Who is going skiing and where in 2017

[Tuna]

Kids ski lessons are as much about learning the routine of getting everything together to go out on skis as the actual balancing thing.

Group lessons will help, especially dealing with a bunch of other skiers milling around when you're trying to get ready. The ones we sent our kids to spent the first lesson just getting them to stand up and slide down the mildest slope - nothing more. Then the subsequent lessons built from that. As an adult you can possibly skip ahead a little

[Welshbeef]

RC1 said:

so hemel want 200 quid for 1 hour for a family private lesson!! is that normal? we are restricted to weekends only and wont have anyone to supervise our boys ie it looks like we all need to be in the same group at the same time

I'd say it's not bad at all.

Think about it v holiday
1. You are doing this now to avoid being stuck on the nursary slope on the snow which is no fun
2. Lift pass
3. 1-2-1 tuition on holiday is a lot more

[feef]

Welshbeef said:

3. 1-2-1 tuition on holiday is a lot more

not really

BASS Morzine:

Private Lesson cost per hour:

1 person - £85.00 (€tbc)
2 people - £95.00
3 people - £105.00
4 people - £115.00
5 people - £125.00
6 people - £135.00

http://www.britishskischool.com/content/private-le...

The UK Domes are more expensive, as they have more overheads with a relatively small number of skiers in a large building with expensive refrigeration bills.

The ski schools in the mountains only really have to pay their staff and a small property rental for an office space.

[Jarcy]

RC1 said:

Jarcy said:

This would be my advice too.
Don't be afraid of learning on plastic in the UK. It makes the snow experience all the more satisfying when you first hit the slopes for real.
I learned on plastic (many, many years ago) and therefore on my first school trip I was doing parallel turns on the first morning.
Also, if you're going to hire ski boots, then you'll at least have experience of what is comfortable and what to expect fit-wise. Certain brands may be better for you than others.

so hemel want 200 quid for 1 hour for a family private lesson!! is that normal? we are restricted to weekends only and wont have anyone to supervise our boys ie it looks like we all need to be in the same group at the same time

If you look for an artificial slope, it could be considerably cheaper.
Myself and my kids all learnt here (me over 35 years ago!):
Alpine Snowsports Aldershot. http://activenation.org.uk/venues/alpine-snowsport...
Private tuition is £50 an hour, plus an extra £20 for each extra friend. £110 for a family of 4 I suppose. Options of group lessons too.
Learning on plastic is exactly the same technique as snow, but once you've learnt on plastic, you appreciated the feel of snow so much more.

[Speed 3]

Has anyone used AirBNB for accommodation ? We're looking to book half term 2018 and in previous years we've used Owners Direct for places in France and elsewhere, usually owned by Brits. I know there's always a risk but we've never had any problems Summer or Winter. Next year we fancy Saalbach in Austria but OD doesn't have anything. Found a promising place on AirBNB owned by a German but don't have any experience of that site and have heard of some people having issues.

[feef]

Speed 3 said:

Has anyone used AirBNB for accommodation ? We're looking to book half term 2018 and in previous years we've used Owners Direct for places in France and elsewhere, usually owned by Brits. I know there's always a risk but we've never had any problems Summer or Winter. Next year we fancy Saalbach in Austria but OD doesn't have anything. Found a promising place on AirBNB owned by a German but don't have any experience of that site and have heard of some people having issues.

I had a look at AirBNB for Avoriaz this coming Feb half term. I found it far more expensive than the equivalent properties in HomeAway/Abritel

https://www.abritel.fr

[Amateurish]

Abritel is the same as Owners Direct

[Welshbeef]

Soelden is looking very nice currently

[FidoGoRetroGo]

I shall go to Kaprun again.

Fly to Munich with Lufthansa, pick up car, drive down to Apartment Mary in Kaprun. You get a free pass to the new spa thing which I'd happily spend all week in if there was no snow.

Bit of time in Zell, bit of time in Saalbach/Hinterglemm, bit of time on the glacier.

A few choruses of "Who the f*** is Alice" apres-ski with a couple of beers and life is good.

