Top 5 Ski Destinations in 2014

With winter 2014 now in full swing, it’s understandable that you might want to head to the slopes and break out the skis. That’s why the Michael Tiplady blog wants to ask; what are the top five ski destinations in 2014?

This isn’t a simple question. You obviously want to get the most out of your ski trip and there’s a ton of things you need to consider. What’ll be best for your level of ski experience? Which is the most scenic? Which has the best facilities for families? That’s why we’ve got a list of our top five ski resorts this year; choose what’s best for you.

Whistler Blackcomb

There are so many of us out there who want  to get into skiing but get intimidated when we see more experienced skiers on the slopes. If this is you, Whistler Blackcomb in Vancouver, Canada is the perfect place for you.

Two hours’ drive North of Vancouver; Whistler Blackcomb is a major ski resort in British Columbia. Commercial at its heart, it boasts slopes for peoples of all levels, as well as other features such as a tubing hill. Great fun if you’re just starting out!

Squaw Valley

Some people ski for the scenery and the sun, and if this is you then you just have to take a trip to sun soaked Squaw Valley on the shores of Lake Tahoe.

A four hour drive from commercial hub San Francisco, California, Squaw Valley boasts epic slopes with breathtaking panoramas. It has two top notch ski resorts and a general west coast outlook that has you relaxed in no time.

St Anton

If you want to ski in the day and bring the house down at night then you have to try St Anton, the perfect 2014 ski resort for the party animal who loves the slopes.

Located a short two hour drive from Zurich on the other side of the Austrian/Swiss border, this Austrian ski resort has wicked slopes and the small town is nowhere near as sleepy as it sounds. It’s got a nightlife that’ll leave you energized for your next run on the slopes.

Arc 1950

The great thing about skiing is that it can be a family activity too. If you want to take to the slope with your loved ones this year then why not try the gorgeous Arc 1950 ski resort.

Nestled up high in the heart of the French Alps, it’s only a short two hour drive from global city Geneva and boasts fun activities for the whole family. It has all manner of slopes as well, so the kids aren’t left in any danger.

Tignes

However there are some people out there who aren’t beginners, who want the challenge of the thrill. If this is you then you have to head to Tignes.

A three hour drive from Geneva, Tignes is a French Alps ski resort that has great facilities for snow boarders as well. It’s so extreme it’s even the home of France’s annual European X Games; it really is the place for the daredevil in you.

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Michael Tiplady suggests Winter Breaks

I've been reading about ice climbing today and thought I'd share some facts about this fascinating activity with you, the faithful readers of the Michael Tiplady blog! I've not tried it myself, but I reckon it could be really great fun!

While it seems ultra modern, ice climbing has actually been around a lot longer than you might think. Back in 1908, crampons were invented to aid climbers as they reached the ice-capped peaks of their chosen mountain. Today, it's a sport in its own right, with tons of thrill-seekers spending time hanging from the slippery slopes to get their kicks.

In competitive ice climbing, contestants are pitted against one another and against the clock. The basic idea is to use crampons and axes to scramble as quickly as possibly to the top of the ice wall. The climbers often hang upside down from their axes and spiked shoes, contorting their bodies into near impossible shapes to be crowned the winner. 

At the Winter Olympics there will be three Canadian ice climbers showing off their talents in a cultural demonstration event. While ice climbing is great fun for thousands of people, it is yet to be recognised as an official winter sport. So this is the perfect way to bring it into the public psyche and to gain support for it. 

I did see a rather terrifying video of a climber who fell down the side of a mountain after he was hit by a chunk of falling ice. His helmet camera captured the whole thing - you can watch it here. Thankfully he survived with just a few bruises and and a sprained ankle!

That aside, it's fast growing in popularity and I've read that Grand Hotel Kronenhof, Pontresina is an awesome place to get started this winter. The ice climbing classes in Pontresina takes place on a frozen waterfall in the heart of the village where danger is at an absolute minimum! Tools and protective gear are available to all visitors, so ice climbing needn't be a daunting prospect! A good level of cardio fitness and general strength is advisable though. I'll certainly be considering it!

Follow me on Twitter for more updates like this, or check out my other blogsite where I post business updates on behalf of my company, Wellesley. 

