A ski resort is like its own mini world and comes with various distinct types of skiers. From snow bunnies to ski bums to fair-weather skiers, ski holidays just wouldn’t be the same without these predictable stereotypes. They spice up the chairlift conversations and keep you on your toes as they whiz down the slopes. Some of them party so hard at après-ski they won’t even make it out of bed the next morning, even though they were boasting about first tracks. Then there are the ones who will hike a mile just to get some virgin powder. Which one of these describes you – or are you in a class of your own?
These little devils somehow learned to ski before they could walk and are now to be found zigzagging through the more cautious adult skiers. Their technique is flawless – how does a child that young manage to balance their weight that carefully? – and their main purpose in life is to make you feel bad about yourself.
The ski bum lives and breathes for skiing. They did a season in Les Trois Vallées or Les Portes du Soleil and never looked back since. Usually dirt poor, with only a pair of £1000 skis to their name, they’re one of the best skiers on the mountain.
It’s the eager beaver’s first time on the slopes and they’re determined to prove their worth. You’ll find them careening down the nursery slopes and begging their instructor to let them have a go on a black slope. Thanks to a combination of sun, altitude and overexertion, you’ll find them passed out shortly after the après-ski parties get going.
Like the eager beaver, it’s the newbie’s first time on the slopes. But the newbie is less than thrilled to be there – probably their partner dragged them there – and is usually found clinging tremulously to anybody within grabbing distance as they do their best to hold together a snowplough on the nursery slope.
The powder hound is glued to the snow reports and ready to pounce after a fresh snowfall. They have their powder skis ready and waiting to take them through the deep off-piste powder snow. An avid supporter of the ideology of earning your turns!
Usually found on snowboards (but sometimes on twin-tip skis), park rats live and breathe for freestyle skiing. Don’t see them on the slopes? That’s because technically they spend most of their time well above the slopes, pulling off flips and other stunts.
They only get one week of ski holidays a year, so they want to make the most of it. They ski hard and après-ski hard. They might not be winning any beauty prizes for technique, but their enthusiasm makes up for it.
The gear junkie has the latest anti-fog goggles, the best smartphone-compatible gloves and socks that run on batteries to keep your feet warm. This doesn’t necessarily make them a better skier, but apparently it does entitle them to talk at you nonstop during the whole lift ride about the latest innovations in skiing technology.
The veteran can be found flaunting the same gear they used back in the 80’s, complete with long, flat skinny skis and a neon one-piece ski suit. If they talk to you on the lift, it’s probably to tell you how much better the ski area used to be back in the day.
© www.adventurejay.com
Whether you’re in Austria, Switzerland, Italy or France, the locals are guaranteed to spice up your day with their exuberance and their love for mountain. Chairlift conversations with the more outgoing of the locals are a true pleasure.
This brand of skier is inseparable from their GoPro, which has the unenviable job of filming some of the lamest stunts in the history of this beautiful sport. Their main mission is to take up space and stop on the slopes at inopportune places.
The speedy Gonzalez only has one speed: full throttle! You make as few turns as possible, preferring to whiz down in a straight line. You’re always the first to the bottom of the slope. Technique? It’s all about speed, baby.
This brand of skiers has perfected their skiing skills to perfection, usually in some snooty Ecole de ski français course. Red, blue, black, steep or with waist-high moguls, they're not fazed. Their technique remains envious even on the most difficult of pistes.
The statistician was delighted with the release of apps such as Skiline which make it even easier for them to keep track of their total vertical mileage and kilometres skied. They can be found regaling anyone who will listen (i.e. anyone who is trapped on the lift with them) with enough statistics to make your head spin.
Skiing is all about the winter landscapes to you and less about the sport itself. If it’s not freshly groomed slopes and bluebird skies, you don’t really see the point, so on cloudy days, you can be found sipping hot cocoa or mulled wine in a mountain restaurant.
The après-skier rolls onto the slopes around 11am, after recovering as much as possible from yesterday’s hangover. Just a few hours of skiing and then it’s finally time for another après-ski session! Round after round of drinks at a mountain terrace with panoramic views – now that’s really living!
The Alps, the Dolomites, whatever, they’re absolutely gorgeous, and some would argue there’s no need to be a skier to enjoy them (they don’t know what they’re missing!). With so many non-skiing activities on the offer – sledging, snow tubing, ice skating, winter hiking or relaxing in the hot tub – is it any wonder we see more and more non-skiers at our ski resorts every year?
Which skier type are you?
