Archive for June, 2010
Wednesday, June 30th, 2010
Colorado USA Goes Green For Skiing
Well known ski resorts in both the US and Europe know their
clients care increasingly about the environment and climate
change - skiers after all enjoy their time in the open - and
the ski resort authorities have been doing a lot to make
their areas and facilities environmentally friendly.
Vail Colorado for example operates one of the largest
recycling programmes of any ski resort in North America, and
their on-mountain recycling programme is the largest of its
kind in North America.
Vail Resorts who are the owners responsible for the
initiative, have five mountain resorts. Each ski holidays
resort receives monetary contributions of %1 from each skier
per season pass, online lift ticket transaction and night
spent at the resort in the Colorado and California
locations. Since the programme began, Vail has received more
than %550,000 in guest contributions. The National Forest
Foundation (NFF) has matched the contributions by more than
%275,000. All funds are used for projects that aim to
restore, improve and protect Vail's neighboring National
Forests.
The effort put forth by Vail Resorts owners, employees and
skiers alike gives a glimpse into the number of skiers who
are concerned about the environment. The preservation of
National Forests is a major factor in the success of not
only Vail Resorts but other ski resorts worldwide. The
environment that the skiers are helping protect is the same
environment that attracts them to Vail Resorts to begin
with.
Vail's five major ski resorts are some of the most visited
and most family friendly resorts in North America. Families
can learn very valuable lessons about wildlife preservation,
recycling and environmental issues. Currently, Vail's
recycling programme recycles an impressive about 70 percent
of on-mountain waste. The amount of waste recycled equals
nearly one pound per guest. About 100 tons of material per
month are recycled during an average ski season.
Some of the most notably environment friendly parts of the
ski holiday resorts are:
* Beaver Creek's Spruce Saddle Lodge. The lodge is the first
ski holidays resort restaurant to become a Certified Green
Restaurant by the Green Restaurant Association. The GRA is a
national non-profit organization that dedicates its time to
setting sustainable environmental standards within the
restaurant industry. Spruce Saddle Lodge is one of the first
resort restaurants to be recognised by the GRA for multiple
environmental breakthroughs. The ski holidays restaurant
uses recycled, tree-free, biodegradable and organic products
throughout the lodge. It also maintains impressive water
efficiency, energy and conservation levels and recycling and
composting programs.
* Keystone Composting at Keystone Ranch Restaurant.
Keystone's composting programme began in 2002 and has grown
immensely over the years. More than 500 pounds of kitchen
waste per week is being diverted from landfill. Combined
with efforts from the Keystone Conference Center, food
scraps and wood shavings create the soil used in landscaping
throughout the resort. Similar composting programs are being
established by other resorts.
* Heavenly Waste Reduction, in partnership with California's
El Dorado County, diverts about 482 tons of recyclable waste
from landfills each year. Surrounding communities are also
encouraged to keep yard waste out of local landfills. An
annual event, Compost Your Combustibles, educates and
encourages citizens to participate in recycling and
composting efforts.
* Vail Resorts and RockResorts. Recycling programmes are in
place for all employees and guests of any Vail Resorts or
RockResorts. They promote water conservation to guests by
promoting the reuse of towels and linens for multi-night
stays. Restaurants on the resorts use biodegradable,
compostable and recycled food and beverage containers and
flatware. The resorts recycle beverage and food containers
and paper items used in all resort operations. All areas of
the resorts use environmentally friendly cleaning products
that are not only safer for the environment, but for guests
and employees as well.
Resorts worldwide are becoming more environmentally aware
and passing their knowledge on to their guests. With the
help of their guests, they are able to conserve more water
and recycle and compost more waste in a broader range of
areas of resort operations. The efforts put forth by these
resorts and others around the world help protect the
environment and wildlife that attracts their visitors, and
might just help the snow fall for a little while longer.
Helping to protect the environment is close to the heart for
many Colorado residents, and the good news is that her
visitors are becoming environmentally aware as well.
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Saturday, June 26th, 2010
Going To Alaska For A Winter Vacation
Alaska, which has always been a source of awe and mystery,
has some of the best skiing in the world, and the Alyeska
Resort is one of the finest resorts in the state. With a top
elevation of 2751 feet and a 2501 vertical drop, the area
gets an average of 631 inches of snow annually.
