A snow cannon provides a much needed top-up in Sölden. Photos: Duthie
For most British snowboarders, winter is a funny old thing. There’s so much that gets us excited; dropping temperatures, new snowboard gear, video releases… Even the Daily Express’ annual ‘It’ll Definitely Kill Us All This Time’ headline gives us a twitch.
And yet, with the exception of those with deep enough pockets to book a trip over Christmas/New Year, the payoff doesn’t usually come until January or February – or even later.
Until then, snow isn’t on our radar in any practical sense. If it is, it’s a menace that adds further complication to the days where you swap the only hours of sunlight for stress headaches, unbearable colleagues and bad coffee.
“Are we needlessly prolonging the torture? With several resorts already open for business in December, would it not be better to scratch the itch early on?”
We’re like that guy in the Rustlers advert – except that instead of a highly suspect slab of repurposed off-cuts masquerading as food, our reward is a snatched week or two away in the mountains [just kidding, Rustlers – we’re sure your microwaveable mystery meat is as tender as a lover’s embrace].
It begs the question: are we needlessly prolonging the torture? With several resorts already open for business in December, would it not be better to scratch the itch early on with a cheaper deal, and then hope that there’s enough left in the coffers later in the season for another trip?
