There are few better ways to switch off from work than by hitting the slopes. Business Traveller recommends five destinations
1. Vancouver
Vancouverites say they like to keep their snow on the mountains, so it’s a little ironic that this more temperate of Canadian cities will be hosting the Winter Olympics in February. Still, there are some excellent slopes close to the city.
Within half an hour of downtown, on the North Shore range, are three mountains well set up for skiing during the winter season of late November to April. The closest, Grouse, is the most touristy, and as well as skiing offers snowboarding, snow-shoeing and picture-perfect views.
West of here, Cypress is the Olympic snowboarding venue and is more technically challenging – it has the largest vertical drop and 19km of cross-country trails. To the east, Seymour offers lessons for first-timers and is a family-friendly option. All three offer night skiing until 10pm, so you can head up for a session after your meetings.
Otherwise, if you have a bit more time on your hands, head to the city’s Olympic co-host, Whistler, about two hours’ drive away, for the very best skiing the area has to offer. Visit tourismvancouver.com
- For more on the Olympics in Vancouver, see our next issue.
2. Tokyo
Given that three-quarters of Japan is composed of mountainous terrain that runs from north to south like a great knobbly spine, it’s no surprise that skiing is a popular winter activity for both visitors and locals. Tokyo is located on the western coast of the island of Honshu and, although it is a vast city, it is possible to travel to a resort, ski, and get back in a day.
Gala Yuzawa in Niigata is 80 minutes from Tokyo station on the Joetsu bullet train and has a variety of ski resorts open from November to May. Some are exclusively for skiers, so no snowboarders getting in the way, and range from small operations with only one lift to 2,000-metre high ranges with more than 20 courses and lifts. The same train also serves the lesser-known town of Minakami in Gunma, which has resorts for a range of abilities, and onsen (hot springs) perfect for après ski relaxation. Visit seejapan.co.uk/winter
3. Geneva
The Swiss city’s undulating topography means there is top skiing on offer in the nearby Alps of both Switzerland and France. Plus, Swiss International Air Lines does not charge extra for checking in skis, so there is no excuse not to take advantage of the powder this winter if you are there.
The closest resorts are on the French side – one hour’s drive from Geneva in the Jura mountain range are downhill ski stations Lélex-Crozet and Mijoux-La Faucille, as well as cross-country ski sites Le Plateau de la Vattay and La Vallée de la Valserine, with 140km of trails, 28 ski lifts and a snow park. About an hour an a half from Geneva, in the Mont Blanc region, is Chamonix, one of the most fashionable places to be seen skiing in Europe.
On the Swiss side, the sparkling alpine pistes of La Dôle – the second-highest peak in the Jura – are an hour away. At 1,677 metres, the modest resort, with 45km of slopes and 12 lifts, is ideal for night skiing and, in the daytime, has breathtaking views of Lake Geneva. Visit geneva-tourism.ch
4. Dubai
Skiing in the desert? In Dubai, anything is possible. The Mall of the Emirates on Sheikh Zayed Road is home to Ski Dubai, one of the world’s largest indoor ski resorts, complete with chalets and fresh snow.
Some 30 tonnes of the white stuff is made daily and the temperature is maintained at about -1?C, quite a feat when outside it can reach 40?C. The walls and ceiling of the building are five metres thick to provide enough insulation to keep the inside icy.
Covering 22,500 sqm, the complex has five runs that vary in difficulty, height and gradient, including an indoor black run. The longest is 400 metres, with a fall of more than 60 metres. You can also try snowboarding and tobogganing, or even skid downhill on a variety of sleighs – from a traditional moulded sled to a rubber ring.
To be let loose on the slopes, you need to be able to use the chair lifts, stop safely, control your speed and perform linked turns. But, if you don’t know your snow plough from your snow angel, Ski Dubai also has a snow school offering expert tutors for any standard.
After a hard day’s skiing, head to Avalanche Café for a warming hot chocolate with marshmallows and whipped cream. Or if you want to rest your head, Kempinski Hotel Mall of the Emirates has 15 ski chalet suites, all equipped with wifi, flatscreen TVs and DVD players. Visit skidxb.com, kempinski.com
5. London
Yes, you can ski in the London area – and we don’t mean skidding down Primrose Hill in inclement weather. Half an hour by train from London Euston in Hemel Hempstead is the Snow Centre, the UK’s newest indoor ski complex, open since May.
The 8,000 sqm of man-made snow is a dead ringer for the real thing, and the 160-metre slope is separated into two sections for differing abilities, so you can do your thing away from the novices or take a lesson if you’re more Eddie the Eagle than Winter Olympian. Panoramas of the Tyrol mountains will help you feel as if you’re in the Alps rather than the London commuter belt.
The centre is open daily 9am-11pm (from 8am Saturday), so you can head there for a session after work, but the best time to go is in the morning, when it’s quieter (weekends are particularly busy). There’s a bar upstairs with slope views, and good facilities for corporate groups, with teambuilding activities and a suite of meeting rooms. Visit thesnowcentre.com
