‘We go on winter sports with our camper as often as we can’

Lise (41), married to Werner (41), mother of Ella (8) and Allan (11):

“When I was back on the slopes after years and felt the crunching snow under my skis, I thought: how did I miss this. I have skied from an early age, but during my studies this came to a standstill due to lack of money. When I got older and picked up skiing again, I immediately felt how happy it made me. The feeling of freedom, being active in the open air, enjoying the most beautiful views. You’re wrapped up thick, so you’re never cold. And the rosy feeling after a day on the skis is second to none.

exhaust valve

I had a marketing background, but had landed a job in accounting. More and more often I noticed that I could not lose my egg in my job. I needed an outlet, something sporty and social that would make me happier. That was skiing, so I became a ski instructor in addition to work, on one of those roller tracks at the local ski center. Of course that is not the same as in the snow, but I did get energy from the like-minded ski enthusiasts I met there. And I was lucky that because of that work I often got a discount on ski equipment, such as skis and clothing.

When I met my husband on a skiing holiday in Austria, we tried to take a ski break as often as possible. Sometimes for a weekend, sometimes for a week. When we got Allan, he went with us as soon as possible, first in a harness on our back and as soon as he could walk, hop, also on skis. He was then about three years old. We did that with Ella later in the same way. Always together, because we like to be on the slopes together, not to put our children in a separate ski class.

Cheaper on holiday

We now went on winter sports about four or five times a year and spent quite a lot of money on it: about eight thousand euros a year. We thought that could be cheaper. We bought a caravan which made it a lot more financially friendly for us to go on a skiing holiday. After two years we exchanged the caravan for a motorhome, just a bit more comfortable. The camper cost 45,000 euros. A lot of money, but we thought it was a good investment and we could afford it.

“Thanks to our low mortgage, we can put money aside for skiing.”

We live in a nice house with quite a bit of space, but we have always made sure that we had a low mortgage. We pay about 800 euros per month and also repay a part. This way we can set aside money for things we find important and experiences that really make life more enjoyable. So ski holidays. Because we live in Belgium, we were lucky that we paid less tax on the purchase of the motorhome than we would in the Netherlands.

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On the slopes in no time

The motorhome has turned out to be the best choice ever. We now go on winter sports as often as we can. The only conditions are actually that the snow conditions are good and that we can take days off. We park the camper at the bottom of a glacier in a parking lot or book a camper place nearby and we are on the slopes in no time. Such a motorhome costs only 25 euros per night and we have lost a few hundred euros for the ski pass.

Food and drink are also not a major expense. We like healthy food, without sugar, little gluten. Before we leave, we stock the camper fridge with good food so that we can move forward. An additional advantage of the camper is that we can just take our dog with us; so we don’t have to arrange expensive childcare when we go on holiday.

Holiday in the snow

At the moment I work as a financial controller at a company that makes parts for bicycles. Because I spend all day working on money and numbers at work, I know very well what I consider important enough to spend my money on. For me, that is full of conviction: a holiday in the snow. You really don’t make me happy with a beach bed in the sun. Lying by a swimming pool with a book is fun for a day at most, after which I really want some action in the tent.

Skiing with pleasure

I would rather just skip the summer holidays. But since our children at the Belgian school have no less than two months off in the summer, I really want to do something with them. That must be something active. In the summer we like to go downhill: with a bicycle in the ski lift up a mountain and then cycle down. We have also discovered that we enjoy surfing together.

But it doesn’t come close to skiing, all four of us are really addicted to it. I also try to get everyone around me just as excited, because I love it so much myself. My parents have now started doing it again. And if even one co-worker says he quit because he’s developed a little fear of the sport, I’ll be the first to take such a person in tow and throw in a few lessons. Until he or she finds the pleasure again.

“The kids love it so much I think they’ll stick with us for a very long time.”

Our children have also become very good at it. So good that our son has gone freestyle snowboarding and our daughter is on the racing team. This actually makes it even more fun to be able to share this passion with each other. In the beginning I tried to give them all kinds of tips on the slopes, but that is no longer necessary. When we want to rest and drink a cup of coffee in between, the children laugh at us: ‘Come on, Mom, keep on skiing!’ they call. They like it so much that I think they will be with us for a long time to come.”

This article appears in Kek Mama 15-2021.

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