Who is going skiing and where in 2017

[popeyewhite]

Kwackersaki said:

Thanks. I'll have a good look round before I book anything then. We usually go to Austria but fancied a change. My thinking was as the resorts look higher it would be guaranteed snow but looking at various websites they've had a few dodgy seasons.

Cervinia, Val Thorens and Val d'Isere/Tignes are the go-to resorts if the rest of the Alps are suffering a dearth of the white stuff.

[Kwackersaki]

popeyewhite said:

Kwackersaki said:

Thanks. I'll have a good look round before I book anything then. We usually go to Austria but fancied a change. My thinking was as the resorts look higher it would be guaranteed snow but looking at various websites they've had a few dodgy seasons.

Cervinia, Val Thorens and Val d'Isere/Tignes are the go-to resorts if the rest of the Alps are suffering a dearth of the white stuff.

I've always discounted France due to the long transfer times, as I'm impatient like that but may have another look as the skiing is supposed to be very good.

[Tuna]

Welshbeef said:

I bought firstly a good set of Solomon but after a day using them on a dry slope I realised hey we're not right. Somehow I ended up in Decathalon and one of their special offers on boots were on I tried a pair and they were perfect and remain so - sold the Solomon's.

Skis I replicated the Decathalon deal so got a set of Head Skis for £199 (given my ability are fine). The amount of times I've used them so far has more than paid for themselves outright in hire.

That's probably the difference then - I get on well with Solomons, so long as they're properly fitted. When I priced up the Volkl skis the hire shop found for me they were about a thousand bucks - even on sale. I'm sure they're far better skis than I am a skier, but I tell myself I fall down less. Add in the excess baggage costs for carrying a family of fours' skis and it's harder to justify buying (no point even going there with kids skis - they grow out of them in a blink).

[jonny996]

Tuna said:

Welshbeef said:

I bought firstly a good set of Solomon but after a day using them on a dry slope I realised hey we're not right. Somehow I ended up in Decathalon and one of their special offers on boots were on I tried a pair and they were perfect and remain so - sold the Solomon's.

Skis I replicated the Decathalon deal so got a set of Head Skis for £199 (given my ability are fine). The amount of times I've used them so far has more than paid for themselves outright in hire.

That's probably the difference then - I get on well with Solomons, so long as they're properly fitted. When I priced up the Volkl skis the hire shop found for me they were about a thousand bucks - even on sale. I'm sure they're far better skis than I am a skier, but I tell myself I fall down less. Add in the excess baggage costs for carrying a family of fours' skis and it's harder to justify buying (no point even going there with kids skis - they grow out of them in a blink).

I think it is fair to say it depends on how often you ski, we are lucky enough to have our own apartment in the Alps so we go 5 times per year, even kids stuff pays for itself.
Also for those of you that do have kids look at Roces ski boots, they expand over 3 shoe sizes as your kids feet grow, very cleaver stuff.

[feef]

jonny996 said:

I think it is fair to say it depends on how often you ski, we are lucky enough to have our own apartment in the Alps so we go 5 times per year, even kids stuff pays for itself.
Also for those of you that do have kids look at Roces ski boots, they expand over 3 shoe sizes as your kids feet grow, very cleaver stuff.

Kids stuff I get on eBay.

It's rare that I've got any kids skis or boots that are worn out, they just aren't used enough, and it's often even cheaper than renting

[Jarcy]

Tuna said:

Regarding boots, we found the local hire place took their time to give you the right boots, and now have all our measurements on file.

I bet they file them alongside Sheldon Cooper's haircut records!

On a serious note, you may be lucky in that your feet are a standard shape and will fit well in a boot off the shelf. But as your skiing level improves, you realise that comfortable boots are probably not a good fit from a performance point of view. Not that they should be uncomfortable, but a properly fitted boot will help your skiing no end. Most people require some adjustment or other. And different brands tend to lend themselves to different shaped feet. I'd never fit in a Lange.

(I've just bought a pair of boots, as my old ones required replacing. Went down a size, and then had to stretch the last by 11mm to fit my duck-shaped feet )

[KTF]

I have been looking around at the holidays for 2017 and the prices seem to have gone up a notch or two compared to 2016.

We are not fussed about going to a specific resort (France, Austria, Italy are all fine) so we are going to wait it out until next year to see what deals come about rather than booking it now. With the seemingly increased cost and pound/euro rates, others may well be doing the same so the prices will only go one way.

[Amateurish]

KTF said:

I have been looking around at the holidays for 2017 and the prices seem to have gone up a notch or two compared to 2016.

