You've seen the clothes, now put them into action. The List offers the essentials on skiing and snowboarding in Scotland. Research: Katie Hutchinson
110 THE LIST 19 Nov—3 Dec 1998
WHERE (“6.18183
Glencoe Ski Centre Kinghouse. Argyll. 01855 851226. This a favourite with snowboarders because of its designated snowboard park. Glencoe's most important feature is its snow holding record; due to its height and location. it retains good snow cover late into the season. Phone for equipment hire and pass prices. A day pass costs £17 (£9.50). a beginners pass is £14 (£8): equipement hire is £13 for ski. boots and pole. and £17 for snowboard and boots. For those needing lessons. they start at £10 for two hours. going up to £18 for four hours. Discount schemes apply for OAPs. students and family groups.
Glenshee Ski Centre Cairnwell. Braemar. Aberdeenshire. 013397 4132(1. The closest ski centre to Edinburgh. Glenshee boasts nursery slopes. 26 blue and red runs and. for the really brave. there are two excellent black runs. the Tiger and the Glas Maol. Adult passes cost around £18 per day. Ski hire costs around £13 per day and snowboard hire £17 per day. Packages are available. call for more details.
Cairngorm Ski Area Aviemore. lnverness-shire. 01479 861261. About eight miles from Aviemore and well served by buses from the village.
C airngorm now features a snowboard park. There's a student offer called ‘Wicked Wednesdays' which takes place every Wednesday (surprise. surprise). University and college groups ski for £28. inclusive of equipment hire. three hours tuition and lift pass. For those who already can sail effortlessly down the slopes. £10 buys a full day pass.
Nevis Range Torlundy. Fort William. lnverness-shire. 01397 705825. Situated on the Aonach Mor Mountain. seven miles north of Fort William. the Nevis Range features a snowboard park and five easy runs. 23 red and blue. and five black. Nevis Range snowboard school has three to five day packages for snowboarding. starting from £85. There is excellent advanced skiing in Corrie Dubh and a great snow holding bowl to the north east of Aonach Mor. Adult day tickets cost from £18.50 per day. ski hire £13 per day and snowboard hire is £16 per day.
The Lecht Strathdon. Aberdeenshire. 01975 651440. Good for learners because of its gentle slopes. The Lecht has a snowboard park. and is Scotland's only ski area to offer floodlit night skiing. Daily adult passes are £12 (junior £8) and ski hire £1 1 per day. Two and five day packages. comprising pass. hire and instruction are £60 and £100 respectively.
Top to bottom: Nicolas Conte, Yoshinari Uemura, Iker Fernandez, Dave Downing, J] Thomas, Derek Heidt
Information
Fun parks where boarders can do skateboard-style stunts are available at The Lecht. Nevis Range. Glenshee and Cairngorm. Cairngorm and Glenshee have all-round riding facilities for snowboarders.
Snowboard camp
North 57 81 Grampian Road. Aviemore. (11479 810310. For £299 you get a relaxed. easy-going week of learning how to snowboard; depending on the weather. this is usually available from February—April. The price includes equipment. transport to and from the slopes. accommodation. bed and breakfast. The average age tends to be 18—30.
Edinburgh Ski Club ()131 22113121 see classified pages 102. Meets every Tuesday at 9pm at Fiber Mcgees. Howe Street.
Glasgow Ski Club (1141 883 6665 see classified pages 1(12. Meets every Thursday at 9pm at La Booutarde. Elderslie Street.
Midlothian Ski Centre Biggar Road. Hillend. near Edinburgh. Midlothian. 0131 445 4433. This is ‘Europe's longest and most challenging artificial ski slope' apparently. They have two main slopes (400m and 300m) and two floodlit nursery slopes (50m). A new fun slope aimed at snowboarders opens in November as an added attraction — it's made of snowflex which doesn't hurt when you fall on it.
Glasgow Ski Centre Club Bellahouston Park. Dumbreck Road. Strathclyde. 0141 427 4991. Here you’ll find one slope and one nursery slope which are both floodlit. The ski club gives you free use of the artificial ski slope and tow for twelve months as well as reduced rates on all other club services such as coaches. hire and repair. ski lessons and race training. Club membership costs £135. Their ‘snow coaches' take people from Glasgow to whichever resort has the most snow. The coach is £13.50 return (£10 members) or £25 including travel and full area lift )ass.