Although this is some of the best skiing in the world, you
won't find the slopes overly crowded, and there are no long
lift lines. There are nine lifts, including six chair lifts
and two surface lifts, and one cable car line. There are 68
trails for beginners, intermediates, and experts, with the
majority of the trails designed for intermediate skiers.
Night time skiing is allowed, which makes your ski
experience more adventurous and thrilling. You will see snow
capped mountains, hanging glaciers, and of course, the
famous Northern Lights. This resort is ranked number nine of
the top twenty-five killer ski trips by Skiing Magazine.
The season begins at the Alyeska Resort in mid November, and
runs through mid April. This area of Alaska boasts the
longest daytime areas in the United States, with
approximately sixteen hours of daylight each day during
April. During December, however, there are only about seven
hours of daylight - which makes night time skiing necessary
if you are going to get in the time that you want to spend
on the slopes.
The Alyeska Prince Hotel is the place to stay! Here you will
enjoy elegant rooms and fine dining. Nightly entertainment
is available as well. There are other nightlife spots in the
area as well, that are not associated with the Hotel.
If tubing interests you, then visiting the Glacier Tubing
Park is an absolute must! Featuring two lanes of terrain and
a surface lift, everyone in the family will enjoy spending
time at the tubing park. The Alyeska Terrain Park is a must
for snowboarding enthusiasts. Other winter activities that
can be enjoyed in and around the Alyeska Resort include
flight seeing, helisking, ocean cruising tours, dog
sledding, ice climbing, back country skiing, mountaineering,
and polar bear viewing.
At the Alyeska Resort, the ultimate winter vacation can be
experienced. Brave the elements, then return to the Hotel
for some pampering. Get a taste of what Alaska is really
like, and what skiing is meant to be! There are activities
for the entire family to enjoy, and there are many area
sights and attractions to be enjoyed as well. This really is
an awesome winter family ski vacation!
Alaska, which has always been a source of awe and mystery,
has some of the best skiing in the world, and the Alyeska
Resort is one of the finest resorts in the state. With a top
elevation of 2751 feet and a 2501 vertical drop, the area
gets an average of 631 inches of snow annually.
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Thursday, June 24th, 2010
Spain's Top Ten Attractions
Spain is absolutely bursting with places to see and things
to do. These are my top ten must-see attractions.
THE ALHAMBRA PALACE - GRANADA
The 'Red Palace' is one of Spain's most important historical
monuments and tourist attractions. Having been under both
Christian and Moslem control, The Alhambra has benefitted
and blossomed as each of its owners has added more
buildings. The oldest part of the Alahambra is the Alcazaba,
which was built upon the ruins of a 9th century fort. The
world famous gardens are unbelievably beautiful.
THE MEZQUITA - CORDOBA
It's a Christian church, but you wouldn't believe it at
first glance; that's because it used to be a Mosque. The
pillars and arches you have to pass through to reach the
Catholic shrines are wonderfully Arabic. The building dates
back to 796 AD. If you're within 200 miles, go and see it;
you won't be disappointed.
BARCELONA
Revelling under Gaudi's influence, Barcelona is one of the
most beautiful cities in the world. Both modern and
historical; Spanish yet fiercely Catalan. Connected by the
high speed train and excellent air links, this city is
magnificent and accessible.
LA TOMATINA - BUNYOL NEAR VALENCIA
This has to be one of the craziest fiestas ever conceived.
It is simply one giant tomato fight, taking place every
August and transforming the normally sleepy village of
Bunyol into a mad house. The population of 9,000 swells to
30,000 during the festival, so book early if you want to go,
as every hotel and hostel puts up the 'no vacancies sign
months before the event. An hourly train service runs from
Valencia, but take a change of clothes if you intend using
it.
SKIING - SIERRA NEVADA
One of the wonderful, quirky features that Spain can boast
is sunny beaches and skiing. From the Sierra Nevada
Mountains, you can be on the beach sun-bathing within an
hour, so it's skiing in the morning and water skiing in the
afternoon if you fancy it.
