When to go - The best time to ski and board

The best time to ski and board
Length of your holiday

The best time to ski and board

Most people book their winter sports holiday for the winter months. However, nobody enjoys crowded pistes so what is the best time to go skiing or boarding?

The main season - Generally, the winter season in Europe begins in mid-December and finishes in April or May. Many North American mountain resorts will open in November if there is sufficient snow.

Each ski and snowboard resort has its own opening times so check with your tour operator or the local tourist information office or resort website before you book.

There are no guarantees of good snow at any time of the year.

Generally you stand a better chance of good snow conditions when it is coldest. This is normally around the middle of the season (January and February).

However, it is important to remember that it is difficult to accurately forecast the weather - sometimes the best snow may fall on the last day of the season.

The only way you can be sure of good snow conditions is to book a last minute ski or snowboarding holiday to a resort that has received recent snowfall. However, this can be a risky strategy as popular resorts will get fully booked during peak season.

Summer Skiing and Boarding - Some high altitude and glacier resorts in Europe and North America will open in the summer if there is sufficient snow.

Snow conditions in the summer will be variable and the number of runs open is likely to be limited to those at the top of the mountain or on the resort’s glacier.

If you intend taking a summer skiing/boarding trip, try to pick a resort that also offers a range of off-slope activities.

The higher summer temperatures mean that snow conditions can deteriorate by mid-afternoon.

A skiing and snowboarding resort with a range of activities will lessen the chances of being stuck with nothing to do.

If you are willing to travel and are looking for something different, you could consider a ski and board holiday in the southern hemisphere.

Places like Australia, New Zealand, Chile, and Argentina are the most popular Southern Hemisphere destinations.

Southern Hemisphere ski and snowboard resorts are usually open from mid-June to October.

Avoiding the crowds - Unfortunately some winter resorts can get very crowded at times.

Most ski and snowboard resorts are likely to be very crowded during national holidays.

For example, Spring Break in the USA can be a very busy time for North American resorts.

Events and competitions such as World Cup ski races will also fill resorts with competitors, spectators and the world's media.

Many European mountain resorts also host local carnivals and celebrations during the season.

Check resort websites or contact the local tourist information office for details of events and holiday periods that fall during the season.

If you are travelling with children you will probably have to fit your skiing and snowboarding holiday around school term-times.

Unfortunately, this means half-term and other school holidays will be very busy in many ski and snowboard resorts so you have to be prepared to deal with the crowds.

If you are going to be taking your skiing and snowboarding holiday during a busy period, consider resorts with good, modern lift systems so you don't have to spend too long in lift queues.

Also try to arrange things like lift passes and equipment hire in advance to avoid the queues.

Length of your holiday

A weekend break or 5 months in the mountains - which is best for you?
Most people find one week is sufficient for a winter sports holiday.
Skiing and snowboarding are physically demanding sports so after a week you may be feeling the effects of all that exertion.

Two-week ski or snowboarding holidays are more popular with visitors to long-haul destinations such as North America, Japan or Chile, due to the travelling time.

Many North American ski and snowboard resorts are also at higher altitudes than European resorts and although altitude should not cause too much of a problem if you are fit and healthy you may find you are more tired for the first couple of days.

Therefore, 10 days or 2 weeks is sometimes a better holiday option if you are taking your skiing or snowboarding holiday outside of Europe.

No matter how long your holiday, remember you don't have to spend 8 hours a day on the slopes to enjoy yourself.

Everyone’s fitness levels are different. So if you feel tired, take some time off the slopes and relax or enjoy some of the other activities on offer.

Weekend breaks are also a popular option and there are specialist companies that can arrange the whole package for you or you could book your accommodation and travel seperately.

Obviously if you are opting for a short break then choose a resort that is close to the main airports or consider an overnight train or coach service.

Try to arrange your equipment hire and lift passes in advance and make sure you book your accommodation in advance as many establishments will not accept short breaks.

If you are completely new to winter sports a short break is probably not for you because it will probably take a few days to get the hang of things.

However, a short break can be a great addition to your main winter holiday.

Finally if a week or two is not enough for you to get your fix you could also consider doing a winter season. Click here to search for ski and snowboard jobs.