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SNOWKITING | ZURICH<br />
THE KITES PROVIDE<br />
EXTRA OOMPH FOR<br />
TACKLING TRICKS<br />
AND JUMPS<br />
Boarders eager to<br />
take it to the limit<br />
easily get hooked<br />
to snowkiting<br />
safari tours and Stefan assured me that if<br />
I practised daily, I could be on one by the<br />
end of the week. “Snowkiting can be picked<br />
up pretty quickly. A lot of people stick at it,<br />
as it’s an opportunity for something quieter<br />
and more peaceful than being on a busy ski<br />
slope in a large resort, which can involve<br />
lots of waiting and standing around during<br />
the high season. Here, we’re lucky to have<br />
so much space to explore while snowkiting.<br />
It’s really up to you how and where you<br />
want to do it.”<br />
I spent a fantastic afternoon learning<br />
how to go upwind and downwind, how to<br />
ski straight into the wind, how to change<br />
direction and how to turn around and go<br />
back on myself. At fi rst, I was rattled as a<br />
number of snowkiters that were obviously<br />
much better than me zoomed past, but<br />
once a handful of small children casually<br />
overtook me, I was determined to put<br />
everything Stefan had taught me into<br />
practice. The fi rst few goes I managed to<br />
86 | TRAVELLER | DECEMBER 09<br />
lurch forward, only to crash the kite back<br />
down into the snow moments later. Then,<br />
all of a sudden, it all came together and<br />
I felt the kite moving into the middle of<br />
the wind window and, with a thrill, move<br />
quickly forward.<br />
I remembered Stefan’s advice to lean<br />
my body back (alien for skiers, who are<br />
taught to tilt their bodies forward into<br />
the mountain) and instantly I got the<br />
adrenaline-pumping sensation of feeling<br />
the skis gliding smoothly along beneath<br />
me, with only the sound of the wind<br />
whirling past my ears. While I zipped<br />
along gazing at the serene, stunning snowy<br />
backdrop of Silvaplana, I immediately<br />
realised why my friends had become<br />
hooked to such an exciting sport.<br />
easyJet flies to...<br />
Zürich and Milan from many<br />
destinations. Our guides start on page<br />
111. Book online at easyJet.com<br />
WHERE<br />
TO STAY IN<br />
ST MORITZ<br />
UNDER €100<br />
STILLE SPORTHOTEL<br />
Crash out at this cosy,<br />
affordable hotel on<br />
the shores of Sankt<br />
Moritzersee and head<br />
South to Silvaplana to<br />
take to the skies.<br />
Doubles from €89, book<br />
at hotels.easyJet.com<br />
UNDER €105<br />
HOTEL ZUR ALTEN<br />
BRAUEREI<br />
Ease away aches and<br />
pains after your off-piste<br />
aerial acrobatics at this<br />
basic hotel’s very own<br />
Turkish hammam.<br />
Doubles from €105, book<br />
at hotels.easyJet.com<br />
NEW SKI WEBSITE<br />
If you’re thinking of<br />
going skiing this winter<br />
but want to know the<br />
best deals, check out<br />
ski.easyJet.com which<br />
has everything you need<br />
to create the perfect ski<br />
trip package, from boot<br />
hire to accommodation.
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