Music festivals aren’t for everyone, I know that. But for most British teenagers, going to your first festival is like a ‘coming of age’ ritual. It’s likely to be the first time you’re free from parents, rules, school and coursework. And with that freedom, perhaps it’s the first time you drink your body weight in alcohol, pop a load of pills and shag a complete stranger? Maybe.
As a teenager growing up in Reading, going to the world famous Reading “rock” Festival was a rite of passage. At school you were nobody unless you’d been to Fezzy and stayed for the whole three days of carnage. Though we lived only 15 minutes from the festival, we’d still pitch a tent and insist on camping. Sometimes we’d even pay a few quid more to arrive a couple of days early, just to secure a prime spot in Green camp (everyone knows Green camp is the best camp).
But come the morning, we’d be texting our mums on our Nokia 3310s, begging to be picked up so we could come home and have a hot shower. A few hours later, clean, fed and watered, we’d return to the festival and get straight back on it. Standard.
Apparently, people who love music festivals are the happiest people on the planet. I certainly love festivals and they definitely make me happy; I love the atmosphere, the people, the camping, the food and drink, and of course, the music. I’ve seen some of my favourite bands and artists perform some of my favourite songs all over the UK – I’ve got memories I’ll keep forever.
I remember Eminem bringing Marilyn Manson onto the main stage during his performance of The Way I Am at Reading Festival 2001, and Damon Albarn falling from that same stage two years later. In 2004, I witnessed 50 Cent getting bottled and booed off the stage (it is – or was – a rock music festival, after all). And in 2008 I watched RATM controversially take to the stage dressed in orange Guantanemo Bay costumes – though I couldn’t hear them at all, as there was terrible wind and the sound didn’t carry. Then over in Essex in 2009, I met Sir Richard Branson backstage at V Festival, celebrating his birthday. And although not quite on par, the next day I met Pixie Lott in the toilets. But even better than all of that, a week later at Reading Festival 2009, I met TJ and Bambi – who 10 years later, are still two of my best friends.
Despite my love of festivals, however, I’d never been to one abroad. So in 2015, already well into my 12 countries in 12 months travel challenge, when I was offered the opportunity to attend a festival in Austria, all paid for by work, I immediately said “yes”.
The company I was working for at the time was sponsoring Snowbombing Festival – Europe’s largest skiing and snowboarding festival, held in the Austrian ski resort of Mayrhofen. I knew nothing about the area or the festival, but that didn’t matter; whenever I mentioned to anyone “oh, I’m going to Snowbombing”, I was met with lots of approval and “you’re so lucky” comments.
Dubbed the Glastonbury of the slopes, Snowbombing is five days of snow sports and drinking during the day, then more drinking and music at night. But this wasn’t like Reading Festival or V Festival – this was underground grotto pool parties, igloo raves and enchanted forest mash-ups up a mountain in minus -10c temperatures. It looked amazing and sounded beyond cool, despite me having never heard of any of the DJs or artists on the line-up.
The music wasn’t the only thing I was clueless about, however: I’d never skied before, let alone been to a ski festival. For those who do like skiing and/or snowboarding, and are looking for a festival to attend, this handy Ski Festival Finder tool will help you choose the best one for you and your budget. My advice: do your research. I’m never one to pass up the chance to try something new or go somewhere new, but in this instance, I really wish I’d done more research about the festival. And I probably should have had a couple of skiing lessons before, because Snowbombing is definitely not for amateurs.
The plan was for me to meet, greet and host a couple of bloggers during the festival, do a bit of skiing and a bit of photography with them, encouraging them to use the new (at the time) Samsung Galaxy S6 and write about the phone on their blogs and social media. Easy, right? Wrong.
“I’ve never skied before either”, said blogger Kate Lavie, as we drove from Munich, across the border to Mayhofen. “But how hard can it be?”
My first – and only – skiing experience.
The first time I skied was also the last time I skied, and will be the only time I ever ski.
Just like festivals aren’t everyone’s cup of tea, in the moment I tried to click my right boot into my ski and ended up on my arse instead, flailing like an upturned cartoon turtle, unable to right myself because the left foot had painfully twisted at a weird angle with its boot and ski still attached, I realised skiing isn’t for everyone either. And this was in the ski rental shop – I hadn’t even seen any snow yet.
