| Many of us have had holidays spent breathing | | | | and Cervinia and offers lower lift prices, more |
| recycled air in "luxury" coaches, watching bad | | | | challenging runs and fewer crowds. |
| television in hotel rooms, eating beyond our | | | | 5. And if that's not cheap enough, there's skiing in |
| capacity simply because meals were included in | | | | Spain - You can ski in Spain on a busker's budget. |
| the "package" and there was little else to do. | | | | While there is a certain aura about the Alps |
| Yawn! But not if there's snow on the ground; don | | | | resorts in France, Austria, Italy and Switzerland, |
| the long johns and get at it . | | | | the Spanish Pyrenees area keeps up with the |
| 1. Austria: skiing for amateurs - So maybe you're | | | | best of them (and certainly surpasses them with |
| not the athletic type. You don't have to be to | | | | respect to value.) Baquiera-Beret, in Lerida, boasts |
| take advantage of the world's best sporting | | | | a lengthy ski season (November through April), |
| havens, particularly if you take a few professional | | | | numerous slopes of varying difficulty, plenty of |
| lessons. St. Anton, in the Arlberg region of Austria, | | | | chair lifts, professional ski instruction and - this is |
| is the best place to go for ski instruction-the | | | | the best part - far fewer crowds than the pricier |
| Arlberg School ski technique originated here and | | | | resorts. A good place to stay is Hotel Montarto |
| the area's 300+ instructors are all well-versed in | | | | which offers spectacular views and easy access |
| the method. In the hands of these pros, you'll look | | | | to lifts. |
| like an expert after a few days on the slopes. | | | | 6. If you think you're a good skiier, try heli-skiing |
| 2. Chile's best skiing for mamas' boys (sorry.we | | | | in the Purcells in British Columbia - Rk Heliski in |
| mean "cautious athletic types") - If you've got | | | | Golden, welcomes you to 1,500 square kilometres |
| nothing to prove and just want some sane, safe | | | | 930 sq. miles of incredible terrain in the |
| skiing, La Parva, located just minutes from | | | | spectacular Purcell Mountains, on the edge of the |
| Santiago, allows you to ski from your lodge to | | | | legendary Bugaboos. Heli-ski/boarding tours are led |
| the lifts. If you're afraid of getting hurled into a | | | | by some of the world's best mountain guides to |
| tree, there's no need to worry here: the | | | | access wide open alpine slopes, scenic glaciers and |
| mountains are treeless. The slopes also have | | | | gladed forests dusted with annual snowfalls of up |
| wind-curled cornices, so snowboarders can afford | | | | to 1,100 cm/36 feet. Some of this is extreme |
| to try out a few new stunts. This is also a | | | | skiing, definitely not for the novice, but hey, who |
| perfect spot to try heli-skiing in a friendly, | | | | wants to live forever? |
| nurturing environment. | | | | 7. Austria's least-known sport that'll make you feel |
| 3. Ski Whistler Blackcomb before the next | | | | like a kid again - Austria's Lake District boasts |
| Olympians do! When it comes to skiing and riding, | | | | excellent ice-skating and skiing during the winter |
| Whistler Blackcomb with its 8,000 plus acres of | | | | as well as water sports during the summer. The |
| terrain on both mountains, has variety and then | | | | area around Wolfgangsee offers a little-known |
| some. Choose from steeps, deeps, chutes, high | | | | sport that'll take you right back to your childhood. |
| alpine bowls, glades, superb corduroy, long cruisers | | | | Mountain tobogganing involves carting a metal |
| and gentle rollers. Riders and skiers will revel in the | | | | saucer-of-a-thing up a hillside (we recommend the |
| Parks and Pipes on both mountains plus natural | | | | chair lift as opposed to a hike) and descending on |
| launch pads, hits, wind-lips, cornices, cliff drops and | | | | a metal track to the bottom. It'll be the most |
| ridges - the place is like a huge, natural terrain | | | | invigorating five minutes of your life. Next step? |
| park! And the night-life is great too! This is the site | | | | Do it again! |
| of the next Winter Olympics. | | | | 8. And after lots of lessons and a stiff |
| 4. World-class skiing for coupon clippers...in the | | | | drink...Canadian daredevil's dream - Canada's |
| Italian Alps - Sure, you'd love to go on a ritzy ski | | | | ski-jump champs practice in Thunder Bay, Ontario, |
| holiday but you're - well, how can we put this? | | | | regarded as the world's biggest jump. You've |
| ...broke. No worries. We appreciate a good bargain | | | | seen the Bond films - now it's your turn. Mind you, |
| ourselves and have found that the deals in life are | | | | there are also cross-country trails for beginners if |
| often a mere stone's throw away from the | | | | you need to get up your confidence. The area |
| pricey stuff. Such is the case in the Italian Alps: | | | | includes four major Alpine areas. Daily flight |
| Mount Livata and Pescasseroli are located very | | | | service can be arranged from Toronto, Winnipeg |
| near Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy's most popular | | | | and Minneapolis. This place can be crowded during |
| resort, but offer affordable accommodation and | | | | peak season--who knew there were so many |
| similar access to facilities. Same goes for Val | | | | daredevils around? |
| d'Ayas, which is located near pricey Courmayeur | | | | |