Who is going skiing and where 2014?

[Gazzas86]

Currently booked to go to morzine end of Jan, however there is scope to get away the 5th April to Tignes, anyone have any experience of the snow this late in the season for the area?

[Gruffy]

Tignes is about as snow-sure as resorts can be.

[ClaphamGT3]

We have spent two of the last three christmases/New Years in Courcheval and are doing so again. Our girls are 6 and 4 and love it there. We stay in a great ski in/ski out hotel near the altiport, which has the benefit of a swimming pool for the odd mornings the girls fancy doing something else.

[Olf]

ClaphamGT3 said:

We have spent two of the last three christmases/New Years in Courcheval and are doing so again. Our girls are 6 and 4 and love it there. We stay in a great ski in/ski out hotel near the altiport, which has the benefit of a swimming pool for the odd mornings the girls fancy doing something else.

Great - did you say earlier you'd done Les Gets? Is Courcheval better or just different?

[willmcc]

Samoëns this winter last week of Jan, new resort for me but looking forward to it

[bearman68]

Skiing buddies have suggested Iran (???) To be fair the skiing does look quite tidy, nice and high, but.......
Failing that may go to Dolomites. Quite fancy a resort away from all the traditional stuff. Any suggestions?? Skiing level is pretty reasonable, though not expert. Black runs are not normally an issue, mogul fields are usually OK, and Blue is a bit dull.

[a311]

bearman68 said:

Skiing buddies have suggested Iran (???) To be fair the skiing does look quite tidy, nice and high, but.......
Failing that may go to Dolomites. Quite fancy a resort away from all the traditional stuff. Any suggestions?? Skiing level is pretty reasonable, though not expert. Black runs are not normally an issue, mogul fields are usually OK, and Blue is a bit dull.

Iran, exotic. I've never been but a mate of mine has, getting into the country sounds like a headache but nothing huge. I don't think if you're a predominately piste skier it would suit you, infrastructure is not up to what you've experienced in main stream resorts. The locals are meant to be awesomely welcoming.

Depends what you want really? All the 'different' places I can think of with one or two lifts may not suite your ability. Try places off the radar of UK tour operators.

Dolomites are a beautiful area to ski in but mainly suited to mileage hungry intermediates, plenty of little resorts that are in some shape of linked into the Sella Ronda. Depends on what you want and budget-I'd spend some time and money getting some off piste lessons and a whole new world of skiing will open up to you.....

Gazzas86 said:

Currently booked to go to morzine end of Jan, however there is scope to get away the 5th April to Tignes, anyone have any experience of the snow this late in the season for the area?

Tinges is usually fine well into May with the glacier as back up. It's low season (assuming Easter's not late-not checked)so if you can hold your water I'd wait until much closer and see where has the best snow-even book just flights. 'Most' high-ish resorts still have plenty of skiing well into April but expect spring conditions-icy in the morning and slushy lower down in the afternoon. Sitting having a beer on a terrace and skiing in you t-shirt is rather nice!

[bearman68]

I've been climbing in the dolly's a few times, and while the skiing might be a bit tame, the scenery and food and drink might compensate. I haven't been for a year or so, so my abilities may not be as good as I remember them (are they ever?) Some of the Iran off piste looks pretty good - I had a few off powder lessons in Aspen a good few years ago. Now that's a pretty special place, completely loved Aspen.

[a311]

bearman68 said:

I've been climbing in the dolly's a few times, and while the skiing might be a bit tame, the scenery and food and drink might compensate. I haven't been for a year or so, so my abilities may not be as good as I remember them (are they ever?) Some of the Iran off piste looks pretty good - I had a few off powder lessons in Aspen a good few years ago. Now that's a pretty special place, completely loved Aspen.

Japan could be worth a look, it's not overly steep so a good entry to off piste and tree skiing plus best chances of anywhere just about for waist deep powder.

