Who’s going skiing and where 2019
Discussion
Mr E said:
popeyewhite said:
That and the boarders.
I apologise unreservedly for enjoying the mountain in a very slightly different way to you. 
A few years ago I was at the side of a Piste and a mate went on ahead I lost track of him but noticed some chap in black face palming the snow - so I set off down the hill to see if I could help/if he was ok. Turned out it was my mate he’d caught something in the Piste that flipped him hard into an icy patch. He’s smashed his chest into the ice. I managed to get him up he hadn’t broken anything and felt ok to ski to the nearest coffee/bar on the slope to relax. That adrenaline wore off and he was in agony coughing agony etc.
He couldn’t ski again that trip and it took at least half a year back at home for the sternum injury to recover.
Another friend was skiing in the alps - day 1 run 1 Piste looked good, it turned out to be a very tricky black. He carried a lot of speed lost control and sped down the slope then he was seen with his leg going one way and the knee in what was the totally wrong direction.
Piste ambulance down the slope crutches - caught the earliest flight back home. Needed knee reconstruction surgery. Cannot ski for at least two seasons and even then might never be able to again.
I know I take risks / don’t realise I am but those incidents and accidents I’ve seen and tried to help where some poor person is screaming in agony waiting for the ski patrol to come with morphine. That really really helps me slow right down and also not to do too much distance
He couldn’t ski again that trip and it took at least half a year back at home for the sternum injury to recover.
Another friend was skiing in the alps - day 1 run 1 Piste looked good, it turned out to be a very tricky black. He carried a lot of speed lost control and sped down the slope then he was seen with his leg going one way and the knee in what was the totally wrong direction.
Piste ambulance down the slope crutches - caught the earliest flight back home. Needed knee reconstruction surgery. Cannot ski for at least two seasons and even then might never be able to again.
I know I take risks / don’t realise I am but those incidents and accidents I’ve seen and tried to help where some poor person is screaming in agony waiting for the ski patrol to come with morphine. That really really helps me slow right down and also not to do too much distance
popeyewhite said:
Welshbeef said:
I cannot imagine most normal holiday skiers will be regularly doing 66odd mph more like 25-45mph.
I quite agree, my point was there seem to be more speed merchants at big French resorts nowadays though, so I and my friends avoid them.There are two main types;
i) young adult males who have little skill or control, who have probably watched too many "line of the winter" videos and think they will be perceived as being "cool" if they bowl down the slopes like an out of control freight train.
They frighten the life out of me - when they hit someone (and they always do hit someone eventually), someone is going to get hurt.
ii) the second type are the wannabe racers - they have talent and technique but have little respect for other, slower people, on the mountain.
They don't worry me so much as they don't generally don't hit anyone. The issue they cause is the "wake" they leave can affect the more cautious skier.
If people want to ski really fast, the solution is to get the first lift. Then you can go at mach 2 and it effects no-one else. But there is little policing of inappropriate skiing on the mountain, so it is unlikely to change anytime soon.
popeyewhite said:
Apology accepted. But just to clarify: it's not really your bad behaviour, it's the fact that at the big French resorts there are so many of you learning that you can't help bashing into others (inability to stop) and being a menace at chairlifts (getting on/off). I'm too old for that sort of thing so will happily ski elsewhere. Win/win for both of us I'm sure.
Another fair point about boarders in France - too many don't know the correct technique to get off a chair lift without wiping out the person to the side of them as they have a tendency to want to swing their boards to an angle. Personally, when getting off a lift in this situation either I hold back for a couple of seconds to ensure I miss any potential carnage (there is always a bit more time at the top of the lift than many realise), or I jet off first to ensure I'm out of the crash zone...
popeyewhite said:
I'm too old for that sort of thing so will happily ski elsewhere. Win/win for both of us I'm sure.
You might like Lech (Alberg) in Austria.Super hotels, excellent mountain restaurants (none of that self-service crap), the number of skiers is limited on the slopes so even in peak times there is next to no queuing, good altitude, consistent snow record.
I've been there more than 20 times, and find it is a very enjoyable place to visit.
EddieSteadyGo said:
Personally, when getting off a lift in this situation either I hold back for a couple of seconds to ensure I miss any potential carnage (there is always a bit more time at the top of the lift than many realise), or I jet off first to ensure I'm out of the crash zone...
Having seen as you describe multiple times and have a boarder put their hand on my chest to stabilise themself after a wobble then give me a shove to push themself away when alighting from a chairlift in Courchevel I now do as you and back off if a boarder joins the line next to me or get away double-quick at the top.EddieSteadyGo said:
You might like Lech (Alberg) in Austria.
Super hotels, excellent mountain restaurants (none of that self-service crap), the number of skiers is limited on the slopes so even in peak times there is next to no queuing, good altitude, consistent snow record.
I've been there more than 20 times, and find it is a very enjoyable place to visit.
Thanks, looking at St.Cristophe for Feb.Super hotels, excellent mountain restaurants (none of that self-service crap), the number of skiers is limited on the slopes so even in peak times there is next to no queuing, good altitude, consistent snow record.
I've been there more than 20 times, and find it is a very enjoyable place to visit.
EddieSteadyGo said:
No doubt you are right about many French resorts. Meribel, Val d'isere etc.
There are two main types;
i) young adult males who have little skill or control, who have probably watched too many "line of the winter" videos and think they will be perceived as being "cool" if they bowl down the slopes like an out of control freight train.
