I want to make sure I’m ski-fit this year before I hit the slopes for the season. Are there any weekend courses in the UK or Europe that help in getting geared up for the slopes?

Whether beginner or a pro, there are some great courses to help you get ski-fit and ready. The Dolder Grand, located between Zurich and the stunning Alpine forests, whose fitness coaches and personal trainers provide individual specialist ski preparation training, focusing on strengthening core areas of the body, is a good place to learn new skills whether you’re a seasoned slope lover or just starting out. For somewhere closer to home, try out the SnoZone in Milton Keynes, a complete long day fast track course, aims to get through all the core skills, preparing you to use the main slope without an instructor. A lot of people head off on a skiing trip without really thinking about how physically testing it’s going to be and some health clubs such as Virgin Active offer snow camp training to help build muscular endurance, which are mainly done on a PowerPlate to replicate the leg-loading you will experience on the hill.