Why chasing targets spoils the skiing experience

Why chasing targets spoils the skiing experience
Mile munchers are missing the real point of the mountains Credit: Bigstock

Tucked away in one of the many drawers of clutter in my house lies a laminated A4 map of the Portes du Soleil ski area. Scrawled across it is a red squiggle that charts my progress during a non-stop day’s skiing while carrying a GPS device.

Alongside the map, given to me as a souvenir by the tracking company, are a host of useless stats – kilometres covered, average speed, highest speed etc. Whenever I see this map it’s a painful reminder of who I used to be: a mile-munching ski bore.

Who wants to ski non-stop just to hit every run in the Portes du Soleil?

The quest to cover as much terrain in a day as is humanly possible is an act of sheer folly that has come to dictate and entirely spoil many a holiday. And it begins from the moment you wake up. Despite the opportunity for a bit of a lie-in, eager piste bashers rise early and are impatient to get going.

"The quest to cover as much terrain in a day as is humanly possible is an act of sheer folly"

They’ll head straight for the first lift, usually in one of the Alps’ mega ski areas, such as Paradiski, the Sella Ronda or Trois Vallées. Each one offers enough terrain to sate a ravenous appetite for distance, and avoiding ever having to descend the same run twice. In their blind desire to complete circuits or point-to-point routes, they hurry or forego lunch, and when the lifts close spend après reviewing their stats via a range of high-tech devices. This whole target-driven outlook seems designed to minimise enjoyment. For a start, what’s wrong with repeating the same run?

Target-driven skiers often head to big ski areas like Les Arcs

You can explore different lines and ride at a more comfortable pace, something that will benefit your technique. And by steering clear of well-worn and overcrowded thoroughfares, you’ll be able to seek out quieter pistes, soak up views and tranquil ambience, loiter over a coffee or lunch. A free spirit able to go wherever the mood dictates. This attitude can save you money too – being less concerned about racking up miles means you could purchase a local area lift pass rather than a super-size one.

So the next time you get the urge to hammer over to Val Thorens from Courchevel, stop and think what you’d really enjoy. For me, that’s leaving the hectic at home, and chilling out.