How can you make your ski holiday as pleasant as possible? The following 10 lifehacks provide you with clever solutions, from planning your holidays to the hangover breakfast after après ski.
Lifehack 1. Finding the right ski area quickly
Indecisive winter sports fans who have not yet found the perfect ski area for themselves or who just want to try out something new usually have to face a time-consuming online research. Finding just the right ski area that matches personal wishes and skills is usually not an easy thing to do.
However, SnowTrex, the tour operator specialised in winter sports, now has a smart tool for everyone who’s still searching. The ski resort finder is the first of its kind and offers precise filters that help find the best fitting holiday destination from a large selection of the best national and international ski areas.
Lifehack 2. The best diet for a powerful day on skis
There is a German saying that goes “Have breakfast like an emperor, lunch like a king, and dine like a beggar” that many follow. However, this motto is not recommendable for the diet during your ski holiday.
In order to be able to start into the day full of energy, ambitious winter sports fans should start the day with a breakfast high in carbohydrates. Depending on your taste, whole-grain muesli with fresh fruits and (low-fat) yoghurt, or a whole-grain bread roll with low-fat cheese or lean ham are good alternatives.
Especially on a ski holiday in beautiful Austria, it is easy to be tempted by local delicacies like Spätzle, Backhendl and more when taking a break in the ski hut. However, a large, fatty lunch only makes you feel tired and you may end up preferring to get back to the valley rolling rather than on your skis.
Dinner after a successful day on skis is a good time to fill up the storage of carbohydrates that was emptied when practising sports, so that you can feel free to indulge in the local chef’s treats.
Hydration is also something that shouldn’t be overlooked. Staying well-hydrated is essential for keeping going during winter sports. When it comes to après-ski, a glass or two of mulled wine or Jägertee is certainly fine as long as you drink plenty of water. If you do happen to have had a bit too much to drink, Lifehack 10 offers tips on how to beat that pesky hangover.
Lifehack 3. Taking a break with a view
A good diet is important in order to be able to enjoy an exhausting day on the piste. Nevertheless, all visitors of the ski area want to take a break sooner or later, so that the huts can get rather crowded. Here it is advisable to plan your break in the time shortly before or after rush hour. Like this, you’ll have shorter waiting times and sometimes you even get a chance to find a table with a wonderful view of the mountain.
Lifehack 4. How to avoid long waiting times at the ski lift
Every year the ski areas build new and larger lifts, and yet annoying waiting times occur again and again. If you want to avoid those and spend as much time on the piste as possible instead, there are some expedient codes of conduct.
It is important to quickly get an overview of the situation and then decide for the right or the left queue. Never queue in the middle, and avoid large groups who slow down the queue because they want to go together. You can still chat to the rest of your group when you’re taking the break that was mentioned before. When queueing for the lift, it’s important to stay focused on gaps that are opening up, and fill them up while the other waiting people are still undecided.
Insider’s tip: the single line! Even when you’re skiing as a group you can still queue in the single line. There is usually a smaller crowd, and everybody can get up the mountain faster.
Lifehack 5. Stylish and safe: how to still be a snow bunny when wearing a helmet
It’s impossible to imagine the slopes without it these days – the ski helmet! However, this essential piece of kit poses a particular challenge for women. How do you fit the hair that you used to simply tuck under your hat into a snug-fitting helmet?
We particularly recommend tight braids, such as French or fishtail braids, which also conveniently emphasise the ‘ski bunny look’ – a must-have for any skiing holiday. Of course, a low ponytail or bun can also help to tame your hair. In any case, you should always carry a spare hair tie and a few hair clips (not tight-fitting hairpins) to ensure that even the last unruly strand stays in place.
Lifehack 6. Don’t forget about sunscreen
Sun protection is a must in the mountains! Sun cream not only protects your skin, but it also leaves it feeling better cared for when you use a rich, moisturising formula. What’s more, it helps minimise those annoying marks left by sunglasses or ski goggles after your winter holiday.
Even on cloudy days, UV exposure is high, so sun protection with an SPF of at least 20 is essential. For sensitive skin, an SPF of 50 is recommended. Lips are particularly sensitive and often crack due to exposure to sun, sweat and cold. A combination of sun cream and lip balm can help.
Lifehack 7. Smartphone-friendly gloves
You just want to quickly check if the lift status and weather apps have any new updates, share the view with friends on Facebook, or send a quick snap – and before you know it, your fingers are freezing cold and refuse to warm up properly.
Fortunately, other winter sports enthusiasts have already recognised and solved the problem of not being able to use a smartphone whilst wearing gloves. Smartphone-compatible ski gloves are available online and in specialist sports shops from as little as €20.
Even those who have recently invested in new ski gloves, or who simply find the specialist models too expensive, will find what they’re looking for online. A wide range of DIY guides show you step by step how to pimp your own gloves. Whether you sew conductive thread into the fingertips, stick on touchscreen-compatible stickers, or dip the gloves in liquid rubber mixed with graphite powder, there’s a solution for everyone.
Lifehack 8. Alternative techniques for how to carry your skis
The journey between the hotel and the ski resort can feel like an endless slog, especially on the way back from the slopes. You find yourself switching your skis from shoulder to shoulder at ever-shorter intervals, and at some point you start to wonder whether getting rid of this cumbersome luggage might not be a realistic alternative. You can protect yourself from the rash decision to lose your skis and other outbursts of frustration by finding out about alternative carrying techniques before your skiing holiday.
For example you can carry the skis like a carry-on bag and use the ski poles as handles. Just pull the two poles’ loops over one end of each ski and then stick the poles’ tops into the opposite loops. – All done!
Lifehack 9. Staying fit thanks to recovery after skiing
Time in the mountains is always too short, and you want to savour every precious minute. To ensure your body can cope with the strain, it is recommended that, in addition to preventive ski exercises, you engage in active recovery in the evening. This can help prevent injuries.
Just a few stretching exercises and 2–3 short relaxation sessions in the sauna at 60–70°C work wonders. This short programme can even be done every evening without significantly affecting your other après-ski activities. Every muscle will thank you for it!
Lifehack 10. The best hangover cure after après ski
The best way to avoid a hangover is to drink as little alcohol as possible. If you do happen to have had a bit too much to drink, that’s no reason to miss out on a precious day’s skiing. To prevent a hangover in the first place, you should stick to two important basic rules:
- Never drink on an empty stomach. Dinner first, then après ski!
- Order a glass of water with every alcoholic drink.
If, despite all your good intentions, you wake up the next morning with a pounding headache, you shouldn’t waste any time – get moving. There are plenty of ways to combat a hangover, which can be tried individually or, if you prefer, one after the other.
- A salty, vitamin-rich hangover breakfast restores your nutrient balance and helps detoxify the liver.
- A leisurely walk or a jog in the fresh air gets your circulation going and supplies your body with the oxygen it needs.
- Of course, a painkiller can make the day bearable, but you could also opt for a herbal alternative such as willow bark pain relief tablets (available for 3–4 euros in pharmacies or chemists) or an espresso with a dash of lemon juice.
