Dear Member,
First and foremost, we would like to thank you all for your patience during our transition over to the new club. We hope you’ve had a chance to have a good nosy around, trying out all of our wonderful new rooms (whilst also secretly grumbling at the use of club funds on the de Gournay embroidered wall coverings in all the loos). What better way to kick off our first issue from the new club than to snowplough into the fifth and unofficial (but most important) season of the year: ski season. Whilst you may have destinations your family has been frequenting for generations or a newly renovated chalet you plan to leave to the dog in your will, there’s certainly nothing wrong with keeping your options open. In today’s issue, we will be covering the destinations, all the gear (with hopefully some idea), and even an interview with Tara Bell, a ski race coach and trainer, to give us the pre and post-ski fitness tips we all need. If skiing isn’t on the cards for you this season, you can always watch our list of ski-related films with a cup of gluhwein to fill the void.
The Destinations 🚠
Now, if you’re stuck on where to take your next ski holiday or you’re simply looking to venture into the world of chairlifts and apres, here is our completely ‘unbiased’ breakdown to help guide you. We said what we said.
France – Classic scenery…arrogant old school crowd. Everyone and their dogs has been to Val d’Isère at some point in their life, which is great for beginners and those who still ski like beginners despite skiing their whole lives because they only like to go to La Folie (or La Doudoune until 5am). Next door, you’ll find Tignes which is a great option for those who prefer off-piste. Courchevel for those who can ski as a by-product of their upbringing and mainly go for the Michelin star restaurants and whose birkins are surgically attached to their wrists (very safe at the Hotel Cheval Blanc, of course).
Switzerland – The ultimate ski destination (in our humble opinion); just be sure to stick to high-altitude resorts at the start and end of the season. Most people know St Moritz, Zermatt, Verbier, and of course, Gstaad. You’ll have plenty in the way of great runs, luxury shopping and Michelin-starred restaurants. For something a little more lowkey, head to Grindelwald, which offers two ski areas (one of which is home to the Lauberhorn World Cup downhill run). You could also try Davos, which is officially the highest town in Europe, sitting at more than 5,000 feet and offering both downhill and cross-country skiing.
Austria – The location of some of the world’s most famous ski races can’t be a bad place for those looking to challenge their abilities – fancy the Schladming night slalom? Or perhaps the Kitzbühel downhill? Head to St.Anton if you’re an expert skier looking for a challenge (in both skiing and partying).
USA – Now, the saying that everything is bigger in America for a reason, and whilst you will be spoiled for choice with resorts in the US, it’ll certainly be less quaint than its European counterparts. Colorado seems to be a solid choice, with Vail and Aspen being the most popular. Due to its size, you’ll find a myriad of family-friendly resorts covering all abilities. If you’re looking for pure luxury without returning to Vail or Aspen, you can always try Deer Valley in Utah, Stowe in Vermont, or Sun Valley in Idaho.
Italy – Apres including authentic Italian pizza, fabulous wine and buckets of Aperols at lunchtime? Sign us up. Head to the Dolomites for that famous pink alpine glow with enough options for beginners and intermediate skiers. There’s also the Cervinia/Zermatt area which allows you to ski in two countries for the price of one. If Alpine charm with a luxury edge is your thing, try Courmayeur.
Norway – Ahhh, brisk temperatures, reindeer and the chance to see the northern lights. The season is long here, so you’re safe for snow whenever you go. The country is rich with ski history and they know how to work hard and play harder, so be ready for plenty of post-run Glogg.
The Gear 🧤
One of the many innate snobberies around skiing is often down to what one chooses to wear on the slopes – the saying ‘all the gear, no idea’ rings true 90% of the time. Depending on the resort you’re in and the people you’re with, you may find that both a Chanel Jumpsuit and dressing like a 12-year-old boy are considered appropriate. Allow us to give you our breakdown of ‘fun’ and ‘functional’ options, depending on where you fall on the skiwear spectrum.
FUNCTIONAL vs FUN
The Jacket (Peak Performance) vs Foil Jacket (Perfect Moment)
The Salopettes (Patagonia) vs Fur Trimmed Ski Suit (Goldbergh)
The Snow Boots (Woolrich) vs Printed Moon Boots
The Thermals (Uniqlo) vs The Thermals (Peak Performance)
The Mid Layer (Patagonia) vs The Wool Turtleneck (Perfect Moment)
The Beanie (Arket) vs The Earmuffs (Chanel)
The Socks (Falke) vs The Socks
For Apres (The North Face) vs For Apres (Pucci x Fulsalp)
Lounging Fireside (TRS Members’ Knit, Of Course!) vs Splashing Cash (Moncler Knitted Jacket)
The Fitness ⛷
We reached out to Tara Bell, ski race coach and personal trainer specialising in strength and conditioning for winter sports, to help us get our ski legs ready.
We’ve booked our flights, now when do we need to start training to avoid being in pain come day two of our trip?
To avoid too many aches and pains I’d recommend starting at least 4 weeks before your trip, but ideally about 12 weeks before you head off. You may already be doing exercise in your normal routine that can be beneficial for this, so it may just be about making some tweaks and implementing some new moves to prep your body so it’s ready for the slopes.
What do we need to do to help build up endurance and strength for skiing?
