Author Archives: Martin

1. Sunny Beaches vs Snowy Landscapes

   November 2, 2014 3:39 pm Leave a Comment

   We all know the drill. You get two weeks out of every year and only so much money to spend. You don’t want to go to the same place twice but you dread finding yourself somewhere rotten. (And lets not even mention all those overseas weddings you’ve been invited to.) It all makes for a pretty big decision: where should you go on holiday?

   What is a holiday?

    

   Your friends will tell you. The people at the office will definitely tell you. You’ve known what it is since school, when your best friend’s family went to France (or was it Portugal?) and you were still headed for the Tiger Club.

    

   Sunshine and sand. Heat and humidity. All-inclusive but the bug spray. You need time to relax. You need to come back with a good tan so you “look like you’ve been abroad.” A holiday is lounging by the pool, reading a book and drinking sangria.

    

   Did you ever think to try something different? Something a little more exciting?

    

   I’ve always loved the idea of snowboarding. It wasn’t exactly encouraging to fall off a skateboard at every attempt, but I still want to give it a try. I want an experience. I want to feel that rush of almost flying, the fear, the exhilaration. (Okay, maybe the ski lifts aren’t that exciting but they’re still nice.) I want to have fun. I don’t even like the cold but if you’re asking me where to spend the summer, I’d go with the winter resort.

    

   What if I hurt myself? Well, they have instructors, they’re prepared for newbies. And what’s more, your holiday gets better every year. You can’t exactly improve your skills at sunbathing. And even if you don’t hit the slopes, there’s that magic you just don’t feel at the beach; the snow, the log cabin, that crunchy sound frost makes when you step in it. They have breathtaking views and a record-breakingly low number of sharks.

    

   Oh, and just between us, the sunshine and the cocktail bar? They have those, too.

2. Piste etiquette for the fast, furious & fragile

   October 13, 2014 2:53 pm Leave a Comment

   Looking at a pisted run in full-swing can be daunting. Lawlessness rules, with cowboy skiers and boarders seeking the racing line no matter which ski school snakes into their path. The wobbly and inexperienced sway in their wake, some fall, while others cling to their instructor who bellows obscenities that echo across the mountainside.

   Beginners aren’t blame-free either. Somehow, the middle of a narrow run seems like a perfect place for a quick breather, or, even better, the middle of a narrow run underneath a dip, so no-one can see you on their approach.

   What is needed, it seems, is a little reminder of piste etiquette.

   One: Give priority to the person in front

   Yes, it is annoying when you’re stuck behind the snow sport equivalent of James May. However, this does not mean that you zoom past with inches to spare. Try to wait until there is a bit of room, and anticipate that someone could unexpectedly change direction.

   Two: Offer help

   It’s always nice to ask someone if they’re OK or need help. Most of the time, people will be fine, but it is worth asking just in case.

   Three: Take a break safely

   If you’re knackered, try to find a wide area to take a rest, and don’t do it in the middle of a narrow run. This way, you won’t have unsuspecting people hurtle into you.

   Four: Look up

   If you’re joining a run, or you’re setting off after a rest, glance up the slope. This means you won’t career into the path of other skiers or boarders.

   Five: Respect learners

   This is a point close to my beginner skier’s heart. Yes we’re slow, but please give us a wide berth. Once one ski schooler is down, the whole group go down like dominoes.

3. An English guy in Whistler

   September 10, 2014 5:20 pm 1 Comment

   So you’ve read the stories and seen the articles about the endless lift lines and crowded slopes, but still people flock to the slopes of Whistler Blackcomb in their thousands to experience what Whistler has to offer, and you must be wondering why? Well the answer is; that when it snows, it is truly the most magical place on earth to ski or snowboard.

   The terrain on offer at Whistler Blackcomb is absolutely second to none. Once you make it out of the village and on to the ski hill your playground for the day is 8,200 acres of terrain varying from perfectly groomed inbounds trails, to the worlds best terrain parks and a learning area that offers perfect progression opportunities for those strapping them on for the first time.

   But it is what’s on offer when it snows that really draws the people to Whistler. With more than 40 feet of average annual snow fall, a powder day will always only be around the corner. The tree skiing is incredible, it seems as though the tree runs are man-made as the trees are perfectly spaces apart, the back bowls are so open and inviting you just want to rip as fast as you can and then there is some steep and challenging terrain to get the heart rate up when needs be.ski

   Yeah sure you may have to wait in line for lifts and the queue for a hamburger at lunch may sometimes make you wonder why you bothered coming here. But if you can embrace the laidback Whistler culture and the vibe that you feel when in the town and on the hill, you will never want to leave, and when you do eventually have to call it quits, you will spend your nights dreaming of your return.