Bridget Jones as soon as mentioned: ‘Advised a tiny lie about being a particularly skilled skier. However actually, how arduous can or not it’s?’
Properly, fairly arduous because it occurs.
Whereas I envisaged hopes of emulating a sleek Lindsey Vonn or fearless Eddie the Eagle, as I took to the slopes for the primary time I bore one thing of a hanging resemblance to the hapless fictional reporter – limbs askew, sliding backwards down a mountain earlier than touchdown face-first in snow.
Amie Gordon places the ski resorts of Slovenia to the take a look at, hitting the slopes in Rogla, Krvavec and Vogel (pictured above)
Bridget Jones: ‘Advised a tiny lie about being a particularly skilled skier. However actually, how arduous can or not it’s?’ Above is a scene from 2004’s Bridget Jones: The Edge Of Purpose
Pictured above is the ‘family-friendly’ ski resort of Rogla, which has a high altitude of 1,517m (4,977ft)
The explanation for this reckless little journey? I used to be invited by the Slovenian Vacationer Board to pattern the ski resorts of a rustic typically missed within the winter sports activities division in favour of its trendier neighbours France, Italy and Switzerland.
My go to coincided with the Winter Olympics in Beijing, throughout which Slovenia’s nationwide workforce was hovering to glory, securing two gold, three silver, and two bronze medals – each single one in snowboarding.
Crew GB acquired medals just for curling, so evidently we might in all probability use a little bit of assistance on the slopes.
Slovenia is standing by. This tiny Alpine hideaway has good instructors and is ideal if you need to dip your toes within the snow for the primary time, take the youngsters on an energetic vacation or just need to enterprise to someplace off the vacationer path in Europe.
Amie efficiently managed to crash into the one two different individuals on an in any other case fully empty ski run in Rogla, pictured
‘Slovenia is without doubt one of the few locations the place you’ll be able to ski within the morning earlier than driving alongside the coast to take pleasure in a heat dip within the sea within the afternoon,’ writes Amie. Above are the slopes in Rogla
Strap in and take a experience on a toboggan curler coaster in Rogla (pictured), which races alongside at a high velocity of 40kph (24.8mph)
Rogla boasts a treetop walkway (above) with 360-degree views at its summit over pine timber to the peaks and valleys of the Pohorje Mountains
An aerial view of Rogla’s treetop stroll. If you happen to fancy an adrenaline rush, you’ll be able to take a slide down from the summit, Amie reveals
What’s extra, should you’re feeling significantly adventurous, Slovenia is without doubt one of the few locations the place you’ll be able to ski within the morning earlier than driving alongside the coast to take pleasure in a heat dip within the sea within the afternoon.
It additionally has lots of of pure sizzling springs, spas, wellness and well being retreats to assuage aching muscle mass after a day on the piste.
I visited three ski resorts – Rogla, Krvavec and Vogel – every providing a distinct expertise, for each stage of skier.
The entire slopes are used day by day by gold-medal-winning Olympic skiers.
Krvavec, pictured, lies at between 1,450 metres (4,757ft) and 1,971 metres (6,466 ft) above sea stage
At Krvavec (pictured) you’ll be able to take a cable automobile to the summit the place you’ll be handled to breathtaking views above the clouds
Krvavec, pictured, consists of 30km (18.6 miles) of pistes of various issue
SLOVENIA: A HOTPOT OF CULTURES AND AN IDEAL HOLIDAY DESTINATION FOR BRITISH FAMILIES
Triglav mountain, which with a summit at 2,864m (9,396ft) is the very best peak of Slovenia’s Julian Alps mountain vary
Nestled between Croatia, Hungary and Austria and sitting within the shadow of the Julian Alps mountain vary, Slovenia measures simply 7,827 sq. miles (20,271 sq. km) and boasts a inhabitants of simply over 2.1million.
So not a lot amount, however loads of high quality.
This Balkan nation, simply two hours from London, is a hotpot of cultures and influences – with Croatia to the south, Italy to the west, and Austria to the north – and is right for holidaying British households on a shoestring finances who don’t need to roam too removed from residence.
