A Very Rhubarb Society Ski Season ⛷️

All The Gear

Let’s kick things off with the kit. For the more leisurely skiers amongst us, skiing is about striking the correct balance between stylish and functional. Here are some of our favourites from this season, but if you can get your hands on any vintage Bogner, that will do very nicely indeed.

The Unofficial Rules You Need To Know

– Skiing is a very performative sport; everyone is trying to signal and exaggerate their ability, often through their chat, their gear or their aura. Don’t be fooled.

– It helps to look the part. This doesn’t mean buying all the gear above (although we do recommend it…) but making sure you wear the items correctly. That means arriving at the lift in the morning with your jacket done up and your zips closed. Ski boots should be secured, but don’t need to be fastened until you’re actually in your skis. ALWAYS wear a helmet on the slopes and be sure that your goggles fit tightly under the brim (nobody wants a jerry gap). This helps you blend in with the pros, rather than sticking out like a sore thumb and being a classic case of ‘all the gear, no idea’.

– Have your ski pass somewhere accessible and at the correct height for the barriers so you don’t cause a backlog of angry skiiers before every lift. A top pocket, a forearm zip, or a glove are all preferable options, so you don’t have to remove it and tap it manually each time. Most of the sensors are around shoulder height, so pack that pass accordingly! 

– Always pack some sunglasses, lip balm with SPF and high-resistance sun cream, you’ll be needing them. Assuming your ski gear has enough pockets, it doesn’t hurt to pack a little sugary snack for an extra boost between runs.

– Learn how to carry your skis, and do it properly. You don’t have to go with the over-the-shoulder if that’s too much (although if you do, the wide end should be at the front, in the same position as if you were skiing). If you prefer, hold the skis up, look at the binding as you place the skis together to make sure the bottom ski is underneath (to prevent them from separating), and lift the skis from the binding.

– Maintain good on-piste etiquette. Simple, but essential. Look before setting off, try to stick to a predictable path on the piste, and overtake on the outside, giving plenty of space.

– The better the skier, the better behaved you must be on the piste. It’s your job to avoid people, overtake with plenty of space, and not be an arse when it’s crowded. If you find yourself on a blue or green run, practice patience, as that’s where the vast majority of beginners ski and lessons take place. No one is impressed by anyone who crashes out after being out of control and looking like a tit. A little restraint goes a long way.

A Guide to Courchevel

Situated in the French Alps and part of Les Trois Vallées, if you choose to go to Courchevel, you will not be short of options for skiing or people watching. The resort is split into separate villages: Le Praz, 1550, 1650, and 1850, with 1850 being the most OTT, filled with designer stores, luxury hotels, Michelin-starred restaurants, and the clientele you would expect to come with it. So, here is our very quick guide to navigating Courchevel:

Stay in 1650 – For those who actually like to ski, 1650 not only has some wonderful ski-in ski-out options, but it is also far easier to ski down to your accommodation at the end of the day rather than scrambling for the last lifts (usually around 4:30) or paying a small fortune for a cab. Courchevel 1650 also has a much nicer ski village feel than the more, shall we say, excessive 1850. Whilst we do enjoy being a little ostentatious here at the club, we also believe it should be approached with caution (and restraint). We also find that the other clientele are far more agreeable than those in 1850; should that be something you consider. We recommend Cimalpes for some great chalet and apartment options.

Ski the Three Valleys – If you’re a keen skier and like to explore, we recommend getting a ski pass that covers the 3 valleys, so you have options outside of Courchevel. Our number one tip for navigating the runs and the lifts like a pro is to download an app called Skiif (it’s very much the Waze of the slopes). It’s the ultimate ski GPS that plots everything from runs to restaurant spots, and if you are with a group, you can check your friends and family. Now, should you be looking for an instructor, the glaringly obvious choice for most would be ESF (if you don’t still have PTSD from your childhood ski holidays). They get priority at the lifts and act like they own the mountains (and, in some ways, they do); however, that attitude seems to extend beyond working hours, as they are known for harassing and intimidating instructors (and customers) from other ski schools. We prefer Supreme Ski School and have had great experiences with them (they are also more reasonably priced). If you use them, ask for Benedetta, who is not only a fantastic instructor but also knows everyone and everything about Courchevel.

Eat & Drink – Visit Le Petit Savoyard for incredible raclette and fondue options (you must also try their version of a profiterole – it’s big enough for 3 people to share). Cucina Angelina is by pasta queen Angela Hartnett and can be found inside the Portetta hotel. It has a cosy atmosphere, fantastic food, and it’s also right next to the entry point that takes you down into the village. For a more relaxed apres, head to The Funky Fox for live music and the crispest Guinness you’ll find this side of the Alps. If you need to stop for a snack and a drink mid-run, Grizzly & Co. is a great place for a well-priced burger and a beer. If you’re looking for something a little more formal, next door is Restaurant de Laroche inside the Courcheneige Hotel. They make the best pizza we’ve ever tasted; however, you’ll need to book a dough slot in advance because it’s just that good.

