If you are a vegetarian, don’t worry you’re not totally out of luck, but you might have a limited choice. One famous dish, is Käse spaetzle mit zwiebeln, which is egg noodles covered with cheese and onions.

Food on the slopes does tend to have gratuitous ammonts of meat or cheese on them, here’s a pizza we had in Leogang Austria.

Pizza at Seidl-Alm

Our Favourite in Austria : Tiroler Gröstl

Tiroler Gröstl at Seidl-Alm

Here is a great Austrian dish, Tiroler Gröstl. It used to be a way to use up the leftovers in Austrian families. Kind of like an Irish stew in ways. It consists of potatoes, pieces of ham, and and egg, all fried into each-other. Sometimes you’ll find some onions, and traditionally its served on a skillet, like in the picture.
This one pictured above is from the Seidl-Alm in Leogang / Hinterglemm resort in Austria (and so it the pizza).

Austrian Snack : Schinken Käse Toast

Another handy snack is Schinken Käse Toast, it’s basically it’s a toasted ham and cheese, you’ll find it on offer in most of huts on the mountains. In Austria they serve it with tomato sauce and possibly mayonaise or tartar sauce.

Schinken Käse Toast

What is Windskiing

From the video below you will see that it’s possible to reach pretty high speeds, so it would be a good idea to attempt this above the tree line, (around 1800m). Wide slopes are necessary because of the larger turning circles when having a sail attached. We expect that this type of sport should only be attempted by an experience skier who has experience with paragliding, otherwise you are really just looking for a quick way to go to hospital.

As you are going significantly faster than on a slope you will want to make sure you are all wrapped up before you take off. Both your hands will be occupied flying the glider once you get going, so forget about chances of fixing your fogged up visor. Also a skiing helmet goes without saying.

Video of Windskiing

Also one strange benefits of windskiing is that you can power yourself back up the slopes with the wind when you are done ! So no need for a pricey lift ticket, but we’re guessing that there aren’t many resorts that will allow this. At the very least you will be able to power through those flat pieces of slope. Because of the fact that this can be both dangerous to you and other people on the slope, you will probably have find a remove skiing location, perhaps Scandinavia.
In some parts of the world it’s called Speedriding due to the fast nature of the sport. Being so fast it can be hard to react to obstacles like, trees.

Other wind winter sports

We’ve heard of in the past that there are people who use windsurfers on the snow, but this is generally only safe to attempt where the slopes are relatively flat. Having an accident on a windsurfer in water can be forgiving, as you can enter the water. When you are on snow there is no such soft cushion. It’s also necessary to modify the board somewhat to allow you to clip in snowboarding/skiing boots, and you will need to remove that fin (unless you are in some serious powder).

Credits: Video & Photograph have been provide by David Douglas from GuidedMunich.com who offer photo tours in Munich.

Ski Clamp Care

It’s also a good idea to turn down the release clamps on your skis. This will reduce the stress on them and will extend their lifespan. It is also possible for cables, overtime, to become looser, due to the constant pressure on the cables. So releasing your clamps will make sure that the same DIN settings will be exactly the same as last season.

Removing visible rust

When you are storing your skis or snowboard, it is advisable that you check for rust around the edges. Little spots of rust can be taken off with a rubber, while more serious spots can be removed with a brillo pad or steel wool. By removing the rust you will stop or slowdown the rusting process. Left untreated it can get significantly worse and eventually cause serious damage to your skiing equipment.

Further edge care

If you are feeling adventurous you can consider buying an edge tool, like the one below.

This tool is particularly good at smoothing edges, and  removing those nasty burrs that occur with general ski use. Burrs are little dents in the metal edge that can be sharp to touch. If these are not removed they will develop and start to get more pronounced. One thing to remember with the edge tool is that this should only be used in rare occasions as you can realistically only use it a dozen times on a ski or snowboard edge.
The edge tool ensures that you can make those turns as best possible as your edges will be sharp and straight.

Summer Waxing

More than likely you won’t need to bring your skis / snowboard in for a tuning. But you should consider putting a protective coating of wax on your skis / snowboard. A big thick layer of wax will protect your board from potential problems with moisture. For this summer waxing, don’t worry about scraping / smoothing it into the board, just apply and store your ski equipment away. Then at the start of the next season you can scrape the excess wax away, and you should be ready to go and hit the slopes !

Ski Storage

While storing your skis in a bag is probably the neatest option, but possibly not the best one. Storing your skis in a bag increases the risk of rust. These wet and damp bags will cause your board to rust, and over a few months this can cause some serious damage. We recommend you store your board on a rack out in the air and to give it a dusting every few months to make sure it looks in top condition.

With these few ski equipment tips your skis and snowboard should be in top top shape and ready for the start or the next season. Taking care of your ski equipment at the end of the season, while a bit of work, should ensure that they have a maximum lifespan.

Generally people tend to organise their holiday in a haphazard way, and the result is a holiday that will only induce stress. Here are our 6 tips on how you can eliminate that stress from your ski holiday, and enjoy it for what it really is.

