I tried skiing for the first time in my 30s. After two days on the slopes my fear turned to joy

I’m not sporty. I hate the cold. And risk-taking isn’t my idea of fun.

So switching my usual sunny beach holiday for a weekend on the slopes didn’t come easy.

But I’ll try anything once. And after just two days in Avoriaz in the French Alps, I am surprised and a little sheepish to admit that I am now a skiing convert.

Yes, I fell over multiple times. My legs are killing me. And I was surrounded by ice and snow.

But it was also a fun, magical experience - and not as cold or expensive as I had envisioned.

If, like me, you’re considering a ski trip but are feeling a little anxious, here’s everything you need to know as a nervous beginner.

After a hair-raisingly fast and windy ride from Geneva, I tottered out of the minivan to the jingle of sleigh bells.

Avoriaz is a car-free resort so horses wait near the parking lot to ferry visitors to their hotels. Trotting past the glittering fir trees (apparently Christmas has no end-date in the Alps) as the snow began to flutter down, my misgivings about the trip already started to melt away.

Having collected my equipment from local hire shop Antoine Ski and dined at La Cabane - just across the snowy 'high street' - I sank into a fondue-induced slumber in my cosy apartment at Pierre & Vacances Residence Electra.

I awoke to Alpine choughs soaring across my balcony’s mountain view as I nibbled on fresh baked croissants from the nearby Le Fournil de Cannelle patisserie.

A few drops of Rescue Remedy later (I know it’s probably a placebo, but it makes me feel better) and I was ready to head down to the hotel’s ski lockers to face my fate.

Meeting my group of fellow beginners, we put on our heavy ski boots and awkwardly lugged the rest of our gear down to the baby slopes for our first lesson.

We spent