Bearsden Ski Clu Stockiemuir Road. Bearsden. Glasgow. (1141 943 1500. Two hours skiing (including equipment hire) costs £8 (£6 for under 18s). Group lessons start at £48 for adults (£36 for children) for
six sessions. One-to-one lessons are £22 for
adults and £19 for children.
Scottish Citylink ()99() 505 ()50. Citylink serves Glencoe. Fort William (Nevis Range) and Aviemore (Cairngorm). Coaches run from both Edinburgh and Glasgow. Return prices start at £13. Be warned: they don't accept skis or snowboards anywhere on-board the coaches. although this rule is subject to the driver's discretion.
ScotRail 0345 484950. There are trains to Fort William and Aviemore from Glasgow and Edinburgh. Prices are £30.60 from Glasgow to both places and about £40 from Edinburgh. Apex tickets to Aviemore are £21. but aren't available to Fort William.
Freestyle Ski and Snowboard Holidays 0141 221 1115. Specialises in day and weekend trips from Glasgow (next door to the Marriott Hotel) to Glen Coe. Glenshee. The Lecht and Cairngornis.
Ski Supreme 26 Brodick Drive. Stewartfield. East Kilbride. 01355 229232. Web: http://w ww.skisupreine. demon.co.uk Ski Supreme tends to cov er Aviemore and Nev is Range.
Scottish Ski Holidays Blairgowrie. Perthshire. (11250 874574/874828. ()ffer complete ski and snow boarding package holiday services to all Scottish ski resorts and special deals on coaches to get there. Prime Leisure (1141 S72 4310. Recommeded by “Boardwise' for day and weekend trips.
Scottish Ski Tours ()1479 821333. These folks will fix customised packages.
Contact tourist information centres for hotels. self-catering and BMS's. Internet guide to independent backpackers hostels in Scotland is at http://vvww.hostel-scotland.co.uk CAIRNGORM
Aviemore Youth Hostel 25 (irampian Road. Aviemore. 01479 81() 345. llandily the main ski hostel in Aviemore village has regular bus services to the slopes. It costs £8.60 per night in a dorm. individual bedrooms are £23. Booking is essential. FORT WILLIAM
Fort William Backpackers Alma Road. Fort William. 01397 70071 1. A good night's kip is £8.90—£1().90 here. CORPACH (near Fort William)
Farr Cottage Corpach. Fort William. 01397 772315. Newly opened and just six miles from Fort William. this place provides a minibus to the ski resort. It's £10 per night including breakfast. GLENSHEE
Rucksacks Braemar 15 Mar Road. Braemar. Aberdeenshire. 013397 41517. The nearest hostel to Glenshee Ski Centre. it costs £7 per night (with sleeping bag) or £8 per night (linen provided).
Teletext Ceefax BBC] & BBC2 page 431. Teletext 1T\' page 204.
Ski Hotline 09001 654 654 (50p per minute). Information on all centres.
Web page wvvw.ski.scot1and.net. If you want run conditions. weather. road access. events and piste maps for every ski area in Scotland. you'll get it here. L'pdated daily.
Avalanche ()8()() 987 988. It‘s always worth checking the avalanche warning line. L'nless. of course. you like your extreme sports more extreme than most. Radio Skl FM96.6 (Cairngorm and Nevis Range). Live daily bulletins from 7.30am until lunch-time.
Glenshee South 26 Wellmeadow. Blairgow rie. 875800 (24hrs).
Glencoe & Nevis Range Cameron Centre. Cameron Square. Fort William. ()1397 703781 (24hrs).
Cairngorm 8: The Lecht Grampian Road. Aviemore. 01479 810363 (24hrs). The Lecht & Glenshee North Bridge Street. Banchory. 01330 825917.
SKI SCOTLAND 98/99 .»\ brochure on skiing and snowboarding in Scotland and is available from tourist information offices.