We are not fussed about going to a specific resort (France, Austria, Italy are all fine) so we are going to wait it out until next year to see what deals come about rather than booking it now. With the seemingly increased cost and pound/euro rates, others may well be doing the same so the prices will only go one way.

Prices will be up 30% vs the same time last year because of the fall in the pound.

[KTF]

Amateurish said:

Prices will be up 30% vs the same time last year because of the fall in the pound.

Yes, another bonus of brexit... I hope that this may put some people off booking early so the operators will start slashing prices when the loadings dont look so good.

Edited by KTF on Thursday 3rd November 14:48

[Leithen]

KTF said:

Amateurish said:

Prices will be up 30% vs the same time last year because of the fall in the pound.

Yes, another bonus of brexit... I am hoping that this may put some people off booking early so the operators will start slashing prices when the loadings dont look so good.

[Amateurish]

Yes, it's hitting our chalet bookings. Even though we haven't increased prices, UK clients are obviously seeing much higher £ prices on Owners Direct etc plus the sites are now charging extra fees on top of our own prices. So it's lose lose all round.

[NRS]

KTF said:

Amateurish said:

Prices will be up 30% vs the same time last year because of the fall in the pound.

Yes, another bonus of brexit... I hope that this may put some people off booking early so the operators will start slashing prices when the loadings dont look so good.

Edited by KTF on Thursday 3rd November 14:48

Surely it is basically the only disadvantage of Brexit so far? And the weak pound will generally benefit the country overall in that British people will have holidays/ spend money in the UK etc as it is expensive to do so outside the UK now. So that benefits the UK economy. Then it will also encourage people from other countries to spend money in the UK as it is much cheaper so again money goes into the UK economy. Certainly for me as someone outside the UK it has made it worth me ordering things from UK websites rather than other countries. For example I'll probably be getting new ski boots when back at Christmas and have ordered other stuff already.

[feef]

NRS said:

KTF said:

Amateurish said:

Prices will be up 30% vs the same time last year because of the fall in the pound.

Yes, another bonus of brexit... I hope that this may put some people off booking early so the operators will start slashing prices when the loadings dont look so good.

Edited by KTF on Thursday 3rd November 14:48

Surely it is basically the only disadvantage of Brexit so far? And the weak pound will generally benefit the country overall in that British people will have holidays/ spend money in the UK etc as it is expensive to do so outside the UK now. So that benefits the UK economy. Then it will also encourage people from other countries to spend money in the UK as it is much cheaper so again money goes into the UK economy. Certainly for me as someone outside the UK it has made it worth me ordering things from UK websites rather than other countries. For example I'll probably be getting new ski boots when back at Christmas and have ordered other stuff already.

Those British made ski-boots, or the imported ones, imported with a weaker £ ?
It might be cheaper based on the current models at current prices, but if it stays low, then the price in £ will be higher next season.

[malks222]

looks like winter has finally kicked off the alps ❄️🌨☃️

[rustyuk]

Even the lakes and Yad Moss in the UK have got a dusting this morning.

[downthepub]

downthepub said:

What with buying new Mustangs, chartering boats in Croatia and flights to Australia, I'd written off any hope of getting to the Alps this year. A mate pinged me with an excellent deal on Friday for 4 days in early January, it looks like we are on! Brill!

Annnnnddddd, it's decided. Off to Tignes the weekend before Christmas for a bit of slope action. Away *again* on the wife's birthday. Doesn't seem to mind. Too much. Swiss wanted £800 for the flights, but I had points and they had availability on the very same flights. Bit of Lufthansa points + £70. Boom. Slight wrinkle with not having enough leave left, but am sure something can be sorted. Can hardly wait!

[CAPP0]

Well apparently I'm going nowhere this season.

MIL is seriously (potentially terminal, although no realistic timescales) ill and MrsC doesn't want me anywhere other than at arm's length for the duration.

Just cancelled my Dec trip, and signing off from this thread now as I'm not going to be wanting to read all about it.

[feef]

Looks like it's puking down across the Alps at the moment. Snow from 1200m upwards and with the freezing level to drop further.

I've also been playing with Antix, a video editing app, and managed to pull together this little edit from my drone use last season. The gimbal was faulty and is being replaced under warranty hence the reason it chops about a bit

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UOkIx9SYRHg

[Patch1875]

Were off to Les Diablerets, Switzerland.

In laws have a chalet there not been for a few years so looking forward to it.

[Kwackersaki]

Booked La Thuile this morning for second week in January. Conditions so far look good all over.