If you have no car in Seoul… no time… little patience… but still want to ski… where do you dash off to? Vivaldi Park! You know, the ski resort promoted by Lee Hyori. From numerous subway locations around Seoul, free shuttle buses will whisk you off on a 90-minute ride to the slopes and deliver you back.
We chose the night shuttle. Pack some sweet potatoes. It picks you up at 10PM. You ski from Midnight to 5AM. Get back to Seoul by 6AM or 7AM! Much better than spending all night drinking and stumbling over girls in some smoky bar!
If you are used to skiing wonderful slopes around the world, please forget about thrilling experience and focus on convenience.
Vivaldi Park is excellent in every regard except for the skiing. The slopes are almost flat and non-existent. The Seoulite where the rest of the mountain was... but sadly there is none because this place has extensive condos, hotels, restaurants, water park, sauna, karaoke bar, and other activities besides skiing to keep people amused. But speed, convenience, service and everything related to running a good business is top-notch here. Gotta respect them for working what they got!
You can almost ski into the hotel.
'I've never snowboarded before.' 'That's okay honey, I'll teach you.'
Equipment at Vivaldi Park is very decent. And not too expensive to rent. If you do night skiing... renting equipment, even jackets and the lift ticket was all together 40,000 won. Ye-ah and a free ride from Seoul too.
Half-yawn. Half-yell. Full Self-Ca. Who skis at this hour? Koreans of course!
Here's a shot of the top of the mountain. Even after all these years... the boarders seem here to stay. The Seoulite is old school and he'll stick to skis and scotch. Kids these days. There's K-pop pumping out of speakers as you ski down the hill and as you ride up along the lift.
Take a break with seafood stew. So warm and delicious on a cold, freezing night.
Karen is giving me the ATL finger. Why so shy about taking photos?
Fortunately, The Seoulite is always down for a picture!
Exactly how cold was it? Over minus 16 degrees... without any wind chill. Seriously, it was one of the coldest nights in Korea... and the coldest I've ever skiied in. So cold that I started to worry about frostbite... but needed to get these photos!
After riding the lift to the top, it's too cold to ski right away. Warm up your body in the lodge and heat up your gloves first!
So that's what I look like when trying to keep warm...
Drink a latte at the top of the mountain. At 3AM. It feels so wicked. How do they get electricity and food up here?
Back at base camp... the weary rest their heads. At about the same hour... many Seoulites are in a similar position on a club table from alcohol debauchery.
Back home on the coldest night this year. No need to stay at the hotel... sleep on the bus. Didn't get to see the view on the way there or back but what does it matter. Seoul is the best!
Note: Apparently the best skiing is in Gangwon Province at Hi-1 Ski Park. But The Seoulite cautions that he’s heard the slopes are not designed well… leading to many collisions between skiers. A friend said that in a two hour period, he saw five ski patrol gurneys taking people down the hill. It may also be due to the fact that most of the general Korean public are still new to winter sports. Combine that with bad slope design and hot-headed Koreans… wow, be careful.