My twisted ankle was painful and the skiing struggle was real; but I was hosting these bloggers, and had promised them the opportunity to ski. So, clad in rented ski gear that stank so badly of BO it made me want to throw up, with our VIP gondala passes in one hand and our rented skis in the other, we made our way to the bottom of the mountain. The sun was out and I was sweltering under layers of thermal tops, jogging bottoms, multiple pairs of socks and a very unflattering fleecy branded headband.
As the gondola ascended higher and higher, however, it was evident that we weren’t wearing nearly enough clothes…
Stepping out of the gondola, the cold air hit me in the face with the force of a bulldozer smashing down a 20-storey derelict building. Everyone seemed to know what to do, so I followed the other skiers’ and boarders’ lead, took off my trainers and placed them in a shoe rack. I pushed my feet into those hateful ski boots then crabbed my way to the edge of yet another hill, wondering how much further I’d have to go until I could “ski”.
The boots were killing me, my knees were permanently bent forward in the manner of a geriatric with terminal hemorrhoids. People were gliding their way around me and sliding onto a conveyor belt thing. Like a sheep, I clicked my boots into their skis and followed blindly – literally, the cloud was so low I couldn’t see more than a few feet in front of me.
I had been on the conveyor belt thing for less than 10 seconds before disaster struck. My blasted right boot clicked out of its toe cup, throwing me off balance. As I tried to steady myself with one ski pole, I ended up dropping the other. Twisting my neck around to see it lying on the snow, getting further and further away, I begun to panic about how the hell I was going to get it back – and if I couldn’t get it back, how much the rental shop would charge for losing it. I wasn’t concentrating and by this point, I couldn’t see my one remaining pole, the cloud was so thick.
I hadn’t realised that I’d reached the end of the conveyor belt. As I was launched off it at speed, my skis detached themselves again and ended up crisscrossing each other, causing me to trip over my own feet and land face first into the snow.
Kavita, one of my bloggers, came to my aid, pulling me up and helping dust me off. Back on my feet and a little more composed, I felt a tap on my shoulder. Someone had seen me drop my pole and grabbed it as they’d conveyor-belted passed. Handing it over, he smiled with a blithe smugness that can only be seen on the faces of those who enjoy slippery environments while strapped to long pieces of wood. “Be more careful”, he said.
This wasn’t how skiing was supposed to be…
When you see photos of people skiing, they’re always happy, laughing, smiling. They’ve got sparkly white teeth and a killer tan. They’re dressed in perfectly-fitting snow pants with matching snow jacket, and usually sporting mirrored Oakley ski goggles that reflect the amazing view from across the mountain. These people are making their way down the slopes gently, stopping occasionally for cheese fondue and a hot toddy. Sometimes they even have children in tow, all wrapped up in cute little snow suits – looking like miniature Michelin men but skiing like Bode Miller, before they’ve even learnt how to write their own name.
What you don’t see, is this:
This is two 20-something aged women who have never skied before, absolutely petrified about going down the nursery baby slope. Standing there frozen (literally and metaphorically), they’re clenching their poles tightly as children that don’t even come as high as their waists (which isn’t high, as I’m only 5ft1) dart out in front of them. They’re unable to see more than a foot in front of their faces, and having already fallen over umpteen times, their woolen, non-ski appropriate gloves are soaking wet, causing their fingers to go numb.
But they’re committed. They will get down the slope, they will try skiing for the first time…
Following Kavita’s lead (as she’d had a ski lesson before in Switzerland), Kate and I gingerly pushed ourselves further and further towards the edge of the slope. Kavita was already nearly at the bottom, having slid down gracefully and effortlessly. “You go first, I’ll come down after you,” said Kate. Swallowing a lump in my throat, trying not to show how scared I was, I forced my pole into the ground and pushed myself off.
“Mind out” I screamed, as I slalomed uncontrollably and involuntarily around the aforementioned kids. I was going so fast, too fast. People were diving out the way of me. I could see the end, the flat part at the bottom where Kavita was now stood, perfectly poised like the ski bunny she was – but I couldn’t slow down. I whooshed passed her, passed a queue of people waiting to board the conveyor belt thing, passed even more people who were stepping out of the gondola cabin and clicking their boots into their skis.
“Remember to snow plow!” yelled Kavita. But it was too late: the only plowing I did was to plow head-first straight into a massive snow drift.
