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There are plenty of good ski deals if you shop around

The Complete Guide to the ski Season

Take a peek inside Pól Ó Conghaile's ultimate guide to the slopes this winter .

Real Life: Ski helmets - Get a head start

By Lisa Jewell

Last minute: Simon Sheahan bought a helmet on a whim but it later saved him from serious injury. photos: Kenneth O'Halloran

What I share with Roy Keane

By Mary O'Sullivan

HOW does that Louis Armstrong song go? "You say either, and I say 'eyether'/ you say neither, I say 'nigh-ther'." It echoed in my head every time I tried to remember what was wrong with me. "You say crucial, I say cruciate. Let's call the whole thing off."

Winter sun: Far East provides the best value

By Oliver Smith

Irish people in search of winter sun on distant shores will find excellent value in the Far East, according to new research.

Little Andorra offers a winter wonderland

By Alison O'Riordan

People may tell you Andorra's nothing but skiing and shopping and they would be correct. My two favourite pastimes, rolled into one mini country wedged between France and Spain, made me the happiest person on the piste.

Best direct ski hubs

By Pl Conghaile

Wherever you hit the slopes this season, you're going to need a little more than soft, powdery snow. But, fear not, we've done all of the hard work for you and found some of the best winter sports hubs throughout Europe.

Skiing: From virgin to addict

By Declan Cashin

I like to think of myself as a man of the world, yet when it comes to that tricky three-letter 's' word, I must confess to being a late bloomer. All of my friends had done it and loved it, and yet here I was, still a virgin at 27. I guess I had kept putting it off because of the usual anxieties. What if I wasn't any good at it? What if I'm laughed at? What if I get hurt?

The world's toughest ski runs

By Peter Hardy

What better way to jump into spring than with a good, long ski run? Peter Hardy looks at eight of the most challenging slopes in the world.

A skier somersaults in mid-air over a snow cornice, Zermatt, Switzerland. Photo: Getty Images

The traveller's guide to: Late season snow

You can ski for longer than you might think, says Patrick Thorne. Just head for the high points of Europe and North America.

Five best: Ski hostels

By Ginny McGrath

If the credit crunch has put the slammers on your ski holiday plans this season, there is help at hand. We've asked the budget accommodation website, Hostelbookers.com, to let us in on the secret of an affordable skiing holiday. Here are five of their best-rated skiing hostels and affordable hotels, as rated by real skiers and holidaymakers.