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It is the time to grab your ski and snowboard equipment and start planning your ski trip to the Alps or to the other ski destinations. In Europe you have a vast range of skiing holiday options such as Austria, Switzerland, Italy, Slovenia, France, Poland or Germany. Ski holidays are the best time to have fun with friends, family or to have a romantic weekend as a couple. HostelsClub.com presents Europe’s best resorts such as Val d’Isere, St. Moritz, Cortina, Tyrol or the Pyrenees and remember to book online your hostel for your ski holiday to get the lowest price with HostelsClub.com!

Skiing in Switzerland

Switzerland is always the first choice for a winter holiday because it has a large selection of winter sports areas. It is a place for every taste: there are a lot of romantic chalets in the mountain villages and big hostels in the large cities with numerous possibilities for going out. Switzerland has great ski slopes, perfect slope facilities and a wild night-life. After the sunny day of skiing and snowboarding, you will be happy to have a drink at one of the nice bars, with rocking live music and friends. Switzerland actually has a reputation as one of the more expensive European ski resorts, but it is a great value for the money.

Enjoy skiing in Switzerland and its villages with cozy ski chalets. You will find a range of accommodations including hostels, budget hotels, chalets and apartments. The ski area ‘Les 4 Vallées’ is the most famous ski area in Switzerland with more than 400 km of slopes with modern ski lifts and beautiful high slopes for all levels of skiers. HostelsClub recommends Hotel Station in Pontrensia. It is located in a very nice ski area and the hotel provides skiing passes. For young backpackers, the best place in Switzerland is Interlaken with cheap hostels such as Backpackers Villa Sonnenhof or Funny Fram Backpackers which offer ski packages in winter season.

Winter Holidays in Austria

Austria is a popular country for winter sports as well and has excellent ski facilities. Mostly backpackers go to Austria because they love the long Austrian slopes and Austrian hospitality. You will love the cozy and relaxed atmosphere of skiing areas and the beauty of the villages in Austria. In the regions of Tyrol, Salzburgerland, Steiermark and Carinthia you will find ski facilities for every taste. HostelsClub.com offers a lot chalet choices in Austria within a good range to the slopes (easily accessible). The most popular destinations in Austria are the Tyrol area, the major cities being Innsbruck and Bieberwier, and we can also recommend Cube Nassfeld, a very fancy hostel for everybody who loves skiing and snowboarding.

Ski Amadè is yet another famous ski area in Austria. Book your Skiing holidays in Salzburg and Styria with 5 skiing regions (860 kms of slopes!) and an awesome nightlife.

Skiing in Czech Republic

If you are looking for a really low cost alternative for your winter sports holiday in the Alps, come to Czech Republic! It is not so famous in the skiing world, but a really good insider tip is to go there if you prefer small winter sports areas with a convivial atmosphere, well-priced mountain passes, good restaurants and cheap accommodation. You will find Czech style cozy chalets and hostels with ski facilities and many spa resorts (which are good for relaxing the muscles after a full day of skiing). HostelsClub recommends winter sports destinations in the Krkonoše range, located at the Czech-Polish border near Germany (about 1-2 hours north of Prague). The resorts in Krkonoše include Špindlerův Mlýn (Svatý Petr), Harrachov, Pec pod Sněžkou and Prkenný Důl – Family Skipark. At the hotel Krakonos in Rokytnice nad Jizerou you can book rooms from 20€ per person!

Skiing in France

In France you will find huge ski areas, modern and fast ski lifts, long slopes and spectacular downhill runs – it is an area for true skiers! Skiing in France is fun, has great food and has a very nice atmosphere. France is an expensive ski destination, but with great value-for-money options. The French Alps offer the broadest range of skiing opportunities in Europe. Resorts that are based on long-existing small towns, such as La Clusaz, Aussois or Serre-Chevalier, near Briançon, offer an authentic Alpine experience. Chamonix – Megève , Les Portes du Soleil, the northernmost area, includes a dozen resorts, including Avoriaz – reputedly the capital of snowboarding – and Morzine. At the hotel Kyriad Grenoble Voiron you will spend about 30€ per night, which leaves plenty of money left to spend on the rest of your trip!

You will find the ski area also in the Pyrenees. This mountain range straddling the French-Spanish border is a ski area with everything in its favor. HostelsClub recommends the hotel Porte d’Espagne in Perpignan for a perfect ski holiday in France.

Winter Sports in Italy

Enjoy the Italian “dolce vita” skiing with some sunshine and good food. Italy has has many long slopes, including a mild climate in the southern Alps and a lot of sunshine – even in the winter! Book a chalet in Italy for your winter holidays if you want to sunbathe while having a nice and relaxing ski holiday. Never been in Italy for winter sports? There’s a first time for everything. The great cottages in the regions of Dolomiti di Brenta, Dolomiti Superski and Bardonecchia in Trentino, are where we recommend you to go. Ostello Madonna della Neve is a perfect place for a holiday in the snow. The slopes are excellent and suited for all levels of experience. For more of a sophisticated fun come to the ski-resorts in Cortina which are populated with classy Italians parading around, shopping and/or sunbathing. And don’t forget the Italian cuisine: you deserve a large plate of pasta after a long day on the slopes which is a type of Italian-style winter sport itself (eating heavily)!

Enjoy the slopes!

