Skiing is great fun, but it’s snowboarders who manage to look cool and effortless on the mountain. Appearing to glide across the snow, however, takes a lot of hard work – many argue that learning to snowboard is tougher than getting to grips with skiing.
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Winter sports are some of the most adrenaline-inducing activities out there, and having the right winter sports equipment can help you get involved safely. From snowboarding and skiing to ice-skating and snow-shoeing, you can even go down a mountain on a big inflatable ring. There’s something for everyone, so when is there a better time to experience new things than on holiday?
To join in, you don’t necessarily have to buy your own winter sports equipment. Many resorts and centres can provide equipment for you to hire, which is definitely cheaper than buying your own. If you’re planning to take part in winter sports on holiday, it’s also important to make sure you have the right winter sports travel insurance for your trip.
Don’t feel like you can’t branch out and experience something different. If you buy gloves, goggles and a hat, you can pretty much try any sport you want to have a go at. However, for all high-adrenaline sports, it’s a good idea not to skimp on the equipment and the high quality stuff is likely to keep you safer.
If you’re looking for somewhere to try skiing or snowboarding, there are plenty of destinations where you can hire the equipment you need rather than bringing your own. Chamonix in France is a popular choice, with ski and snowboard equipment available to hire from several local providers.
Niseko in Japan is another option, particularly if you’re interested in skiing or snowboarding. Niseko United has rental shops across its four resorts, with equipment available for different abilities, including skis, snowboards, boots, helmets and other winter gear.
Other well-known winter sports destinations include St. Anton in Austria, Whistler in Canada and the Dolomites in Italy. Before travelling, check the official website of your chosen resort for information about equipment hire, ski areas, lessons and the activities available during your stay.
Snowboarding has become one of the most popular winter sports as it’s relatively easy to pick up for beginners. To cover the basic essentials you need for snowboarding, you’ll have to invest in a snowboard, snowboard boots, bindings, trousers, a jacket, goggles and other warm winter gear such as hats and gloves.
One of the oldest winter sports, skiing is second in popularity to snowboarding and requires some level of experience before you head to the top to ski back down. When you go skiing, you’ll need a set of skis, ski boots and winter sports gear similar to the snowboarding attire – a warm, waterproof jacket and pair of trousers, goggles, a hat and some gloves.
If you just want to get out and explore the snowy terrain. Snow shoes allow you to walk across feet-deep snow without sinking. If you’re going on holiday in a snowy climate, snowshoes are ideal for exploring the outdoors. They can help you reach places that may be difficult to access without them.
For snowshoeing, you’ll need snowshoes and bindings. You’ll also need a warm, waterproof jacket, trousers, hat and gloves.
For a more sporty experience, try running snowshoes or backcountry snowshoes. These can make exploring the wintery landscape more challenging and exciting.
Ice skating is the winter sport which everyone participates in at one point or another. Moving across the ice at a fast but graceful pace becomes really enjoyable after you’ve let go of the side of the rink…or someone’s arm. Make sure when you buy ice skates, that you’ve bought the right type as they vary. Figure skates are designed for manoeuvrability, speed skates are built for exactly that and ice hockey skates have a small pick in their tip to allow players to make quick stops or changes in direction. Make sure your ice skates have been sharpened. A sharp ice skate blade grips the ice better than a dull one. Ideally, you should sharpen your blades when they begin to slip when you land. You could measure the number of hours it takes for your blades to become dull and then you’ll have an idea of how long you can skate for without any surprises.
Sledding is great winter fun for the whole family. There are many different types of sled to choose from. For a straight ride down a snowy hill, a toboggan is a good option. If you want a quick, wild and bouncy ride, try a plastic sled.
Some resorts have special sledding areas. Some hills even have lifts to take you back to the top. You can also sled in many places where there is a suitable slope.
Make sure you choose a sled or snow tube (a large inflatable ring) with enough seats for everyone. Then you’re ready to start sledding!
With the Easter Bank Holidays fast approaching many of our medical travel insurance customers have been looking for inspiration of where to go. Whether you’re looking to whisk the family away for the term break or just want to enjoy a break before the holiday season gets expensive and crowded, a European city break is ideal. Read more
With the Easter holidays fast approaching, I thought the timing was right for a blog about how to make travelling with young children as easy as possible. This is particularly for our travel insurance customers with disabled children. Travelling with children can go either way. It can turn into a nightmare for the parents and fellow passengers, or they could behave like little angels and all your fellow passengers smile and say how cute. One thing is for sure. The older or more travelled your children get, the more easily it is to identify the trigger points.
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To my shame I don’t speak any other languages, however since my cancer diagnosis whenever I travel to a foreign county I always make sure that I learn a few important phrases in the language of the country I’m visiting, such as how to ask for help in an emergency, the name of my medication and my condition. I also carry a letter from my doctor with my initial diagnosis and my treatment to date.
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