GUGGENHEIM MUSEUM - BILBAO
The American architect Frank O. Gehry designed this
impressive structure. It sits on a 32,500 square metre site
in the heart of Bilbao and has become a major icon of the
city. The structure is an unusual amalgamation of blocks and
curves covered by titanium scales. The vast La Salve Bridge
actually passes through the building.
ROMAN RUINS - MERIDA
Able to hold 6000 spectators, the Roman Theatre is one of
the premier sights of Merida. The nearby Anfiteatro was the
site of battles between Roman gladiators and could hold as
may as 15,000 people. The political and cultural centre of
Hispania Rome, Merida was conquered by the Muslims in 713
A.D. After a 500 year period of decline the city was
virtually abandoned until the 1500's.
CUENCA
Somewhat of a hidden gem, Cuenca will leave a huge
impression on you. Amongst its many impressive features are
the 'Hanging Houses' which cling precariously to the side of
the gorge. The Cathedral of Cuenca was built in the early
13th Century on the site of a former mosque. The facade had
to be rebuilt in the early 20th Century after the collapse
of the Giraldillo Tower.
TAPAS - ANYWHERE YOU LIKE
But preferably in Andaluc?a. There's nothing quite like
enjoying tapas with a glass of wine in the sunshine. The
history of Tapas can be traced back to the Moorish presence
in Spain between the 7th and 15th centuries AD. The Moors
had a love for small dishes with exotic ingredients such as
peppers, almonds, garlic and saffron. This influenced a
cross over to Spanish culture and has become one of Spain's
most renowned culinary traditions.
WHITE VILLAGES
It's well worth the time and effort to visit one of Spain's
numerous white villages. The south of Spain is littered with
these pueblos, some more accustomed to tourism than others.
Bear in mind that even the busiest of villages will close up
at two o'clock for a siesta. Of course the bars and cafes
will remain open, so you'll just have to chill with the rest
of them.
Spain has much more to offer than the suggestions I have
made, and as I said, this is just my opinion. The thing to
do is get out there yourself and try it; you'll have so much
fun proving me wrong.
Spain has many interesting, even extraordinary attractions.
Here are my top ten favourites.
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Tuesday, June 22nd, 2010
New Hampshire Business from Skiing to Politics
New Hampshire is a small state in New England, with a
population approaching 1.3 million. The majority of the
population lives between the Massachusetts border and
Manchester and Concord, New Hampshire, the capital.
Manchester, with a population of 110,000 is the largest city
in Northern New England, and has changed to a hi-tech,
service economy. There is also the Mall of New Hampshire
here, and the redevelopment of the historic Amoskeag
Millyard as a shopping mall as well.New Hampshire has been a
leading outdoor playground for the Eastern United States,
with lots of ski resorts in the winter, and parks lakes,
rivers and a seashore for the warmer months. These are
things to consider for your New Hampshire Incorporation.
New Hampshire Parks and public beaches open for the summer
season over the Memorial Day weekend.
New Hampshire is known for its state parks with some of the
most outstanding ones being Crawford Notch State Park, a
great place to hike, Lake Francis State Park for fishing,
Hampton Beach State Park, and Pawtuckaway State Park for
camping. New Hampshire State Parks offer many nice
facilities and beautiful scenery. Other popular and
historic sites are the Robert Frost Farm in Derry, and the
Franklin Pierce Homestead in Hillsborough.
In Franconia Notch State Park, the Cannon Mountain Aerial
Tramway will open for the season on Friday, May 25th. The
Flume Gorge is a natural gorge extending 800 feet, with
walls rising to a height of 70 to 90 feet. New Hampshire's
recreational attractions include skiing and other winter
sports, observing the spectacular fall foliage, and racing
at the New Hampshire International Speedway, home of NASCAR
events.
New Hampshire?s one port is Portsmouth, on the Piscataqua
River. This also includes part of, and borders the
Portsmouth Naval Yard in Maine. Hampton Beach is a popular
local summer destination. About 10 miles (16 km) offshore
are the Isles of Shoals, nine small islands.
