Skiing-in the New Year

Skiing-in the New Year

The busiest week of the year in most ski resorts around the world is New Year. In Verbier and St Anton, the New Year’s eve street bash in the village centres gather thousands of people ready to celebrate the year gone, and all the promise of a fresh year ahead.

Revellers in St. Anton luxury chalets never need a reason for a party, but when there is one they don’t hold back. Arguably Europe’s most legendary apres locale, St Anton is party capital over new year. At 11pm the town descends on the traffic-free centre for fireworks and the countdown. Champagne flowing freely, DJs and fireworks ensure the crowd are pumped for the arrival of the new year. After the new year has been seen in people disperse to the numerous bars, clubs and private parties all over the town. All events are by ticket only, which sell out, so advance booking is highly recomended. As details of events surface we’ll share them here …

In Verbier, a similar format to the evening unfolds. In addition to all the tourists who saturate the resort’s available accomodation, locals from all around the valley descend on Verbier’s Place Central for the village’s largest and most exuberant party of the year. Private fireworks displays are set off all over the town throughout the evening, with the largest display funded by the commune at Place Central at midnight. It is the mixed crowd of teenage seasonaire party-goers rubbing shoulders with wealthy socialites that gives the evening in Verbier its character. There are parties all over town and once again as details of these come to light we’ll share them here. Book early!

With the combination of fresh air, exercise and the festivity of apres ski, it is no wonder New Year is a favourite time to go skiing. Probably one of the most common new year’s resolutions is a promise to exercise more. And can there be a better way to kick off that resolution than soothing your hangover blues on Januray 1st, 2012 than a day on the slopes. I think not.

Featured Image: © VERBIER PROMOTION, Yves Garneau

23^rd November 2011