As the days draw darker and colder, and the lingering glow of warm sunshine starts to diminish many men would be right in thinking it’s time to hibernate. The thought of hiding away under the duvet until the spring might sound appealing to some, but for others the winter season stirs polar-opposite thoughts in the mind. These men rejoice at the arrival of the winter season and the cold snap because it can mean only one thing – ski season!
Yes that’s right. Ski season. Soft fresh powder is what these men crave and now is the time to start booking the activities you, the discerning gent, will be partaking in high up at altitude. After a fair few seasons hitting the same slopes and getting the same (albeit diminishing) adrenaline rush year in, year out – perhaps it’s time to start thinking about other pursuits you can engage your skis or board in?
Elysium Magazine knew this would be the case so sought out the expertise of leading tailor-made ski specialist Power White and picked out a few innovative packages that will be sure to challenge the mind and test out those fast-twitch muscles you’ve been training this year.
Powder White Extreme
For those discerning gents looking for something a touch more knee-trembling than the average slalom descent, the Extreme package is designed to get the blood pumping. The week’s stay is a combination of white-knuckle activities such as ice-driving, ice-karting, paragliding or ice-climbing. Each activity works different muscle groups while fully-engaging the mind as you work out how and when to make turns, speed up or slow down without wiping out. Prices start from £679 per person and include a weeks’ fully catered accommodation and all activities (excluding flights). Take your pick of staying at Chalet Hokkaido in Val d’Isére or Chalet Gelinotte in Verbier.
Powder White Ski & Bike
Designed for those discerning gents who prefer the slightly warmer spring temperatures of the ski season – this is the time to choose if you want t-shirts rather than thermals and sunglasses instead of goggles. The warmer temperatures usually mean afternoons bring a slush-fest in place of lush powder. Luckily you can enjoy the best of both worlds by skiing in the morning and biking in the afternoon. With over 200 miles of tracks and trails to explore around the picturesque resort of St Anton through to St Jakob, it’s an entirely different winter sport to skiing. Prices start from £475 per person including a weeks’ stay at Chalet Fritz on full board and a weeks’ bike hire (excluding flights).
Powder White Heli-Ski
For pure thrill and exhilaration nothing beats the sensation of heli-skiing. This is designed for the discerning gent who’s an advanced skier keen to push the body through physically challenging scenarios. Jumping out of a perfectly fine helicopter is just one of the mental barriers you’ll need to overcome. The rewards are worth it with the awe-inspiring Austrian Alps as your backdrop to go that little bit further. From the Alpine party capital of St Anton and a base at Chalet Nina, these heli-skiing experiences depart from the nearby town of Zurs, from where skiers will be flown off to the Schneetätli summit at 2,652m (approx double the height of Ben Nevis). Here you’ll experience the buzz of an hour-long descent into the stunning village of Lech. Prices start from £850 per person (excluding flights) for a week’s fully catered accommodation at the Chalet Fritz and two heli-ski drops – including transfers to the heli-ski takeoff point, collection from Lech, mountain guide and all safety equipment.
Discerning gents will be tempted by one of the three experiences for sure. Of course, the fresh alpine air is another health bonus of a ski trip, and the numerous après-ski party opportunities provide a different type of bonus. Whether scheduling a ski trip with friends or with the lady, the sights and exhilaration from pushing your physical limits will be something you’ll remember forever.
For more details about Powder White packages or tailor-making your very own thrill-seeking trip, visit www.powderwhite.com/winterbreaks