Zakopane, Poland often enjoys long, cold and snowy winters. The ski and snowboard season usually starts around early/mid December and some ski areas remain open through to mid April. White Side Holidays cover the New Year and February UK half term school holiday dates within this time. With a proven track record of good snowfalls and top quality snow-making systems in place at all ski areas, winters in Zakopane are ideal for skiing and snowboarding holidays. Here you will find a quick run through of the basic standards of skier and snowboarder, allowing you to assess your level and choose whether Zakopane will be suitable for your ski or snowboard holiday this winter.
First Time and Beginner Skiers/Snowboarders
If you are a novice planning to learn to ski or snowboard in Poland this winter then Zakopane is definitely the place for you. There are modern ski facilities and unbeatable prices. Numerous ski hills and small ski areas offer high quality options for those who are new to the sport. Zakopane offers very family friendly ski areas, allowing people of all ages to learn in a safe and fun environment. Thinking about your first ski holiday can bring up intimidating thoughts of getting lost on mountains and parents not being able to keep up safely with kids, it isn’t like that in Zakopane. Slopes are all roped off and the ski areas are very easy to navigate for both adults and children. White Side Holidays Poland have a team of English and English speaking professional ski and snowboard instructors who will introduce you safely to skiing or snowboarding and help you every step of the way from putting on your boots for the first time to taking on more challenging runs by the end of the week. If you’re a beginner skier with some previous experience then you will find both steady runs to get back in to the swing of things and, should you wish, more slopes to tackle during the week.
Intermediate Skiers/Snowboarders
As well as the ski areas mentioned above, which offer a great progression of slopes from easy green runs through to gentle blues and a few more challenging red runs, Kasprowy Wierch offers the ideal opportunity for you to really test your skills if you’re looking to push on from the intermediate stages of skiing. Located above Zakopane in the Tatra Mountains, Kasprowy offers fantastic skiing and even better views of Zakopane and Slovakia. Skiing and snowboarding off piste on Kasprowy Wierch is restricted as the Tatra mountain range is a protected national park, however, this does not take away from the challenges it provides for intermediate skiers and snowboarders. Our team of ski and snowboard instructors have a way of making even the easiest of runs challenging, so if you think you’re ready to push on from the intermediate stages of skiing and snowboarding then our team are waiting to show you how!
Advanced Skiers/Snowboarders
If you are a more advanced skier or snowboarder, the skiing on Kasprowy Wierch is fantastic, usually enjoying brilliant snow conditions on the well-maintained steep runs. To protect the national park, runs are limited in number and very strictly patrolled to limit off-piste skiing. There are a variety of ski areas around Zakopane that do offer steeper runs and bumps, these are few in number though, generally speaking the terrain found within marked ski areas in Zakopane is more suited to intermediates. If you’re in a group with mixed abilities looking to share the fun of a ski and snowboard holiday together then there are enough options to keep everyone entertained. Perhaps you are ready to challenge yourself in a snow park? Whilst freestyle is not common at every ski area in town, there is always a park at Bialka ski area and various mini parks appear at other areas if the snow conditions allow. We can offer you lessons with professionally qualified freestyle ski and snowboard instructors. Another way of accessing more advanced terrain is through ski touring, an increasingly popular sport around the Tatra Mountains, White Side Holidays Poland can offer you ski touring guides, specialist equipment hire and all the avalanche awareness you need for a safe day in the mountains. This is a great way to open up other areas of the mountains that you can’t reach from the lifts, if you’re up for a challenge and some exploring then give us a shout! Alternatively, you could take up our option of spending a day or two of your ski or snowboard holiday across the border from Poland in Jasna, Slovakia. A 2 hour drive from Zakopane, Jasna is big mountain offering a lot of advanced skiing opportunities including three designated off piste free-ski zones. Give us a call if you require any further information on this option.
In summary, if you are hoping to ski down 15 minute long runs all day from valley to valley, as in some bigger European resorts, then Poland may not be the skiing destination for you. However, if you’re a skier who enjoys the outdoors, a new holiday destination or simply want a week in the snow then Zakopane should be on your list! Our team of instructors have taught skiers and snowboarders who have come to Poland with years of experience on the slopes and even people who have done seasons on the snow before, we can ALWAYS show you something new to try on your skis or snowboard.
Whatever you are looking for from your ski and snowboard holiday this winter, White Side Holidays Poland will be happy to assist you however we can to ensure you have a great holiday and are shown the best of what is on offer in Zakopane, Poland.