Who is going skiing and where in 2016
Discussion
heading off to St Johann on friday for a long weekend, 3 days of hard skiing and 4 nights of harder drinking. dont know if we'll ski every day in St Johann, maybe do ski welt or kitzbuhel one day seeing they are right next door.
feels weird to be going away skiing already, I'm just back at work 2 weeks and off again. normally I only get one trip towards the end of feb!
feels weird to be going away skiing already, I'm just back at work 2 weeks and off again. normally I only get one trip towards the end of feb!
malks222 said:
heading off to St Johann on friday for a long weekend, 3 days of hard skiing and 4 nights of harder drinking. dont know if we'll ski every day in St Johann, maybe do ski welt or kitzbuhel one day seeing they are right next door.
feels weird to be going away skiing already, I'm just back at work 2 weeks and off again. normally I only get one trip towards the end of feb!
Go do the Hahnenkahm in Kitzbuhel! feels weird to be going away skiing already, I'm just back at work 2 weeks and off again. normally I only get one trip towards the end of feb!
M
marcosgt said:
malks222 said:
heading off to St Johann on friday for a long weekend, 3 days of hard skiing and 4 nights of harder drinking. dont know if we'll ski every day in St Johann, maybe do ski welt or kitzbuhel one day seeing they are right next door.
feels weird to be going away skiing already, I'm just back at work 2 weeks and off again. normally I only get one trip towards the end of feb!
Go do the Hahnenkahm in Kitzbuhel! feels weird to be going away skiing already, I'm just back at work 2 weeks and off again. normally I only get one trip towards the end of feb!
M
lemmingjames said:
Lucky b
d,
Apart from a few small pockets, all of the deep powder had gone in Val D (got back on Saturday so was out the same time you was). Was hoping there would have been more. Our guide said this week any classes he had would have to hike for powder/less tracked out slopes - definitely wouldnt enjoy that
Ive found out now though that for the sake of my knee i need to stick to on-piste as the chopped up off played havoc with it and wasnt able to ski to my best ability.
Anyway, looking to go to Chamonix i think in a months time as everywhere seems to have enough snow for on-piste.
Off to Val D this Saturday for a week, what are conditions like on piste? Where all the lifts open? d,Apart from a few small pockets, all of the deep powder had gone in Val D (got back on Saturday so was out the same time you was). Was hoping there would have been more. Our guide said this week any classes he had would have to hike for powder/less tracked out slopes - definitely wouldnt enjoy that
Ive found out now though that for the sake of my knee i need to stick to on-piste as the chopped up off played havoc with it and wasnt able to ski to my best ability.
Anyway, looking to go to Chamonix i think in a months time as everywhere seems to have enough snow for on-piste.
G
Gio G said:
Off to Val D this Saturday for a week, what are conditions like on piste? Where all the lifts open?
G
Piste conditions where good but all got choppy at the end of the day. Lovely first thing if your into speed (as in egg position) skiing. Le Face was still icyG
From what i can remember, most of the blacks are now mogul fields and most side pistes are like choppy piste runs. I guess itll be backcountry skiing if your looking for powder.
From what i can remember, only 1 lift wasnt working (takes you to the black only run or you can take the off-piste moguls down) in Tignes due to Avalanche control. And they are still making the snowpark areas but the baby jumps in Tignes are open
Leithen said:
Take it easy if you are going to enjoy the Streif!
I went down it a few years ago, not too long after the race, and I'll be honest it really wasnt fun. it was just so icy that I just couldnt see the enjoyment. I'm no downhill racer with super sharp edges and didnt fancy hurting myself! but fair play to them and the pace they take down that run!EdJ said:
Hi all - just had a long read through this thread and think I have my answer, but I'll ask it anyway - is it crazy to think about skiing for Feb half term? It would be my family's first ski trip - my kids are 7 and 4 - and whilst I skied for many years before I met my wife, I haven't been for the last 10 years and my wife has never been.
I've been trying to convince her that we should go and she has indicated that she would consider it, so I've been all over the web trying to find some last minute deals. However, I'm quickly getting put off by how busy the slopes will be, and don't want to put my whole family off ever going again...
I think we're pretty flexible on budget and location, but the more I read, the more I think it's probably worth just planning a trip for next season and getting it right.
Any thoughts appreciated.
