Following on from all of the weather dramas the UK have endured at the beginning of the year, you may think we’d be mad to try and encourage you to go out and enjoy even more snow. But this isn’t the sludgy, slipping on the ice and ruining your new suede boots snow of the UK, oh no. This is the new, improved, thick, luxuriously layered and prettily powdered snow of the new cool kid at the ski school, Laax.
A mere hop, skip and ski jump away by complimentary shuttle from easy accessed Zurich Airport, Laax is situated slap bang in the centre of the Swiss Alps. It’s one of three villages which link to some of the best guaranteed snow conditions in Europe, with over 220km of on piste action to keep all levels of boarder, free stylers and skiers happy.
And now there’s something to ensure that boarders and board whores alike are kept amused on and off the piste with all of the Rocks Resort events, from sports contests to concerts. Ever the considerate professionals, the team gave up some of their Christmas break to scope out the slopes on your behalf… Life is hard…
As you’d expect from us hard-hitting journalists, we arrived at luxury hostel style hotel, Riders Hotel, and promptly booked into one of the penthouse suites rather than the shared dormitory style rooms that make up the hotel’s main accommodation.
Don’t let the idea of dormitory style accommodation put you off, if Calvin Klein made Bunk Beds, then they’d be in the rooms at Riders. All rooms feature panoramic views, plasma TVs, and x-box 360’s. Everyone gets secure storage so there’s no issues around sharing and as any sort of ski / boarding holiday is best served with a bunch of mates, then the dormitory style accommodation is great for groups travelling together.
Enough-back to the luxury. A floor to ceiling glass wall, reindeer skin on the polished oak floor (no Rudolph’s were harmed) Philippe Starck freestanding bath and colour changing L.E.D lighting all add up to create an amazing loft style space with stunning views of snowy peaks, fir trees and gondolas making their way silently up cotton covered mountains. There’s something about us Brits that make us obsessed with tea and coffee facilities, and if like us you hate waiting for room service then pack a mini kettle and your tea bags as like all hotels in Switzerland, nothing is provided. Again, there’s a plasma TV, x-box and full entertainment system with surround sound meaning you’ll never want to leave your suite, especially when it’s minus 10 outside!
If the idea of having your own wide open space appeals, then the gorgeously minimalist self-catering apartments at Rocks Resort which rise out of the ground like modernist sculptures may well be for you. Hewn from glistening granite with oddly angled windows carved into its form, Rocks Resort resembles a Bond set, and the interiors of the individual apartments are just as exciting (though unfortunately don’t feature Daniel Craig). The bedroom walls are made from untreated gnarled oak while age slaked lime and concrete have been used for the walls and floors in the living room. Each apartment incorporates a mini spa with steam bath and steam shower, and the bathroom is finished in the same palette of materials, ensuring the design is cohesive, refined, and contemporary.
Outside of your apartment you’ll find a wealth of hip bars, restaurants and stores to make sure your après ski is as cool as it is on the slopes.
For the more hardened board freaks amongst you, there are loads of opportunities to register to compete in any of the British Snowboard and Freeski Championship events including the Animal Slopestyle, SNO!zone Halfpipe and Trespass Snowboard/Skier cross. Think we’ll just watch…
So, an incredibly cool design resort, amazing slopes, incredible après ski and music should cost a bomb yes? Well there are some package deals still available, which includes – seven nights accommodation, seven days lift pass and an event pack containing exclusive goodies. Make sure you tell us all about it if you go. On seconds thoughts don’t, we’ll be very jealous.
We Flew to Zurich from Manchester through Swiss International Air.
For more information on Laax visit, rocksresort.com or ridershotel.com.