We'll possibly go further afield but Austria all day, every day for me.

[NRS]

lemmingjames said:

The skis are DPS Cassiar 95, bout 2 seasons old now. Bindings are Knee Bindings (i quite like them but ive had to crank them up otherwise the prematurely pop me out). I got the C95's as i intended to ski more on-piste than off but have used them more off than on, i quite like them but for me, they could do with a bit more weight on the nose for the ice and crud bashing. Can do a more indepth review for you if you like as i was going to mail my thoughts to DPS at one point (was chatting to them about what ski but never got round to sending them the list).

Edited by lemmingjames on Thursday 24th November 21:51

Nice! Was actually considering Cassiar's to replace my old Dynafit Manaslus as a "everyday" ski, but seems like they're a little bit more powder oriented that normal conditions here so went for Dynafit Dhaugaliris instead. I'm not that aggressive a skier - can get down most stuff but have a terrible self taught technique! They arrived today and now getting the bindings mounted so looking forward to trying them out soon! Not heard of the Knee bindings before - have you tried Dynafit STs/ Beasts/ G3 Ions etc and how do they compare?

[Tuna]

Heads up, Aldi has their skiwear available again.

[Mothersruin]

Tuna said:

Heads up, Aldi has their skiwear available again.

I had a look at some of their 'ski tops' today going for £4.99.

I'm usually a fan and got some of their merino stuff not long ago but this stuff was 'cheap'.

[Welshbeef]

Mothersruin said:

Tuna said:

Heads up, Aldi has their skiwear available again.

I had a look at some of their 'ski tops' today going for £4.99.

I'm usually a fan and got some of their merino stuff not long ago but this stuff was 'cheap'.

Decathalon does the kit so well if your after budget stuff which is ideal for novices and kids or those who simply cannot justify the big cost of too end brands.

[Jarcy]

NRS said:

Not heard of the Knee bindings before - have you tried Dynafit STs/ Beasts/ G3 Ions etc and how do they compare?

Knee bindings are traditional Alpine bindings, rather than Pin touring bindings.
They're designed to give more knee protection, by giving the toe part a 3rd dimension in which to release.
Billed as the safest binding you can get, and a popular choice with those that have already suffered knee injuries.

My friend got them fitted following his ACL mishap!

[Jarcy]

Welshbeef said:

Decathalon does the kit so well if your after budget stuff which is ideal for novices and kids or those who simply cannot justify the big cost of too end brands.

I know I shouldn't be a brand-snob, but whenever I see "Wed'ze" on the slopes, or the '3 dot' logo, I think, well, I, errmmmm...
I'm sure it's terrific stuff and great value...Just so long as you're not sliding on something with the name Wed'ze on it.

[feef]

Jarcy said:

Welshbeef said:

Decathalon does the kit so well if your after budget stuff which is ideal for novices and kids or those who simply cannot justify the big cost of too end brands.

I know I shouldn't be a brand-snob, but whenever I see "Wed'ze" on the slopes, or the '3 dot' logo, I think, well, I, errmmmm...
I'm sure it's terrific stuff and great value...Just so long as you're not sliding on something with the name Wed'ze on it.

For the average family who only ever ski once a year for a week, Wed'ze skis are probably going to be fine and will most likely be made either by Meditec in Tunisia ( http://www.meditec.com.tn/ ) or the Elan plant in Slovenia.

I wonder how many here would actually know and feel the difference if they were all unbranded, and how much of it is brand snobbery

[Welshbeef]

feef said:

Jarcy said:

Welshbeef said:

Decathalon does the kit so well if your after budget stuff which is ideal for novices and kids or those who simply cannot justify the big cost of too end brands.

I know I shouldn't be a brand-snob, but whenever I see "Wed'ze" on the slopes, or the '3 dot' logo, I think, well, I, errmmmm...
I'm sure it's terrific stuff and great value...Just so long as you're not sliding on something with the name Wed'ze on it.

For the average family who only ever ski once a year for a week, Wed'ze skis are probably going to be fine and will most likely be made either by Meditec in Tunisia ( http://www.meditec.com.tn/ ) or the Elan plant in Slovenia.