Endurance is vital for a ski holiday. Cardiovascular training, particularly working in the aerobic heart rate zone, as well as intervals pushing into threshold heart rates will help build your endurance. Implementing some isometric exercises, such as planks and wall sits (which replicate positions we hold on skis) allows our body to be better at breaking down and removing lactic acid. Strength also plays a massive part in protecting our bodies from risks of injury, by increasing bone density as well as strengthening joints and ligaments. Adding resistance exercises, working 4-6 sets and 4-8 reps, can help us improve on our strength building. Just make sure the weights are heavy enough so you are working at around 80% effort.
Do we need to be trying to get into cold plunges to prepare for the cold?
Yes, cold plunges can help you cope with cold temperatures, by activating your sympathetic nervous system which can help your body maintain its core temperature. It also has a whole host of other benefits such as heart health, insulin sensitivity and mental health. I wouldn’t say it’s a must but it won’t hurt! If you have access to a sauna as well, it’s a great combo.
Specific moves we need in our training routine leading up to our trip?
Obviously lower body resistance exercises are a big focus but making sure we are implementing single sided or single leg exercises into the routine is key. For example, split squats, lateral lunges, single leg deadlifts, single leg hip thrusts are some of my favourites. Also, it is important to focus on both exercises that work our quadriceps as well as our hamstrings and glutes. A number of ACL injuries have had a proven cause of an imbalance between these two muscles, with a weakness in our hamstrings, so working both of the muscles in training before your trip is key to avoid injury.
Aside from legs, which other areas of the body do we need to work on for optimal ski fitness? Weird one, but I often get a sore wrist from an aggressive pole plant…
Plyometric exercises (box jumps, medicine ball slams, lateral bounds etc) are usually forgotten when preparing for a ski holiday. Not only do these help improve our reactions, but also help strengthen our ligaments and joints which is vital pre-ski as they are put under a lot of pressure and strain.
Core work is key, a strong core helps us create stabilisation and control when we skis, as well as playing a vital role in preventing those occasional tumbles. Implementing some lateral core work can help us recentre ourselves when we lose balance after hitting some powder/ruts and reduce our likelihood of crashing.
When it comes to the aggressive pole plant, farmers carries and dead hangs are great exercises to help strengthen forearms and grip strength which should help with the sore wrists. A good grip strength has also been linked to lowering blood pressure so this is something to add to workouts all year round.
Stretches to help relieve the pain / stiffness?
Personally, I love a thoracic spine rotation, or a pigeon stretch as I feel a lot of pain through my lower back when I’ve spent a lot of hours on skis. For beginners – you may feel more pain through your quads and calves, so I’d recommend a downward dog stretch, as well as a pigeon stretch with a quad hold. For those more advanced skiers, you may feel more pain in your hips and lower backs from getting into more angulated positions – I’d recommend a child’s pose, cat cow and world’s greatest stretch. If you have a massage gun, they are also great to bring on holiday, if your luggage allowance allows…
What’s the best way to soothe our weary limbs after a day on the slopes?
My favourite thing to soothe my body after skiing is a hot bath or if you’re staying in a hotel/chalet that has a hot tub or sauna then that’s even better. I love using CBD balms for those sore muscles and shins – my favourite is Puresport CBD muscle balm and Swiss Mountain Rescue’s Muscle Rescue. Hydration is also key, especially at higher altitudes and when we may be hitting the apres a little too hard.
One key piece of kit for skiing – aka particular ski socks, muscle balm etc?
My favourite piece of kit is a pair of heated socks – I get the worst cold toes when on the mountain and when you’re spending hours outdoors at -20 degrees these save me. I would also say that having a good helmet/goggle combo is important, there is nothing worse than a punter’s gap. Sweet Protection does a great all mountain helmet, which also comes in some cool colours.
What is your favourite thing about skiing?
It would have to be the views, some of the best landscapes I have ever witnessed have been on the first lift up when the sun is still rising. The adrenaline rush you get from skiing fast is also something that cannot be beaten.
One health mantra you live by?
Sleep! I used to have a 5am alarm when working in London and I got so burnt out. Since moving away and getting a solid 8-9 hours consistently, I have found that all my health/fitness goals have become so much easier and more attainable when I have had sufficient sleep. I try to eat early, limit time on my phone and like to be in bed around 9pm and I absolutely love it.
If you would like to learn more about Tara, you can follow her here: https://www.instagram.com/tarapfbell/
Learn more about her specific training programs for skiing to help you get into shape and reduce your risk of injury (and ultimately ski better and faster!) https://tarabellcoaching.co.uk/services/
The Films 🎬
Not able to go on a ski trip this season? May we recommend these films to fill the void:
On Her Majesty’s Secret Service, 1969 – the only Bond film starring George Lazenby. Features an epic ski chase set amongst the dramatic backdrop of the Eiger, Monch and Jungfrau.
Downhill Racer, 1969– Robert Redford plays a talented US downhill ski racer who is tackling the European historic ski courses.
Bridget Jones 2, 2004 – honourable mention to the ski trip taken by Bridget and Mark Darcy.
Chalet Girl, 2011 (if we must) – an all-star cast (not necessarily all-star performances) but still a great time.
Or, for those of you keen to learn more about the Alpine ski World Cup tour – there’s a short series on Red Bull called “Bending Gates”, which takes a closer look at the Swiss ski team (specifically our resident culture experts’ favourites, Loic Meillard and Marco Odermatt.
Members are also reminded that the membership committee are still accepting applications.If you are looking to apply for Social or Private membership, you are encouraged to do so before all committee members realise they have better things to be doing.
