Beccy Mersh

Skis please!

Most recently - in 2024 - I spent a couple of days skiing at one of Canada's best-known and biggest resorts, Whistler, which was a real confidence-boosting experience. Back in April, I also enjoyed a week's flying visit around Norway's fjordlands, where I had a couple of days each in Gausta and Myrkdalen.

Before joining Ski Safari, I had skied in Austria at the Stubai Glacier and a handful of smaller resorts near Innsbruck, where I intensively practised getting to grips with alpine skiing for two weeks and utterly loved it.

In 2014 I visited Finnish Lapland and had an incredible time cross-country skiing. That was the first time I took to the snow on skis. While there, I was fortunate enough to try snowshoeing and husky mushing. I even caught a glimpse of the northern lights. Lapland was an unforgettable experience and one I highly recommend!

Other than dry slope skiing as a kid, this is the extent of my skiing experience to date.

My best mountain moment is pretty simple; whizzing down my first (and so far only) red route on Stubai Glacier, Austria, after putting in a lot of work on my technique. It was a huge confidence boost and gave me a great sense of achievement.

ALL the Scandinavian Ski Safaris look incredible, but the Taste of Japan Ski Safari looks awesome too as it introduces you to a little bit of everything that makes Japan Japan - the food, the culture, the history, amazing powder in winter and stunning cherry blossoms in spring. It's proper bucket list stuff!

I've booked myself on a Ski & Spa Safari for 2025, which will take me to Geilo and Norefjell. Plus, I've bolted on a visit to Oslo for a couple of nights too (I love Norway!).

After that, who knows? The Canadian Rockies have always appealed, potentially starting at Panorama or Banff - both have a lot to offer skiers like me who are still growing in confidence and pushing boundaries. There's so much to do off the slopes too, which will make it a rich and exciting holiday experience.

I play piano but I can’t read sheet music – I learn by ear.

This is more a reassurance for anyone starting on skis... Trust the forward lean! Leaning on your shins downhill goes against all your instincts, but you WILL fall if you fight it and it will feel right eventually, honest!