Who is going skiing and where in 2016
Discussion
Silver993tt said:
We contact the hotels/apartments directly, usually in Austria. We do go off season and not during school holidays.
I'll have to give that a try. We always go out of school holidays too and i remember one year in Schladming skiing an entire run with only myself on it. Heaven!Seeing as I live in northern Norway and we can go skiing from mid-October to July (if you're willing to hike a bit) then it made sense to book a ski holiday elsewhere, 
Off to Japan in January, will be fun to try the new powder skis out. Hopefully we'll get some good powder when there. It's only a week of skiing, so will be staying in Niseko. Not looking forward to having to queue for the lifts as we almost never have to do that here!
Apart from that it will be a lot of ski touring in the area and some resort skiing at Narvik, Riksgrensen and a tiny local place called Sollia. Might be a late start as off to Patagonia for a month at the end of the week. Had hoped to get lucky and maybe catch the end of the season down there but it looks like it's too late.
Off to Japan in January, will be fun to try the new powder skis out. Hopefully we'll get some good powder when there. It's only a week of skiing, so will be staying in Niseko. Not looking forward to having to queue for the lifts as we almost never have to do that here!Apart from that it will be a lot of ski touring in the area and some resort skiing at Narvik, Riksgrensen and a tiny local place called Sollia. Might be a late start as off to Patagonia for a month at the end of the week. Had hoped to get lucky and maybe catch the end of the season down there but it looks like it's too late.
a311 said:
GreatGranny said:
Going to keep an eye on this thread once you all return :-)
Planning a ski holiday with 3 families in 2017.
Varying abilities from complete beginner to good/fearless type skier.
6 adults & 6 kids aged 7 - 17.
Going Feb half term or first week in Easter.
Interesting to get approx. costs pp off people who are going next year so we have an idea on budget.
You will be bent over if you go Feb half term, depends how easter falls in 2017 but I expect costs to be lower and resorts to be quieter IME. You also have to factor in what the conditions will be like. Late March and April are my favourite times to ski, longer days, chance of nice sunny days to ski then enjoy sitting on sun drenched terraces enjoying a cold beer. If it is warm though the pistes can deterorate after lunch, especially pists that are lower down and/or exposed to the sun, getting chopped up, slusly and moguled.Planning a ski holiday with 3 families in 2017.
Varying abilities from complete beginner to good/fearless type skier.
6 adults & 6 kids aged 7 - 17.
Going Feb half term or first week in Easter.
Interesting to get approx. costs pp off people who are going next year so we have an idea on budget.
I'd consider resorts than are mainly off the UK tour operators radar and possibly non French if you plan to go in February as it's not the amount of UK skiers which is the issue but the French schools holidays depend on area so essentially there's 4 week where the French also flock to the Alps in droves.
Just did a quick check on Crystal Feb Half term 16 £1335 is the cheapest per person (lift passes etc not included).
That's compare to £790 the week before for the exact same accomadation. Not 100% mark up but still.....
Easter is about £300 a head cheaper than Feb.
Its looking like Easter depending when it falls.
Daughter is going to Italy with school next Feb so will see what she thinks of there.
I like the sound of Austria from some of the posts on this thread.
We will DIY in a self catering chalet big enough for all of us and as Welshbeef suggested book flights asap.
Unfortunately the only real answer to that is 'when it's forecast'. Check out snowheads for some historical data on snowfalls but it's just impossible to say.
Have been going to 3 valleys for the past 5 years in Jan and March and have had everything form several metres over new year to last year when you couldn't ski down to the chaudanne on some routes at Meribel on first week Jan. It was like sugar from half way up following solid ice in the morning. Our ski in ski out chalet had its run closed as it was rocks where the year before it was 100cm average. Also did Whistler last amarch and no snow below mid station, works they reckon they had seen in 40 years.
It does look warm in the alps at the moment but as you probably know it can change very quickley. W are in for JAN AT meribel and just have everything crossed for great snow!
Have been going to 3 valleys for the past 5 years in Jan and March and have had everything form several metres over new year to last year when you couldn't ski down to the chaudanne on some routes at Meribel on first week Jan. It was like sugar from half way up following solid ice in the morning. Our ski in ski out chalet had its run closed as it was rocks where the year before it was 100cm average. Also did Whistler last amarch and no snow below mid station, works they reckon they had seen in 40 years.
It does look warm in the alps at the moment but as you probably know it can change very quickley. W are in for JAN AT meribel and just have everything crossed for great snow!
Usually any snow before December is pretty irrelevant is it doesn't last.
I'm hearing that whilst it may seem warm with fantastic day temperature being reported and everyone still able to eat outside during the day at night it's getting very cold and if you're up early and up the mountain at a reasonable altitude then the ground is Frozen and is staying frozen for most of the day.
This is the important thing at this time of year, more important than any snowfall as it means when it gets consistently cold enough for snow to fall then it won't melt and will start to form the good base needed for stable snow throughout the rest of the season.
I'm hearing that whilst it may seem warm with fantastic day temperature being reported and everyone still able to eat outside during the day at night it's getting very cold and if you're up early and up the mountain at a reasonable altitude then the ground is Frozen and is staying frozen for most of the day.
This is the important thing at this time of year, more important than any snowfall as it means when it gets consistently cold enough for snow to fall then it won't melt and will start to form the good base needed for stable snow throughout the rest of the season.
I too was starting to feel nervous looking at the webcams seeing nice green fields and then seeing the high temperatures. I'm skiing in the 3 valleys first week in january.
but then I remind myself that its still only november, so dont panic yet. the alps can get enough snow in 24hrs to start the season. so plenty time left yet. and no point getting all the good snow now, when it has another 5 weeks to potentially melt. best keeping it for the beginning/middle of december once its nice and cold and it forms a good base for the full of winter.
but then I remind myself that its still only november, so dont panic yet. the alps can get enough snow in 24hrs to start the season. so plenty time left yet. and no point getting all the good snow now, when it has another 5 weeks to potentially melt. best keeping it for the beginning/middle of december once its nice and cold and it forms a good base for the full of winter.
Pelo said:
So can anyone recommended a good place to learn before we go?! In the South East.
The indoor snow domes at either Milton Keynes or Hemel Hempstead are the obvious choices. There's also a few dry slopes in the south east but if you're looking to learn boarding real snow might be a little more pleasent to fall on.
jinkster said:
Just booked Voss in Norway for 5 days (early January).
I've not done Voss but we have a cabin just a few kilometres further up the road in Myrkdalen, we've already got 20 centimetres of snow and by January we had 2m last year! So you'll be in for a treat as winter this year is predicted to be a lot more hardcore than the last.JQ said:
Out of interest how does that compare price wise to the traditional France / Austria resorts. Being married to a Scandinavian it's something of interest, but having spent time in Oslo I dread to think of the cost.
Myrkdalen just up the road but in Voss were running a deal a two day lift pass and a nights hotel for 850NOK. I think the lift pass for a day is about 350NOK. We've just paid 4500NOK each for our season tickets, really not too expensive.That's one thing that's great about Norway Skiing is accessible and quite cheap for everyone. The equipment is very cheap to buy too.
Edited by NordicCrankShaft on Sunday 15th November 18:01
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