Everything was white; I wondered if I was dead. Or if I’d at least broken a few bones, which would be the perfect excuse to not have to attempt “skiing” again. But pulling my face out of the snow (which thankfully wasn’t yellow), it seemed everything was still intact. My ankle was a little twisted, and my boots had popped out of their toe cups again, but I was otherwise unscathed.
Kavita and Kate were both at my side, helping me up again. “Are you ok?” Do you want to go back down?” said a concerned Kate. “Yes please,” I replied feebly. My first – and only – attempt at skiing, and I had totally bombed it.
*****
All was not lost. The bloggers and I still had a fun few nights at the festival, despite not hitting the slopes anymore. I don’t think either of them really minded, either – Kate was coming down with tonsillitis so didn’t feel great, and Kavita was happy to just explore the resort. There was one aspect of skiing that we could get all on board with though: the après ski.
And it had to be Jägerbombs, of course.
Great write up and pictures. Reading is indeed a good place for many events and concerts
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I’m of two minds when it comes to music festivals. I love it but the amount of people at these festivals are simply overwhelming.
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Yes, festivals aren’t really for people who don’t like crowds x
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I love music festivals. It’s so much fun to see the bands live. The only thing I have a problem with is the crowds. It just feels so claustrophobic.
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Oh my God, what an experience. Also, it is terrifying to think there’s a festival hosted somewhere where they ENCOURAGE you to ski! lmao, that’s petrifying! I love all the experiences you’ve had with festivals! That’s so awesome. You should do festival recaps! ❤
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Haha thanks Jasemine! I haven’t been to many festivals since I started blogging – but maybe next time I go to one I will x
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But what about the festival? 😉
I hate downhill skiing; I think it’s called something else in Europe. Cross-country seemed more my bag, and I fell in love with it the first time I tried it. Okay, I was in a school group and it was mandatory for my Canadian youth, but still. More my pace, less “what happened to my pole,” and more, “can’t I go any faster than this?”
Kudos to you for trying, though, and I hope the music and festival bits were way more enjoyable!
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What an experience! I guess that was a hard lesson to now go on your own on the slopes if you have never skied before. Definitely you should have taken a few lessons beforehand, at least to know how to break. 🙂
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Yeah, knowing how to brake would definitely have helped! x
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Oh my what an experience! Sorry you endured all of that while sking. I love how you highlightex music festivals, they are the best!
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Ah, well- lived to tell the tale! And now you can say you’ve done it! 😉 Was there a festival outside of the skiing/snowboarding part?
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Yes there was, and that was the part I liked 😉 x
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What an experience! I’ve never been skiing before and I don’t think I ever will!
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Sensible choice 😉 x
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What an amazing time I would love to go there! thanks for sharing
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Well I didn’t have an amazing time at all… that’s the point!
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Looks like super fantatsic experience! I would be so happy to be there with you! Enjoy!
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Well I actually hated the experience of skiing, but if you like skiing then maybe head to Snowbombing?
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Festival periods are always my favorite because in the beauty of a fun event you can discover a city and a thousand activities and landscapes!
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if life doesn’t throw you a couple curveballs, you’re not living dangerously enough 🙂 this was a great read!
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Haha true true! x
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I love festivals AND skiiing too!! Totally remember my good old Nokia. Battery would last a week and it was indestructible
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I have never been to a festival – looks like you had fun!
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I’ve had fun at other festivals – this one was hair-raising! x
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Aw Becca you were so young here, but still so pretty! I’ve never heard of this snowbombing festival, but it sounded like a lot of fun! It looks like you and your friends had an amazing time too!
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Hahaha thanks Lisa! It was back in 2015 – hopefully I haven’t aged too much since then – though the skiing experience definitely gave me a few wrinkles! x
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wow looks like you had a great experience. I love music festivals
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I used to go to music festivals in the summer with a group of friends, those are good memories I carry with me ; )
the snowbombing festival sounds great, I’d be a little nervous though ; )
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Music festivals aside… those ski slopes look crazy! I could never. lol.
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Your experience sounds very similar to mine when learning how to snow board. One and done and never again!
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Haha glad I’m not the only one who has been put off at one attempt! x
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Okay this looks like such an amazing winter adventure! I need to try snow boarding!
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If you ever try it, let me know how your fare! I could never try it myself x
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Wow! I love festivals! And this one looks so fun and very interesting to experience too. Stunning photos!