1) Proper Ski Equipment

Before you go, make sure you have adequate dry and water proof ski equipment with you. Things like waterproof gloves, warm / comfortable socks, and ski goggles will make your day much more comfortable. And don’t forget to get a child ski helmet, many resorts require that child wear them !

2) Winter holiday location

To ensure you arrive at the resort stress free, you should try your best to pick a resort that has a short airport transfer time. Your first day of travel will be hectic enough and you should try to  minimise the time your young ones will have travelling.

3) Plan with younger children

If some of your children are still too young to ski, then plan your childcare in advance. This might involve bringing along a grandmother or a family friend who will look after the child while you and the other children are on the slopes. If this is not possible, make sure you pick a resort with proper childcare facilities. Also you should factor this into your costs when you are going skiing

4) Plan your ski lessons

Where possible try to get your kids into as small a class as possible.  Typically what happens is that ski school runs from 9:30am until lunch time around 12:30pm , and then in the afternoon the children have time to practise what they have learned with their parents. Also consider the possibility of getting a private class or two together so you all can learn together.

5) Introduce your kids to skiing early

This point has two sides. If you are planning on going skiing regularly we recommend that you aim to start your kids off skiing as soon as they can walk. Children from the age of 4 or 5 are certainly ready to learn how to ski. It also a good idea to bring your kids to either Kilternan Ski Club or the Sandyford Ski Centre. Show your kids what a day skiing involves, and give them an extra advantage of some practise when they do start their skiing lessons.

6) Finally relax

And don’t forget to relax and enjoy yourself. If your kids are not taking to the snow straight away, don’t push them. Give them their time, and let them build snowmen, and maybe next year they will be whizzing down the slopes past you.

When planning a family ski holiday think of the holiday first, and worry about the skiing secondly. If you follow these tips you will have a great family holiday.

The science bit : Hangovers are caused by toxic chemicals, known as congeners. Congeners are produced in process of fermentation of alcoholic drinks. A general tip is that the less cloudy the drink is the less congeners it will contain.

Avoiding the aprés ski hangover

Here are our top 10 tips for avoiding being a mess every morning of your winter holiday:

1. Make sure you are pre-hydrated : during the day you should aim to drink around 3 litres of water. The headache part of a hangover is attributed mostly to your brain being dehydrated.
2. Have a good base :  before you start to party, have a bite to eat. Having your stomach lined will make sure you will be able to drink more without feeling the effect
3. Stick to one drink : Mixing drinks is a big no-no. Cocktails or changing between drinks  during the night should be avoided.
4. Chose your drink wisely : Vodka is one of the purest of alcohols with little or no chemicals in it. This generally leads to less problems. Alternatively German beers tend to be brewed with the purity laws, which state that they use only natural ingredients.
5. Take extra vitamins : to insure you are healthy, and avoid nasty colds you should take Vitamin C & B or multi-vitamin supplements. Vitamins also help to remove the alcohol from your system.
6. Avoid caffeine : Drinks like vodka and Redbull contain lots of sugars and sweatners as well as caffeine. These won’t help your headache in the morning, and they may delay you getting to sleep later on.
7. Avoid drinks with high levels of congeners : Drinks like rum, brandy, port and whiskey contain higher levels of congeners than others alcoholic drinks. These drinks are more likely to induce hangovers.
8. Make sure you are post-hydrated : before you go to bed, after your aprés ski, try to remember to have a glass ot two of water before you go to sleep.
9. Get rested : Do remember to get some sleep !
10. Finally : actually there is no point number 10, just go out and have a great time.

We hoped you liked our tips on how to avoid hangovers, if you have any yourself please leave a comment and let us know !

The Ski Centre is located in Sandyford, Dublin and they offer lessons and rental of the slope for skiers and snowboarders. As far as we can see, you will be supervised by a qualified instructor at all times. 

One of the benefits of such a system is that the is now downtime waiting for a drag lift to bring you back to the top of the  piste. Classes which last an hour, have up to 6 pupils in them. The pupils, in two groups of 3 alternate on the slope, so to give people a rest during the hour long session. 

Ski Centre Prices

Ski Centre Opening Hours

• Monday to Friday 9am – 10pm
• Saturday 8am – 6pm
• Sunday & Bank Holidays 9am – 6pm

The ski centre can be contacted via phone on (01) 29 30 588 or via email  info@skicentre.ie

More videos can be seen here.

Read our discussion on indoor skiing for more on this topic.

One high profile case this year invloved a German politican Dieter Althaus who was involved in a  collision on the slopes resulted which in the death of Beata Christandl. Althaus remains in coma, and it is thought that his helmet saved his life. He suffered a fractured skull.  Mrs Christandl who was not wearing a helmet suffered major head trauma when the two skiers collided. 

In Switzerland alone there is an estimated 150 cases per day of head injuries and concussions.

At most resorts you will be able to rent a helmet for €20 – €30 a week, and some rental companies give free rental for childrends helmets.  You can also purchase skiing helmets for between €70 – €120. 

Read our discussion on skiing helmets for more on this topic.