It really depends on your level, I know very competent on piste skiers who are turd off piste and some pretty mediocre all terrain skiers.

Iran my mate said was more enjoyable as an overall 'adventure' as opposed to world class skiing, he's also a more than competent mountaineer which helps-you can ski Mt Damavand (volcano?) from 5000m if you hike/get a helicopter I think the main resorts are Dizin and Tochal. Apres ski is non-existent (obviously!) The lifts although loveingly maintained are old like pre 80's before the revolution I guess. My mate said he was surprised at the amount of people in the resorts-turns out skiing and boarding are very popular with the middle classes-I have a picture in my head of people riding around on camels.... They don't really stray off piste though.

I think if I were you I'd maybe invest some time and money in being more competent off piste if possible to make the most of these exotic places.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W9TYg0q1jJs&fea...

[ClaphamGT3]

Olf said:

Great - did you say earlier you'd done Les Gets? Is Courcheval better or just different?

Both are great resorts, albeit with different atmospheres but I think Courcheval has the edge. The skiing is more varied and the snow more reliable and the 3 Vallees interconnecting infrastructure is a generation ahead of Portes de Soliel. That said Les Gets has a lovely family, Nappy Valley vibe that you don't get in Courcheval and none of the "Look at me!" Bling that Courcheval gets, particularly in the 1st 2 weeks of Jan when half of sodding Moscow rock up.

[torqueofthedevil]

Every year me and my mates talk about getting a group ski trip sorted but it never happens. Determined to do it in 2014.

My mate is leaning towards Austria but im thinking France for now as I have more confidence in the snow, especially when we will be going - March.

I'm pretty set on Tignes. Does anyone now of any good deals on? Even the cheapest places are creeping out of budget. Dont want a tiny, cramped shared chalet so thinking just a hotel. However, have seen the odd chalet which, if we were a largish group (approx 6) we would be the main occupiers anyway.

want to be in the Le Lac area.

Cheapest prices are around £750 pp. Then a euro 250 lift pass and euro 90 ski hire - its getting expensive!

Open to other suggestions for cheaper areas - done Les Deux Alpes twice before - liked it, but looking for somewhere larger, more snow coverage, more nightlife, wider ski area.

Cheers

[a311]

torqueofthedevil said:

Every year me and my mates talk about getting a group ski trip sorted but it never happens. Determined to do it in 2014.

My mate is leaning towards Austria but im thinking France for now as I have more confidence in the snow, especially when we will be going - March.

I'm pretty set on Tignes. Does anyone now of any good deals on? Even the cheapest places are creeping out of budget. Dont want a tiny, cramped shared chalet so thinking just a hotel. However, have seen the odd chalet which, if we were a largish group (approx 6) we would be the main occupiers anyway.

want to be in the Le Lac area.

Cheapest prices are around £750 pp. Then a euro 250 lift pass and euro 90 ski hire - its getting expensive!

Open to other suggestions for cheaper areas - done Les Deux Alpes twice before - liked it, but looking for somewhere larger, more snow coverage, more nightlife, wider ski area.

Cheers

When in March? Later March is low season, roughly speaking french holidays run from mid feb to mid march. I'd avoid France in general if in those dates. Tignes is not known for it's nightlife, it does have some but it's neighbour Val d'Isere has much nord going on but I prefer the location of Tignes for skiing and overall.

It depends when, and what sort of level of skiers your group are but if apres is as or more important than the skiing Austria IMO is where you should be looking. Really we don't know how the season will pan out but places like, Ishgl, St Anton, and Solden to name a few will be as snow sure as anywhere in France but offer good apres.

Alternative option would be Verbier. If it's late March regardless you're most likely to have spring conditions, lower slopes slushy by the end of the day, could be gash at altitude in france at 2000m + in France and fine at 1000m in Austria. Just don't know until the season develops. I'll be in Tinges in Feb, great ski area but not sure if it's where I'd choose to spend a lads trip or stag do.