Why People Play Golf

As a keen golfer I thought I'd share some of the reasons I like to play on the Michael Tiplady blog. 

Social

Golf can give you the chance to bond with current friends and gain new ones. On average you can spend 2-4 hours on 18 holes giving you guaranteed bonding time. If you decide to play alone you have the option to join other golfers, giving you time to get to know each other. Golf can also be of benefit to your career as informal business meetings can often be held on the course.

Manage your emotions

Golf closely parallels real life as one experiences the highs and lows of the game. This range of experience from birdies to triple bogeys rewards helps to keep each shot in perspective, manage one’s emotions, maintain a positive outlook and focus on the shot at hand.

Fresh air 

Most golf courses are particularly picturesque, with well-pruned bushes and trees, flawless fairways, white sandy bunkers and surrounded by lakes, rivers and streams. If you couple the environment with bright shining sun and a cool breeze you have a great way to spend your time outdoors. 

Challenge

People can spend a long time trying to ace their swing, which is a great challenge for golfers of all skill levels. It's very rare for one to achieve perfection. There is great satisfaction when you hit an excellent shot, even if you're playing on the same course. An awkward bounce or incorrect swing can impact the whole game, so it's always a different experience. 

Exercise and Health

You probably wouldn’t think it, but a game of golf constitutes a large amount of exercise. With an 18 hole course you can walk between 4 and 7 miles on average over all sorts of different terrain and usually the courses are hilly. From an emotional point of view golf is also largely a stress relieving sport…until you hit a terrible shot! 

For more of my blogs, feel free to follow me on Twitter, where regular updates are posted. And have a great Christmas folks!

Michael Tiplady asks: Can England still win the Ashes?

I’ve been keeping a close eye on the Ashes this year, though saying that I keep a close eye on the Ashes every year! I have to say, I’ve been quite disappointed with England’s performance so far. But is it all down to poor play? Or is it just Australia’s secret weapon, Mitchell Johnson, giving us a good run for our money?

After the first two tests he has 17 wickets under his belt, so the question on everybody’s lips seems to be: can he build on this run of success in the third test on Friday? It’s likely Australia will be going for the kill in the third, so Johnson is likely to be putting everything he’s got into his overs.

Apparently he’s been taking advice from fast-bowling expert Dennis Lilee, who advocates “TUFF”, which stands for “Target, stand Up, Front arm and Follow through”. With this technique everything else seems to fall into place, so that Johnson can concentrate on his speed, something that he certainly seems to relish. He’s been quoted as saying, “I like the idea that being a fast bowler you can be aggressive and intimidate.” Perhaps something that England ought to bear in mind and steel against I reckon.

Obviously it’s not just Johnson we have to worry about though; Ryan Harris is a superb bowler and Paul Siddle can’t be ignored. Andy Flowers has said that the side will change up, after laying the blame for their first two losses at the feet of the batsmen. IT’s inevitable that they won’t be taking two spin bowlers in at Perth, but the question remains of whether they will have Monty Panesar or Graeme Swann as their specialist spinner. Or maybe they won’t take a spin bowler at all; I suppose we’ll just have to wait and see!

Either way I’ll be crossing my fingers for a win! Anyone that’s interested can follow me on Twitter for regular updates. 

Hello World…

…Michael Tiplady here. I’ve started this blog as a means of sharing my interests with the world and waxing lyrical for a while about them. I’m the head of the legal team at Wellesley, a construction and property consultancy firm where we aim to provide specially tailored, effective solutions for all individual client needs.

Outside of work I’m a big fan of cricket; currently hanging my head at England’s performance in the Ashes so far – hopefully we’ll pick it up a bit for the win though! I was recently appointed Chair of Woking and Horsell Cricket Club Colts Section. WHCC boasts one of the best wickets in the region and is also where Eric Bedser and his twin brother Sir Alec Bedser started their amazing careers. If you’re interested in the club, you can check out our website here.

I’m also very interested in golf, both playing and watching, and I love skiing and sailing when I get the chance. Spending time with my family and friends is very important to me so I try to do that as often as possible.

I’ll be posting updates on a weekly basis and would love to hear any feedback – as you may have guessed, I’m new to the blogging world so will aim to keep it ticking over as best I can!