 Poster: A snowHead
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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| majkkali wrote: |
Why are so many of you against learning to ski/snowboard and introducing new people to this amazing sport/activity?  
I thought this was supposed to be a forum for ski enthusiasts so you should be encouraging others not the opposite lol
Anyway, I’ve decided to tell her a bit earlier but not until everything is booked and paid for, she loves surprises and I do want it to be at least a bit of a surprise. I’m sure she’ll be thrilled no matter where we go and what we do, especially since she won’t have to spend a single penny.
I’m bored of always doing a beach style holiday. I want something new.
Just thinking if Zermatt is the place to go or if I should try to find a different place. I’ve still got a couple days to cancel my booking for free. |
I don't think anyone is against new people taking up snowboarding or skiing, it was just the way you were going about it, expecting your girlfriend to fall in love with and be ready for this big surprise that will demand a lot of commitment from her and she had no say in planning.
I sense it could be a cultural thing...we're mostly Brits on here and British women are liberated and prefer to make joint decisions, not have them imposed on them by a man, even if he had the best of intentions.
You ruffled the feathers of the ladies on here and us guys were just imagining the reaction of our partners if we tried to do something similar.
When you said you were going to buy ski clothes for her and expecting her to wear them despite her not having had any say in choosing them or trying them on, that just took the biscuit!!
May I ask what is your cultural background? Your English is good, but some have detected it may be a second language. Majkhali is a village in Uttarakhand province in India. Is that a clue to where you're from? It may help us to understand your point of view.
As to Zermatt or not, it's a lovely charming place, but probably not ideal for a first beginners snow holiday. It sounds like you can afford it, you've set your heart on it and instinctively know your girlfriend will feel exactly the same way. I think you need to go on this journey and I just hope you both prove all us old sceptics wrong and end up sliding blissfully down a Swiss mountainside together forever!! 
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@luigi, thank you for explaining it to me and for the kind words. Indeed, it might be a cultural thing. I’m originally from Poland though I have been living in the UK for 9 years now.
@Origen,
@LaForet,
@T Bar,
I found a nice hotel in Alpe D’Huez which I’ve heard is a great resort for beginners and it’s also supposed to be snow sure and more sunny in January. Price would work out about the same as Zermatt (self catering in both places) but we would be getting all 6 days of snowboard lessons instead of just 1 day in Zermatt. Would you say that would be a better choice?
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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I would do Alpe D’Uez for your first time skiing/snowboarding and then see how you go from there. As mentioned before, there is a reason why Zermatt is voted to be one of the best resorts globally year on year but it’s better suited to intermediate skiers/boarders.
As for Alpe D - lots of easy runs, pretty resort, you’ll be able to enjoy some apres at the Folie Douce and the transfer is simple.
Maybe save Zermatt for when your other half has found their snow legs.
Most importantly I agree with your point on ‘why not’ learn to ski/board. It’s the best sport/holiday in the world.
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@majkkali, Don't feel put off, your idea of a special ski holiday for a present is a good one. People are suggesting a few tweaks to make it work a bit more smoothly.
In answer to the original question you could look at Cevinia as an alternative to Zermatt. It is linked to Zermatt by ski lifts and you still get lovely views of the Matterhorn (I believe it's called Cervino in Italian). Cervinia is also a good beginner resort with sunny south facing slopes that would be good in January. There are plenty of threads on here with tips, for example https://snowheads.com/ski-forum/viewtopic.php?p=5352996&highlight=cervinia#5352996
On the surprise clothes as a present I think the way to do this is a surprise shopping trip. That way she chooses (and tries on) the ski/snowboard clothes and enjoys a day out with you shopping. This approach has worked for me when buying clothes as present for my wife. You could use the trip to let her know in advance you are planning a snow sports holiday but leave the details a surprise.
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@majkkali, just to add on the buying of ski clothes, there's nothing worse than sports clothes being in some way uncomfortable so I'd definitely suggest a shopping trip rather than you buying clothes for your girlfriend. Even things like where the waistline of trousers sit can be a personal preference, or the fit of a jacket on shoulders restricting movement...
One other thing, you've not mentioned kit hire, once you've settled on a resort folk here will be able to recommend hire places that do quality kit.
Enjoy your trip! My husband and I first skiied in Poland on a trip to watch the ski jumping, it was absolutely knackering and we were disastrous but had so much fun - being in the snow is addictive no matter where you go.
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| majkkali wrote: |
@luigi, thank you for explaining it to me and for the kind words. Indeed, it might be a cultural thing. I’m originally from Poland though I have been living in the UK for 9 years now.
@Origen,
@LaForet,
@T Bar,
I found a nice hotel in Alpe D’Huez which I’ve heard is a great resort for beginners and it’s also supposed to be snow sure and more sunny in January. Price would work out about the same as Zermatt (self catering in both places) but we would be getting all 6 days of snowboard lessons instead of just 1 day in Zermatt. Would you say that would be a better choice? |
Difficult one, Alpe D'Huez has an excellent reputation for beginners, I have only been once quite a long time ago and don't know it well. The resort itself however has nothing like the visual appeal and alpine charm that Zermatt has.
I don't know what the apartments are like but my experience of quite a few French and Swiss apartments are that the French tend to be a lot more utilitarian and sometimes less pleasant to stay in. I'd check the quality of the appartment quite carefully before booking.
Although it has an excellent reputation for being sunny the slopes are predominantly above the tree line and if the weather is less good it can be a bit bleaker than places with skiing below the tree line..
My general feeling is that you are more likely to enjoy the skiing boarding in Alpe D'Huez than Zermatt but more likely to enjoy Zermatt as a place than Alpe D'Huez.
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