For years now the classic winter getaway followed a predictable timetable: wake up early, ride a chairlift, ski down groomed ski trails, and head to après-ski for the rest of the day! But a new wave of winter sports is taking over. If you are looking for deeper wilderness connection or a high adrenaline alternative sport take a look at these options and see if this could become your new passion.
The winter tourism industry has adapted rapidly. Resorts, specialised academies, and mountain guiding agencies worldwide now offer complete beginner packages that bundle top gear rentals, expert coaching, and luxury alpine lodging.
If you are ready to shake up your winter holiday plans, these five emerging trend sports are fully bookable right now.
Snowkiting: Harnessing the Alpine Winds
The Simplon Plateau in Switzerland is widely considered the mecca of European snowkiting due to its reliable mountain winds and expansive snowy terrain. You can book multi-day beginner courses through specialized outfitters like the Swiss Snowkiting School (brig-simplon.ch), which coordinates specialised wind instruction alongside local chalet accommodations.
Ski Mountaineering (“Skimo”): The Ultimate Human-Powered Ascent
To explore the French Alps, you can fly to Grenoble airport, and transfer from Grenoble to La Plagne, one of the largest ski resorts in the Paradski region, a popular, family-friendly choice for ski trips.
A two hour drive from La Plagne, located further north in the Arve Valley, is Chamonix, a historic and more adventurous destination.
To book a proper, guided introduction to ski mountaineering in Chamonix, France, you can go directly to the Compagnie des Guides de Chamonix. As the oldest and most prestigious guiding company in the region, they run highly structured beginner mountaineering and backcountry courses led by IFMGA-certified high mountain guides. They explicitly cover critical safety skills like crevasse rescue and avalanche beacon tracking while taking you out onto the glaciers surrounding the Mont Blanc Massif.
Ice Climbing: Conquering Vertical Frozen Waterfalls
In North America, the Ouray Ice Park in Colorado stands as a premier man made ice climbing wonderland, complete with local guiding companies that teach beginners basic pick placement and safety anchors. In Europe, the breathtaking valleys of the Dolomites in Italy feature dozens of natural frozen cascades that can be safely scaled with certified mountain guides booked out of Cortina d’Ampezzo.
Telemark Skiing: The Modern Revival of the Free-Heel Turn
For a dedicated free-heel clinic in the SalzburgerLand region of Austria, you can book targeted private lessons directly through Skischule Sport Alpin (sport-alpin.at). Based in the world-class Zell am See and Saalbach-Hinterglemm ski area, this specialised academy offers targeted telemark lessons designed specifically for transitioning alpine skiers. They supply the technique coaching needed to handle the rhythm of the free heel, and you can rent the specific flexible boots and bindings directly at their adjacent sports centre.
Tourist Bobsleigh & Luge: Experiencing Olympic G-Forces
You can secure a seat in a “Taxi Bob” at the world-famous Olympia Bobrun St. Moritz-Celerina in Switzerland, where an expert pilot rockets you down the historic natural ice track at speeds approaching 120 km/h. Similar high octane passenger bookings are readily available at the Whistler Sliding Centre in Canada and the Sigulda Bobsleigh Track in Latvia
