When the English go skiing to places like Verbier and Zermatt

[Guns 'n' Roses]

Is it pure snobbery?

Surely, it's more convenient to go over here, Norway? We've already established that the Swiss are awful, dull people. Which we are not. Well, we're at least not dull. Switzerland is even more expensive than Norway, and as opposed to us nogs, they struggle with their English. There are no English pubs, which we have loads of.

Hills? Yeah, they're bigger in Switzerland, but surely, downhill slopes suitable for the olympics should suffice for the English.

Now I understand if you go to Austria, coz Austria is cheap. Switzerland is not. Hence, English who go to Switzerland for skiing are snobs. :judge:

[Classic Jorge]

[PSRB]

more snow, more powder (usually) and whilst expensive it's not as bad as most French resorts

[Guns 'n' Roses]

[PSRB]

[The Emmetten Gooner]

and Brits love places that seem "less foreign" (same with Chamonix).

It seems the biggest populus here though are the Dutch in both winter and summer.

Yes it is expensive but certain resorts offer skiing that is truly phenomenal. From Saas Fee to Laax to La Porte du Soleil (but stay on Swiss side, French side overcrowded with those Brits and French people who can't queue)

[Guns 'n' Roses]

Hemsedal, Oppdal, Kvitfjell, Åre (Sweden).

Hafjell, Kvitfjell and Norefjell you can do whilst staying in Oslo.

[Guns 'n' Roses]

;-)

[Classic Jorge]

seriously though, skiing is a very aspirational, middle-classy thing. They like it as they can literally look down on the people below them and envy those above.

[The Emmetten Gooner]

Telegraph or Guardian that tell bloody English all about the little gems the locals and those in the know already use. Sure you've seen some Norwegian ones in those articles just like I saw the wonderful little place called Zinal in one.

Crying shame

[PSRB]

[The Emmetten Gooner]

and there are special ski holiday times for kids in feb

[Snin]

and you get a pager to say when copter is ready

:cloud9:

[The Emmetten Gooner]

[Luis Anaconda]

I can assure you they weren't boring - not the ones I met anyway. And they knew how to wear a dirndl

[Snin]

and lifts open to 9pm or 10 as all floodlit non stop..was cold tho..very....- 39c one day

[Ashberto]

Of course though, you sneer at most other sports for being middle class (cricket, tennis etc), and it's been proven that you don't actually like sport at all, with your interest in football being a cultural thing, but the cost of a tennis racquet or cricket bat is fairly piddly compared to the skiing gear and regular, incredibly expensive trips to Swissland.

[The Emmetten Gooner]

They don't need much encouragement to get out the tables/benches and drinking litres of beer

[Guns 'n' Roses]

But I did nordic skiing. Participated in a competition in Täsch, close to Zermatt.

[The Emmetten Gooner]

[Guns 'n' Roses]

Skiing into the fjords.

http://www.oocities.org/tasaetherskar/Pictures/SkiUtsiktAnkenes.jpg

[The Emmetten Gooner]

[Billy Goat Sverige]

[Luis Anaconda]

I'm not a fan

[Snin]

you use the huts..its a great base to then use by hiking off piste, snowshoes, split boards etc

[PSRB]

coldest I've even been!

[Guns 'n' Roses]

[Ashberto]

I mean, back through the generations. The rest of us are mere first or second generation upstarts.

I'm probably completely wrong but the idea is based entirely on the fact that you two seem to be the only ones who regularly bang on about skiing.

[Guns 'n' Roses]

because alpine skiing IS fantastic fun, but I think langlauf is better. It has an additional dimension. Alpine skiing in the long run can become boring. Especially when one gets older. Cross country skiing in the mountais (or in the woods for that matter) is excellent fun, and great excercise. And it gives you a better nature experience, imo.

[PSRB]

at the end of every day. No better way to spend your hard earned cash

[The Emmetten Gooner]

which is best?

[Billy Goat Sverige]

the news about how they've started hunting wolves a lot more.

[The Emmetten Gooner]

[Fedor]

I am not English though.

[Ashberto]

route is, of course, and these days I try to avoid the more dangerous bits, but I get all the rest.

Still, I've no doubt that skiing is great fun.

[PSRB]

[Fedor]

nordic is what Americans do, and free style is what anybody who likes cross country is doing

[Guns 'n' Roses]