Study Abroad + Skiing

A

Armanzoid

Active member
I am going to study abroad come this spring. Now, I need some ideas of good cities to go to skiing wise. I was thinking somewhere in the Netherlands or in Sweden, but all I really know there is Are and Stockholm, and I am pretty sure there is no skiing in Stockholm. I also want a good amount of pow and park, not just one or the other. But if there has to be a focus on one type of skiing, it would be pow. So I would greatly appreciate some advice.
 
grenoble in france is the city to go man, especialy if you are into scientific studies.

30 min from skiing.

 
i studied in grenoble it was dope. there are 4 or 5 universities in the city and a lot of options for international study. the city is pretty haggard but lots of good mountains around and shit. if you can get a visa, check out geneva switzerland. you might also want to look into eastern europe where the dollar can get you a lot farther than in the west. bulgaria might be a good option, especially if you like being around dirty gypsies who will lie and cheat you out of everything you own.
 
I from the area full of dirty gypsies :). I am from Bosnia, Sarajevo, and I plan to ski there for a month or so this winter. My master plan is to go to Sarajevo, ski for a month and a half or so, then just go north to wherever I am going to study abroad. I am an English major, Philosophy minor, I want to ski, but I still want to go out and have fun besides skiing too(Read: drink and screw). That's why I leaned toward Stockholm cause of the partying, women, and fact that English is spoken. Just there is no skiing there.
 
Hey u shouldnt go to the netherlands all weve got here are those skidomes.

I heard insschbruck is good. Lots of places to go from there.
 
I'm going to study abroad in either Argentina or Chile this year, any good places there for cheap?
 
Err Netherlands is flat so that's a no. Sweden/Norway etc. don't really have "mountains" just hills...

Definately check out Innsbruck, close to shed loads of resorts. Also check out Munich.. it's a couple of hours from major Austrian resorts and like 45 minutes from Garmisch (big German resort).

Then you could also hit up Zurich, Bern, Geneva in Switzerland which are all close to resorts but Switzerland is quite pricey... Someone mentioned Grenoble, you could also try Lyon which is 2-3hours from big resorts in France.

Then there's Italy but I don't know much about the italian alps so can't really help you there...
 
Oh, and Bulgaria is apparently pretty shitty snow-wise.. least that's the impression I get. Also doubt it has lot of good parks there as the snow industry doesn't seem too established yet over there.
 
if you can speak spanish already, look into the valdivia program through central washington university. its cool, you live with a host family, and youre about 2.5 hrs from villarica and you can make a pretty easy trip out to bariloche, busses here are super cheap so if youre committed its pretty legit. also some of the kids' host families have cabins in the mountains that they get to use. pm me if you want to know any more.
 
i got the chance to study abroad in Rome for the sping 08 semester...totally amazing. Flights and trains from Rome to switzerland, austria, and france are cheap and plentiful. Just watch your skis on the trains, as my ar6's, look px12 ti's, head mojos, orage jacket, and poles were stolen on a train from Austria to Rome.

Obviously somewhere like Grenoble, Turin, Vienna, or anywhere in Switzerland will be amazing, but being able to enjoy the amazing nightlife in Rome every night, with a 1.5hr flight to the alps (or an 8hr sleeper train, which are fun) is unbeatable. Best of both worlds.

 
Check out I.G.E. Vienna. I am leaving on Thursday and will be living in Vienna through mid December. You take the train to the resorts.
 
Vienna sounds good cause of the amount of culture there, I am just wondering what kind of resorts they have around. Like are they real mountains or just hills, and are they expensive?
 
you're honestly dumb if you waste your time skiing if you study abroad in europe. travel around as much as you can, fuck skiing, you can probably ski where you live, unless they're having an amazing snow year it's not worth it and most of the mid winter parks are pretty wack anyway. i went over to switzerland thinking i was gonna ski all the time and completely regretted even bringing my skis.
 
Vienna is on the Eastern side of Austria, near Slovakia so it's not as close to mountains as Innsbruck. Vienna I guess takes a couple of hours whereas Innsbruck you have resorts 30minutes - 1hour and these are good big resorts as well. Then again Vienna is the nicer city.

That said you should prob look at how good the uni course is as well and not just base it on skiing-access.

 
Like someone above said, you shouldnt be going on exchange just to ski. An exchange is about doing things and living in a way that you havent before. That being said, you've probably never skied Zermatt or Le Grave, so maybe check it out, but don't focus on skiing and use it as the criteria for where you go. Ultimately, what makes an exchange good is the other people and not so much where it is. Everyone else that is on exchange is there for the same reason as you - to meet other people and do and see new things.

And whoever said that it is important to also look into the actual courses/academics offered at said University or school missed the point of an exchange completely. Unless you are doing a masters or something that you absolutely need that exact specific course, academics should fall far from the top in what your decision is ultimately based on. You'll learn a hell of a lot more outside of the classroom anyway.

I'm leaving for Ankara for my third exchange tomorrow!
 
I know what you are saying, but I already have done the whole travel around Europe deal. My parents would send me to Europe for 3 months every summer since I was 9. I have a lot of family all around Europe so I would just stay from place to place. I had tons of fun experiences, and I can do it again whenever, but I really want to ski in one of my trips to Europe. Given that I only go during the summer, this works out perfectly.
 
^true indeed. dont mix skiing with studying, if skiing is what you want just take time off to skii, especially being a nyc head living in city's like grenoble can be kind of difficult...trust me im living it rite now, im living in gre and seriously wish i just went back home and skied creek, mt. snow, stowe etc. (i also took 4 years off to work/ski befor starting school.) and plus when your juggling, trying to ski and progressing with school one always falls by the wayside. just pick an ill european city (not in france, cause there arent any, its like land of the living dead out hear) and take advantage of the culture and vibes the place has to offer.

 
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