New Skiing Destinations

When people start talking about skiing, most people immediately think about the French, Italian or Swiss Alpine resorts. Or else the big American and Canadian resorts of the Rocky Mountains, but if you are anything like us, you aren't so keen on the crowds, or having to queue to get on the ski lift, or a drink at a slopeside café. Not to mention the inflated prices we have to pay to stay at the best resort chalets and hotels.

But who says you have to ski where everyone else skis? Sure you need snow (unless you are one of those crazy people who likes dry slope, or snowboarding down big sand dunes), but snow falls in lots of places.

Have you considered...

Bulgaria - actually this isn't such an unusual destination any more. With about fifty miles of ski runs and more lifts than you get in many Alpine resorts, Bansko is definitely an up and coming resort, it was even recognised by the World Cup circuit this year for the first time, holding a slalom event. The main slopes are Chalin Valog (1100-1600 m) and Shiligarnika (1700-2500 m) and receive very good snow coverage, with 160 canons are backup, guaranteeing snow from December until May.

Kashmir - India is perhaps not the first destination that springs to mind when you think of snow, but when you think about it, India has mountains that make the Alps look like mole hills. If you are planning to ski in Kashmir, you will probably want to go to the resort of Gulmarg. 13,000 feet anyone?! Be very aware that this is adventure skiing. You will not find a luxury party resort here, just great powder and cheap accommodation. Snowfall is not as predictable as some parts of the world, but when it snows it really snows.

China - Yabuli in Heilongjiang Province is the biggest and perhaps the best resort in China, and training venue for most of their world class athletes. Snowfall is usually good, especially on the runs higher up the mountain, but the Chinese are well prepared to create their own snow, should the need arise, so snow conditions should not be an issue if you are planning to fly to the Middle Kingdom with your skis or board. It is worth noting that their best run is 3km with a vertical drop of more than eight hundred meters. That's pretty good skiing.

Turkey - Uludağ in the Pontic Mountain range is the resort of choice in Turkey. This is a resort on the up, with 3000 beds currently available, some great off-piste powder and more than a few pine trees to test your slalom skills. The bars and cafes that serve the resort offer up some of the best food in Europe. A glass of mint tea at the end of day as the sun goes down over this very picturesque resort. You'll think twice about visiting a traditional Alpine resort for your next skiing trip.

Shropshire - Stay with us on this one. The Best Ski Jobs team's home county may not have mountains as such, but last winter saw us make a bid to establish The Stiperstones as England's newest ski resort. It may have only lasted a day, but as you can see from the photographs below, the snow conditions were fantastic, with a good couple of feet of untouched powder on the tops. The resort would be best described as off-piste (watch out for the old lead mine shafts and well camouflaged sheep) but with nobody else to share the slopes, and runs virtually to the door of the Stiperstones Inn (who server a delicious whinberry pie) this is definitely a location to put in your diary for 2012.

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