Even before the first snowfalls start to coat the Alps, the wintersports season is hotting up. Since early summer, incentives such as free lift passes and child discounts have been offered by tour operators and chalet companies competing for the estimated 680,000 British skiers and snowboarders who will take to the slopes.
There's no dawning of a new millennium to hike up prices, but when it comes to Christmas, New Year and half-term, holiday costs can almost double. For the busiest half-term week, starting on February 16, top family specialist Esprit Ski is charging £799 for seven nights in a four-star hotel in Kitzbühel, Austria. For the low-season week of December 15, the same holiday costs £469. Esprit Ski offers child reductions but they are not as significant for that week as for others.
Traditionally, the week of New Year is the busiest and most expensive in the ski calendar, but this year Christmas week is selling almost as well. Diane Palumbo at Ski World claims that their bookings are up 100% on last year.
However, if you're not restricted to travelling at peak times, there are many bargains to be had. Ski World, for example, has a starting price of £169pp for a week's self-drive holiday in Val Thorens in France.
Early-season skiing
A UN report on global warming has estimated that the snowline in the Alps could be pushed up from 1,200 metres to 1,800m, which is bad news for resorts such as Grindelwald at 945m, Megève at 850m and the stunning medieval town of Kitzbühel at 760m.
Many low-altitude Austrian resorts suffered at the start of last season due to lack of snow. Much less risky, if you plan to go before January, is to pick high-altitude resorts such as Val Thorens, Val d'Isère and Zermatt.
Other factors that add to snow reliability are lots of good snow-making machines and high north-facing slopes. Another guarantee is to pick a resort with a glacier such as Tignes or the Hintertux glacier near Mayrhofen. Or if you can't wait for the package holidays to start, usually the second week in December, you could go to Alpe d'Huez which opens on October 27 with the launch of its new quad chairlift on the Sarenne glacier.
Beginners and families
Last winter, the Association of Snowsports Countries (ASC), together with 10 UK tour operators, introduced Freshers Week to attract newcomers to skiing and snowboarding by offering free lift passes, equipment and tuition.
This year, Freshers Week is January 12-19 in resorts in Austria, Slovenia, Andorra, France and Switzerland. For details, check out snowsportscountries.com.
Next month, the Ski Club of Great Britain launches a new family ski video about all aspects of taking your children skiing. It costs £19.95 and is available from the Ski Club (0845 4580783) and Snow+Rock stores nationwide (0845 1001000).
There are more than 75 dry ski slopes in the UK and two real-snow indoor slopes: the Snozone in Milton Keynes and the Snowdome in Tamworth. For more details on a slope near you, phone the Ski Club on 0845 4580783.
To buy or rent?
Most major ski and snowboard manufacturers make specific equipment for the package rental market. "The products are almost identical to the ones we sell in the stores, but the bindings are more adjustable and the boots have sanitised footbeds so they don't smell so much," says Laurence Joslin from Salomon.
The problem with rental shops used by tour operators in resorts is that they may not have the equipment that suits your ability and, more importantly, fits. If a charter plane arrives on a Saturday and you, as an independent traveller, arrive the following day, you'll have less to choose from in the resort shop.
"With renting, it tends to be a bit of a lottery as to what you end up with," admits Joslin. "You don't necessarily get the ski that is right for your ability; you get the ski that's left in the rack. You also have no idea how well they have been serviced."
Not all resorts buy new rental equipment every season and not all carry "performance" equipment, of higher quality than normal rental skis or snowboards. High-performance skis are carried by many hire shops but in limited quantities, and to find the correct length you may have to shop around.
Joslin suggests renting equipment on the first time out, then buying at least the boots if you decide to stick with it. "Boot fitting is the most crucial. With your own equipment, you have more fun, a better experience. If you want to upgrade you can always rent something for a day to try it out."
For buying, there are several good package deals in UK outdoor shops (Blacks 0191518 2002, Ellis Brigham 0161-834 5555 and Snow+Rock). If you buy, bear in mind that Thomson charges £13 for ski carriage. Scheduled airlines don't charge but low-cost airlines do for excess baggage. With Easyjet, expect to pay £1 a kilo for any luggage over 25kg and with Go it's £4 a kilo for anything over 20kg.
If you want to try this season's skis and snowboards, Salomon is conducting a snow tour next month taking in 11 UK venues. There will also be a boot-fitting centre. For details, phone 0800 3894350 or visit salomonsports.co.uk.
Snow shows
Other dates to pencil in:
Southampton Ski and Snowboard Show, October 6-7 (01580 860589). Birmingham Ski and Snowboard Show, October 12-14 (0870 0109078). Brighton Ski and Snowboard Show, October 20-21 (01580 860589). Daily Mail Ski and Snowboard Show, Olympia, London, October 26 - November 4 (0870 5900090). Board X, November 9-11 (0870 9020444, board-x.com).
