SKIING

Hit the ski slopes today after a 20-year break and you might just think you’d stepped into a different sport. Everything from clothes, boots and skis to chairlifts has evolved. Fat powder skis and short parabolic skis are the most common today and helmets are ubiquitous. T-bars have been largely replaced by chairlifts and gondolas, often with heated seats and WiFi. France remains the most popular destination for British skiers, with Val d’Isère and the Three Valleys the favourites. However, Austria’s up-and-coming resorts, for example Saalbach, are catching up thanks to their competitive pricing.