Where to get your ski groove back

Worried you’ve forgotten the basics after two years off the slopes – or even worse, lost your nerve? From picking the right resort to après-ski etiquette, your refresher course starts here

If you’re spurred on by the easing of foreign travel restrictions and Dave Ryding’s historic World Cup slalom win in Kitzbühel last weekend, you are not alone. British skiers are slowly returning to the slopes – yet two years’ abstinence from skiing is a long time and, while your pre-pandemic self might have laughed in the face of a prolonged break from the mountains, you might be struggling to shake off the nagging fear that you will quite literally be hitting the slopes, lockdown belly first, with your confidence in tatters.

Fear not: your winter sports reboot starts here. After all, a skiing holiday should be about having fun in the powder, not quivering with trepidation at the top of a green run. To help you make a triumphant return, we have selected the world’s top resorts and courses for everyone – from wide-eyed newbie to rusty expert. These carefully selected classes will not only teach you new skills, but build your confidence and help nip bad habits in the bud. Should you have children in tow, ski schools are even more essential – not only can you ski assured that they are learning in a safe environment, but you get in some well-deserved quiet time.

You’ll be pleased to discover that ski instruction has evolved since the 1980s – even if your trusty Nevica onesie from the same era still does the job. Gone are the days of perma-tanned coaches poured into red suits, Gauloises smouldering on zinc-coated lips as they mesmerise with their snake-like parallel turns and perplexingly charming Franglais. These days, your multilingual guide will prove as adept at pairing the best wine with your lunch as at helping you master the red runs.

If you are especially nervous, don’t wait until you reach the mountains – taking lessons at a local dry slope or snow centre before your holiday is an invaluable way to help you get your ski groove back. Not only will it build confidence, but also help prevent injury on the real snow – after all, you don’t want to be the one airlifted off the mountain.

And if you are worried about whether your knees will still hold up, doing some pre-holiday training is one of three golden rules for preventing injury, as set out by veteran orthopaedic knee surgeon Jonathan Bell of Wimbledon Clinics. Bell’s second rule stresses the importance of having ski bindings adjusted professionally to avoid undue pressure on your knees should you fall. His final tip is to avoid the busy home run at the end of the day. “Taking the lift down isn’t quite as heroic as spraying everyone with slushy snow as you come into town,” he admits, “but at least you avoid being run down by those in a hurry to get to the après-ski.”

Don’t fret that you will be alone in your rusty technique. Four-time Olympic skier Chemmy Alcott, who has skied her way through pregnancy and childbirth twice, explains how she adapted her skiing style when returning to the slopes after giving birth. “My ego was constantly trying to overrule my physical capability, so I had to rein in my enthusiasm to ski hard,” she reveals. i Learning curve: if you’re rusty, lessons

will help you fall for the sport again “I dialled down my natural energy by using a less aggressive ski and boot setup, easing myself back in with a touring boot rather than my usual alpine boots. This automatically gave a more mellow feel and forced me to work on my balance and core.”

While recreational skiers are unlikely to bring Alcott’s World Cup racing game to the pistes, intermediates and above could try taking some gentle first runs with their boots done up a little less tightly than usual. Engage your core and, as they say, the rest will follow.

If you are a complete novice, avoid relying on your skiing companions to show you the ropes – not only will they be itching to speed off after two years snow-free, but they may also pass on some bad habits. Lessons are the perfect introduction to skiing and won’t make you feel foolish or inferior.

So, if the mountains are calling, don’t let fear stand in your way; practise those squats, head to your local snow centre and book some holiday lessons. Failing that, take a leaf out of Ryding’s book. When asked what went through his mind before that victory-clinching second run in Kitzbühel, “the Rocket” responded: “B----r it, I’ll just try and get down and ski as well as I can and see where that gets me.”