For a lot of its historical past, Slovenia was largely managed by the Habsburgs of Vienna, earlier than falling underneath Communist rule through the publish WW2 interval whereas it was a part of Yugoslavia.
This various occupation has influenced not solely the meals and structure of the nation, however the language. Slaviks pleasure themselves on their means to select up languages shortly and English is broadly spoken all through.
Dubbed the ‘Inexperienced Coronary heart of Europe’, Slovenia prides itself on sustainable residing – residents develop and prepare dinner their very own greens and plenty of of its Michelin-plate eating places will solely use meals sourced from native producers.
Forests residence to brown bear, wolf and lynx cowl three-fifths of its floor space and the nation’s forests maintain the European report for C02 absorption, with 9 tonnes of gathered carbon dioxide per hectare per yr.
At family-friendly Rogla, which has a high altitude of 1,517m (4,977ft) and attracts greater than 200,000 guests yearly, I loved my first day strapped to the skis underneath the watchful eye of Uros Martinsek.
His endurance was second-to-none, even once I efficiently managed to crash into the one two different individuals on an in any other case fully empty ski run.
If you happen to don’t fancy a full day of snowboarding, you’ll be able to strap in and take a experience by way of the park on a toboggan curler coaster.
Excessive life: The Vogel ski resort throughout the Triglav Nationwide Park can solely be accessed by this cable automobile
Amie’s favorite resort of the journey was Vogel (pictured), with ‘secure, huge ski runs the place you’ll be able to safely crash within the data you received’t take anybody down with you’
WHERE TO EAT
Montsera Bistro in Ljubljana
Monstera Bistro, Ljubljana
This zero-waste bistro makes use of elements at their seasonal greatest, complemented with a choice of ecological wines, craft beer and home made juices (monsterabistro.si).
Triglav Bohinj, beside Lake Bohinj
Triglav Bohinj
Underneath the steerage of chef Kristjan Gajski and sommelier Damir Salkic, this high restaurant serves recent, native meals and native wines (restaurant-triglav-bohinj.com).
The 1,360m- (1,181ft) lengthy winding monitor will take you up by way of the snow-covered timber and again down once more, racing alongside at a high velocity of 40kph (24.8mph).
Rogla additionally boasts an exquisite, invigorating treetop walkway, with 360-degree views at its summit over pine timber to the peaks and valleys of the Pohorje Mountains – and should you fancy one other adrenaline rush, you’ll be able to take a slide again down once more.
Krvavec, simply 8km (4.9 miles) from worldwide Ljubljana Joze Pucnik Airport, lies at between 1,450 metres (4,757ft) and 1,971 metres (6,466ft) above sea stage and consists of 30km (18.6 miles) of pistes of various issue.
Feeling courageous? You’ll be able to take a cable automobile to the summit, the place you’ll be handled to breathtaking views above the clouds, and hurtle again down by way of a black slope.
And eventually, reached solely by cable automobile, there’s Vogel ski resort, which lies throughout the Triglav Nationwide Park above Lake Bohinj and has a peak elevation of some 1,800m (5,900ft).
As a result of it’s in a nationwide park, faux snow is banned.
My favorite resort of the journey, it was completely good for newcomers and seasoned professionals alike – with secure, huge ski runs the place you’ll be able to safely crash within the data you received’t take anybody down with you.
Be certain to ask for a lesson with Jaka, should you can.
He was nice enjoyable, laughing with (or at?) me and, most significantly – pushing me out of my consolation zone.
As you look down a near-vertical ski run and marvel how on earth you’ll make it to the underside alive and in a single piece, he can by some means calm your nerves and make you respect the joys of the game.
Good for us ‘Bridget Jones’ skiers…
Lodge Bohinj (pictured), set a stone’s throw from Lake Bohinj, has rooms from €120 (£99.40) an evening
Ljubljana: Krvavec ski resort is ready simply 8km (4.9miles) from the Slovenian capital, pictured
