Après-ski is the best! Free-flowing alcohol, singing along to cheesy après-ski hits and creating unforgettable memories with your friends. The downside is waking up the next morning with a splitting headache and wondering how you can possibly drag yourself out of bed to get the most out of your ski day! Here are 10 tips from our team on how to prevent an après-ski hangover.
It can't be said often enough: water is a lifesaver! Don't forget to drink liberal amounts of water during the evening - aim for one glass of water per alcoholic drink - and leave another glass of water by your bed. It will make all the difference in the morning!
Starting with a pint and then moving on to Schnapps before throwing back a couple of Jägermeisters is not the best way to start your night. Try to avoid mixing too much - it will still be a fun night and you'll feel a lot better when you wake up the next day.
There's no shame in pacing yourself, even if it means bowing out of a round or two (not the one you were supposed to pay). Après-ski is supposed to be a fun way to celebrate a day of skiing, not a race to see who can pass out first!
It's tempting to drift from bar to bar during après-ski, especially when some ski resorts have so many great places to choose from! But the chances are you're in the Alps for a few days, so why not leave the last bar for now and get an early-ish night instead? You'll have a better day on the slopes, and you can always see that bar tomorrow.
The danger of après-ski is that it very often starts before the day is even over, meaning it's very easy to skip supper. Take the time to whip up a filling meal in your apartment or go for a late lunch/early dinner at a cosy restaurant so you're not drinking on an empty stomach. Wiener Schnitzel, kaiserschmarrn, Tiroler Gröstl... I mean, we're not really suffering, are we?
If, despite all your best intentions, you did end up with a hangover, you can make it a little easier on yourself by bundling up in goggles and a neck warmer. Your friends might wonder why you're a bit quieter than usual but you'll be as comfortable as can be!
There's nothing like a dip in the snow to snap out of your hangover! Tempting as it may be to take a nice long, hot shower, leave it for now and dive into the cold snow instead - it's the ultimate pick-me-up!
Your hangover will be all the more emotionally and financially painful if it keeps you from skiing! Most of us only get a holiday in the Alps one or two weeks a year max, so try to snag the first chair up and see if the fresh mountain air doesn't make you feel better to boot!
If your legs are giving out after the first run, it might be time to give up. Mention something about the poor visibility, lousy snow quality or needing to wax your skis and seize your chance to go sip water in a nearby mountain hut or return to the chalet and curl up in bed.
We're not total killjoys! While we've all regretted having one too many drinks the night before, the fact remains that après-ski is one of the best parts of a ski holiday and we wouldn't miss it for the world. Follow the tips above and you have a pretty good shot at being able to enjoy both the skiing and the après-ski!
Born and raised in the ski paradise of Vancouver, Canada, I learned to ski before I can remember, balancing precariously on my parents’ skis as they sailed down the hill. I started snowboarding in my teens and am now delighted to be exploring everything Europe’s ski scene has to offer!