[Nobby Diesel]

Gruffy said:

Tignes is about as snow-sure as resorts can be.

..............and this is how it looks this afternoon. Woooo and indeed, hooooo!

[PurpleTurtle]

bearman68 said:

Failing that may go to Dolomites. Quite fancy a resort away from all the traditional stuff. Any suggestions?? Skiing level is pretty reasonable, though not expert. Black runs are not normally an issue, mogul fields are usually OK, and Blue is a bit dull.

I've ski'd Selva Gardena on the Sella Ronda a couple of times. Big linked area, plenty to challenge you. Nightlife is decent but not party town central. Not sure if that counts as the traditional stuff though?

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/snowandski/88705...

This review says it's not that snow sure, but they had shedloads when we went in March a few years back.
It struck me as having a strange microclimate though - beautiful sunny weather, but bitterly cold on some days. I had to wear my full thermo kit and more, which I'd normally be looking to lose at that time of the season. It made for great snow though, I'd certainly go back.

[clarkmagpie]

Les Arc 1800 2nd week of January.
Go there most years and love it.
Can't wait!

[CAPP0]

Gazzas86 said:

Currently booked to go to morzine end of Jan, however there is scope to get away the 5th April to Tignes, anyone have any experience of the snow this late in the season for the area?

I went to Tignes mid-April this year and on the first morning there was so much fresh powder (like 3ft up at the top) that they didn't open the lifts until about 10.30 while they cleared avalanche risks!

[kingstondc5]

Not sure if i should start a new thread somewhere or not but im after a new set of ski gloves as i think mine have finally died (10+ years old) with the thinsulate lining being worn down resulting in cold fingers on the lifts, when im skiing its fine, lifts there very cold.

Now i guess i could purchase some liners but im thinking about some new ones, so a quick search around on ebay as im looking for racing gloves (like them for the padding they offer and my last ones Reush Racing, served me very well in this area), i found a French company called Bolid offering their wares but ive been unable to find any reviews on them though.
http://www.bolidgloves.com/en/products/snow-and-ic...

So has anyone here heard of them?

Is it worth me purchasing new gloves or would some liners just do?

Or can anyone recommend me some? Got to be full leather palm though and not looking to really break the bank either on it?

Im aware that cold fingers could be a result of layers around the body but its not that and no i dont have that condition either.

[CAPP0]

I'm also told that the Sierra Nevada is great skiing, especially late in the season. Any views?

[Harry Flashman]

Doing a ski season in Morzine (Portes du Soleil) area. Can't wait!

6 months' gardening leave definitely does not suck.

Edited by Harry Flashman on Monday 11th November 19:38

[a311]

CAPP0 said:

I'm also told that the Sierra Nevada is great skiing, especially late in the season. Any views?

Yeah really good ones from the top on a clear day.......

It's very unlike the Alps, I'd maybe recommend either doing a long weekend (ideally not on a weekend if that makes sense?!) or planning to stay in Granada-which is worth seeing if you can cope with a 30 min drive to the village.

It can get mobbed on the weekend if the conditions are good, the Spanish seem to be unable to handle the even a couple of mm on the roads. It's high, and all the skiing is above the tree line so it can be bleak in bad weather and has a rep for closing regulary due to high winds but I can't see it being any worse than anywhere else in reality.

The skiing is best suited to intermediates IMO, food and drink are cheap compared to the Alps and some good apres on offer too. I used to go regular when my dad lived in Souther Spain, plenty of cheap fights with budget airlines.

Late season, can be a mixed bag like anywhere it's high but I'd treat it the same as high alt resorts in the Alps without a glacier-spring conditions, potentially icy in the am and slushy in the afternoon.

Def try it if you can still get cheap flights, otherwise I'm not 100% sure if it's worth the gamble coughing up now, at least worst case in the Alps if the snow is turd there are other options-failing all else hit the beach!