Ski run in the ski resort of La Plagne, France

Top 5 Ski Resorts for Beginners

As much we’d all love to be able hurtle down a treacherous mountain side in Chamonix, swerving to avoid rocks and jumping off ledges in a very James Bond-esque way, if you’ve never skied before then it’s not something that should be recommended. Skiing is a skill that you have to learn and develop; even James Bond had to start on the beginner’s slopes! So if it’s your first time skiing then a beginner friendly ski resort is the best option and here are the top 5 for you to choose from:

La Plagne- France

Ski run in the French resort of La Plagne

Photo: James Preston (CC 2.0) – Belle Plagne ski run, La Plagne.

La Plagne is probably one of the most famous ski resorts around and for good reason. There are excellent facilities for beginners with great nursery slopes to ease you into the wonderful world of skiing and help you improve your skills. There are even free surface lifts in all the villages to help you save a few pennies!

Killington- U.S.A

Okay, the name of the resort doesn’t make it sound like the most beginner friendly ski resort on the planet but ‘what’s in a name?’ Killington is a resort in New England and despite its less then reassuring name it’s a great place for beginners. Ski instructors will take beginners through a great programme in their ‘Discovery Centre’ in which you’re shown all of your equipment and a video to see it in action.

Obergurgl- Austria

If you’re looking for a ski resort a little closer to home then Obergurgl in Austria is considerably closer than North America and still has a great range of facilities for beginners. There are a number of nursery slopes for absolute beginners around the village and if you’re a fast learner, there are a variety of perfect slopes to progress on to.

Unfortunately, the village does experience some extreme weather as there are almost no trees but look at it this way, there are fewer trees for you to hit and we all get a longer ski season!

Bansko – Bulgaria

Over the last few years this ski resort has received massive investment and you can really see what all that money’s been spent on; this resort is perfectly suited for both beginner and intermediate skiers as there are plenty of good nursery slopes and a quality ski school.

Les Arcs- France

We’re back in France; well France does have an inordinate amount of ski resorts so it would make sense! Each village in this resort has its own nursery slope above it, which is great for budding skiers but the thing that really sets this resort apart is the excellent ski-schools. The award winning ‘New Generation’ ski school is run by Brits and is the perfect place to go if you’re a bit nervous about getting out onto the slopes for the first time.

There are loads of great ski resorts around the world and nearly all of them have facilities and slopes for beginners, but it’s always a good idea to do your research and check them out before booking. All that’s left to say is: welcome to this wonderful winter world and happy skiing!

This article was written by Jennifer Griffiths on behalf of SnowMoment; providing a range of cutting edge yet affordable ski wear and equipment.