Skiing for a day – can it be done? Camping World finds out how.

Oct. 25, 2009 - PRLog -- Surrey, LONDON - 25.10.09

We are now officially in the longest ever UK recession and as a consequence many people are deciding not to go on their annual ski holiday this year, or cutting down some of their costs by buying discount ski wear and booking last minute package deals. Skiing is still expensive though and not all of us can afford to get away anytime soon

Last year, however, 1.27m Brits did get their winter break, and it is thought that a similar number will manage to get away this year. The Ski Store @ Camping World has already seen strong pre-season sales figures across their whole ski wear range, with White Rock’s luxury ski clothing lines surprisingly outselling the cheaper Trespass ski wear range, and even the ultra-funky Surfanic snowboarding gear. This in itself points to the survival of a key core market at the very least, and may be an early indicator of the winter sports holiday industry picking up and having a good season this year.

There are other factors that stop people managing a whole week on the slopes though, and sitting here in this office I am thinking wistfully of the next time I can get the adrenaline rushing by dropping down a vertical black. I have recently had a child you see, and there is zero chance of my wife allowing me a week on the slopes sans child-care duties. With 2008 proving to be a massive boom-year for babies (I’m told people stayed in when news of the recession struck) and 2009 following suit, there have got to be a fair few mums and dads in my situation. Not willing to brave ski resort child-care and not allowed to slope off on my own, I’ve been looking at other ways of getting my fix.

So, decked out the trendiest Surfanic Snowboard Gear (even though I am a skier I like to look good and most of their snowboard clothing hits top 10/10 technical specs as well as having funky urban designs) and carrying my Salomon boots in a boot bag (I’ll hire skis), what can I do?

The answer: get a green card from management for a day’s skiing one Saturday in February, and get a quick solo skiing fix. After all, I enjoy the peace and adrenaline of a good run, and if I can get there for a day, why not? Other people would just slow me down.
How is it done? Lastminute.com is offering a day’s return overnight train travel on Eurostar from London St Pancras (or Ashford) to the Alps. Leave work on a Friday and jump on the train; arrive early Saturday morning at any of the resorts listed below, stow your luggage in lockers provided and spend the day trying to do every run you can; as the sun goes down forgoe the après ski bars and jump on the return train to London taking full advantage of the buffet car serving drinks until midnight (or in the decent bottle of wine you handily purchased before boarding), and arrive back in London early on Sunday morning.

Get kitted out at the Ski Store @ http://www.campingworld.co.uk

The Resorts:

“Your arrival stations Moutiers, Aime la Plagne and Bourg St Maurice serve ski resorts such as Courchevel, Meribel, Val d'Isere, Tignes, Les Arcs and many other guaranteed snow-capped pistes” – Lastminute.com
The Dates:

Available dates are various Friday from January - March

The Upsides:

Unlike a normal ski week you don’t get that dreadful aching body 3 days into the week as you’re only out for a day. You will hurt on the Sunday though as there’s no way to ease yourself into this rollercoaster of a trip.

It’s only a day, and nearly all of us can wangle a day off!

It’s a great way to spend a day, you’ll be the envy of your mates and it’s simply excellent fun.

It’s a good way to try out a resort before spending a whole week there.

Lastminute.com is ATOL protected.

The Downsides:

The Eurostar isn’t a ‘sleeper’ train and your aching bones unused to the trauma you’ve inflicted on them will have to get you to sleep in a standard seat. On the flip side if you’ve done the work you’ll be able to sleep standing up.

It’s one helluva long day: Friday – Sunday with 2 sleeps on a train (if the excitement doesn’t keep you up on the outbound journey). Easy on the body this is not.

You’ve got to take your ski gear to work, but then you can boast.

You may not be able to do all the runs you wanted to do, but it is a great way to sample a resort.

Ski pass, transfers, hotel room, booze and food not included – this deal just gets you there, the rest is up to you.


Get kitted out at the Ski Store @ http://www.campingworld.co.uk

Example itinerary:

Outbound Journey

Depart: Friday night
20:31 London St Pancras (or 21:15 Ashford)

Arrive: Saturday morning
05:37 Moutiers
06:05 Aime La Plagne*
06:27 Bourg St Maurice

Return Journey

Depart: Saturday night
22:15 Bourg St Maurice
23:09 Moutiers

Arrive: Sunday morning
07:12 London St Pancras (06:34 Ashford)

That's it, it gets my vote - see you all there for a fun-packed day of adventure - say hi if you see me on the train!

Visit the Ski Store @ http://www.campingworld.co.uk

*Details from the holiday listed are taken from Lastminute.com's website and are subject to change without notice. Camping World is not responsible for any third party content and this article is intended as a guide to a winter holiday option only, not a holiday offer or holiday package for sale. Availability may vary.

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A 20 year established Camping & Leisure retail operation based in Surrey.

CampingWorld.co.uk is the UK's fast growing internet sales platform for camping and leisure retail, including technical equipment and ski wear.