New Hampshire becomes more heavily forested as you go north,
with the North Country portion of the state relatively
unpopulated. This is the area north of the passes in the
White Mountains. While these areas have lost their paper
and logging industries, they are still strong in the winter
skiing business. With the state being over 80-percent
forests, there is a lot of wildlife both to hunt and to see.
From deer, to bears, to river otter, the wildlife is quite
abundant. Wildlife is one of New Hampshire's greatest
natural resources. More than 300 species of fish, birds,
mammals, reptiles and amphibians make their home in the
state.
New Hampshire has significant production of dairy
products,and eggs. Its industrial outputs are machinery, and
electric equipment. The other major ?industry? occurs every
four years, when New Hampshire has the first general ballot
primary in the U.S. Presidential Election. Despite other
states squeezing to be early, New Hampshire is determined to
be the first ballot box state. The state has no general
sales tax, no personal income tax except for on dividends
and interest, putting it totally in the laissez-faire column
on business taxes. There is a state-wide property tax, but
still overall taxes are lower than any other state except
Alaska.
New Hampshire has had to adjust to the closing of its old
industries. Many mill buildings are now shopping malls.
The state is a great place for skiing, the outdoors... and
politics.
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Friday, June 18th, 2010
Blue Mountain, ON - Beauty And Fun For All
Are you planning a visit to Ontario, Canada? You should put
the area of Blue Mountain on your trip itinerary. This is a
beautiful area with a lot to do and see.
The first thing you'll notice about Blue Mountain is how
scenic the area is, as is true with much of Ontario. There
are many paths for cyclists and joggers. It's gorgeous
especially in the autumn to trek down the paved tree-lined
paths, even just for a nature walk to calm your nerves and
forget about the worries of life.
The Town of The Blue Mountains, ON also has some beautiful
beach locations. It is set on the stunning Nottawasaga Bay
with water as far as the eye can see! The beach areas are
often surrounded by plant life and trees, and beautiful
yellow sand. You'll also enjoy taking a boat out on the bay
for a relaxing day out on the water with family or friends.
But before you stop for a refreshing swim (during warm
months of course), take a drive along Highway 26 and just
soak in the surroundings. The Town of The Blue Mountains,
Ontario is a wonderful place to visit or live any time of
year!
In the winter, you can enjoy fun activities such as skiing
and public skating. There is a world-famous ski resort in
town that is a perfect stop for the entire family in the
winter time. Even if you haven't taken up skiing, this
resort is really the perfect excuse to do so!
Blue Mountain, ON has plenty of recreation activities all
year round. Make sure to put it on your list of stops when
you visit or move to Ontario, Canada.
Are you planning a visit to Ontario, Canada? You should put
the area of Blue Mountain on your trip itinerary. This is a
beautiful area with a lot to do and see.
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Tuesday, June 15th, 2010
European Ski Holidays 2009 - Andorra
The French Pyrenees are known for being a skier's nirvana.
Located on the borders of Spain and France, they offer
skiers some of the best slopes in the world. Though many
visitors choose to stay in either Spain or France, there is
one more option. For the best in skiing, services and
hospitality, the tiny country of Andorra should be your
holiday destination. It's got everything that you need at
half the price.
Andorra is located in the Pyrenees surrounded by Spain and
France. Once an isolated and unknown land, it is now a
highly prosperous country because of its tourism industry.
At an average of 83.5 years, the people of Andorra claim the
highest life expectancy in the world. Because of its
position within the mountains, the country doesn't have much
in common with the rest of Europe, except for Spain and
France. It's gone through many changes over the years, like
being occupied by France and declaring war on imperial
Germany during World War I.
Today, Andorra enjoys its status as the skiing tourist's
hotspot. Nine million visitors come to the country every
year to enjoy its slopes and world class resorts. Its duty
free status is another reason that it has so many visitors,
as goods can be purchased much cheaper than in the rest of
Europe.
Grandvalira, the largest ski resort in Andorra, is getting
more visitors every year. The resort reports that despite
the global downturn there could be as many visitors this
year as last.
Beacuse of an abundance of snowfall, the resort opened
earlier than usual. This fact combined with great conditions
over Christmas and for the whole of January gave Grandvalira
one of its most successful seasons in recent memory.
