The words ‘skiing’ and ‘summer’, to the unacquainted ear, do not belong together in the same phrase. However peculiar an oxymoron, summer skiing has become a popular holiday option in the past decade, with thousands of skiers and boarders heading out to the mountains from June onwards for another dash down the slopes, to catch snow both above and below the southern hemisphere.
You may have skipped this season’s huge snowfall, or could be craving more alpine action: either way, all hope is not lost. Summer skiing is an action break with a twist, with activities such as mountain hiking or paragliding available in resorts to accompany your skiing time. Ranging from big resort names in the Alps to some much more unusual locations such as New Zealand, there’s something out there for any type of traveller. Plus it’s not as costly as you think, with adult lift prices for Grande Motte Glacier in Tignes starting from around 150 euros for six days – almost 75 euros less than a winter Tignes lift pass. So instead of stashing your gear away for the rest of the year and heading for heat, check out these resort picks and quirky alternatives, and prepare to come back with more of a tan than just round your goggles.
BEGINNERS
Tignes, the destination for this year’s YUsnow trip, is a fantastic place to start lessons or set ski on freshly pisted snow after indoor lessons in the UK. The Grande Motte Glacier is one of the highest spots on the Espace Killy ski area at 3550m high, and with 25km of blue and red runs open from 7:15am to 1pm, the resort is perfect for a combination of early skiing and afternoon activities, which vary widely, from tennis on the numerous courts to sailing on le Lac de Tignes. Glacier conditions are great for carving and sharp turns. A little limited for those first-lift-to-last-lift advanced skiers, but for new riders, this is a perfect low intensity training ground.
THRILL SEEKERS
New Zealand skiing is at its prime during our summer, as conveniently it’s their winter season, and the country features a wide range of ski areas and some of the most scenic heliskiing to be found. Mount Ruapehu, an active volcano in the heart of North Island, hosts Whakapapa, the largest ski area in New Zealand with 24 black and black diamond runs for the risk takers, and access to the back country. If you’re craving more kicks, Whakapapa also offers sky diving and bungee jumping. For a longer summer on the mountain, season work is plentiful and locals welcome overseas workers, whether it’s bartending you’re looking for or an instructor course.
TRAVELLERS
When planning a trip to South America, skiing in Argentina is not usually the first must-do that springs to mind. However, skiing at Las Leñas resort makes for an experience that is so different to the French Alps: for one, the lifts are named after Romans and Greek Gods rather than surrounding mountains. Local skiers head to the resort during the weekend so weekdays are the best time to be in Las Leñas, with low lift queues. There are round-trip packages from Buenos Aires, located east of the resort. Much of the back country is unexplored and the area receives good powder, so if off-piste and hiking are your fortes, prepare to be first tracks.