sports – Mark's Travel Journal

10 Late Season Skiing Destinations in Europe

European mountains give us the pleasure of late season skiing destinations. True ski lovers rejoice – they are always looking to extend the season for a bit longer. The late-season in most European skiing locations lasts until late April. Therefore, if you didn’t have enough time to enjoy this fantastic sport this season – this is a perfect moment to start looking for the best spot. We present to you the guide to selecting the top 10 late-season skiing destinations in Europe – it’s time to take a look and pick a favorite for your next trip.

Why ski lovers enjoy the late season

Experienced skiers love practicing this sport all the time. However, some of them claim the late season is the best. The main reason is the arrival of spring, which means longer days and more sunshine. Clear skies and sun make the skiing experience even more enjoyable, ensuring you relish those fantastic landscapes. Furthermore, the late season is excellent for beginners, too. Warm temperatures make the snow softer and the whole experience a lot easier for first-time skiers. Finally, Europe skiing in the late season is like going on the beach in September – it can help you spend less money and still have all the fun.

Where to go skiing in spring? Here are the top 10 late-season skiing destinations in Europe

Now let’s see what the best locations to hit the snow with the arrival of spring are.

1. Ischgl, Austria

This small Austrian town has transformed from a remote border village to one of the top skiing resorts in the country. With the growth of tourism over the years, Ischgl has become more and more popular. Now, it’s one of the most popular locations in the Alps and undoubtedly one of the top late-season skiing destinations in Europe.

2. Val Thorens, France

This is such a great place to go skiing in spring because it’s located at 2,300m with lifts over 3,000m. With the days being longer in spring, you can truly enjoy the slopes as much as you can during the day. Apart from all the skiing features, the place is also known for its entertainment aspect. There are parties and other events you can enjoy here and have an unforgettable experience even as the season is closing.

3. Cervinia, Italy

Let’s pop in Italy for a moment and check out one of the best late skiing destinations in Europe. Even though Italy is known for wine-tasting in Florence, you can also have a memorable skiing experience here. Cervinia is located in Aosta Valley, and it is known for its high-altitude slopes that are suitable for skiers of all levels. Visitors can enjoy a relaxed atmosphere in the town and soak up the sun until late in the evening, surrounded by glaciated mountains and beautiful views.

4. Tignes and Val d’Isere, France

The Espace Killy region is known for these two fantastic skiing locations, and it’s named after a famous French skier. Snowy slopes connect these two skiing resorts and make it skiing heaven for skiers of intermediate and advanced levels. You can visit both places by hopping on a bus, exploring their distinct features.

5. St. Anton, Austria

St. Anton belongs to this list as it is one of the largest ski resorts in the country, but it also guarantees a snowy season late in the spring. Its high altitudes ensure high lifts and low temperatures for longer, so you can be sure you’ll enjoy its 88 ski lifts even though spring has arrived. Even when not skiing, you can have fun, as St. Anton is great for families and friends.

6. Verbier, Switzerland

This lovely place in Switzerland is known for its beautiful scenery and the fact that the height of 3,300m keeps the snow longer in spring. It’s open until mid-April and ensures the snow stays longer with the snowmaking technology. This is also a great location to visit other Vallees’ areas, so make sure to plan a more extended stay in Switzerland.

7. Saas-Fee, Switzerland

If you’re traveling with your family, choose Saas-Fee for your next skiing destination. Its slopes are great for beginners and intermediate skiers, but experienced skiers can also have fun on red slopes. This is a rather traditional place with unique Swiss architecture and only about 2000 residents. It also includes a leisure center where your family can have fun even when you’re not skiing.

8. Riksgransen, Sweden

Located in the country’s far northwest corner, Riksgranses has long been a popular skiing destination. The shiny mountains and sparkling snow will help you have an unforgettable skiing experience and enjoy the unique natural beauties of the area. In spring, days are longer, and you can be out from early in the morning until late in the evening when mountains are glowing with beautiful orange and yellow hues from the evening sun.

9. Narvik, Norway

This skiing location is open until the beginning of May, which is excellent for those who truly want to use the season until the very last moment. The resort is relatively small, but it has different ski slopes, and it’s suitable for skiers of different levels. Narvik is a great place to visit with a family, as it’s not too crowded.

10. Ruka, Finland

This lovely Finnish town is one of the top ski resorts in the country. It’s where many professional sports teams train, which tells more about its quality. There are many other things to do here apart from skiing. For instance, be sure to try out dog sledding, snowmobiling, or going to a party.

Person in blue coveralls snowboarding on snow

Late season skiing tips

After choosing your late season skiing destination, be sure to remember some of these tips for a smooth and safe winter experience:

Look for deals and discounts to save as late-season can mean lower accommodation and travel costs;
Improve your safety gear, as lower snow can mean more rocks and trees are sticking out;
Check the weather and wear layered clothes, as spring skiing means different temperatures throughout the day;
Prepare your sports gear for the next year when you’re finished—though, knowing the best methods to put away your equipment in a storage unit and keep it safe after your trip is essential. This will ensure everything is in good condition for the next skiing season.

Final words

Our list of top late season skiing destinations in Europe will quickly help you decide where to go and enjoy a new skiing experience. But it will also make the bucket list longer for passionate skiers – are you one of them?

