It’s something that experienced ski instructors have known for many years - but only recently have skiing companies begun to acknowledge the fact that women learn to ski in a totally different way to men. Now, with the season about to start, ski companies across Europe are beginning to rise to the demand for women only ski courses.

Leading the way is Midlands based ski company Redpoint Holidays, who are running exclusive women only ski weeks during their winter season. Co-Director and leading ski instructor, Nina Hasinski explains the reasoning behind excluding the men. “It’s commonly known that women learn in a different way to men due to their left brain dominance. However, this doesn’t just apply to academic activity but also affects the way in which each gender approaches physical challenges such as learning to ski.”

Women generally approach skiing more cautiously and are less likely to take risks, preferring to learn the correct techniques and test them out before taking to the slopes. “Women are perceived to be more nervous when learning to ski, and a large part of the learning process is teaching our female skiers how to relax and allow the skis to work, rather than overpowering them,” explains Nina. “The reality is that women are more reluctant to take unknown risks whilst men generally just want to get out on the slopes and compete with one another.”

 A special package of women–only skiing courses are being run in January and March of next year by Redpoint, who also run adaptive ski courses for the disabled. The specialised courses are designed for all abilities: from complete beginners through to advanced skiers. Whilst these varying levels of expertise require different levels of tuition, they will have one thing in common: both instructors and pupils will all be women.

The week long courses, which take place in the picturesque Austrian village of Fugen in the Ziller Valley, involve instruction, discussion groups, video training and seminars. This way the participants can learn the background to skiing practice, including sports psychology, women’s ski equipment, stretching and preparation within an all female environment, with the added bonus of a woman instructor.

Nina believes that with the right instruction, most women are capable of achieving more than they believe themselves to be capable of. “I have found that women often have a higher technical ability than they ski at – about 80% of their potential in fact. We aim to give them the confidence and support to enable them to ski at 100% capacity.”
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For more information on the Women’s Ski Weeks or other Redpoint ski holidays, see www.redpoint.co.uk , call Sue on 01902 568034, or e-mail sales@redpoint.co.uk.
                                                         
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Note to editors: Photographs available on request.

Contacts:
Alastair Campbell 01858 44 55 43 / 07906 349 109