Skiing in Scotland
Discussion
I'm wanting to take up skiing and have been told it's easier to do on the proper stuff and not on the fake stuff. Had a look at cheap weekends abroad, but am thinking I could kill two birds with one stone - go up and see my sister in the lakes, and go skiing the following week. Would be a nice drive to a part of the country I haven't visited before as well.
And before anyone says yes I do know the latest news about the avalanche there.
Has anyone been skiing there and what do you reckon to a newbie learning there?
And before anyone says yes I do know the latest news about the avalanche there.
Has anyone been skiing there and what do you reckon to a newbie learning there?
2 or 3 days a year skiing in Scotland can be better than anywhere else in the world, the other 363 days of the year Skiing in Scotland is not really an option, in fact the only time I have encountered someone suffering from hypothermia was whilst skiing in Scotland. If you want a cheap way to learn to ski check out Bulgaria or Romania, a good level of basic instruction at a fraction of the price of France or Austria, of course check the snow before you go though.
The weather is the key in Scotland.
Looks like ATM you will have some snow....
But if Scottish weather is true to form, you will have 70mph winds and a shut mountain.
On the other hand, I have had some of the best skiing days of my life in Cairngorm.
No problems with the Ski School, etc.
Finally, I taught upwards of 1500 hours on dry slopes. They are pretty good for learning. The pitch of the slopes, and the tricky surface mean that if you can ski on Plastic, Snow is easy. Not true the other way round, and this is where plastic gets its reputation from.
Skiers who learnt on snow (and are probably not as good as they think) get the shock of their lives when they get relegated to the beginner leagues on plastic. These are the people who insist that plastic is terrible and nothing like snow. Very simply, to get over the friction of plastic compared to snow, the slopes are steeper.
Plastic is s
t compared to snow. BUT, you do ski/ride the same way, good learning tool IMO.
Looks like ATM you will have some snow....
But if Scottish weather is true to form, you will have 70mph winds and a shut mountain.
On the other hand, I have had some of the best skiing days of my life in Cairngorm.
No problems with the Ski School, etc.
Finally, I taught upwards of 1500 hours on dry slopes. They are pretty good for learning. The pitch of the slopes, and the tricky surface mean that if you can ski on Plastic, Snow is easy. Not true the other way round, and this is where plastic gets its reputation from.
Skiers who learnt on snow (and are probably not as good as they think) get the shock of their lives when they get relegated to the beginner leagues on plastic. These are the people who insist that plastic is terrible and nothing like snow. Very simply, to get over the friction of plastic compared to snow, the slopes are steeper.
Plastic is s
t compared to snow. BUT, you do ski/ride the same way, good learning tool IMO.Edited by Dimski on Saturday 24th January 21:11
Some of the best days I have had have been in Scotland, but these days are special because they are so rare.
Learning to ski in Scotland is very good from a skill level point of view. If you can ski on sheet ice you'll be able to ski on anything. Depending on your current level it’s likely you would develop quicker by taking the ESF option.
If you're in the area then take advantage for a few days, but if you're only going to be as far North as the Lakes, I really wouldn't bother. As said before weather (wind) is too much of a liability to make advanced plans.
Learning to ski in Scotland is very good from a skill level point of view. If you can ski on sheet ice you'll be able to ski on anything. Depending on your current level it’s likely you would develop quicker by taking the ESF option.
If you're in the area then take advantage for a few days, but if you're only going to be as far North as the Lakes, I really wouldn't bother. As said before weather (wind) is too much of a liability to make advanced plans.
I have done pretty much all my skiing in Scotland. I love it up here, it's got a lot of character. Like someone said above, if you can ski on bumpy sheet ice you can ski anywhere.
http://ski.visitscotland.com is the place to look. There is snow just now but maybe wait a coupleo f months from now and go when the weather will be better and the snow more extablished. It was oven until Easter last year so you should have plenty of time. A friend of mine has been skiing in Aviemore this week and he had a good time. It's good to go midweek as it's pretty quiet then.
I think shiing in Scotland is great, but I haven't really got anything to compare it to.
http://ski.visitscotland.com is the place to look. There is snow just now but maybe wait a coupleo f months from now and go when the weather will be better and the snow more extablished. It was oven until Easter last year so you should have plenty of time. A friend of mine has been skiing in Aviemore this week and he had a good time. It's good to go midweek as it's pretty quiet then.
I think shiing in Scotland is great, but I haven't really got anything to compare it to.
Why not try one of the snow domes, there are ones at Milton Keynes, Tadcaster and Tamworth and I am sure there are a few more around the country. It's man made snow of course but easier than a dry ski slope. Good for the first few lessons before going to Scotland or abroad. I learnt at Lake Louise in Canada and it's the best place for learners. With the Euro as it is Canada now is really good value for money and it makes sense to go for 10 days. Wherever you go if you have a few lessons at home first it means you will be in a higher group on holiday and skiing more and standing around less.
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