We went out when our kids were 7 and 6. Previously I'd only been skiing when I was 14, but my wife and in-laws were regular skiers. It was a life-changing holiday, in that I'd previously been a committed hot weather and sea-side holiday maker and we all loved the whole experience.I've been trying to convince her that we should go and she has indicated that she would consider it, so I've been all over the web trying to find some last minute deals. However, I'm quickly getting put off by how busy the slopes will be, and don't want to put my whole family off ever going again...
I think we're pretty flexible on budget and location, but the more I read, the more I think it's probably worth just planning a trip for next season and getting it right.
Any thoughts appreciated.
No reason not to go out in the half term, but a lot will depend on how your wife takes to it, as it'll decide how well you can share and enjoy your kids' first time on the slopes. I'd commit to some indoor ski lessons before then so you all work out the routine of getting booted up (it's chaotic as a family with young kids!) and the kids get the basics of control and balance. You are really running out of time to get the lessons in though..
We went to a resort that had a mini free training slope with an escalator to get the kids up and down the hill. It's not the same as indoors (obviously!) so it took a few goes to get the kids used to the more open environment, but we couldn't have had an easier way to practice. We found button lifts to be a real no-go for the kids, so graduated from escalator to full size lifts - in which case you need two adults with reasonable balance to help put the children in place. Within the week we went from training slope to green runs:
https://youtu.be/ILpAqFXun9I
We avoided palming the kids off to ski-school as it cost a fortune and really didn't fit well with our day - the ski schools stuck to American school times which meant the kids would have a very long day without us, which rather negated the point of going on holiday together. It really helped that we both were able to look after the kids on the slopes. Though I'm a complete amateur, I'm able to keep my balance well enough to support them and steer them through the difficult bits. We also had the advantage that we were joined by the in-laws, so we had a free baby sitting service which meant we could do a couple of sessions with the children, then hand them over and get some grown up time on the slopes.
We went to Colorado and couldn't have enjoyed it more. The slopes were very quiet and very well policed, so you had wide open spaces with no fear of being mown down. Even on Presidents' weekend (big holiday), the lifts were never impossibly busy.
BullyB said:
I'm just back from Montgenevre. We got it just right with the snow as it came the previous week and it's all melting now.
I hope they get some more soon as there are some nervous people around town.
I did 10 hours of boarding lessons with ESF, great tuition and a guide also.
Not much night life but a good relaxing week of learning.
Not very busy at all, lots of people arriving from other resorts to find some snow.
Got back from Montgenevre yesterday also!I hope they get some more soon as there are some nervous people around town.
I did 10 hours of boarding lessons with ESF, great tuition and a guide also.
Not much night life but a good relaxing week of learning.
Not very busy at all, lots of people arriving from other resorts to find some snow.
Had a brilliant time.
As I wasn't planning on being in Flaine last weekend, but probably in Tignes for Easter, but now Mrs.5pot wants to visit her elderly parents at Easter with our children, I may stay on the continent and F.O skiing instead for the Easter weekend!
Whilst the snow's improved in many places, I want to keep an eye on resorts and snowfall and book a last minute Airbnb room/shared apartment, or some such....
Many resorts are within a 6hr drive of home, so looking around those along the A40 autoroute, La Clusaz, Megeve, Le Grand Massiv, etc. Plenty to choose from there!
Whilst the snow's improved in many places, I want to keep an eye on resorts and snowfall and book a last minute Airbnb room/shared apartment, or some such....
Many resorts are within a 6hr drive of home, so looking around those along the A40 autoroute, La Clusaz, Megeve, Le Grand Massiv, etc. Plenty to choose from there!
iphonedyou said:
BullyB said:
I'm just back from Montgenevre. We got it just right with the snow as it came the previous week and it's all melting now.
I hope they get some more soon as there are some nervous people around town.
I did 10 hours of boarding lessons with ESF, great tuition and a guide also.
Not much night life but a good relaxing week of learning.
Not very busy at all, lots of people arriving from other resorts to find some snow.
Got back from Montgenevre yesterday also!I hope they get some more soon as there are some nervous people around town.
I did 10 hours of boarding lessons with ESF, great tuition and a guide also.
Not much night life but a good relaxing week of learning.
Not very busy at all, lots of people arriving from other resorts to find some snow.
Had a brilliant time.
Just looked on the webcam and
it doesn't look like there's been any new stuff and there's a lot of rock showing where there was complete coverage before (Serre Thiebald for a start) and temperatures if 10C in the day.I think we were very, very lucky indeed.