Lifestyle Product Review – Born Tough Shorts/Elite Sports Gym Bag

July 27, 2021markstraveljournalLeave a comment

AD. This post contains gifted items, but all views are my own.

We could all use a little (or a lot) self care, especially in these crazy times. Before the pandemic, workouts were pretty routine, be it gym based, fitness classes, running groups, etc. While we are not back to normal yet, a good workout is still golden. Working up a good sweat and clearing your mind of all things (including covid). As travel gets moving again, I’m looking forward to squeezing in a good workout as I discover new destinations on my travels. It’s time to get out of the old sweats and get some fresh gym gear. Born Tough is a clothing company with a great line of gym and active wear. And Elite Sports has martial arts gear, gym bags and accessories. Here are my thoughts:

Born Tough Air Pro 2 in 1 Shorts

I’m guilty of wearing any old pair of gym shorts. Obviously, if you are at home and doing a home workout, it doesn’t matter much. You are on your own and there’s no one to see you in your old well worn stuff. But if you want to be a bit more serious at home, or be seen outdoors or in a gym, then these are the shorts to get. Whatever it is that you do for exercise, these shorts will help get you over the finish line. They have an inner compression layer and a light outer Air pro layer. They stretch with you and have a towel/shirt loop, inner phone pocket and back zipped pocket. They fit great and look cool.

Elite Sports Boxing Gear Gym Bag

A gym bag is a gym bag. But this one is different. Although it’s labelled as a boxing gear gym bag, it can be used for anything, workout or otherwise. There are 2 small pockets on the side for key passes, wallet, etc. On either end are large pockets for post-work-out clothing (vented) and the other for shoes. The middle main compartment has plenty of room for whatever else you have. It’s the perfect spot for my Tesalate workout towel. This gym bag is well made with heavy duty stitching and zippers.

Summary

Let’s get back to the future and the new world that’s waiting out there. Your workout awaits. Both Born Tough and Elite Sports have high quality functional products for home, outside, travel, or gym. And they are great value. They rate a solid 9 out of 10 for functionality, appearance and price. It’s time to look the part again and get some new workout gear. Join the mailing list for Elite Sports and Born Tough and get a discount code to save on your shorts, gym bag and other purchases.

Kitesurfing in Australia: Feel the Power of a Breeze

August 29, 2020February 3, 2022markstraveljournal5 Comments

Kite surfer in the waters of Australia — Photo by APG Graphics on Pexels.com

Kitesurfing in Australia is the ultimate way to feel the power of a breeze. It’s a water sport where you essentially strap yourself to a surfboard, launch a kite and hold on for dear life. It can be a bit dangerous to surfers and even to swimmers who get in the way. What you ought to know is that kitesurfing involves trying to control something that is typically uncontrollable. However with the ideal advice, you might just transform it into the very best time you can ever have.

If you are preparing to kitesurf in Australia, you might want to talk to AKSA for numerous spots which supply ideal conditions for kitesurfing in Australia. After all, it’s not a sport that you can do just anywhere.

The Association also supplies services associated with the safety of the kitesurfer. They, for example, spread understanding about the different guidelines that a specialist of the sport ought to follow in order to stay safe. They also can provide insurance coverage, along with security gear.

Respect the power of the breeze and surf and constantly keep in mind everything you discover.

A woman kite surfer looking for her next big wave — Photo by Jean van der Meulen on Pexels.com

Taking up kitesurfing seriously will need you to invest your money in equipment costing something in between $1000 and $3000. This includes your standard board, kite and safety devices such as a flotation gadget and discount surf gear. You will clearly need to take some lessons if you wish to take part in this activity safely.

Winds represent an amazing force of nature that man has continually made every effort to harness. Thus, we have windmills, sailboats, and other wind reliant devices that make use of the power of the wind. Today, this power is likewise utilized for home entertainment. And helps to explain the recent popularity of kitesurfing in Australia.

Through training, you will learn how to navigate your kite in such a way that you will be able to utilize the wind to move in any direction you want. You will also find out about the different security treatments that you should always keep in mind in order to prevent accidents while you are having fun.

All in all, kitesurfing is a genuinely extreme sport which offers the thrill of being moved by air and the feel of speeding across water. It is likewise an activity which requires considerable skills, training and fitness. The bottom line is that if you wish to enjoy this activity, you must keep the risk factor to a minimum and the fun aspect to a maximum.

If you plan to get the best out of your kitesurfing experience, you must ensure that you stay safe. You’ll ensure that you have the most fun by getting the ideal type of devices and the best type of training. After all, you are handling an unpredictable element of nature here.

A kite surfer busting through the waves — Photo by APG Graphics on Pexels.com

Australia is more frequently recognized for Koalas, Kangaroos, the Wilderness, the Sydney Opera Home, and the Great Barrier Reef. The entire design of the continent has a big capacity for diverse activities. Kitesurfing is among those activities that happen in the water side of Australia.

The efforts of AKSA or the Australian Kite Browsing Association made kitesurfing significantly popular in Australia. They hold numerous competitions to check the ability of kitesurfers, along with promotion of the sport.

A kite surfer getting some air above the waves — Photo by Quang Nguyen Vinh on Pexels.com