Alpine Alternatives: Fancy a change to Snowsports for a day?

Ever thought of taking a day off mid week skiing and trying something different? Get inspired...

Paragliding
What experience do you need to attempt paragliding? Absolutely none. All you need is a small dose of courage and an instructor with a BIG dose of courage… it all evens itself out! If you think that you are brave enough to hover 1,000 metres in the air, then this experience is definitely for you. When you have managed to calm down after having adjusted to the fact that you have just leaped right off a mountain edge, it gradually begins to feel natural… rather quickly, actually. You will then remain in perfect balance for the rest of the flight.

Igloos 

If you were to take a visit to the Alps, on the slopes shared by Soll and Hopfgarten, Iglu Village at a 1,300 height, you’d find… an igloo village! They have been becoming increasingly popular to tourists, as it is a one of a kind experience. The village has a series of ice rooms that sleeps 35 people, and if you love beautiful, traditional food, you’ve come to the right place. Take a stroll down the large cavernous bar serving fondue meals, with tables and chairs constructed out of ice, covered in reindeer skin.

It’s all in the name: winter walking. 
Walking in the winter… to make it even more specific, walking in the snow in the winter. Go wherever you like! As typical as this sounds, it’s a wonderful experience to get your family or châlet neighbours involved in. If you haven’t had the chance to yet, take the opportunity to take a gander around the town or village that you are staying at, or even around the bottom areas of the mountain, in all the wooded areas, whether day or evening, but… BEWARE OF THE ICE. You could maybe take a break and nip into the nearest café for a ‘chocolat chaud’ and warm right up!

How adorable are huskies? 
Take your kids down to see the huskies’ very own ranch… even let them take a sleigh ride with them! Don’t deny yourself this opportunity; as for all you know, it could be as fun and as exciting as skiing or snowboarding. The huskies love the ride, as much as you’d love the ride, so here’s one question: why not give it a try?

Apparently, huskies are seen are seen to be more as wolves than dogs… not in the scary way! However, you are expected to approach them, as they don’t tend to approach humans themselves.

Sleigh Riding
At Hopfgarten, every late afternoon in March, that is where you’ll find sleigh riding! Do you fancy doing something a little different on your ski break, instead of sticking to the regular of the café? If so, sleigh riding gives you the opportunity to relax whilst enjoying the surrounding countryside; what is really exciting about it, is that you will be experiencing the pace that the regular person used to travel daily. It gives you a bit more ‘chill out’ time, rather than heading down a slope at a super fast speed.

Other opportunities include:

1.     The Bobsleigh & Skeleton at the La Plagne resort, France: Take your chances on the 1,500m long Olympic track with 19 bends… if you dare. The three activities to choose from are the Olympic Bobsleigh, Luge or Skeleton, and attempt hitting speeds of up to 120km/hour!

2.     Then at the Saas-Fee resort, France, there is the ice climbing – there is a 40-metre high World Cup wall, constructed in the multistory car park.

3.     Also in France at Chamonix, try the resorts’ vast Mer de Glace epic explorations, organised by the Mont Blanc and Guide Company.

4.    Finally, try the ice-karting and Verbier resort in Switzerland. This resort has a full size ice-karting racetrack with 4-metre high-banked corners, which will leave you zooming around the corners of a phenomenal 30mph speed!

May Johnson, January 2015
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