You don’t have to be an Olympian to go skiing – there are masses of options available even for absolute beginners

Fancy a hurdling holiday this year? Or a weekend weightlifting break? Maybe a fortnight of sun, sea, sand and javelin? It’s funny, no one watches the Summer Olympics and thinks, “Tell you what, I fancy a bit of that on my holiday!” But come the Winter Olympics, it’s hard to watch all those skiers arcing elegantly down the mountain without envying them. And you don’t have to be an elite athlete to join them. Even beginners can ski and – because gravity does all the hard work here – you don’t have to be particularly young or fit or sporty to enjoy yourself. You don’t have to fly all the way to China, either. So if the on-piste action of the past fortnight has inspired you to give it a go, here’s how to get started…

GO OFF-PISTE

You know all those famous ski resorts you’ve heard of? Forget ’em. As a beginner, you don’t need the best or most extensive piste networks – you’ll be confined largely to the gentle, “nursery” slopes, so you can save money by going to one of the smaller, less fashionable resorts such as those in Slovenia or Bulgaria. If you do fancy France, Alpe d’Huez is great for first-timers, with a huge expanse of easy skiing just above the town. For more suggestions, see the encyclopedic but easy-to-use Ski Club of Great Britain website (skiclub.co.uk). Really unsure about the idea? Try a city break with skiing next door. At Innsbruck, for instance, there’s a nice beginners’ slope just four miles from the (charming) city centre.

WHERE TO STAY

Any resort will have plenty of hotels at various price points, but one of the unique delights of a skiing holiday is chalet life. Typically, you’ll have your own cabin/house – large enough for a couple, a family, a group of friends or a group of strangers with whom you’ll become friends over the course of the trip. The chalets are usually set in a cluster, and staffed by a group of energetic young people whose job it is to cook, clean, impart their knowledge of the resort, and generally do anything they can to make your trip better. And “chalet board”, which involves them making breakfast, afternoon tea and dinner for you, is both excellent value and a brilliantly sociable way to holiday.

TAKE THE EASY ROUTE

You can, of course, put a whole holiday together yourself, piecing together flights, accommodation, transfers, tuition, hire and ski passes, but it’s rarely worth the hassle. Instead, pick one of the many excellent British tour operators: particularly good for beginners is Crystal Ski (crystalski.co.uk), which offers a range of trips right across Europe, including some good cheap options in Bulgaria, and the USA. Going a little further upmarket, VIP Ski (vip-chalets.com) has chalets that are great for first-timers: close to the slopes (because clomping around with skiboots on can be as difficult to get the hang of as skiing itself!) and full of British families and couples.

LEARN THE BASICS

Be sure to get lessons. It sounds obvious, but far too many beginners accept advice from well-meaning friends instead, which can really set you back. If you’re going for your first skiiing holiday. book five or six half-day sessions with an instructor: if you’ve never skied before, you’ll be tired enough from the mornings that you probably won’t fancy a full day anyway. You can economise by having group lessons – a good source of new friends and mutual support – but be sure to find a decent teacher. Having a native speaker of English from a reputable ski school will enhance your development and enjoyment. And once you’ve learnt the basics, a couple of one-to-one or one-to-two sessions will turbo-charge you!

WHAT TO PACK

You don’t need to spend an Olympic gold-medallist’s sponsorship package in order to ski. Skis, poles, helmets and the like are available for hire through your ski school, and most clothing can be rented in the resort, too (which will save you on airline excess baggage fees as well as the cost of buying them). It’s even cheaper if you book in advance through skiset.co.uk or intersportrent.com. For anything you do want to buy – whether it’s thermals, fleeces, gloves, sunglasses, or even skiwear, if you’d rather not rent – try tkmaxx.com for a cheap range.

WHAT ELSE IS THERE TO DO?

It doesn’t have to be all about skidding down a mountain on planks. Gentler alternatives to skiing are on offer, from ice-skating to tobogganing to snowshoeing. And for many, the après-ski is more than half the fun: that’s when the pistes start to empty and the bars begin to fill (with dancing on tables soon to follow). In most resorts you’ll find shops, museums, cinemas and restaurants, too, so here’s your chance to get stuck into raclette and fondue. If only cheese consumption were an Olympic sport…

ED GRENBY