Olympian Chemmy Alcott’s favourite European ski slopes

The journey up to this hidden gem is a hairy one, but it’s worth it. Once you’ve overcome the narrow switchback road to the village, it’s all downhill from there – but in a good way! This is one of my favourite feelgood spots in the world and makes for a perfect long weekend destination. Between runs, soak up the stunning panoramic views, safe in the knowledge you can’t lose your kids here (I’ve been here many times with my own children and those I train at ski camps) as all runs funnel to the gondola.

Zinal is perfect for any experience level, with fun terrain for racers, off-pisters and groomed glory hunters alike. The col off the top ridgeline is my favourite piste. It has a vertical wide pitch that is so fun to arc down (you will pick up speed pretty quickly due to its steep gradient, so be careful).

For kicking back after a hard day’s skiing, pick from any of the superb vineyards that cover the valleys all the way from Geneva to Zinal.

How to get there: Zinal is around two hours from Geneva airport

Alagna is a great ski spot because not many people are aware of it. It’s a semi-secret slope only really known to off-piste lovers looking for a vertical thrill and deep powder. Don’t be put off by the skiers wearing harnesses and ABS packs in the queue for the lift. It’s a great place to go for all levels of experience. I highly recommend hiring a guide to ensure you get the most out of your time there, as they know all the epic pockets of snow (and where to stop for a glass of red wine, too!).

The area is also big on heli-skiing, so if the conditions are favourable consider trading in the skinny skis for some fat ones and invest in a drop to make the most of them.

Whenever I head to Algana, I always try to fit in a secret stopover in Lake Orta on the way down to Milan airport. It’s a stunning Italian lake with half as many tourists as nearby Lake Como, and just as beautiful.

How to get there: Alagna is around 45 minutes from Milan airport

I learned to ski in Flaine, so it will always hold a special place in my heart. Recently, it’s been going through a renaissance in terms of both investment in its lift structure and popularity. I love the pistes here and frequently reminisce about secret little jumps and tree paths I’ve been skiing for almost 40 years. Gers is an epic black run (a slope for advanced skiers with a gradient of more than 40 per cent) that always gives me a thrill. Note to first timers: brace yourself for the ski lift here – it’s not for the faint of heart.

What I also love about Flaine is that it has a real family feel. It’s where my boys have been learning to ski over the last few years and they love it (I’d recommend the ESF there). For me, a family holiday doesn’t get much better than skiing, a siesta, then swimming (there’s a great baby pool, too). If the parents can squeeze in an Aperol spritz at the Terminal Neige Totem hotel, then even better!

How to get there: Flaine is around 70 minutes from Geneva airport

I've been skiing in Hintertux for more than 30 years as I’m often there coaching children pre-season and adults before Christmas. This locale is a regular haunt for young and old ski racers alike because its glacier ensures snow almost all year round. Piste number two is my favourite here, as it slopes down the ridge from the Tuxer Fernerhaus – a long, wide groomer twisting its way down the mountain with a varying gradient.

The hotels in Hinterux are all brilliant, regardless of your budget. This is in part because spas are such an ingrained part of Swiss culture that outdoor pools, infrared saunas and steam rooms are par for the course. However, my recommendation for a good night’s sleep and spoil-yourself spa trip would be to stay at the Tirolerhof in Lanersbach, where I’ve been going for years. It has a stunning outdoor pool and yoga studio.

The cherry on top of any visit here, however, is the kaiserschmarrn, a delicious lunch dish made of sweetened pancakes that’s guaranteed to give you energy for the entire afternoon session.

How to get there: Hintertux is around an hour and 40 minutes from Innsbruck airport

Mürren is a chocolate-box village high up in the Swiss Alps with no road access (part of the fun is in leaving your car at the base and hauling your kit up either by train or gondola). I visited for the first time a few years back to race in the famous Inferno event (the world’s longest and oldest downhill) and was blown away by the vastness and length of the slopes. The Inferno is a 15km run that has it all: wide, pristine pistes and paths cut into steep mountains with huge towering rock faces that go on forever.

The views from the Schilthorn summit (known best by non-skiers as Bond villain Blofeld’s hideout in On Her Majesty’s Secret Service) are some of the best in the world, and the experience of Spy World at Piz Gloria (2,970m high) is not to be missed (even going to the loo will create amazing memories…).

After the adrenaline rush of a day on the slopes, my favourite hangout is the Tächi Bar. It has a really cosy vibe and is full of lively, friendly locals and tourists. Just the ticket.

How to get there: Mürren is around two hours from Zurich airport

I don’t think this list would be complete without a recommendation for closer to home. The Lecht in Scotland is where my husband’s passion for skiing developed as a wee bairn and has remained a favourite of ours ever since. It’s also made some impressive strides in becoming more self-sustainable, developing its own Snow Factory, which is powered by an on-site wind turbine. Not only does this ensure all-year-round snow for millions of skiers and snowboarders, but the electricity used to generate it is produced through wind power.

The highlight of the piste? The Harrier, a two-metre-per second slope that’ll have you grinning all the way down.

How to get there: The Lecht is around 80 minutes from Aberdeen airport