Again and again people ask us here at skiing.ie about what resorts have the best night life and good aprés ski. One important part of a skiing holiday for many skiers is the party afterwards. With a mixture of bad pop music (have you ever heard Austrian pop ?) and traditional songs mixed in with some beer or stronger beverages, results in a great party atmosphere.

For many skiers and snowboarders, picking where to go on a snow holiday is all about the quality of their aprés-ski. Once the day on the slopes is done, it’s time to hit the sun deck and grab a few beers to help the muscles relax. Of course for some this partying continues well into the early hours of the morning.

Best Aprés Ski Resorts

Here is Skiing.ie top 10 lively ski resorts for 2008/2009:

1. St Anton, Austria
2. Chamonix, France
3. Kitzbühel, Austria
4. Sauze d’Oulx, Italy
5. Soldeu, Andorra
6. Verbier, Switzerland
7. Aspen, Colorado
8. Meribel, France
9. Pas De La Casa, Andorra
10. Val D’Isere, France

The target audience of these resorts is the 18-30 age group, or the younger at heart people. While it is possible to go to these places and not party like an animal, you will at least have the opportunity to do so.

Aprés-Ski Tips

For some it’s important what they wear skiing, and for others it’s how hard they party. For those of you who want to take aprés ski to the next level here are a few tips that will insure you have a good time.

1. Fashion, after a day on the slopes, you may want to have a change of clothes. Somes skiers will hit the bar right after the last run of the day, but remember that all those insulating layers, ski pants and equipment are unnecessary. A vest and a fleece should be enough to wear. So do remember to pack some of them.
2. Footwear : You don’t want to party all night in your ski boots, these things are simply not designed for all day wear. Bring a pair of boots/shoes with you.
3. Accessories : Leave your goggle, and other unnecessary accessories at home (helmets/ski masks). It’s one less thing to remember !
4. Camera : don’t forget to bring something to capture your great night out.
5. Water : remember once you finish for the night, remember to drink some water. This will help you avoid a hangover and a hard day on the slopes.
6. Alarmclock, remember to set it so that you don’t missing your skiing instruction the next morning.
7. Drugs, not the illegal type, have them handy for the morning, just incase you feel you need something to relieve that splitting headache.

If you feel like this all sounds too much for you, then check out our quiet ski resorts list.

The one and only artificial dry ski slope in Ireland, is located at Kilternan, Co. Dublin. It is managed by the Ski Club of Ireland (www.skiclub.ie) and is open through out the year (hail, rain or shine). The Ski Club of Ireland is a non profit organisation which aims to develop the sport of skiing in Ireland. Now the Ski Club is in it’s 25th year, here is a little bit from their history page:

The Ski Club of Ireland was founded in 1963 and a few years later ran its first slope in Knockrabo in Mount Anville, Goatstown, south Co. Dublin.

The club is located 10 minutes off the M50, in the grounds of the Kilternan Golf and Country Club, which is also reachable by bus. The club offers instructions for skiers and snowboarders of every level. Courses are offered through the year, and they even provide equipment for free. Also equipment is provided for free in the practise sessions.

Kilternan Facilities & Prices

In total there are 4 individual slopes at Kilternan. These range from the 180m long main slope to the 150m intermediary slope and they also have two nursery slopes which are 50m long. These slopes are obviously not covered in snow, rather a substance called Dendix. Dendix is a bristle surface which is lubricated with a misting spray.

Current membership fees cost €370 to be a full member of the club and this entitles you to unlimited use of their slopes as well as significant discounts on classes (around 50%). You can also become just a regular member for €80, which would be a good idea if you wanted to take part in some of the classes. A set of four classes costs €150 for adults and €100 for under 18′s. A practise session costs €33 for a 3 hour session (€28 for members). Again practise sessions and skiing lesson prices include the use of skiing equipment (skies,boots,poles & snowboards).

Kilternan Opening Times

Ski Slopes for Skiers & Snowboarders

• Monday – Friday from 19.30 – 22.30
• Saturday & Sunday from 10.30 – 13.30 & 14.30 – 17.30.

Snowboarders only

• Sunday evenings from 18.00 – 20.30.

While the ski club is open year round, they only offer classes between September and March. People who buy a season ticket can avail of practice sessions on Sunday mornings and Wednesday evenings until mid May, after that there won’t be anything happening until they reopen in September.

The Ski Club also has an office which is open from Monday – Friday from 09.00 – 17.00 and also during normal slope opening hours. If using their facilities you will need to bring a good set of gloves as well as a pair of long socks. Scarves, interestingly enough are banned from the slopes at Kilternan. We’re guessing this could due to the chocking risk, but it does sound a little strange !

Photo by Ski Club Ireland

Photo by Paraic Woods

Kilternan Skiing Video

Here is a video from YouTube which has some people skiing around the Kilternan slopes, so sit back and enjoy. If you do go to Kilternan, let us know what you think. We are just to far away to get there !

If you have any questions for the Irish Ski Club, you can ask these in their forum on skiing.ie where one of their staff will answer your questions.