First Skiing Attempt in Georgia

So it happens like this, that you're a reptile that loves the beach and the sun, and you find your other half loving the cold and winter sports. I would have never thought I would attempt to ski again after those times when I was little and in winter we would go with the family up in the mountains for what we call in Italian a "settimana bianca" or white week, mainly doing snowmen and almost killing myself on the red sleigh I would never forget (see the before almost getting killed proof). My dad still has nightmares thinking about me going downhill with the red sleigh and crashing against a tree as only option to stop.

Well, the perfect opportunity then to attempt this again during our trip to Georgia. Just a three-hour flight from Dubai with Flydubai, there is no better destination, and I would also say it's a cheaper destination than most. Going to ski with friends who do snowboarding and are already pros kind of limited my options, leaving me with the choice to get an instructor and basically be on my own. The first day was absolute terror; I do not cope well with the cold. Imagine being in a snowsuit with gloves that can't let me feel the sticks and having to take a ski lift, the worst part of skiing in my opinion, together with the big embarrassment of falling down multiple times before getting the hang of it. After a few attempts, I kind of started to get the hang of it, and things got better on the day after (excluding the second day when I stupidly decided to change instructors with a cheaper Russian one that almost got me killed as there was just a slight barrier to communication). Apart from that, I thought I was doing just okay, mainly thanks to a great Ski Instructor from this Ski School that I definitely recommend.

Now, let's get to the best part: the hotel and après-ski. As I always heard and can now confirm, the best part comes with the sauna, the hot tub (in our case, outside in the snow), and the drinks pre-dinner. We were staying at the only, I would say, semi-luxury hotel in the Gudauri area. Gudauri is located just over 2 hours driving from Tbilisi airport, and there are plenty of options to get there via private cars, shared minivan, minibus and taxis. The hotel we chose was new, with a nice bar and restaurant, ski in and ski out. Gudauri Lodge is definitely worth considering if you already know how to ski, as there is no other way to get to it (when you go out skiing). If not skiing back in, it might not be the best fit for me, but, in general, still one of the best options. And they have the best drink called Chacha, a potent Georgian brandy made from pomace. They do several cocktails with it, and I have to say that although I am not a big fan of strong spirits, this definitely was something to remember (and to try to find again back home). For a 3-day trip from Dubai, it's definitely worth it. I would have most probably passed by and visited the capital, Tbilisi, as we were traveling back from there; however, we had no time, so didn't get the chance.

Georgia has definitely beautiful views, it is cheaper than all other European ski destinations, and it is fairly less crowded, so it would be ideal for those with bigger families, as the ski passes are one third of the ones in Europe. You won't have the Alps to look at, but your pocket will be less lighter at the end of your skiing trip.

After this trip, the year after, we ventured further into my skiing endeavors, this time in Austria, where I was met with the breathtaking backdrop of the Alps and even more thrilling challenges ahead.