Take advantage of the February holiday period to discover the best destinations for winter sports in Europe. Get off the beaten track with unusual winter activities , in dreamlike settings that you may not have previously thought of. Thanks to our training plan and advice, you should be prepared to try out new sports this season most effectively!

Enjoy your sporting holiday in February

To make the most of your February winter break, put the odds in your favour:

• Go outside of the school half-term holidays to make the most of the equipment and infrastructure.
• Winter sports holidays do not need to take place in the mountains: By the sea or on lower ground, many pleasant activities in the heart of nature are also available to discover in the winter.
• Try out new seasonal activities. There is no shortage of ideas when it comes to a wide variety of winter sports: Mountaineering, snow-shoeing, sledding, ice skating, sand yachting, sea hiking, mountain biking on snow, diving under the ice, zip lines, and more.
• Go to a little-known place to avoid the crowds and enjoy the great outdoors in the best surroundings.
• To choose the ideal destination, rely on recognised guides, such as the Michelin Guide, the AA Guide, Lonely Planet or online guides specialising in winter sports in a country or a given region, such as www.hisour.com in Switzerland, for example. You will find specific activity ideas and uncover the unexpected resources available in certain regions.

Top 6 destinations for winter sports in Europe

With these 6 destinations – inland, by the sea and in the mountains – you’ll be able to plan unforgettable sports holidays across Europe, with a wide choice of seasonal actvities, from the most accessible to the most extreme. This winter, you can:

1. Go hiking in the heart of the Belgian Ardennes to observe from its heights the surrounding plains buried under the snow.
2. Try a snow-shoe trail in the Finnish taiga, where you will be able to explore the wild nature of Lapland between a pair of sauna sessions.
3. Go kite-surfing in Brittany, for example, on the large beach of Carnac, in Morbihan, enjoying long stretches of sand surrounded by breathtaking natural scenery.
4. Practice the art of blokart or sand yachting in Ijmuiden aan Zee, in North Holland, for an incredible feeling of freedom, on a wide beach in the north of the Netherlands.
5. Escape from the world and go skiing in Zermatt in Switzerland, a village that is only accessible by train and boasts 360 km of runs.
6. Fill up on thrills available in Andermatt, the paradise of all free-riders.

Your training plan to prepare you for winter sports

Before your departure, take care of your dietary intake and your sleep, so you can embark on your sporting break in good shape. Stay hydrated and schedule physical preparation sessions a few days before the trip to avoid injury by anticipating your expected change of pace. Here’s an example of a one-week training plan, with cardio activities and muscle-building exercises:

• Day 1 – After a short warm-up, perform proprioception exercises, such as standing on one leg while on a cushion or an unstable surface, to work on your balance and get your joints moving. Continue with a series of 10 front lunges, then assume the chair posture against a wall trying to hold it for one and a half minutes. Finish with stretching in order to loosen up and limit any aches.
• Day 2 – Add 10 crunches to strengthen your abs and 10 jumping jacks to your workout from the day before to start working on your cardio. End this session once again with stretching.
• Day 3 – Your goal for the day is to achieve a minimum 30-minute cardio activity session at moderate intensity: Treadmill, outdoor running, brisk walking, rowing or cycling, the choice is yours!
• Day 4 – Today’s workout is the same as on Day 2. You can vary the workout with other exercises: A plank instead of the chair, squats instead of front lunges or try burpees rather than jumping jacks, and so on.
• Day 5: Plan a new cardio session, this time in intervals: Alternate a phase of intense cardio with a period of recovery at a slow pace. Listen to what your body is telling you and reduce the duration of the effort a little if necessary.
• Day 6 – Compose a circuit training session with 5 muscle building exercises of your choice, including those that work the areas most used in the sport you want to do. Add to this at least 1 dynamic exercise, such as burpees or jumping jacks, to increase your heart rate. Try linking several circuits together.
• Day 7 – Rest, especially if you are going to your destination by car. Check that you have got everything (sunglasses, gloves, hats, safety equipment, sunscreen, etc.) and do some stretching or gentle exercises without straining yourself. Eat a light meal and go to bed early: Tomorrow, the snow-capped peaks or the immensity of the beach await you!

Check out our Fitness & Training page for more advice.