A ski resort is like its own mini world and comes with various distinct types of skiers. From snow bunnies to ski bums to fair-weather skiers, ski holidays just wouldn’t be the same without these predictable stereotypes. They spice up the chairlift conversations and keep you on your toes as they whiz down the slopes. Some of them party so hard at après-ski they won’t even make it out of bed the next morning, even though they were boasting about first tracks. Then there are the ones who will hike a mile just to get some virgin powder. Which one of these describes you – or are you in a class of your own?
These little devils somehow learned to ski before they could walk and are now to be found zigzagging through the more cautious adult skiers. Their technique is flawless – how does a child that young manage to balance their weight that carefully? – and their main purpose in life is to make you feel bad about yourself.
The ski bum lives and breathes for skiing. They did a season in Les Trois Vallées or Les Portes du Soleil and never looked back since. Usually dirt poor, with only a pair of £1000 skis to their name, they’re one of the best skiers on the mountain.
It’s the eager beaver’s first time on the slopes and they’re determined to prove their worth. You’ll find them careening down the nursery slopes and begging their instructor to let them have a go on a black slope. Thanks to a combination of sun, altitude and overexertion, you’ll find them passed out shortly after the après-ski parties get going.
Like the eager beaver, it’s the newbie’s first time on the slopes. But the newbie is less than thrilled to be there – probably their partner dragged them there – and is usually found clinging tremulously to anybody within grabbing distance as they do their best to hold together a snowplough on the nursery slope.
The powder hound is glued to the snow reports and ready to pounce after a fresh snowfall. They have their powder skis ready and waiting to take them through the deep off-piste powder snow. An avid supporter of the ideology of earning your turns!
Usually found on snowboards (but sometimes on twin-tip skis), park rats live and breathe for freestyle skiing. Don’t see them on the slopes? That’s because technically they spend most of their time well above the slopes, pulling off flips and other stunts.
They only get one week of ski holidays a year, so they want to make the most of it. They ski hard and après-ski hard. They might not be winning any beauty prizes for technique, but their enthusiasm makes up for it.
The gear junkie has the latest anti-fog goggles, the best smartphone-compatible gloves and socks that run on batteries to keep your feet warm. This doesn’t necessarily make them a better skier, but apparently it does entitle them to talk at you nonstop during the whole lift ride about the latest innovations in skiing technology.
The veteran can be found flaunting the same gear they used back in the 80’s, complete with long, flat skinny skis and a neon one-piece ski suit. If they talk to you on the lift, it’s probably to tell you how much better the ski area used to be back in the day.
© www.adventurejay.com
Whether you’re in Austria, Switzerland, Italy or France, the locals are guaranteed to spice up your day with their exuberance and their love for mountain. Chairlift conversations with the more outgoing of the locals are a true pleasure.
This brand of skier is inseparable from their GoPro, which has the unenviable job of filming some of the lamest stunts in the history of this beautiful sport. Their main mission is to take up space and stop on the slopes at inopportune places.
The speedy Gonzalez only has one speed: full throttle! You make as few turns as possible, preferring to whiz down in a straight line. You’re always the first to the bottom of the slope. Technique? It’s all about speed, baby.
This brand of skiers has perfected their skiing skills to perfection, usually in some snooty Ecole de ski français course. Red, blue, black, steep or with waist-high moguls, they're not fazed. Their technique remains envious even on the most difficult of pistes.
The statistician was delighted with the release of apps such as Skiline which make it even easier for them to keep track of their total vertical mileage and kilometres skied. They can be found regaling anyone who will listen (i.e. anyone who is trapped on the lift with them) with enough statistics to make your head spin.
Skiing is all about the winter landscapes to you and less about the sport itself. If it’s not freshly groomed slopes and bluebird skies, you don’t really see the point, so on cloudy days, you can be found sipping hot cocoa or mulled wine in a mountain restaurant.
The après-skier rolls onto the slopes around 11am, after recovering as much as possible from yesterday’s hangover. Just a few hours of skiing and then it’s finally time for another après-ski session! Round after round of drinks at a mountain terrace with panoramic views – now that’s really living!
The Alps, the Dolomites, whatever, they’re absolutely gorgeous, and some would argue there’s no need to be a skier to enjoy them (they don’t know what they’re missing!). With so many non-skiing activities on the offer – sledging, snow tubing, ice skating, winter hiking or relaxing in the hot tub – is it any wonder we see more and more non-skiers at our ski resorts every year?
Which skier type are you?
Born and raised in the ski paradise of Vancouver, Canada, I learned to ski before I can remember, balancing precariously on my parents’ skis as they sailed down the hill. I started snowboarding in my teens and am now delighted to be exploring everything Europe’s ski scene has to offer!
