Alpine holiday but with snowmobiles instead of skiing
Discussion
As per the title, does such a thing exist?
As we were driving through the Alps my wife said she'd like to holiday there, but we can't ski, and have zero interest in learning.
If Michael Shumacher can turn himself into a vegetable doing it, I am steering clear.
But 4x4s, snowmobiles and that sort of thing exist. Are there Alpine resort type holidays where you get engines and spend a day whizzing about and an evening drinking cocktails and don't need to dress in bright green clothes from C&A?
As we were driving through the Alps my wife said she'd like to holiday there, but we can't ski, and have zero interest in learning.
If Michael Shumacher can turn himself into a vegetable doing it, I am steering clear.
But 4x4s, snowmobiles and that sort of thing exist. Are there Alpine resort type holidays where you get engines and spend a day whizzing about and an evening drinking cocktails and don't need to dress in bright green clothes from C&A?
Sebastian Tombs said:
If Michael Shumacher can turn himself into a vegetable doing it, I am steering clear.
A snowmobile is how the very talented Ken Block died. https://www.timesnownews.com/auto/ken-block-snowmo...A quick google suggest in America the average skiing deaths are 38 per season. Snowmobile deaths are 200 per season.
Edited by ecsrobin on Wednesday 20th December 11:23
Snowmobile holidays do exist, eg. https://www.hb-as.ch/en/winter
As above, the chances of you seriously hurting yourself are much higher with a snowmobile than with skis.
As above, the chances of you seriously hurting yourself are much higher with a snowmobile than with skis.
Finland is great for that sort of thing, a resort like Levi would give you an Alpine feel but much better geared towards non-skiing activities. You can go on organised trips or rent a snowmobile by the day and follow the many trails on your own. BTW Dog sledding is far more fun than snowmobiles.
they're tippy as fck
however to answer your question - I've done it in Norway, in a beautiful hotel with ice driving as the main course.
I have also done it in Iceland (the country not the shop) across a glacier. Extremely dangerous way to spend ones time at speed on ice.
The Norway version was much less deathly - and was more of a tour.
It defo exists with a bit of research.
however to answer your question - I've done it in Norway, in a beautiful hotel with ice driving as the main course.
I have also done it in Iceland (the country not the shop) across a glacier. Extremely dangerous way to spend ones time at speed on ice.
The Norway version was much less deathly - and was more of a tour.
It defo exists with a bit of research.
Sebastian Tombs said:
As per the title, does such a thing exist?
As we were driving through the Alps my wife said she'd like to holiday there, but we can't ski, and have zero interest in learning.
If Michael Shumacher can turn himself into a vegetable doing it, I am steering clear.
But 4x4s, snowmobiles and that sort of thing exist. Are there Alpine resort type holidays where you get engines and spend a day whizzing about and an evening drinking cocktails and don't need to dress in bright green clothes from C&A?
Not available in the Alps ... snowmobiles are not permitted for leisure use, just transport i.e. mountain rescue/ski patrol. As we were driving through the Alps my wife said she'd like to holiday there, but we can't ski, and have zero interest in learning.
If Michael Shumacher can turn himself into a vegetable doing it, I am steering clear.
But 4x4s, snowmobiles and that sort of thing exist. Are there Alpine resort type holidays where you get engines and spend a day whizzing about and an evening drinking cocktails and don't need to dress in bright green clothes from C&A?
800cc and 150bhp with no experince is certainly more life threatening than learning to ski.
We did a snowmobiling experience in Iceland, it was pretty terrifying IMO. The whole time it felt like it was going to tip over and that was following a fairly basic circuit on a fairly flat glacier. I certainly wouldn't be in a hurry to get back on one.
Edited by XJ75 on Wednesday 20th December 13:06
RedWhiteMonkey said:
Snowmobile holidays do exist, eg. https://www.hb-as.ch/en/winter
As above, the chances of you seriously hurting yourself are much higher with a snowmobile than with skis.
And at £1,800 per day per couple, that's going to make a very expensive holiday.As above, the chances of you seriously hurting yourself are much higher with a snowmobile than with skis.
shunt said:
Those type of outfits are usually an evening/apres type of deal. You'd need to check whether they run tours during the day. Skiers and non-pisteurs riding snowmobiles are never going to be a good mix!4Q said:
Finland is great for that sort of thing, a resort like Levi would give you an Alpine feel but much better geared towards non-skiing activities. You can go on organised trips or rent a snowmobile by the day and follow the many trails on your own. BTW Dog sledding is far more fun than snowmobiles.
I went to Yllas in Lapland/Finland earlier this year & went snowmobiling at night there - really enjoyed it (set course, follow instructor etc). Plenty of other non-skiing activities as well, plus superb food. Skiing was limited, although the snow was great. The resort/town is modern(ish) so there's no alpine feel, but bars/restaurants etc were all very good.
When I'm skiing in France we ski all day, every day that we're there - Finland was more of a winter holiday and I got to go to the Ice Hotel (had dinner there), which was incredible.
https://www.yllas.fi/en
Sebastian Tombs said:
As per the title, does such a thing exist?
