’TIS THE (SKI) SEASON
Grab your girl squad and hit the slopes this winter
Ski holidays always look like epic fun, but if you’ve never skied before, it can be as scary as running through the snow naked (not that it stops some celebs). Once considered a bit of a lads’ fad, a new wave of ski schools all over the world are designed just for women – and you don’t need to know your snow plough from your slalom to pop your skiing cherry.
“There’s something about women that makes them thrive in all-girls groups,” says Katie Dobson, owner of Ski Goddess. “Women come to me, because they want to feel better, smoother, more confident and in control, whether on blues or reds, or maybe a little dabble in the off-piste.”
Katie Blundell-jones, who heads up the ladies’ camps at Ticket To Ride, says, “Girls learn differently to guys. Women-only breaks aim to progress skill levels in a more nurturing, female-focused, environment.”
Join a group of up to eight women in a luxury chalet in Méribel, France, where BASI Level 4 instructor Emily Sarsfield will coach you to the next level with around four hours of lesson time per day. You’ll stay in Chalet L’arclusaz, a five-bedroom chalet with a sauna and hot tub. Cooked breakfasts are included, as is afternoon tea (traditional in ski resorts rather than lunch, to allow you maximum time on the slopes), and four-course dinners with wine. There are also plenty of opportunities to bond with your chalet mates over après ski. Aimed at intermediate skiers, this is perfect if you want some concentrated coaching to progress in a female-friendly environment.
A one-week, full-board trip in a shared room from 28 March to 4 April costs £1,595pp, excluding flights (Tickettoridegroup.com).