Andorra skiers in the New Year enjoyed a metre of snowpack
and powdered snow. With the snowfall the resort was able to
maintain 100%PRCTG% percent ski lift use and 95 percent slope use,
some of the highest numbers in the Pyrenees region. These
conditions kept skiers coming from all around the globe, and
as many as one and a half million skiers could have enjoyed
the slopes over the course of the season.
An extra reason that Grandvalira experienced such an
increase in tourist traffic was the celebration of Pas de la
Casa's fiftieth anniversary. Pas de la Casa was the original
name of the ski resort that was integrated into Grandvalira.
To celebrate this, Grandvalira presented a full schedule of
events for visitors. They included various sporting events,
a skier's statue inauguration, and a week dedicated to the
history of the resort's cuisine. Even Mickey Mouse got in on
the action by making an appearance at the ski and snowboard
school for photos.
In recent years, France and Spain have had their share of
tourists, but Andorra has also been a very popular winter
destination. From skiing the many miles of slopes to
shopping for luxury items in duty free shops, the tiny
country of Andorra has something for every winter
holidaymaker. Its tiny size makes it ideal for focusing on
skiing. Hopefully, next year's season will be even better
than the last, and the snow will keep coming down for the
2009-2010 season too.
The largest ski resort in Andorra is Grandvalira, and it has
seen excellent snow falls this year. And the resort could
see visitor numbers stay pretty much the same as last year.
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Sunday, June 13th, 2010
Skiing Vacations and Why You'll Love Them
Ski vacations remain popular escapes in the winter months,
when you might live in a cold, but flat climate that does
not offer you much in the way of ski mountain ranges. Ski
vacations are also perfect for people who dwell in warmer
climates and are tired of hanging Christmas ornaments on
palm trees. Ski vacations can be a wonderful break from the
norm in these cases, and afford the family a new way to
enjoy the winter holidays.
Why do people love skiing so much? Well first of all, it's
not just skiing anymore. Most resort mountains these days
are equipped with rental shops for snowboards as well as
skis. On a family vacation, your teenage kids might be more
interested in snowboarding with its young, hip clothing and
stylized jumps. Many resorts provide halfpipes and extreme
ranges for their snowboarding guests, where you can jump off
rails or try tricks that are impossible on skis. Not only do
ski resorts provide opportunities to snowboard these days,
but you also tend to encounter ice skating rinks or snow
tubing ranges at the best resorts.
There is something for everyone and for every skill level.
Not only do the finest ski resorts have black diamond ranges
for experienced skiers, they also have bunny slopes for
those just starting out. You can move at your own pace in
learning to ski, but you'll be surprised how quickly you
will learn on a week-long ski vacation. Plus you can always
pay an instructor to give you a private or a group lesson on
skis or on a snowboard.
Skiing is an exhilarating sport whether you are an expert or
a beginner. The big resorts out West, like Jackson Hole,
Wyoming and Breckinridge, Colorado, provide miles of trails
for their visitors. At the small resorts on the East Coast,
you can expect to be down the mountain in just a few
minutes. At the bigger mountains, it might take you an hour.
Additionally, many resorts like Jackson Hole allow you to
ski at your own risk through ungroomed terrain. You can cut
your own paths through woods, off the beaten path. However
this is very dangerous for the skier who is not experienced.
You risk running into trees, rocks, or other natural objects
when you leave the groomed slopes. You also run the risk of
not being found if you injure yourself because the ski
patrol does not look through the woods.
Lastly, in areas of heavy snow powder, you can succumb to
avalanches and will have to be rescued. By putting yourself
into a dangerous position, you are also endangering the
rescue team that will have to come after you in a helicopter
or on skis. Keep this in mind when leaving the established
slopes with their safety and difficulty designations.
There are ample ski resorts and villas to choose from in the
United States and in Canada. You can ski on the East Coast
and visit Maine or Vermont or you can venture out West or
even further North, visiting California, Oregon, or British
Columbia. Wherever you go, be sure to dress warmly and in
waterproof clothing, because you can be sure you will fall
down at least once.
