That's snow business
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Monday February 18 2008
Aching limbs, exhaustion and frustration are on the itinerary. Fortunately, so too are exhilaration, excitement and satisfaction.
This January, my girlfriend and I went with Topflight to Soldeu in Andorra, where we stayed at the Sport Hotel Village. It was her first winter sports holiday, and my eighth.
Andorra was the perfect destination for us, having plenty of nursery slopes for beginners, as well as lots of steeper terrain for more advanced skiers and riders. Among these is one black run called ‘Avet', which should really only be attempted while wearing a nappy.
Nestled in the Pyrenees, between Spain and France, Andorra is a tiny principality with around 70,000 inhabitants. It is probably best known for its tax-free status and its terrible football team, however it also represents a real alternative to the Alps for people looking for a European snow holiday. And with a flight time of just two hours from Dublin, Andorra is perfect for those who don't like sitting in a plane for too long.
About 30 minutes from the capital, Andorra La Vella, Soldeu is fantastic. Sol is Spanish for sun, and the resort is well named. There was glorious sunshine most days during our trip, and it felt really warm, despite the snow around us.
The resort is part of the massive Grandvalira snow area, which has nearly 200km of runs. All the resorts, from Pas De La Casa across to Canillo, are lift-linked and anyone above beginner level can easily ski or board down to the other resorts.
As with all sports, there is always room for improvement, so I took 15 hours of advanced group lessons with the Escola d'Esqui I Snowboard, who are considered by many to be the best ski school in Europe, So, along with a group of eight Englishmen, our instructor ‘Florida' Dave took us around the mountain for the week.
After a long day on the slopes, it's good to get back to some comfy digs, and the Sport Hotel Village certainly fits the bill. It's right next to the main gondola station for the morning, and you can ski or board to the back door in the evening. Rooms are very comfortable, and the all-you-caneat buffet at breakfast and dinner was great after a hard day’s skiing.
Attached to the hotel is the Hermitage spa, which has Jacuzzis of all sizes and temperatures, perfect for soaking your aching muscles before dinner.
If you need to numb the pain some more, the local bars will certainly do the trick. Most offer a 2-for-1 deal up to 8pm, so get in early. Don't miss the Snowboard Party in T-Bar on Thursday nights for some lively apres ski, Andorra-style.
A trip to Andorra La Vella for some tax-free shopping costs just €4 on the bus. Savings on iPods, jewellery, clothes and skis/snowboards make the trip well worthwhile. I came home with a new snowboard and my girlfriend got a new iPod. We both saved about 25pc on Irish prices. Most shops are open until 9pm, so you don't need to miss out on any skiing either.
Topflight has been voted Ireland's Best Ski Tour Operator for 14 years running, and it's easy to see why. Our reps Adam and Laura were fantastic and were able to organise a skidoo trip for us with just 30 minutes notice. That skidoo experience, while not for the faint-hearted, is tremendous fun.
The one thing I noticed about my advanced group was the amount of protective gear everyone was wearing. We all had wrist guards, knee guards and impact shorts (which save your bum). In addition, some of us, myself included, wore a helmet.
I would recommend that anyone attempting snowboarding get at least a pair of wrist guards and impact shorts, as broken wrists and tailbones are the most common injuries in the sport. In fact, my girlfriend's impact shorts saved her ass, literally. At least that's what the doctor who X-rayed her said!