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That sounds like quite the experience! I haven’t been to anything like this before.
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I’ve never been skiing before, but I have been tubing. That’s as far as I’d go on the slopes. I have a feeling my skiing experience would be very much like yours. As least you have a good story to tell. lol
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I love skiing and I really have to try this destination! It looks amazing! Congrats for the pictures as well!
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Thank you – I actually loathe skiing! x
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Beautiful trip and photos! Looks like you guys had a lot of fun. The last time I went skiing I hurt my shoulder so bad I think I am scared for life.
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Music festivals seem like so much fun. I didn’t know that people who attend music festivals are the happiest. I’m the happiest curled up on a comfy couch with a book.
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I have never been to a music festival. It does sound like it would be fun.
I also have never been skiing. I definitely would fall down a lot! You looked like you had fun skiing!
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That must be really fun and exciting event. I totally enjoyed checking your photos on that place!
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I didn’t find it that fun – it was quite stressful and hurt a lot! x
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You guys had an exciting experience, one I would want to try out!
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“Exciting” would use connote doing something fun – this was terrifying! x
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Ahh, i’ve had a lot of these moments while being on vacation! Glad you took it in stride!
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Oh wow, I am so jealous right now. I always wanted to be part of that musical event,
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Such a fun and a great experience you had. That looks like a fun musical festival.
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I don’t know about “fun” – it was a pretty hectic and stressful experience LOL x
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Omg how fun!!!! I just love skiing!!!! You must have had the most exciting experience
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Oh gosh, I’m so glad you ended up being okay. How scary. It’s good you were still able to have a good time.
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Sounds like some great memories! I think skiing is just not for everyone, and that includes me!
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Oh no! Sorry you slammed into the kiddos. I’m sure they understood this wasn’t your intention.
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I hope so! x
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Ski Festival sounds amazing. I would like to try it too. I’ve never done skiing but your post made me want to try it more.
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Really!?! I had a terrible experience, so that surprises me! x
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We’re rubbish at skiing but love music festivals! We have 4 already booked this year! This looks fun and in a beautiful location
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You sounds just like me 😉 x
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I have never been to a music festival and did the whole staying on the premises and watching tons of acts. It’s seems Very cool. The snowboarding festival seems so unique and fun!
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Looks like a great experience, I have never been to any festivals and don’t know if i ever will. They are usually so crowded I don’t think I would survive.
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Now that is most definitely a different kind of festival! I have never been skiing or snowboarding, something I wish I had done back when I could though.
There’s nothing quite like a music festival though.
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I loved reading this post! Would you believe I have never been to a festival – this one looks amazing!!!
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It seems you had lots of fun during the festival! I still remember the times when I was a teenager myself … such events were just a part of our culture! Great photos! 🙂
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I remember skiing as a kid and there were ropes that moved on the hill. You would grab onto that and it would get you to the top of the hill.
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awww I’m sorry your experience went that way!!! I’ve never skied so I have no clue what to expect!
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I don’t see myself skiing anytime soon. I can’t deal! Your experience is another reason I’ll gladly say no to skiing. I love music festivals though, it was the main thing back then. Sorry about your ski experience.
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You made me wanna go back to the slope:) I love your blog! Just followed you:)
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I’ve never been to a festival but I always wanted to go to Leeds or Reading (showing my age now!) This sounds like a great festival, even if the skiing wasn’t great.
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Your pictures are gorgeous!!! I love going to EDM festivals, it is so awesome. Thank you for sharing.
Chad
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OMG, what a fantastic experience and the joys of doing all this with your friends too. I am always afraid of the cold but seeing your photos has inspired me to try skiing at least once!
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I would definitely recommend trying it once – but you may end up hating it like me! Ha x
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You’ve done some awesome activities. I can imagine how fun it is in Reading festival. The bands are awesome!
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This sounds like a total adventure! I haven’t been to a music festival but I would love to !
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Fingers crossed you make it there one day 🙂 x
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Aw, sorry to hear about your experience. But hey, some experience — good or bad — is better than none.
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Thank you so much for sharing your experiences. I enjoy music festivals too. I can’t ski as well, but I always want to learn.
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thank you for sharing your experiences , which gives good informative content for adventurous lovers
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I have never been to a music festival. I have actually only been to two concerts in whole 30 years of life on this planet.
