Skiing, a popular holiday pastime that started out as a mode for basic transport in Scandinavia and has now become an unrivalled holiday thrill with about more than 270 million skiers worldwide

For many of us, the Easter holidays passed without much fanfare, but there are those lucky few who headed out to the Alps to take advantage of the warmer weather. Indeed, the reliable snow and numerous ski-resorts have proved a popular holiday destination for many. I talked to one of these holiday-goers about just what is so attractive about skiing. 

Tanya, who has been skiing since the age of four, told me the big highlight of skiing for her was the “atmosphere as well as throwing snowballs at my sister” While just the thought, may be enough to entertain us, one cannot forget the irresistible attraction of fresh snow, dubbed “fresh powder” by Tanya, so foreign to our miserable weather. While the activity may seem daunting for some, Tanya finds it a “nice way to get away from your problems and stress and allows you to relax” - even for those who have never been before, skiing lessons are not exclusively for children and open to all levels of skier.

Another fantastic highlight of skiing in the Alps is also obviously some of the delicious cuisine available to try and Tanya loves “the food you can find in the french resorts that I have been to such as Raclette and Galletes.” Indeed, if you’re willing to try new things, a taste of Alpine cuisine might be just the thing for you.

I also asked her the infamous question of which was truly better skiing or snowboarding - a question which tends to lean towards extremes and Tanya’s was no different. As an avid skier, her answer was no more than “for me, skiing is a lot easier than snowboarding and I’ve been doing it for longer so I tend to enjoy it more” While perhaps not a completely unbiased answer the question does really remain up to the individual here.

However if there’s one thing ski-trips are known for it’s the cost and with all the cold weather equipment needed its no surprise. When asked about this Tanya told me “even though the cost is significant I think it’s something everyone should do once in their lives” In fact, it can be a thrilling experience for some, to gain a new skill as adults and feel a sense of accomplishment.

So if you’ve been thinking about going skiing why not take the plunge and brave the slopes this year - skiing certainly sounds like a lot of fun and the prospect of throwing snowballs at our nearest and dearest who have been annoying, enhances its glamour twofold. Ultimately, it’s a new experience which one should think about doing - even if it doesn’t turn out to be your new favourite hobby.