It's too warm here! The forecast says it's going to get up to 12 degrees in the next week, so although there is some snow at the moment it isn't going to hang around much below 1,500m. Even Davos Klosters is well above freezing and barely gets down to -3 overnight.
This season is shaping up to be a bit of a disaster for most of the resorts, the locals (who are very picky about the conditions when they go skiing) are just not bothering to go, and tourists are holding off booking until the conditions are more consistent.
It's a shame I don't need any new kit though, there's tons of half-price stuff in all the stores here as nobody is buying anything
This season is shaping up to be a bit of a disaster for most of the resorts, the locals (who are very picky about the conditions when they go skiing) are just not bothering to go, and tourists are holding off booking until the conditions are more consistent.
It's a shame I don't need any new kit though, there's tons of half-price stuff in all the stores here as nobody is buying anything
jonny996 said:
Talking about buying kit, is it worth buying ex rental ski's, if you are only an intermediate skier & you have a space to store them. I seen them for 60 euros end of last season.
Yes, but it depends how you get to your ski trips. If you're flying then it's expensive to transport them so you may as well hire, but if you drive there or live in the mountains then go for it (assuming they're in good condition)Dog Star said:
We went to Montgenevre 9-16Jan, there was a big dump before we got there and it snowed quite a bit while we were there, so there was lots of fresh stuff.
Just looked on the webcam and it doesn't look like there's been any new stuff and there's a lot of rock showing where there was complete coverage before (Serre Thiebald for a start) and temperatures if 10C in the day.
I think we were very, very lucky indeed.
It was much better than it looked on the webcam. We were out 19th to 24th and it was lovely, bluebird and temperatures around zero during the day. It didn't approach anywhere near 10 degrees, thankfully.Just looked on the webcam and
it doesn't look like there's been any new stuff and there's a lot of rock showing where there was complete coverage before (Serre Thiebald for a start) and temperatures if 10C in the day.I think we were very, very lucky indeed.
Off-piste was tracked and frozen, obviously!
jamiebae said:
Yes, but it depends how you get to your ski trips. If you're flying then it's expensive to transport them so you may as well hire, but if you drive there or live in the mountains then go for it (assuming they're in good condition)
I've only flown with BA with skis, but my double ski bag is counted as my hold baggage. And I can get my skis, poles and at least 4 days worth of clothing etc. in there...dreamer75 said:
I've only flown with BA with skis, but my double ski bag is counted as my hold baggage. And I can get my skis, poles and at least 4 days worth of clothing etc. in there...
EasyJet want 100CHF to carry skis I think, they class them as 'sports equipment' which is different to hold baggage so I guess it depends who you fly with then.dreamer75 said:
I've only flown with BA with skis, but my double ski bag is counted as my hold baggage. And I can get my skis, poles and at least 4 days worth of clothing etc. in there...
Yep BA is handy. My coffin bag carries my snowboard, boots and enough clothes for 4 days easily, 7 if I'm sensible.jamiebae said:
dreamer75 said:
I've only flown with BA with skis, but my double ski bag is counted as my hold baggage. And I can get my skis, poles and at least 4 days worth of clothing etc. in there...
EasyJet want 100CHF to carry skis I think, they class them as 'sports equipment' which is different to hold baggage so I guess it depends who you fly with then.It's still cheaper to take your own but we find it easier to not have to lug them around at the airports and transfers, plus if the unmentionable happens and they're rented it's no drama if you pay the extra €2 a day "shop insurance".
Also which skis do you take, piste bashers, rocker hoppers, powder hounds??
jamiebae said:
Yes, but it depends how you get to your ski trips. If you're flying then it's expensive to transport them so you may as well hire, but if you drive there or live in the mountains then go for it (assuming they're in good condition)
sorry I should have been clearer, I am buying a place in the alps so they will not be coming back to the UK ever. it was more along the lines of are the ex rentals completely shagged when they sell them or are they still ok condition.jonny996 said:
sorry I should have been clearer, I am buying a place in the alps so they will not be coming back to the UK ever. it was more along the lines of are the ex rentals completely shagged when they sell them or are they still ok condition.
They usually have a service before being sold, but check them out and see for yourself would be the best advice.In an ideal world you want a set which have been hired to a local for the whole season, that way they're going to have been used a lot more lightly than those which go out to a different tourist each week. However, I guess that's a lot to ask!
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