Ski vacations remain popular escapes in the winter months,
when you might live in a cold, but flat climate that does
not offer you much in the way of ski mountain ranges. Ski
vacations are also perfect for people who dwell in warmer
climates and are tired of hanging Christmas ornaments on
palm trees. Ski vacations can be a wonderful break from the
norm in these cases, and afford the family a new way to
enjoy the winter holidays.
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Wednesday, June 9th, 2010
Ski Sunglasses or Skiing Goggles?
The question being asked is whether ski sunglasses are an
essential part of the skiers armoury, or whether skiing
goggles would do the job?
There is a lot of personal preference involved of course,
but here are some tips which might sway your decision.
* If you wear contact lenses, then skiing goggles could be a
good idea, because they are snugger around your face.
* Goggles are more likely to steam up, again because they
are snug around your face. To experienced skiers this is not
so much of a problem, but to novices, this can be an issue.
If you keep falling over for example, then you are expending
more energy to get up, and getting hotter at the same time.
This can cause goggle fog.
* Peripheral vision is better with skiing goggles
* Goggles do a better job of keeping the wind out of your
eyes. Again, this could be important if you wear contact
lenses whilst skiing.
If you do wear goggles, make sure they are polarized and
offer UV protection. I would imaging that all ski goggles
would do this anyway, because anyone who skis knows about
the intense glare of snow, but if you have a pair of goggles
that do not have proper protection, then you could end up
with problems.
If you wear tinted contact lenses, then you could get away
with it. And if you wear tinted spectacles, and the goggles
are large, then that might also be fine, as you can wear the
goggles over your spectacles. Bear in mind the point about
goggle fogging though. This will apply equally to you if you
wear glasses.
One more thing to bear in mind, if you are new to skiing, is
that this may not be something that you want to pursue;
certainly not until you have tried it. That being the case,
it might not be such a good idea to spend lots of money on
expensive accessories that will not be used again. If you
can hire equipment or use cheap accessories to begin with,
so much the better.
Charlie Cory is an online entrepreneur who has been building
websites and earning a living from the Internet for a number
of years. Are ski sunglasses or skiing goggles the right
thing for you to use on the piste? Find out some of the
answers to these questions here.
Article Directory: Article Dashboard
If you are new to skiing, should you wear skiing goggles or
ski sunglasses? This article tries to answer that question.
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Monday, June 7th, 2010
Learn to Ski - Rising to the Challenge
With so many satellite cable and terrestrial television
channels available, it's hard to miss downhill slalom or ski
jumping coverage and absorb the electric atmosphere that
radiates from spectacular winter sporting events. If regular
yearly coverage leaves you yearning for more then you can
look forward to the Winter Olympics, which are a four-yearly
reminder of the building momentum the world over for an
ever-growing body of devotees to winter sports.
If you've ever passed through a civil airport at the start
of the skiing season, you could hardly fail to notice the
mounds of ski and board bags adding to the usual pile of
luggage queued for check-in. In recent years it has become
something of a ritual for news reporters to make a best
guess as to how many people have joined the ongoing stampede
to the mountains on any given day, particularly when charter
flights are destined to depart.
There are, of course, two types of people - those who do and
those who don't. For those yet to be broken-in, it is
amazing how many people are really just in need of "dutch
courage" or a sharper edge on the business end of their
bravado! This often comes in the form of a "final push" from
a friend who already skis and having those all-important
doubts and fears laid to one side with reassuring anecdotes
and tales of good times on the mountain. The truth is, we
were all beginners once and there is a whole industry
dedicated to making it easy and fun to learn to ski.
Children can start from as young as 2 or 3 years old but
this is more common among people who live in countries with
their own ski resorts. Many more people learn to ski on
school ski trips in their early teens. Having started in my
earls teens, I decided to start my own son off when he was 8
years old and I am now a firm believer in "the earlier the
better". If skiing is already a big thing in your family
then you are likely to have enjoyed an early start but what
if you managed to pass by the school ski trips and you're
wondering how to get going later in life? Don't worry, all
is not lost!
