It’s that time of year when most ski resorts are wrapping up their winter ski season and avid urban vacationers are taking those last weekend runs. Ski buffs sometimes brag about skiing at Whistler, Big Sky or other more exclusive resorts, but how many can say they’ve skied in Bolivia or New Zealand? You can’t beat the price of skiing in South Africa and you can even catch a (chilly) lingerie fashion show on the slopes in Lebanon.
Lebanon: Who would have thought that Lebanon not only has ski resorts but that one of those resorts have annual lingerie shows? That’s right, the Faraya Ski Resort - an hour from Beirut and the largest ski resort in the Middle East - holds an annual show where shivering models show off the latest sexy styles. Lebanon is also one of the few places in the world where you can go skiing in the morning then take a dip in the Mediterranean in the afternoon! Of course, be sure to check the political climate before checking into a Lebanese resort.
Bolivia: At over 5,000 meters Bolivia has the highest ski slope in the world. However, the Chacaltaya glacier has been melting in recent years and much of the permanent snow cover has been depleted with time due to climate changes. Nonetheless, during the snowy season there are still skiers to be found on its slopes though - for now at least.
South Africa: There is only one ski resort in all of South Africa and it manages to stay open just a few months a year (June through August). Some natural snow is present but snow-making is necessary to keep the slopes open even for this relatively short ski season. Approximately 5,000 visitors enjoy the slopes each year - a relatively modest sum but if you think about it, with one resort: how many people in South Africa ski?
New Zealand: There are actually a surprising number of places to ski down under, though the best and longest-lasting snow can be found in the southern part of the country. The slopes range in type from glaciers to volcanoes and the scenery ranges from vast stretching lowlands to coastal views and glacial lakes.
Dubai: The Ski Dubai indoor slope has over 20,000 square meters of interior space and accommodates snowboarding and sledding in addition to skiing. Since it is, of course, not weather-dependent it is open all year round with five runs of varying difficulty and a freestyle zone. The building is highly energy-efficient but of course no indoor ski area in the desert can be considered environmentally friendly.