Skiing is one of the most interesting and exciting sport which provides the skiers constant exhilaration and memorable moments. Skiing involves the use of skis which are attached to the boots of the skier. The skier slides on the snow with the help of these skis. He does this by balancing himself or herself skilfully.

Skiing is a hobby for millions of people around the world. A lot of passionate skiers have also taken this up as a professional sport taking part in various skiing competitions all around the world. The excitement of skiing is unmatched and has to be experienced to be believed.

The telemark turn is one of the skiing techniques. This technique was made popular by Sondre Norheim and is also referred to as the “free heel skiing”. Skiing using this technique is called telemark skiing. Similar to the cross country skiing, the skis are connected by the ski binding only to the toes of the skier’s boots. While performing the telemark turn, the skier’s heel is kept flat on the outer surface of the ski. The skier keeps his heel raised and his knees flexed to pull the inside ski beneath his body.

Skis are positioned parallel to each other and the body weight is mostly on the outer ski. This again depends on the condition of the snow.

Norheim was the one who popularized the telemark skiing technique which he displayed with the help of his fluid movements and turns in a ski jumping competition in the year 1868.

Telemark skiing technique is named after the region of Norway called Telemark. Telemark skiing practice was revived in the 1970s in the United States. Revival of this technique also brought about the revival of traditional ski clothing. In spite of its growing popularity telemark skiing is still considered by many to be a minority sport.

Skis used in telemark skiing are similar to the ones used in alpine skiing. Skis in general have become shorter and wider as compared to the longer skis of those days. Even though the telemark technique actually needs skis modified to suit its technique the need for this modification is not prominent due to the advancement in the boot and binding technologies.

Skis used for telemark skiing are still especially available in a lot of shops though. These are shorter and much lighter as compared to the alpine skis.

The duckbill at the front of a telemark shoe interfaces the binding with the boots. During the telemark turn, the skier uses the same turn as in the parallel turn. The main difference in the telemark turn is to turn the ski which is outside and trailing the ski which is on the inside.

Skier has to edge the outer ski with a flat heel during a turn and lift the heel which is on the inside ski to adjust his stance. Skiers who are experienced make sure their torsos are positioned in a vertical manner. This enables them to balance in such a way that they do not turn too much or too far. This makes sure they have greater control and maneuverability.

Holiday gift baskets are well established in connection to certain holidays. Christmas holiday gift baskets are widely advertised and given. In the United States, Easter and Thanksgiving holiday gift baskets are also popular.

Holiday gift baskets do not have to be reserved for Christmas, Easter, or Thanksgiving, however. These baskets are always appropriate and appreciated. Wine holiday gift baskets are often given as business gifts. Pet holiday gift baskets are pushed by pet stores in the U.S. Baby and corporate holiday gift baskets are also given in some countries.

Holiday gift baskets are cheap or expensive, unique or run-of-the-mill. You can usually find one suited to the specific holiday, but if not, you can custom-make holiday gift baskets.

Holiday Gift Basket Occasions

It would be impossible to list here every holiday of every nation. We will look at just a few that merit holiday gift baskets.

1. New Year’s Day: This holiday is celebrated universally. Holiday gift baskets should include items celebrating beginnings. Think of the word “new” when planning contents of a New Year’s Day holiday gift basket. You might also send a sport-oriented gift basket in the U.S., since many football teams play major games that day.

2. Children’s Day: Many nations celebrate a holiday for children. Baby holiday gift baskets or gift baskets for older children may be given. Include food treats appropriate to the age, plus a toy, book, or game. You can avoid sweets by making it a spa basket with “special” shampoos and lotions.

If the gifts are for youngsters who love horses, consider equestrian theme holiday gift baskets. Include carrots, apples, and sugar cubes to share with a favorite horse. Add a book about horses.

3. Mother’s Day/Father’s Day: These holidays are also common to many nations. Holiday gift basket ideas for these should honor the mother or father. This is a time for custom-made baskets, showing your thoughtfulness in selecting treats and gifts the recipient is known to like.

4. Grandparents’ Day: Grandma and Grandpa holiday gift baskets are appropriate for holidays such as the United States’ Grandparents’ Day. Give heart healthy holiday gift baskets. A healthy basket might include dried blueberries and bananas, smoked salmon, nut snacks, and Irish oatmeal. Add tickets to an event they would enjoy together, sporting or other.

5. Independence Day: Here is another holiday gift basket occasion. Most countries have a day on which they celebrate the nation’s beginnings. For example, “Canada Day” would be a great time for Canada holiday gift baskets. “The Fourth of July” is a good time for U.S. holiday gift baskets. In Japan, “Kenkoku Kinenbi” is a time for Japan holiday gift baskets. Be sure you include national flags in your holiday gift baskets. Something bubbly that can pop a cork would also be appropriate. If legal where you live, add a few small fireworks for celebration.

6. Memorial Day: Nations often set aside a day to commemorate those who died in their country’s service. Holiday gift baskets are a thoughtful way to thank those who lost loved ones in a war.

7. Labor Day: Here is another holiday that is celebrated around the world. With its roots in Australia, Labor Day can be a time for unexpected holiday gift baskets. Theme the contents to labor, perhaps “sturdy” foods and treats.

Helpful Tip

Remember to add cards to your holiday gift baskets – and choose durable baskets so they will remain as souvenirs long after their contents are gone.

By: Anna Hart