The FIS World Cup has started .
The snow is falling .
The ski resorts will be open soon .

So, how often do you think you'll go skiing or snowboarding this season? And where do you like to go?

Having the handicap of living in England, I'll be aiming for two separate weeks if I can.

I like the Mythen Region (SZ) and Klewenalp (NW) because they're small and friendly and not packed with tourists . They're relatively low, so I like the Gemsstock as a more reliable and more challenging back-up. Grüsch (GR) is a favourite 'locals' ski area if I'm visiting further East.

20Minuten is running a similar poll so it will be interesting to see how the forum votes compare. Cheers.

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"What was the rude word?" "Was it really? Good heavens, you frighten me to death." - Bill Grundy.

If my work colleagues are anything to go by, the 20 Minuten poll will come out negative. Most of the younger crew have not been on planks or a board for at least 5 years, apart from the obligatory ski weekend (****-up) with work. The older types hold not so fond memories of being forced to attend ski school .... & you though you had it hard ?

I already have 3 trips planned (2 long weekends and one week over New Year).

I still have a few more to plan though

As many weekends as I can. We have a chalet in the mountains in the south (quatre-vallees) which makes things alot easier... I'll be there for 2 weeks after X-mas. Also have a week planned in Arosa in February...

I cant WAIT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

19 days. Average trip 1.4 days per trip averaged over season. The only reason I know this is that its on the threshold of making a topcard economical...

dave

I try to make it at least once every weekend, being so close means you can just make it an afternoon if the night before was too heavy .

Plus, I take a week or two on a full ski holiday in a resort, outside switzerland (too expensive to stay anywhere).

I live two minutes from a ski lift. When we have enough snow, I'll go skiing in the afternoon with other mothers while our kids are at school. We'll take in a few runs, sit on the terrace of the alpine restaurant and enjoy a cafe zwetschgen and then be at home in time for the kids.

Now that's a life! Unfortunately, last year we did this ZERO times. Just not enough snow. Hopefully it will be better this year.

I believe several wanted to open already but there has been too much snow (the piste machines couldn't be used, I guess). The livecam pictures from Zugspitze (DE) are quite revealing... or maybe not...

Yeah, I had a feeling our poll would look a little different to the 20 Minuten one . Currently, As often as I can = 19%. Never = 43% .

They'll be some in the mountains grateful for all the foreigners living on their doorstep this Winter .

I felt obliged to take part in that 20 Minuten poll purely because the current results were upsetting me :-)

Davos already has over one metre of snow and this coming weekend both Jakobshorn and Parsenn are opening, with the Parsenn opening having been brought forward by one week.

I bet the topic of global warming cools a little (sorry!) and all the doom and gloom talk of ski resorts closing and winter sports becoming a thing of the past gets forgotten about. Last year was definitely a mild winter, but no-one seems to remember that the previous year had the lowest temperatures for 10 years.

And if you don't believe we're going to have a cold winter, then perhaps you should listen to the "weather prophets", as the Muotathal farmers are predicting hard times ahead and they're NEVER wrong... http://www.muotathal.ch/news/mehr/we...ter_07_08.html

Last year i just rented skis so only went about 4 times. This year i've finally bought my own set so plan on going hopefully every saturday for a drip trip to most probably flumserberg.
I'll try and get to lauterbrunnen a couple of times too over the season. can't wait for it now!!!

I saw a story in Swissinfo a while back about the large number of city youths, particularly from "less affluent foreigner" background, who have never been skiing.

I think that the EF is a sub-group of the foreigner population that has the means and novelty-thrill to get us out there in disproportionate numbers. Like me being a kook snowboard learner in my 30's

You would probably get similar poll results if you asked in summer about those doing hiking/wandering/MTB'ing. In some aspects we are more "Swiss" tha the Swiss.

I reckon it says more about the readership of the 20 Minuten website (as if the paper isn't bad enough) than it does about us lot

You're completely correct of course. If I had lived here all my life the snow covered mountains probably wouldn't appeal so much. I spent 28 years in Scotland and never took up hill-walking or fishing, and my love-affair with golf never got past the first couple of dates.

I will go to Ibergeregg http://www.ibergeregg.ch/ , Flums is open 16/11/07 Laax is also opening same day. Ibergeregg is 1/12/07.

DC

"Up to 120 centimetres of snow has fallen on the Swiss Alps since Friday, the largest amount at the start of winter for over five decades – and more is expected." Swissinfo .

If you were there last season and saw some bloke on the last run of the day who'd crossed his skis, smashed his face on the ground, concussed himself and painted the snow scarlet, being carted down the slope by a guy in a Fasching outfit... well that was me .
Note to self - must wear helmet .

I am planning in going at leat every second weekend are there any others like me, wanna join?

Where is 'Every weekend for 2 days' in the list of poll options? OK, as often as possible then.

Of course, I reserve the right to take a break and flake out in Zurich for one weekend during the season.

My personal goal is four days on skis and sledge. The Uetliberg doesn't count

Learnt that one at Atzmännig 3 years ago night skiing. Never ski again without Head protection. I believe It saved a large head ache at Flumserberg last year. Mind you I could always try going slower but what’s the point of Skiing slow.

DC