English speaking beginners in the USA do not have the issue
of language barriers faced by English speakers in Europe and
there are plenty of skiing opportunities in the mountain
states. In Europe, you are likely to encounter language
issues. This is, in reality, much less of a problem than you
would expect. Your travel agent will be able to advise you
on your best options. The majority of European countries
have ski schools where English is spoken to a reasonable
standard. In order to enjoy some of the best English
speaking instructors in Europe, one option is to visit the
tiny principality of Andorra, located high in the Pyrenees
between France and Spain.
Andorra scores highly for beginners on a number of fronts.
Being a duty free resort, whatever you buy in Andorra is
likely to be pretty good value. Being one of the highest
resorts in Europe, you will be very unlucky to experience
poor snow conditions. With substantial investment in the ski
lift systems, the infrastructure is of high quality. One of
the most impressive aspects of Andorra is that the ski
schools usually employ a considerable number of native
English speaking instructors which many beginners find very
helpful. If you are tempted to take older relatives, you
will find that free lift passes are usually given to those
70 years old and over.
Most people who go skiing are usually hooked straight away.
If you're young then the mountains offer a great opportunity
to burn up your energy on the slopes and even more in the
evening! For older skiers, you can have just as much fun if
you take it at your own pace and you can set your own
agenda. Having said that, it is a good idea to get some
exercise in for some months before you go. You don't need to
be super fit but the fitter you are the better will be your
endurance. See you on the slopes!
You can learn to ski at any age from two years and upwards.
There are, however, some considerations when you decide to
go skiing for the first time. Find out more...
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Saturday, June 5th, 2010
Andorra - First Class Skiing For 2009
European mountain range the Pyrenees is known for some great
ski holiday resorts. Located on the borders of Spain and
France, they offer skiers some of the best slopes in the
world. Though many visitors choose to stay in either Spain
or France, there is one more option. For the best in skiing,
services and hospitality, the tiny country of Andorra should
be your holiday destination.
Andorra is located in the Pyrenees surrounded by Spain and
France. Once an isolated and unknown land, it is now a
highly prosperous country because of her tourism industry.
At an average of 83.5 years, the people of Andorra claim the
highest life expectancy in the world. Because of its
position within the mountains, the country doesn't have much
in common with the rest of Europe, except for Spain and
France. It's gone through many changes over the years, like
being occupied by France and declaring war on imperial
Germany during World War I.
Today, Andorra enjoys its status as the skiing tourist's
hotspot. Nine million visitors come to the country every
year to enjoy its slopes and world class resorts. Its duty
free status is another reason that it has so many visitors,
as goods can be purchased much cheaper than in the rest of
Europe.
Grandvalira, the largest ski resort in Andorra, is getting
more visitors every year. Thanks to an abundance of early
snowfall for the 2008/9 season, the resort opened earlier
than usual.
Soldeu, a prime ski holidays village, has good four and five
star hotels, with other accommodation and Andorra hotels
available in other skiing areas.
Skiers at the beginning of this year's ski holidays season
enjoyed three feet of good snow. With the snowfall the
resort is likely to be able to maintain 100%PRCTG% percent ski
lift use and 95 percent slope use through to April.
Another reason that Grandvalira has had such an increase in
tourist traffic in recent years was the celebration of Pas
de la Casa's fiftieth anniversary.
Pas de la Casa was the original name of the ski resort that
was integrated into Grandvalira. To celebrate this,
Grandvalira presented a full schedule of events for
visitors. They included various sporting events, a skier's
statue inauguration, and a week dedicated to the history of
the resort's cuisine. Even Mickey Mouse got in on the action
by making an appearance at the ski and snowboard school for
photos.
In recent years, France and Spain have had their share of
tourists, but Andorra has also been a very popular winter
destination. From skiing the many kilometers of slopes to
shopping for luxury items in duty free shops, the tiny
country of Andorra has something for every winter
holidaymaker. Its tiny size makes it ideal for focusing on
skiing. This year's ski holidays season will be even better
than other recent years, and the snow will hopefully keep
falling.
Hidden away in the Pyrennes, with France to one side and
Spain to the other, Andorra is one of the world's smallest
countries - and one of the best for a skiing holiday.
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