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Going for school ski trips can give your students a chance to improve their physical and social skills. Further, they are a great learning experience even though the planning process can be arduous. Ski trips are not the preserve of skiers. You can attend school ski trips and still enjoy your stay.
If you’re a non-skier for instance, you can try to participate in the planning process as much as possible. This helps you include a vast range of activities that you and other non-skiers can engage in.
Remember, the ski trip location plays a huge role in determining the activities you choose. Conducting research is important if you want to enjoy the trip. Below are some of the best resorts in Switzerland you may want to consider for your ski trip.
St. Moritz, Switzerland
St. Moritz is an exclusive and sophisticated winter holiday resort. As one of the oldest and most popular winter resorts in the world, St. Moritz has hosted the Winter Olympics twice. Whether you’re an Olympian or just a skiing enthusiast, this region is open for you and your group.
There are over 20 lifts which transport skiers to terrain regardless of their skill level. While here, you will get an opportunity to ride through the Corviglia Funicular at 2,486 meters, as well as enjoy the exemplary scenic Alpine views.
Gstaad, Switzerland
Gstaad has 12 different ski regions which you can easily access with a single lift pass. With this pass, you’ll also get exclusive access to 200 km of piste connected by a train that traverses across five villages which are part of this resort. The town center is free of traffic and this allows you and your group to explore and marvel at the surrounding beauty. You can even go shopping in some of the most luxurious boutiques. Gstaad is a great skiing area for people from all walks of life.
Zermatt, Switzerland
If you want to ski while marveling at the picturesque tallest peaks of the Alps, you can easily do so at Zermatt. This region has 223 miles of runs spread across four big ski areas. If you love the snow, Zermatt is a must-visit area seeing that snow here persists for a prolonged period. Get the opportunity of visiting the Alpine village located at the foot of the Matterhorn, which is also one of the most popular Mountains in Switzerland.
Verbier, Switzerland
Verbier is a popular ski area that’s ideal for both sporty and youthful skiers. Verbier is surrounded by excellent runs for people who are fascinated by long-distance skiing. You’ll enjoy a huge backcountry terrain which makes this area one of the best in the region if you are looking for off-piste skiing.
Activities for Non-Skiers
Do not be left out of a school ski trip just because you don’t ski. There are numerous other activities you can engage in as seen below.
Exercise Your Winter Photography Skills
If you love photography, then you know that every opportunity is ideal for you to exercise your photography skills. Leverage on the winter season when beautiful places are deserted to perfect your photography. There are many reasons why winter is the perfect time to do so. For starters, winter presents you with various attractions which you wouldn’t get an opportunity to visit during summer.
This is because everybody goes out in summer and such places would be inaccessible. Further, winter is the perfect time to not only capture some of the exceptional winter landscape images, but also to improve your photography skills by capturing snowboarding, skating, and skiing moments. Did you know that the sky is usually clearer during winter than in summer? Leverage the clear skies to capture great photos both during the day and night.
Learn how to Ski
Not being able to ski doesn’t mean that you’re not interested in learning how to do it. Take this opportunity to learn and master skiing lessons. Many of the ski resorts mentioned here have trainers for people who are interested in learning skiing.
School children will have a great time learning the activity. Skiing is said to be easy to learn but hard to master. This may be true for adults who are learning the activity for the first time but children will have an easier time with learning and mastering the art of skiing.
Participate in Nordic or Cross-Country Skiing
There are various types of skiing but some people only know about downhill skiing. Well, you may want to try Nordic skiing which is also known as cross country skiing. Cross country skiing involves the use of individual locomotion to navigate through a snow-covered landscape without necessarily moving downhill. The good thing about nordic skiing is that you can ski off-piste at your own pace. Since it’s easy to execute, anybody can do it with minimal struggle.
Engage in Your Favorite Sports
The advantage of choosing ski resorts for your school ski trip is: they give you more than just skiing. There are other winter sports and activities you can have fun engaging in such as snowboarding, snowshoeing, tubing, ice skating, squash, indoor swimming, and bowling. With all these activities, you have no reason to stay curled up in bed or on the couch watching television. Get outdoors and engage in one of your favorite winter activities and go back feeling refreshed and rejuvenated.
Read That Book You’ve always wanted to finish reading
If you’re an avid reader and have been struggling to find time to read, why not leverage on school ski trips to finish reading? You can either carry your hard copy magazines and books or opt to read online. All you’ll need is a well-lit bonfire either at dawn or dusk and a secluded serene place away from distractions for you to enjoy reading your favorite books.
You may want to engage in other hobbies such as practicing crafting projects, watching your favorite movie, creating a photo album, or completing crossword puzzles. Whatever you do, have a clear plan of things you plan to engage in. you don’t want to go back home feeling bored and having achieved nothing tangible out of the trip.
Visit Local Villages and Towns
Exploring local towns and villages can be exhilarating. Take some time off your busy schedule and visit towns within the local area. Go to museums, the local shopping center, and check out cultural activities or festivals. This will be a great opportunity to learn about the local history as well as sample some of the local delicacies.
How to be Safe when Skiing
While skiing is an exciting activity, it can be dangerous especially if you don’t take the necessary safety precautions. Here are some safety tips to ensure you remain safe during your skiing ventures.
Safety Skiing Gear
All you need to stay safe is the ideal Skiing gear. You will need:
- A helmet specially designed for skiing. Ensure you get the right size for you that fits well. You also want to ensure that the chin strap remains well fastened.
- Boots, skis, poles, and bindings. All these should be fitted by a qualified professional
- The right size of goggles which should also be tinted to protect your eyes from the sun. While many people will opt for sunglasses, experts say that goggles are better as they will facilitate vision when it snows or rains. Goggles are better when it comes to safeguarding your eyes against various elements such as tree branches and keeping your face warmer.
- Lip balm and sunscreen lotion with an SPF of 30. If you can get greater SPF, the better, especially when you’re skating during the day. Remember, these are necessary even when you are skating on cloudy days.
- Warm clothing such as mittens or gloves, a hat, winter jacket, snow pants, and a neck gaiter which you can wrap around your neck and pull across your face to keep it warm. You want to dress in layers too. The benefits of dressing in layers are that you can reduce your clothing when the temperatures change.
How to Maintain Safety along the Slopes
These tips will help you stay safe while skiing on the slopes
- Figure out the best slopes depending on your skiing skill level. Liaise with the resort instructors who are well versed with the terrain. They will be able to guide you accordingly.
- Follow the marked paths and avoid skiing past the secluded region or within an enclosed area
- Never ski alone especially if you are a beginner
- Beware of warning signs such as caution and slow skiing area.
- Alert other skiers when you approach them on a narrow trail
- Ensure the trail is clear before skiing down the hill
- Avoid stopping along the trail where no one can see you from above.
Finally
Skiing is a fun and exciting activity which you may want to learn if you have not started already. You can leverage on the school ski trips to master skiing or even enhance your already acquired skiing lessons. Nearly all ski resorts in Switzerland and the larger Europe area have the necessary equipment you’ll need to ski which they rent out for reasonable amounts. They also offer lessons for both adults and school children. Master skiing and make your next trip as exciting as possible.
