I genuinely believe there is nothing like skiing in the world. The rush of cool air past your face as you whizz down slopes, surrounded by majestic peaks and crisp white snow. I know… you’re sold already, I’m sure.

Not entirely convinced?

Here are a few of the reasons I absolutely love it!

The Views

I’ve been fortunate to ski in Quebec, The Alps and Finland over the years, and all are absolutely breathtaking in their own way. Quebec for the long, never-ending slopes. The Alps for towering mountain vistas as far as the eye can see and Finland for stunning Arctic sunrise / sunsets.

No matter your style of skiing, you’ll manage to take in the beautiful views surrounding you, and I can guarantee it will always give you goosebumps.

The Challenge

When was the last time you pushed yourself? I truly believe skiing is a sport in which you are always learning. There will always be a new way to challenge yourself, whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned visitor to the mountains.

Always skied on groomed runs? Why not head off piste? Always skied downhill? Why not try cross country? (It’s harder than it looks, believe me). Fancy getting some altitude? Why not head higher into the mountains with a guide? There is always something new to try!

Food & Drink

How often do you spend an entire day exercising? It’s rare, right?
But with skiing, that’s exactly what you’re doing, most of the time…

I don’t know about you, but I only have to look at a piece of cake and instantly put on 10lbs, however, when you’re setting off for the first lift and coming back from the last, with only a brief stop at lunch for Tartiflette (in The Alps), Poutine (in Quebec) or Reindeer burgers (Finland) it means you are burning some serious calories and, you can pretty much eat anything without gaining weight. Winner!

So eat that cake, drink that hot chocolate and enjoy yourself without feeling guilty!

James Bond

Ok, work with me on this one… Who else grew up wishing they were as cool as James Bond? I know I did. How many Bond films have chase scenes on the slopes? A lot. You know why? Skiing is awesome! Sorry snowboarders, but there’s a reason James Bond is never pushing himself along on the flats, strapped into a board! There is nothing as fun as throwing yourself down an icy slope at god knows how many miles an hour and, if you’re anything like me, channeling all sorts of “Spy Who Loved Me” childhood chase dreams!

Travel

No matter what time of year it is, there is always somewhere to ski, wherever you are in the world! Europe is fantastic for it, as we have so many beautiful spots. I have a never ending bucket list of places I want to ski, including the Vallee Blanche, Bavaria, Austria, Italy, the Pyrenees and Scandinavia, and nowadays there are so many great options out there, with companies such as markwarner.co.uk, who help take the stress of planning and putting it all together out of your hands!

Have I sold it to you yet? I hope so!

Skiing is truly one of the best sports out there, for me. No other sport allows me to escape into my own thoughts as fully, to have as much fun, to feel such a rush or to push myself out my comfort zone as much.

I can’t wait for my next trip!