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Looks like an unforgettable experience ! Personally, I love music but I would rather watch music festivities than go to them.
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This sounds like an amazing event . I have never been to a festival before, it must be a wonderful experience.
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This looks amazing, your photos are awesome. I’ve never heard of this festival it sounds like so much fun though. Thanks for sharing.
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this looks like a spectacular experience, im not into music festival but every culture has something that going into adulthood is considered cool.
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You must be such a ski pro! I would freak out just by the word ‘skiing’ …probably because I’ve never done it. Anyway, you had such an experience: a festival and skiing? Way to go!
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Thanks so much for sharing your experience. This photos looks great, but i have never tried anything like this before.
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A festival probably isn’t the best place to learn how to ski or snowboard. But at least you gave it a try and made the most out of it.
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Looks like great adventure and fun sure you enjoyed being there.
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This will be definitely a different experience. I would love to go there. Thanks for sharing.
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Aww. This looks fun. I am sure you had a great day!
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In spite of living in Switzerland,I just skied one time in Monticello, NY. You make everything so easy! Have fun! Thanks for sharing!
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I have and still go to music festivals this looks like one for the buckets and possibly would make for a memorable one at that!
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I am terrified at the idea of skiing! I think you’re brave for giving it a go.
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Well done for giving skiing a go! I’ve only done a little practice on what was the dry slopes in Hemel and that terrified me enough, haha! Sounds like a great event though.
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I have this kind of fun vicariously through others, lol. I’ve never been an outdoors or crowd person. It does look like an experience to remember though!
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Wow you’ve had some great music experiences! I hate skiing so the ski festival isn’t my cup of tea but my brother would love it so I’ll show him
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Sorry to hear you didn’t enjoy your first experience of skiing, it certainly takes some getting used to. I love skiing but it has been a long time since I did it
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This festival looks pretty amazing. I’ve been to a few festivals outside of the UK including Rock im Park in Germany, Groezrock in Belgium and I’ve done Warped Tour in New York and it’s such a different vibe x
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This is definitely a different experience. I would love to go there. Thanks for sharing.
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It’s nice to see and honest and refreshing review and I think your right that every activity isn’t for everyone. Well done for stepping out of your comfort zone though. I hope the ankles aren’t as painful now.
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I’ve never been skiing but i’m not too sure it would be for me either. I’ve thought about trying those indoor ones in the UK just to see how i go xo
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What a fantastic experience! sounds like it would be so exciting xxx
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I would love to go skiing.It looks like an amazing experience.
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Snow, Ski and Music. There can’t be any better combination to energize the body. You surely had a great time out there in the winter wonderland.
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I can’t believe you met HIM! What a great trip from music festivities to skiing. I used to board but haven’t done so in a few years, your pictures really took me back and I may just have to start again. Thanks for sharing your awesome trip!
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Wow sounds like a scary but wonderful experince! Ive never tried skking, im too scared to even think about it! Haha but kuddos to you for trying it 🙂
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This looks and sounds awesome. I’ve never been skiing or to a festival so maybe I should try doing both at once?
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I love the snow, but I have never been able to conquer skiing or snowboarding. I always fall!
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What a fun festival! Looks like you had an amazing time!
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Well done for stepping out of your comfort zone with the skiing! It’s not something I would look forward to! 🙂
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It will always be fun to attend a music festival, and there is no doubt that the there will always be large number of people as well
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now this looks like a festival that i can get on board with, mind you, not sure about the skiing, i’ve never been and i’m so accident prone, i’m not sure if i’d manage to stay on two feet for very long
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This was fun to read, and says a lot about you! I hope you^ll attempt skiing again because it is really so much fun!
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i was in a music festival only once. The crowd was insane but they are all there for the love of music and company.
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Looks like you had a wonderful time. Snowboarding and a music festive. Great combo
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I love all of your pictures. I have never been to a music festival before. Looks like so much fun.
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Music festivals are always entertaining, it seems you guys had an interesting time at this event!
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Havent tried going to music festivals but it sure seem like an amazing event for music lovers.
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That looks like mad fun! Very, very jelly – hope you had half as much fun as it looked!
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Honestly, skiing always kind of freaks me out. I don’t think I could do it. And even though it didn’t all go according to plan it sounds like it was quite a vacation nonetheless. Music festivals truly are a blast.
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