We want all our customers to enjoy their time in the mountains to the max. The Iglu Ski team have put together a series of guides to assist beginners and seasoned skiers alike on their ski holiday, with an aim to stay safe whilst enjoying the mountains.
- The Foreign and Commonwealth Office provides fantastic advice and information about travelling abroad.
- The FIS Rules of Conduct is the ‘highway’ code for skiers, snowboarders and other winter enthusiasts to help everyone stay safe on the slopes. It is simple etiquette about moving around on the slopes and respecting everyone else around you.
Before your holiday
1. Get fit
Staying healthy and well on the slopes will make you enjoy your holiday much more. Skiing and snowboarding are demanding sports and a bit of preparation before your holiday will benefit you on the slopes by preventing injury. Take a look at Graham Bell’s top 3 tips before you hit the slopes:
2. Winter sports insurance
Getting winter sports insurance is a key before you go on a skiing holiday. If you are looking to hit the snowpark and do some tricks, make sure your insurance also covers these activities. Also check your insurance policy for hidden clauses for off piste skiing for example, ‘only covered for off piste skiing with a guide’.
Daily advice on the mountain
1. Stay hydrated and protect your skin
Just like being on a sun holiday, you also need to prepare yourself for a day on the mountain. Keeping hydrated and out of direct sunlight is also a top priority when on a ski holiday. If you are visiting a high altitude resort or are new to skiing, be aware of altitude sickness and take care by drinking lots of water and eating your regular meals. Sunburn is a common mistake as people think just because it isn’t hot that you won’t get burnt. But UV is actually stronger at altitude so you need to wear high factor sunscreen and top up throughout the day, even when cloudy.
2. Take it easy
It’s also okay to call it a day if you’re feeling tired, especially as most skiing injuries happen on the last run of the day when your body is tired. There are plenty of non-skiing activities available to keep you occupied if you decide to stop skiing earlier.
3. Wear a helmet
These days on the mountains, most people wear helmets and you’ll even look out of place if you don’t wear one! In some resorts it’s even a legal requirement to wear one. Helmets are essential for protecting your head if you fall. You don’t even need to be skiing at high speeds for it to make a difference. Plus it also keeps your head warm – an added bonus!
4. Ski pistes for your ability
Only go on pistes that are right for your level and experience of skiing. Beginners should stick to greens and blue runs, whilst intermediate skiers can also try out red pistes. In different resorts pistes are graded differently, considerably St Anton in which it’s red pistes are more like blacks in some French resorts. Make sure you are aware of this and don’t try anything that will be overly challenging for you.
5. Skiing off-piste
Take extra care when skiing off piste as the snow pack and landscape can be very unreliable. It is sensible to have a professional guide with the right equipment such as a shovel and a probe pole if you are looking to go off-piste. As aforementioned this is also covered in most insurance policies but it is not if you do not have a guide. Avalanches are a big issue when skiing off piste, particularly after a large dump of snowfall. Make sure you are aware of the avalanche forecasts to minimise any risks.
Discover more tips about staying safe in the snow.