St Anton are all nearer the top of the price range of stuff in Austria (you'll see that when you look for accommodation) and the price of food and drink is in line with the cost of the accommodation. Watch on Crystals website - they have a cheap hotel in Kitzbhuel, but from memory it's a good bit out of town (in fact be careful with that for lots of places that look a good deal)

Soll - Been several times - lots of good nights out to be had in Soll especially at the Red Horse and Salven Stadl

[hast2]

hast2 said:

Kitzbhuel, Saalbach and St Anton are all nearer the top of the price range of stuff in Austria (you'll see that when you look for accommodation) and the price of food and drink is in line with the cost of the accommodation. Watch on Crystals website - they have a cheap hotel in Kitzbhuel, but from memory it's a good bit out of town (in fact be careful with that for lots of places that look a good deal)

Soll - Been several times - lots of good nights out to be had in Soll especially at the Red Horse and Salven Stadl

On the same subject of Soll - Don't stay in the Hotel Rubin, it's on top of the Red Horse pub, I can't imagine getting a peaceful nights sleep!!

[Timbuktu]

Whoozit said:

RobDickinson said:

You are the first person I know who has said that!

I learned snowboarding in a day and a half (from learners to a blue slope anyhow..)

Ditto! Learning parallel carved turns on skis confidently on red runs takes a minimum of a couple of weeks full on tuition, even for the more powerfully built company director. Doing the same on snowboard takes 3 days (admittedly with a lot more bruises).

Relevant experience is i) CSIA ski instructor and ii) the 3 days mentioned, after which I said sod this for a game of soldiers, I'm off back to the steep stuff on two planks.

In all seriousness, if you just want to have a laugh and may not go skiing again, try the snowboarding. You'll advance far quicker than on skis.

I suppose it depends on the person as to which they will advance on most quickly.

When I first skied I was doing black runs on my first day never having been on skis before, admittedly I was only 7 years old so didn't have far to fall!

When I first snowboarded I had been skateboarding for a few years so I picked it up pretty quickly and could link my turns by lunchtime.

Then some 10 years later I tried boarding again having given up skateboarding the same amount of time ago and it took me a good few weeks and a month in Canada to get any good at it again and even then I was not confident in the tricky stuff.

First time skiers who have come with us over the years have usually picked up skiing by the end of the first day where as people boarding for the first time have still been falling over constantly at the end of the first day and have had to be left behind on the beginner slopes!

Interesting to see different points of view but looks like they want to go boarding anyway - hopefully they'll be ones who find it easier than skiing!

Like someone said above, you should definitely get a few lessons at a snowdome or somewhere first so you don't waste the first day or two trying to work out what you should be doing!

[cbmotorsport]

St Anton has been mentioned here. It's not very beginner friendly. It' steep and bumpy, and they don't do a lot of piste grooming.

I'd try Andorra if I were you. It's duty free, so cheap. Skiing is beginner friendly, and because it's cheap it attracts a party crowd.

Just a thought.

[Jarcy]

garylythgoe said:

-Preferably less than a week but open minded
Thanks!

Absolutely no point going for less than a week for your first trip, especially as you're aiming for a package.
Everything's geared-up for the week - accommodation, group lessons, lift passes, etc.
If you go for say, 4 days, you'll be going home just as you start to get the hang of it.
Long weekend trips are fine for the self sufficient DIY traveler, but not for you.


Location: It has to be Austria, to sample the best atmosphere / apres.
Add Mayrhofen to the list of suspect (party) resorts within a reasonable budget. - Benidorm on the Ski slopes.
Or Sauze D'Oulx (admitedly in Italy) - same sort of thing.

[shunt]

Impact shorts (danger pants) are a must, and a helmet.

As said Austria would be your first choice, specifically Soll.

Generally people who are first timers pick skiing up easier than boarding. The norm is learn to ski first and get the skills to read the hill, then use these skills to learn to board. Watching 1st time boarders struggling looks like hell.

Forget France, it's just not worth it anymore.

Andorra could be an option too, it is cheap, but long transfers from the airport.

[LFB531]

Agree about Austria.......however, as a newbie the best fun you'll have is during the day, suspect you'll be so tired by the end of the day that the thought of a 3am danceathon might be a step too far

Best package deals I've seen about are with SilverSki in La Plagne and La Tania, both France. Short notice deals in catered chalets including flights and transfers for a week at c£350 can't be bad. I've used them before and whilst not flash, the chalets are warm and the food ok. House wine by the gallon helps too.

Add on a lift pass at £225 and a bag of lessons, it's still an expensive trip but that's a great way to see if you like it.