Who here is a skier?

If so, where's your favourite ski destination? (Mine is probably Whistler in British Columbia, Canada.)

i have skied a long time ago, was great... now i live in one of the flattest places in the world, so not much luck... might go sometime, just for the heck of it...

*raises hand enthusiastically*

I've been skiing 6 times now, in consecutive years. I've been to Andorra (small country between France and Spain) 3 times, and to the French Alps 3 times. I sometimes go to indoor ski slopes in the UK as well, like Xscape.

I learnt to ski in Andorra, with lessons and help; but when I've been to France I've skied with the rest of the group. Learnt some nice tricks like spinning 360 on the skis, sort of pivoting while staying in contact with the ground and small jump twist, still can't do 180 jumps very well though. Somehow, I've never wanted to even try rails. For the last 2 trips, I've been on snow blades, but I've gotten fed up with them now, its annoying not being able to go as fast as other people and getting stuck in thick snow.

Btw, snow blades are short skis, like half-length; give you alot of control and easier to try stunts on, but over all not as good as proper skis in my view.

Skiing involves cold, snow, expense, and the distinct risk of bodily injury. Not something I'd do for fun.

I've broken several bones skiing....



But I still love it!

Me too, but the knees won't handle skiing anymore. We do go to Winter Park regularly, but now my wife and I snowshoe the hiking trails, and if the kids fly in to meet us, they tear up the slopes. Cool place. Short drive from Denver.

Winter Park, Colorado - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

I've never hurt myself skiing, it really isn't as dangerous as its made to be. As for the cold, you obviously wear a thick coat, and you heat up skiing so you don't notice it anyway; its an interesting experience as well, being in very cold conditions. In skis nowadays there is a tolerance system whereby if the binding is under pressure, as happens in most falls; the ski will detach from the boot to prevent injury.

It can be expensive, but there are a few very good resorts with cheap prices in the off-peak months.

See my reply above.

Ski binding detachment during an accident is only to stop you breaking your legs by having your skis caught on something. If that does happen, your body still continues forward with enough momentum to break other bones in your body.

I've known people to break their wrists, arms, shoulders, legs and even their spines in skiing accidents. Believe me, I've been there and it does happen.

Still, don't let that put you off. Skiing is great fun!

I know accidents like that can and do happen, I've seen the people carried off in stretchers; but what I'm trying to say is that fear of injury shouldn't put anyone off skiing. Most people who are sensible and in control won't have an serious accident in their skiing trip; and often when you are learning to ski, it is scary, but you aren't actually fast enough to hurt yourself.

Absolutely. It still doesn't put me off.

Sensibility has nothing to do with it. Even the best skiers have accidents. As you progress to more complex (and thus steep) runs, you're going to be travelling at a higher velocity. With that momentum, even the smallest mistakes can cause catastrophic injuries.