Apres Ski – Now, there are a variety of options for apres, and depending on your bank balance, skiing ability, or tolerance for nonsense, you have to approach this on a case-by-case basis. If you want to stay around 1850, Bagatelle and Baies offer two very different experiences for those wanting a post-ski drink and dance. Bagatelle is ostentatious with gaudy clientele, but it also has one of the best views a restaurant can offer if you sit outside. On top of that, if you’re with a great group of people, the vibe is perfect for a few hours of dancing and drinking in the sun. You can access it via the chairlift, so you’ll find that a lot of the clientele aren’t wearing ski gear and are engaging in one big pissing contest most of the time (we did say you won’t be short of people watching in Courchevel, didn’t we?). Be warned, though: they stop the music and kick you out at 4 pm sharp, so you can make the last lift back down. With that, the service can be sloppy as they are usually overrun, so be sure to get an earlier sitting and order all your food first so you have enough time to enjoy it. Baies offers more of a nightclub feel with everyone dancing on tables inside, blackout curtains, and usually some sort of relatively well-known DJ. A table in the outer areas of the restaurant is preferable, so you have room to drink and dance without other guests pushing past you to get to the loo. You can smoke indoors (you can even order shisha to your table), and they will try to secure a minimum spend at booking (which can be negotiated), so just be aware of the above. Baeis also goes a little later than most places, as it’s on the green run back to the main part of 1850, so you can either walk (not advised), take an easy night ski, or grab a car.

If you’re a slightly more confident skier, or you have no issue with being bent over for a cab (they charge between 200 and 400 euros depending on how they feel that day), ski over to Meribel for an afternoon at La Folie Douce. If you want ‘dinner and a show’, Folie pulls out all the stops with a live rock band, breakdancers and singers dressed as ancient Egyptians, and even a saxophonist. If you do plan on skiing back to Courchevel, however, do not underestimate how steep and difficult it is to get to the ski lift, nor how everyone managing these ski lifts shuts them early. Give yourself enough time to make the last lift (about 4:26pm, last time we checked) and be rewarded with some beautiful, wide, and incredibly quiet runs back to Courchevel.

Ski in Ski out Padel –  Fancy a break from all those runs? Nothing breaks up a day of skiing like a quick game of padel at the Ineos clubhouse. There are green runs both in and out of the court; however, the clubhouse is also behind the central ski lift in 1850, so you can always unclip and walk in if you’re feeling slightly unsure. The courts are currently undergoing a Lacoste takeover, which is bound to make them even more popular, so be sure to email the sports club ahead of time to secure your booking. One hour costs 80 euros, and 2 hours costs 150 euros. You can also order drinks from their restaurant and take them out to the courts for a refreshing pick-me-up between games (we recommend a bier peche which is a light beer topped with peach juice/cordial).

The Rhubarb Society’s Guide to The Winter Olympics 2026

The Winter Olympics are just around the corner to help keep us feeling adrift now The Australian Open has concluded…

Two weeks of winter sporting events can seem daunting, so we are here to offer a cheat sheet of events we are looking forward to, and why.

– Opening Ceremony Friday 6th Feb, 6.30pm

If there’s one thing we trust the Italians with, it’s throwing a great event. So I’m sure the opening ceremony will be a spectacle, especially if they bring in the help of their history in cinema, fashion and music.

– Men’s Alpine Skiing Downhill, 7th Feb

Held in Bormio, one of the classic World Cup Downhill tracks, this is set to be an exciting race, with Marco Odermatt, and Franjo von Allmen of Switzerland going for gold, while Italy’s Dominik Paris, the six-time winner on the Stelvio track, will be trying to get the better of them.

– Women’s Alpine Team Combined, 10th Feb

A really fun one for newcomers to alpine ski racing. The best downhill skiers are paired with a slalom skier, and it is their combined time that will lead to the end result. So if the best downhill skier comes down first, it gives their slalom skier the best shot of putting down a great run and allowing them both to win gold as a team. The teamwork and camaraderie are definitely the best things about it.

– Men’s Alpine Giant Slalom, 14th Feb

A personal favourite, we’ll be watching to see if Marco Odermatt can retain his gold medal.

– Men’s Snowboard Half Pipe Medal Competition, 14th Feb

For anyone who watched the Netflix documentary Scotty James: Pipe Dream, you’ll want to see if Australia’s Scotty James can finally win gold in the half pipe, after taking the victory in pretty much every other half pipe competition. For those who don’t know, he’s also F1 racer Lance Stroll’s brother-in-law.

– Figure Skating Pairs Free Skate Medal competition, 16th Feb

We love the drama, flair and athleticism seen at the figure skating competitions. Truly poetry on ice!

– Women’s Alpine Slalom, 18th Feb

USA’s Mikaela Shiffrin is the most successful ski racer in history, with over 100 World Cup wins (71 of them coming in her favourite discipline, slalom) but hasn’t won a gold medal in slalom since Sochi in 2014. We will be keeping our eyes on her performance.

– Ice Hockey Men’s Gold Medal Match, 22nd Feb

We blame Heated Rivalry for this one…

If you are watching from the UK, BBC and TNT Sports (Discovery Plus) will keep you up to date on everything Milano Cortina.