I wonder how many here would actually know and feel the difference if they were all unbranded, and how much of it is brand snobbery

Personally I have
Head boots - bought for barely over £100 on super sale really good and far better than the £350 Saloman boots I had.
Head Skis - again I bought them cheap they are fine I cannot tell he difference between these and hire skis. So far they have already Been paid for by the hire savings
Ski poles - Wedze
Helmet - no idea of he brand but Decathalon and I change it every 2 years
Fleeces socks etc all Wedze
Gloves Saloman these were pricy but well worth it

Kids (2year old and 4year old) exclusively Wedze. We try to get unisex colour so that they can use each other's sadly that doesn't work as a summer baby v winter meaning actually different size when they go. But it's cheap and does a good job.

I might splash out on some new salapets this season - current are 10years old I think still ok but a bit worn.

[Jarcy]

Welshbeef said:

feef said:

Jarcy said:

Welshbeef said:

Decathalon does the kit so well if your after budget stuff which is ideal for novices and kids or those who simply cannot justify the big cost of too end brands.

I know I shouldn't be a brand-snob, but whenever I see "Wed'ze" on the slopes, or the '3 dot' logo, I think, well, I, errmmmm...
I'm sure it's terrific stuff and great value...Just so long as you're not sliding on something with the name Wed'ze on it.

For the average family who only ever ski once a year for a week, Wed'ze skis are probably going to be fine and will most likely be made either by Meditec in Tunisia ( http://www.meditec.com.tn/ ) or the Elan plant in Slovenia.

I wonder how many here would actually know and feel the difference if they were all unbranded, and how much of it is brand snobbery

Personally I have
Head boots - bought for barely over £100 on super sale really good and far better than the £350 Saloman boots I had.
Head Skis - again I bought them cheap they are fine I cannot tell he difference between these and hire skis. So far they have already Been paid for by the hire savings
Ski poles - Wedze
Helmet - no idea of he brand but Decathalon and I change it every 2 years
Fleeces socks etc all Wedze
Gloves Saloman these were pricy but well worth it

Kids (2year old and 4year old) exclusively Wedze. We try to get unisex colour so that they can use each other's sadly that doesn't work as a summer baby v winter meaning actually different size when they go. But it's cheap and does a good job.

I might splash out on some new salapets this season - current are 10years old I think still ok but a bit worn.

I hit TKMaxx for the kids stuff whilst they were growing up. Kit from the likes of Quiksilver, Dare2B, Bonfire etc. You need to be lucky with the correct size, but no problem with last year's colours.

For myself, I splash out on quality technical stuff, but then I do because I can, and I love spending on ski kit. Gotta keep Snow & Rock / Ellis Brigham in business somehow! Every year I find an excuse to replenish - this year was boots, poles, goggles, so not too much of a hit. Kids are adults now, so they can buy their own if they want to change stuff. The youngest is off to do the season next week in a chalet.

[lemmingjames]

I must be one of the only ones who rewears the same gear year after year etc.

You do know that you can wash the jackets in a normal wash then get rewaterproofing wash stuff to return it to good dont you?

[feef]

Jarcy said:

whenever I see "Wed'ze" on the slopes, or the '3 dot' logo, I think, well, I, errmmmm...

Jarcy said:

I hit TKMaxx for the kids stuff whilst they were growing up. Kit from the likes of Quiksilver, Dare2B, Bonfire etc. You need to be lucky with the correct size, but no problem with last year's colours.

Interestingly, I'd put Dare2B and Wed'ze in at the same level.

Dare2B is a brand name of Regatta (based in, and designed in Manchester), and Wed'ze is designed in the Mont Blanc valley.

Both are manufactured in China.

While we're tentatively on the subject of Quiksilver, the new range of Roxy skis are now made by The Faction Collective, based in Switzerland. They are actually pretty good planks, and certainly an improvement on the foam filled noodles that they were selling as skis more for a colour-matched fashion exercise a few seasons ago.