Have you experienced racism in European ski resorts?

[TerrorAustralis]

Apologies for the essay, but my question is just that really. If you are not white, have you encountered racism while skiing in Europe?

For context, my DH is mixed-race (East Asian + Caucasian) but most white people assume he's just Asian, based on his looks. We have only skied in Japan, so obviously his race is not an issue there.

We have booked a trip to ski in Austria (Obertauern) and Italy (Corvara). While researching accommodation, I came across some reviews of a hotel in Obertauern that said a staff member had been racist towards an Asian person (the reviews were written by the Asian person's friends). I mentioned this to DH and said I would strike the place off our shortlist. He then said he was worried about this in Europe.

To give further context, my DH is not super-sensitive and certainly isn't the type who is looking to take offence. But there was a time when he was travelling regularly for work and always had a connecting flight through Frankfurt airport. Without fail, he was pulled aside at security for 'random' extra screening every time he went through Frankfurt. He has also been pulled aside for 'random' extra screening in Vienna. Those experiences, and the rise of nationalism and neo-nazism in recent years, have now got him worried about what he might encounter in Europe.

So, just wondering what people's experiences were. Have you encountered this? I'm worried I've made a mistake and this trip I've been looking forward to and planning for years is actually going to be awful.

I've done some Googling on the topic, but most of the hits are from North America.

Mixed family here. Never been a problem for us. Never skied as a family in Austria or Italy but have never seen a nationalist presence there or anywhere else. You are not likely to see trouble of this nature in ski resorts so far as I know. I tend to travel at peak times and ski resorts are full of educated professional families on holiday — it’s true it is not a diverse enough crowd but it doesn’t mean it will spoil your experience. I don’t think this will be a problem for your trip at all.

Anecdotally, my client european client was telling me and colleagues at a meeting how she was on a skiing trip in Europe at the start of the pandemic, and her and her friends wouldn’t go near this particular East Asian person and told her to ‘move away’ when she came near them. This was the time the west thought covid was in China and nowhere else. I was horrified (I’m south Asian) and not exactly sure how she expected me to react. I’m the kind of person to give people the benefit of the doubt when it come to racism, but this lady was educated and it really showed me how it is sometimes ingrained and subconscious. I’m still flabbergasted how she thought it was okay to tell a non-white person this story.

Sorry that happened to you. Some people are so bloody clueless. We were actually living in Asia when Covid hit, so didn’t have to deal with any of that, but back home MIL got some abuse in the street which was horrible for her.

I don't know either of those resorts. But we ski with friends in Italy, one of whom (female) is Asian. although definitely and noticeably in the minority both on the slopes and in resort, she hasn't experienced any racism (she would have said to me if she had). When we went to Austria, it was dominated by Russian tourists who won't be there now, so it's a very different vibe.

Last time I skied in Austria I happened to walk behind a mixed family one morning to the lifts. It was very noticeable that the locals turned and stared in the street at the family.

Other skiers/tourists in the gondolers were fine. Felt like the Austrian valleys are parochial and not very integrated.

On a school ski trip to Italy one of my son’s black friends had terrible trouble in a shop with a staff member blocking him entering.

That is bloody awful! Poor kid.

Do you remember where it was? Although I’m sure it’s not limited to one resort or town.

An ex-boyfriend who is half Desi, and his friend who is dark haired, very tanned and half Chinese got some suspicious looks in the Swiss alps because people thought they were Italian, and the Italians weren't popular. They didn't take it as anti-Asian prejudice but who knows.

Ah, the old, you could be from anywhere, but you don’t look like you’re from here. That always makes people look sideways at you.

Depending on your point of view, DH could look like he’s from somewhere in Central Asia. One friend told him he looks like he is South American. But in Austria, he 100% will not look like he’s from there.

It’s really not half the problem.

If you read my OP, you would have noticed that my DH does not go looking for it. Indeed, I know for a fact that he doesn’t notice all of it. And a good proportion he deliberately ignores. But that doesn’t make it less hurtful and damaging.

@hobbitonthehill what a disgraceful comment

Have skied frequently and Austria, and never spotted any overt racism. But then I'm white, and it might not have been obvious. There are more visible ethnic minorities on the slopes than 10 years ago.

@hobbitonthehill are you for real?

Austria can be very parochial; I wouldn't expect it to be like England

Right.

I’m conscious that my elderly South Asian family member has had different experiences to me in quite a few contexts in the UK and abroad - unfortunately I have actually witnessed this a couple of times because the people doing it assume that I am not with her and am just a blue-eyed bystander, so are completely taken-aback when I then challenge them.

So do put that in a very uncomfortable place, whichever MNer it was that thinks that people go ‘looking’ for racism!

However, nothing of this kind has cropped up in a ski resort and she has come on multiple trips with us. But it must be said that these were always to large resorts (mostly in France but sometimes Italy) where members of staff (many of whom are also incomers) are very focused on providing service and bringing in the euros. I would be a bit less confident about a very small village and probably read reviews quite carefully, but I think on the whole you should be fine in a ski resort.

I'm a white British female in my early 50's. I am always pulled over for extra security whether I am on my own, with my husband or with my family.

I just assume that I am so amazing that they want to touch me. I'm definitely not. It's something I tell the kids to make them laugh.

It must be stressful. I don't really like it.

I don't know about those specific resorts but my Japanese friend and family ski each year and have never mentioned any issues, I'll ask her. The kids travel all over (adults now) and don't experience overt racism, unless you count that everyone expected them to be good at maths at school, which they weren't !

I think you’ve misunderstood me somewhere. I’m not dismissing anyone’s behaviour or saying my DH has been too sensitive. He’s the opposite of too sensitive. But I know he blocks things out as a protective mechanism, which I understand.

I hate that I felt the need to start this thread, but it was only in light of the conversation I mentioned in my OP. I also feel that I should have thought about this before I even started planning this holiday. I mean I absolutely know that places like Bulgaria would be a no go zone for us, but I hadn’t thought Austria and Italy would be a problem until I read one review.

DH doesn’t always get pulled over for extra security. Only in two specific airports.

It was Bardonecchia. Just before covid hit feb 2020. The teachers went back with him to support him but I think the particular shop worker had gone. My son was shocked that this sort of thing went on. They were only yr9

I know some of the more ‘idyllic’ spots in the alps get lots of Japanese tour groups and the locals aren’t great fans. But that’s based on the organisers negotiating cheap meal deals and the groups not spending as much as the business owners want.

While I understand why you're worried, racism can happen anywhere, not only at European ski resorts, which sounds very specific.

Several years ago, I was at a chalet in Europe with white friends having dinner when a child about 10yo on the next table with his Scandinavian family, saw me and started making racist gestures and 'sounds', so it's not always staff or adults. It can happen anywhere, kids and all. It was very uncomfortable. For reference, my white friends didn't pick up on it at all (or were uncomfortable) and although the parents of the child realised and noticed what their son was doing, they didn't say anything to him! For more information, they seemed embarrassed instead of finding it amusing, but didn't say anything to him which just made it worse as it went on.