Women-only ski courses to hit the slopes

Experienced ski instructors often say women have a different approach to learning to ski than men - a trend largely overlooked by the ski travel industry.

However, this winter the trend in ski courses will be focused around separating the genders, with ski companies providing women-only courses on the European slopes.

One of the company's setting the trend is the Midlands-based ski company Redpoint Holidays, who will be running women only ski weeks in the winter season.

Nina Hasinski, Redpoint co-director and ski instructor, explained: "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."

Ms Hasinski points out that women are more cautious in their approach to skiing, taking fewer risks, and concentrating on getting their technique correct 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," said Ms Hasinski.

She added: "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."

The special skiing packages, where both the instructors and pupils will be female, are set to run in January and March 2007, and are designed to cater to newcomers and experienced skiers alike.

The week-long courses are set to take place in the Austrian village of Fugen in the Ziller Valley, and feature discussion groups, video training and seminars alongside traditional practical instruction.

Ms Hasinski concluded: "I have found that women often have a higher technical ability than they ski at – about 80 per cent of their potential in fact. We aim to give them the confidence and support to enable them to ski at 100 per cent capacity."

The company also run adaptive ski courses for the disabled.

For more information see www.redpoint.co.uk