 Poster: A snowHead
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My partner does culture, I ride. All the people I started with got fat, had kids, became middle aged, whatever people do. Plus they weren't as keen as I was in the first place. So I've been riding alone for years, with no problems at all. Plus I only have to buy one seat in the heli, which helps the vertical no end.
Tour operators don't work for me - I'm capable of buying my own lift pass, and I don't like being gouged for "singles supplements". Anyway, the whole point is that I want to do what I want to do: I'm not a herd animal.
Meals? I read books, same as when I'm travelling for work. Eat at the bar if you want to talk.
In North America it's hard to avoid people talking to you. They do it in the lift lines, on the lifts, at the bottom of the runs. Often they'll invite you over for dinner or a hot tub or whatever, and you can take it or leave it. How cool is that? They'd probably not talk to you if you were in some self-contained herd.
And as you're now riding hard and fast, you tend to pick up people who ride that way, which does make it easier when you need a team to do something.
I guess my summary would be:
- If you're not self-sufficient/ happy on your own then it's obviously not for you
- I think North America is better because of the culture and the predominant language
- Doing your own thing is brilliant.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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I've been reading this thread as i'm faced with the same choice, i want to do a second trip in March but the other half can't commit to that. So its looking like i'm going to do it alone, in fact i'm just doing a last ring round to see if anyone i know who skis fancies a tirp in March and if not sod it i'll be going solo.
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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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I do the Moris in Val D'Isere with Mark Warner. Has worked for me the last few years. Mainly males, very sociable, iffy accommodation.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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i didnt realise until this week just how tricky it is finding accmodation for a single person. I've found some but it appears the week i've eyed up is filling up fast, 16-23 March
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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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Just got back from working in Calgary. I managed to get a day's skiing in Lake Louise.
I hate skiing on my own. For me skiing is a social event .... and I tend to hate my own company.
In Lake Louise there is an organisation called 'Ski Friends' which give free, yes FREE, guiding around the resort morning and afternoon ... they are not even allowed to accept tips. They are both very knowledgeable and sensitive to your level of skiing. I spent a fabulous morning, just me and a guide, exploring the resort. In the afternoon it was just me, a German girl, and two guides.
Apparently you can do this for as many days as you like.
I had one of the best days skiing ever, having been slightly concerned about tackling the resort on my own in very flat-light.
I can't recommend them enough to the solo skier. A very friendly bunch!
Oh ... and the resort is superb.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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philwig, nice post.
Many many people were surprised /horrified that I went away skiing on my own last year. And I went to UCPA so I was with a group and people to chat to the WHOLE time so hardly alone. Friends/ acquaintances / work colleges just didn't get that my desire to go skiing was bigger than my desire to stay in the friendship heard.
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I'm not sure I've ever seen bullet points in a snowheads post before 
Will there be a powerpoint via utube later?
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red 27, snigger....
(No disrespect to the poster, though)
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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| cyberil wrote: |
| I do the Moris in Val D'Isere with Mark Warner. Has worked for me the last few years. Mainly males, very sociable, iffy accommodation. |
Me too! Only once so far but I'll be back in March. Love it.
Unlike some, I DO go to drink and socialise - as well as ski.
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| FoofyNoo wrote: |
Just got back from working in Calgary. I managed to get a day's skiing in Lake Louise.
I hate skiing on my own. For me skiing is a social event .... and I tend to hate my own company.
In Lake Louise there is an organisation called 'Ski Friends' which give free, yes FREE, guiding around the resort morning and afternoon ... they are not even allowed to accept tips. They are both very knowledgeable and sensitive to your level of skiing. I spent a fabulous morning, just me and a guide, exploring the resort. In the afternoon it was just me, a German girl, and two guides.
Apparently you can do this for as many days as you like.
I had one of the best days skiing ever, having been slightly concerned about tackling the resort on my own in very flat-light.
I can't recommend them enough to the solo skier. A very friendly bunch!
Oh ... and the resort is superb. |
That sort of thing exists in a lot of Canadian resorts. It's a great idea and a good way of meeting people and finding runs and places you would never find on your own.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Some people live by themselves. Therefore skiing alone, holidaying alone, dining out alone, cinema alone, etc. are quite normal activities. Yes it's nice to have the company of friends on occasions but this is not always possible. I don't want to miss out on holidays, etc. just because I am single. I'm quite comfortable with my own company and I feel sorry for people who 'hate their own company'.
