Skates on with these Winter Olympic sports

I’ve been going round and round in circles for years but still come back for more, and I will continue to do so and get my skates on with these Winter Olympic sports.

It’s timely, of course, to focus on snowy and icy pastimes at this time of the year.

And particularly so this year with the 100ish anniversary of the first Winter Olympics in Chamonix, France, in Milano Cortina 2026 hoving into view.

And with our furry-booted friends inviting us out to their snow-capped destinations to try out new slip-sliding skills.

As mon amis did in Val D’Isere, only for our earlier departure denying me the chance to cross-country ski, and shoot (waywardly).

Probably just as well for the tootsies of our party who had stayed behind.

But, of course, we know you’re not as cack-handed as this accidental winter sportsman and will thrive in these destinations and in these activities.

Cross country skiing in Kitzbuhel

Now being a Scottish cross-country running champion doesn’t transfer to skis.

But my freundes in the Austrian Tirol tell me that it is easy to pick up.

Kitzbuhel boasts more than 60 km of trails around the Hahnenkamm, Kitzbüheler Horn, and Wilder Kaiser.

And stopping off at traditional huts for hearty Tirolean cuisine.

Those new to the activity can book expert instruction with Element3, offering private sessions from €120/£105pp.

A three-night stay in Kitzbühel at Hotel Kitzhof, arriving 12 December, is priced from £675pps half board basis, with a champagne breakfast, minibar and spa access.

Figuring it out in Megeve

Not sure whether skating around in a circumference at the Rockefeller Center in New York or the RDS in Dublin qualifies me as a figure skater.

But I dare say I could mug up on those toe loops and pirouettes in the French Alpine village of Megève.

And their Le Palais Olympic ice rink,

Visitors can enjoy fancy-dress skating evenings, or try curling too.

Ice rink access is from €6/£5.30pp for adults and €4.60/£4 for children.

A four-night stay at Mamie Megève, arriving 18 December, is priced from £690pps B&B. Flights and transfers extra. Megève.

Bobbing along

Now just a tip before you go flat out on your bobsleigh in La Plagne mibbee hold off on the schnapps.

As I learned to my cost when I got detached from my sled in Kirchberg, near Kitzbuhel.

La Plagne boasts France’s only bobsleigh and skeleton track and was first used during the Albertville 1992 Winter Olympics.

Families can try the Bob Raft, an automatic four-person bobsleigh reaching 80 km/h (€57/£50 pp).

While thrill-seekers can book the Bob Racing, riding behind a professional pilot at speeds of up to 120 km/h (€149 / £141 pp).

A week’s stay, from 12 January, at PopAlp Hotel in Plagne Centre, costs from £2,420 total for up to three people sharing a standard room with breakfast included.

Getting a jump on

Now you know you’ve landed when you stand at the foot of the ski jump at Garmisch-Partenkirchen.

Home of one of the totemic Winter Olympics, Hitler’s Games.

And thankfully get a photo taken in one of those end-of-the-pier joke frames.

Or any Games resort really, with Innsbruck one we particularly recall.

As it was the first we watched on TV and came away with a special appreciation of downhill skier Franz Klammer.

The Bergisel Ski Jump hosts the third stage of the prestigious Four Hills Tournament every January.

An inclined elevator carries visitors 250m above the city in under two minutes.

Where a sleek tower-top restaurant and viewing terrace offer stunning 360-degree views of Tirol.

A week’s stay at Hotel Rufi’s departing 5 December, costs £1,452 total based on two sharing a room. Austrian Tirol.

It’s all downhill

On my refresher course as my old mucker Murphski and the crack skiers zipped around the main mountains.

Val D’Isere boasts 300km of runs shared with neighbouring Tignes.

Stay at VIP SKI’s Loft 2 Aspen House, a penthouse suite, in the very heart of Val d’Isère.

The Loft sleeps eight-ten guests in four en-suite bedrooms.

While there is a spa on the ground floor with hammam, sauna and a rather grand tiled jacuzzi.

A week’s stay at Loft 2 Aspen House, arriving 7 December is priced from £1,359pp based on eight guests.

Sharing a four bedroom chalet on a catered chalet basis, including transfers from Geneva.

The puck stops here

And, of course, we began our initiation into the fastest team sport in the world… on the dry boards of the Anaheim Ducks’ home arena.

A long way to go for those of us who live in Europe.

So we offer you instead Morzine, home to the Division 1 Morzine-Avoriaz Hockey Club.

And for those who prefer to pay through the nose to watch Premier League football from the crow’s nest get these prices.

Tickets from around €10/£8.60 per adult and €6/£5 for children.

Stay at Morzine-Avoriaz‘s new Chalet La Bise, six-bedroom, all-ensuite chalet sleeping up to 14 guests and all mod cons.

For £6,220 total based on 14 people sharing on a self-catered basis, including committed service from the AliKats’ team throughout the stay.