Yes, I know, sacré bleue, who on earth wouldn’t be a skier (or boarder), what are they doing with their lives?! There are lots of reasons why you might find yourself in a ski resort and have to find something to do other than hitting the slopes. The early season conditions this winter and last winter were pretty dire, and uplift will often be stopped in high winds, so you need activities you can do without the glorious white stuff. Ski injuries are not uncommon unfortunately, or you may just find yourself on a group holiday with some people who just weren’t a born skier or snowboarder. Or you might want to try something different for après-ski. Read our round-up of alternative activities to try in ski resorts, both on-snow and off-snow, have you tried any?
Parapenting
Or paragliding, whichever phrase floats your boat. You can ski into flight, or run, running is recommended if you want your flight to last for longer. And if you catch a tasty updraft then lucky you, we’ll see you in an hour or so! Make sure you wear shoes that are tied (so they don’t fall off), have a wrist strap on your camera, wear something warm (it’s colder up there, trust me) and relax into it, it’s an awesome experience and fun to see your resort from a different angle! Try Morzine Parapente in the Portes du Soleil region.
Snowmobiling
Still an adrenalin junkie even if you’re not skiing right now? It’s unlikely you’ll be recreating James Bond scenes, but you can still pick up a fair bit of speed. It’s a different way to explore the slopes, and you can often get tours at night.
Dog sledding
Put your life in the hands of a pack of dogs, hmmm, yeah sounds safer than skiing, not! We often picture huskies as the dogs that lead sleds, but you might actually be led by different breeds. Definitely a fun activity to try, often found in north American or Scandinavian resorts, why not try it in Finland?
Tubing/Sledging
This is not just for children! If you haven’t tried this for years, trust me, you will still love it! You’ll often see the lower slopes leading into resorts scattered with sleds (and people) in the late afternoon, or your resort may have a dedicated area. In north America, you’ll be more likely to come across ‘tubing’ which large rubber rings are your carriage, a bit like a frozen water slide, Whistler-Blackcomb has a great track.
Snow-shoeing
Are you a walker? If the snow’s yet to arrive you’ll find plenty to keep you occupied around the mountains, or if the snow has arrived then pack your snow shoes, you’ll appreciate them! Some resorts have well-guided routes even in the snow, but others won’t. So pick you track carefully and make sure you stay safe, you could easily trigger an avalanche too. Champoluc has some good winter walking routes for you to follow.
Zip lining
A number of resorts have summer and winter offerings, and some are open year-round. Give the First Fleiger a go in Grindelwald, Switzerland.
Swimming
Swimming is a great way to keep up your ski fitness if you’re injured and can’t ski or run, it’s also a good muscle relaxant if you’ve had a long day on the slopes. Why not try out the quirky Aquariaz in Avoriaz, or get free access to the swimming pool and slides in Tignes with your lift pass.
Pampering
More and more resorts now have beauty therapists, massage therapists, yoga instructors and hairdressers setting up in resorts. They cater for tourists, residents and seasonnaires alike, but you’ll probably also find them enjoying the snow during the day so be prepared for après-ski opening hours.
Ice Skating/Hockey
Lots of resorts will have ice rinks, less so have ice hockey arenas. But if you find yourself in a resort with a hockey team and arena, get yourself down there! Hockey matches are good fun, and usually relatively cheap to go and watch, unless you find yourself in north America at a big game. So there’s still something for everyone even if you don’t fancy getting some skates on yourself.
