I have been skiing since 1996 (since age 40). I used to ski about 20 days per year, but recently I haven't managed to go so often. Easy access to skiing is one of the reasons that I live in Munich - I can just drive to the Alps for a day of skiing, when it suits me.

I am now an OK skier; I can ski most pistes, including black runs; I enjoy moguls; I can handle icy pistes; but I am not good on deep powder; and I really don't like skiing on slush.

I have skied mostly in the Alps (Austria, Germany & France) but also in Norway & New Zealand. Some of my favourite skiing locations are listed below.

Hintertux


Austrian Tyrol.

The glacier is open almost all year, although the non-glacier runs are my favourite. High enough & cold enough that the snow is almost never slushy.

Hochfügen

Austrian Tyrol.

Also high altitude, so rarely slushy. You can park the car right by the ski lifts, and ski right back to the car at the end of the day. Some relatively safe off-piste areas.

Stubaigletscher

Austrian Tyrol.

The glacier runs are almost all blue pistes, so a good place to take beginners. Rarely slushy. The queues are often very bad.

Ischgl

Austrian Tyrol.

Very large ski area. Excellent skiing. Good apres ski. Expensive.

My fiancée Sheryl learned to ski in the winter of 2000-2001; I gave her some basic lessons, but mostly she just learned by trial & error (she doesn't take instruction very well!). She is getting quite good, and likes to go (too?) fast.

My children have all skied. My son Brendan is really good (skiing really seems to be his sport); my daughter Eleanor is OK; my son Jordan tried skiing for the first time in 2002 (the first time he had seen snow).