As we were driving through the Alps my wife said she'd like to holiday there, but we can't ski, and have zero interest in learning.
If Michael Shumacher can turn himself into a vegetable doing it, I am steering clear.
But 4x4s, snowmobiles and that sort of thing exist. Are there Alpine resort type holidays where you get engines and spend a day whizzing about and an evening drinking cocktails and don't need to dress in bright green clothes from C&A?
A lot of skii resorts offer Snowmobiling as an activity. I've done it in La Plagne - (was amazing - like riding over a moonscape - utterly beautiful and returned to the mountain base in the dark) and yes, someone tipped theirs over but no harm done. I've also done it in Livigno round a "circuit" - all I'll say is take good googles, and that snow gear you are taking the piss out of - you will need every little bit of it (and no, no one buys 1980's green purple and yellow ski outfits any more unless going in fancy dress). Jeans and a "good coat" will not cut it on a snowmobile. Go on, give it a go :-)As we were driving through the Alps my wife said she'd like to holiday there, but we can't ski, and have zero interest in learning.
If Michael Shumacher can turn himself into a vegetable doing it, I am steering clear.
But 4x4s, snowmobiles and that sort of thing exist. Are there Alpine resort type holidays where you get engines and spend a day whizzing about and an evening drinking cocktails and don't need to dress in bright green clothes from C&A?
Whilst you are in La Plagne you can also go down the olympic bobsleigh run - mind blowing with a good "team" who know when to lean.
Shumacher - Yeah, you go ahead and run with the one famous TBI on a piste to generalise the danger of skiing. Mate of mine wears full body armour (MX style) and his helmet - very cautious. I've always been , and remain, a bobble hat skiier. When I asked about his helmet the answer was "look what happened to Shumacher " - yeah - his helmet split in half! Didn't help much. he was going at speeds I'd never dream of attaining.
And Ken Block? lmao - he was on an ultra high performance snow mobile and jumped it vertically a long way in the air - and it landed on him. Not your typical holiday rental experience or equipment.
Griffith4ever said:
And Ken Block? lmao - he was on an ultra high performance snow mobile and jumped it vertically a long way in the air - and it landed on him. Not your typical holiday rental experience or equipment.
I only referenced as the OP mentioned Schumacher. I agree both are not the norm but the extreme end of it and thousands ski and ride everyday injury free. But as we’ve also covered there is higher risk on a snowmobile than skiing. Thanks for the replies so far.
To be fair, my attitude to holidays is I want good food, wine and cocktails, and good weather.
This going into the Alps nonsense is my wife's idea. Snow is cold, wet and to be avoided if you ask me. Mountains are to look at, not go up.
So any very expensive options or illustrations of the terrible danger are all good with me!
To be fair, my attitude to holidays is I want good food, wine and cocktails, and good weather.
This going into the Alps nonsense is my wife's idea. Snow is cold, wet and to be avoided if you ask me. Mountains are to look at, not go up.
So any very expensive options or illustrations of the terrible danger are all good with me!
Sebastian Tombs said:
Thanks for the replies so far.
To be fair, my attitude to holidays is I want good food, wine and cocktails, and good weather.
This going into the Alps nonsense is my wife's idea. Snow is cold, wet and to be avoided if you ask me. Mountains are to look at, not go up.
So any very expensive options or illustrations of the terrible danger are all good with me!
You can quite easily go to a resort and not ski and still have a great week. Zell am see has a car ice race in Feb at the airfield, a spa nearby and plenty of bars which could tick all the boxes for both of you? To be fair, my attitude to holidays is I want good food, wine and cocktails, and good weather.
This going into the Alps nonsense is my wife's idea. Snow is cold, wet and to be avoided if you ask me. Mountains are to look at, not go up.
So any very expensive options or illustrations of the terrible danger are all good with me!
St Moritz also has similar if your budget is bigger.
This video:
https://youtu.be/t1P0SeYt2TA?si=joD9UYaByDJZrsKA
Shows both skiing and snowmobiling. The snowmobiling looks much safer to me as a beginner.
Though in both cases it is exactly how I imagine myself doing it.
https://youtu.be/t1P0SeYt2TA?si=joD9UYaByDJZrsKA
Shows both skiing and snowmobiling. The snowmobiling looks much safer to me as a beginner.
Though in both cases it is exactly how I imagine myself doing it.
Edited by Zaichik on Wednesday 20th December 14:27
Edited by Zaichik on Wednesday 20th December 14:27
Most ski resorts (bigger ones) will have evening or daytime skidoo/snowmobile tours. Very safe. Val Thorens or Meribel are easy choices.
Plenty of non-skiers in the resorts as well. Courchevel for example has more Michelin stars and 5* hotels than anywhere outside Paris as I recall, so if that's your thing...
Best time to visit could be early March (good chance of sunny & warm, and before the schools break up).
Plenty of non-skiers in the resorts as well. Courchevel for example has more Michelin stars and 5* hotels than anywhere outside Paris as I recall, so if that's your thing...
Best time to visit could be early March (good chance of sunny & warm, and before the schools break up).
If food and wine is your thing then the Alps definitely have you covered : https://www.ovonetwork.com/blog/the-top-michelin-s...
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