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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| red 27 wrote: |
| waiter_fisherman wrote: |
| ..my advice is get out there son you only live once |
Another vote here for Mountainsun - they make it easy and pretty cheap. |
And another from me. Stayed with them twice in Tignes, very helpful, will even chuck in a transfer, flexy arrival and departures (any day) and its seriously cheap. Always find someone in the bar to chat to/ski with.
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It's a shame if you absolutely hate being on your own. I don't at all, but I just love sharing the skiing experience. I like having people to chat to about the pistes and the snow and the amazing scenery. Oh and I also enjoy having a few beers with other people and talking about the same things except more loudly.
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You know it makes sense.
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| queen bodecia wrote: |
| Some people live by themselves. Therefore skiing alone, holidaying alone, dining out alone, cinema alone, etc. are quite normal activities. Yes it's nice to have the company of friends on occasions but this is not always possible. I don't want to miss out on holidays, etc. just because I am single. I'm quite comfortable with my own company and I feel sorry for people who 'hate their own company'. |
+1
I would even say : Sometimes, yes, it is nice to have company. Sometimes, only.
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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maybe I havent learnt the tricks yet - I am totally happy ski tripping on my own and have done a few UCPA trips, but as far as I have discovered going solo is still mega expensive apart from UCPA set up eg. Snoworks / ItS etc are pretty darn expensive. Would be great if there was some sort of matching service (not matching ike that!!), additional challenge is people on here looking to hook up are generally from down south and / or men, neither of which work for me. A genuinely budget solo or matching service would be fab!
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Poster: A snowHead
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| volklwaffen wrote: |
| queen bodecia wrote: |
| Some people live by themselves. Therefore skiing alone, holidaying alone, dining out alone, cinema alone, etc. are quite normal activities. Yes it's nice to have the company of friends on occasions but this is not always possible. I don't want to miss out on holidays, etc. just because I am single. I'm quite comfortable with my own company and I feel sorry for people who 'hate their own company'. |
+1
I would even say : Sometimes, yes, it is nice to have company. Sometimes, only. |
Same for me! Skiing is fun with the right people but skiing alone is only fun and really relaxing IF you want it to be. I've skied with some close friends that I would never ski with again for a whole variety of reasons and I have also skied with complete strangers (fellow hotel guests or ski school group members) I've had superb fun with. It is the skiing in the end that counts as far as I'm concerned.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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| queen bodecia wrote: |
| Some people live by themselves. Therefore skiing alone, holidaying alone, dining out alone, cinema alone, etc. are quite normal activities. Yes it's nice to have the company of friends on occasions but this is not always possible. I don't want to miss out on holidays, etc. just because I am single. I'm quite comfortable with my own company and I feel sorry for people who 'hate their own company'. |
But you work in an office, surrounded by people. I was living alone and working from home (alone) and then going skiing alone.... I found out the hard way that there is only so much time I can spend completely on my own.
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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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I forgot about those "mountain host" guys, most Canadian resorts have an something like that. They're generally locals who do that as a trade for a free lift ticket. I've never used them, but they're always helpful and I guess they will gather groups of other people, so you have a crowd generator right there if that's what you want.
Another option if money isn't a limitation is back country cat/ heli. Many places run lodges in the back of beyond with a varying number of people staying in them. You'd be riding with a group of around 10 and it's hard not to get to know them fairly well. Plus you're riding back country powder which you can't safely do alone. The key thing is that most people are there alone: they generally don't take a partner. So everyone's in the same boat. It is mostly male, but you can't have everything.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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| queen bodecia wrote: |
| Some people live by themselves. Therefore skiing alone, holidaying alone, dining out alone, cinema alone, etc. are quite normal activities. Yes it's nice to have the company of friends on occasions but this is not always possible. I don't want to miss out on holidays, etc. just because I am single. I'm quite comfortable with my own company and I feel sorry for people who 'hate their own company'. |
Well said - I love my own company.
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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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Another way to get out of the single room supplement is to do a last minute booking, I managed to negotiate a double room for the price of a single with Silverski last season , it was better for them to have one person in the room than none, unfortunately there were just 6 other guests in the small chalet, although I spent a couple of days skiing with the other guests, they were of a very different standard and attitude, I got talking to a Mark Warner rep with two of his guests in the lift up to the top of the Grand Couloir, he was somewhat envious as I dropped in to cross the ridge and he was forced to take the easy route by his guests.
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FAQ