They frighten the life out of me - when they hit someone (and they always do hit someone eventually), someone is going to get hurt.
ii) the second type are the wannabe racers - they have talent and technique but have little respect for other, slower people, on the mountain.
They don't worry me so much as they don't generally don't hit anyone. The issue they cause is the "wake" they leave can affect the more cautious skier.
If people want to ski really fast, the solution is to get the first lift. Then you can go at mach 2 and it effects no-one else. But there is little policing of inappropriate skiing on the mountain, so it is unlikely to change anytime soon.
I'm fortunate that here in St. Moritz we tend (like Lech) to have a more mature crowd and the average skiing level and maturity is higher. That being said everyone here (locals) has been hit by someone on the slopes. It's why I wear a good back protector and tend to go to the slopes where the idiots stay away from when it's busy.There are two main types;
i) young adult males who have little skill or control, who have probably watched too many "line of the winter" videos and think they will be perceived as being "cool" if they bowl down the slopes like an out of control freight train.
They frighten the life out of me - when they hit someone (and they always do hit someone eventually), someone is going to get hurt.
ii) the second type are the wannabe racers - they have talent and technique but have little respect for other, slower people, on the mountain.
They don't worry me so much as they don't generally don't hit anyone. The issue they cause is the "wake" they leave can affect the more cautious skier.
If people want to ski really fast, the solution is to get the first lift. Then you can go at mach 2 and it effects no-one else. But there is little policing of inappropriate skiing on the mountain, so it is unlikely to change anytime soon.
I don't see the wannabe racers much. It's pretty obvious who is an actual racer, or an ex-racer by their posture and style. They rarely go fast when there are others around. The real racers (whether that is the youth-team folks skiing in country-colours or the masters) will almost always be skiing fast on closed off courses. I have no issue with actual racers - they rarely go fast in a way that might panic other skiers. They're some of the safest skiers on the slopes
100+ kmh is very fast on skis. When the women were here for the World Cup FIS races a few weeks ago the GS skiers were hitting about 100 kmh at the fastest places in the races. Personally I know that my legs aren't strong enough to control the G-Forces you get from carving above about 80kmh nor do I have the skill nor strength to keep the skis continually on the ground at these speeds. I'm sure with bravery you can get there without turning, however you never see a racer or a good skier going straight. It's a sure-sign that the person isn't very good!
Unfortunately, and I say this as a Brit, the British have a poor reputation for skiing outside their skill levels.
St. Moritz isn't really a snowboard sort-of-place but I have to say (as a skier) that there is little more enjoyable that watching a good snowboarder.
Welshbeef said:
A few years ago I was at the side of a Piste and a mate went on ahead I lost track of him but noticed some chap in black face palming the snow
Apologies for making light of your mate's agony but scan reading your first paragraph had me genuinely trying to decide why the skier was in black face and why he was palming the snow. Stag do member lost his contact lense?//j17 said:
flight147z said:
Not actually booked yet but I'll be going back to the dolomites in march. Anyone done the Sella Ronda?
Yep, stayed in Arabba in 2016.Are you asking about the area, or the circuit in partucular?
TCEvo said:
Yes, earlier in the year - Feb half-term; queues were very long in places as some of the lifts aren't that big. Cracking scenery though.
We stayed in Val Gardena (of PH interest there was an Integrale Evo 2 parked behind our hotel
)
Valmeinier again for me in late January.
Realised I never responded to either of you - apologies!We stayed in Val Gardena (of PH interest there was an Integrale Evo 2 parked behind our hotel
) Valmeinier again for me in late January.
I know the Badia/La Villa/San Cassiano/Corvara/Colfosco area reasonably well as I did 4 days there last year - the intention this time is to do the Sella Ronda circuit - I have another 4 days in the region in early March.
Last time I did all of the pistes I could with the pass that I had, which included Vallon and the Gran Risa, so I'm hoping the Sella Ronda will give me access to some different and interesting pistes this time around
flight147z said:
Realised I never responded to either of you - apologies!
I know the Badia/La Villa/San Cassiano/Corvara/Colfosco area reasonably well as I did 4 days there last year - the intention this time is to do the Sella Ronda circuit - I have another 4 days in the region in early March.
Last time I did all of the pistes I could with the pass that I had, which included Vallon and the Gran Risa, so I'm hoping the Sella Ronda will give me access to some different and interesting pistes this time around
The Sella Ronda is a comfortable day's ski from Arabba. Some of the Ski Nazi's (first lift/last lift/no stopping) in our group did it both ways in one day - but Italian coffee's too nice for that. There's also a run that takes you to a little museum on the WW1 front line in the area and another to a restaurant in (I think) top right of the whole area map, so maybe 2 over from Arabba. Also a very long cable car that takes you to the top of a very long red - though as usual I can't find any good piste maps online (at least that match my memories!).I know the Badia/La Villa/San Cassiano/Corvara/Colfosco area reasonably well as I did 4 days there last year - the intention this time is to do the Sella Ronda circuit - I have another 4 days in the region in early March.
Last time I did all of the pistes I could with the pass that I had, which included Vallon and the Gran Risa, so I'm hoping the Sella Ronda will give me access to some different and interesting pistes this time around
//j17 said:
flight147z said:
Realised I never responded to either of you - apologies!
I know the Badia/La Villa/San Cassiano/Corvara/Colfosco area reasonably well as I did 4 days there last year - the intention this time is to do the Sella Ronda circuit - I have another 4 days in the region in early March.
Last time I did all of the pistes I could with the pass that I had, which included Vallon and the Gran Risa, so I'm hoping the Sella Ronda will give me access to some different and interesting pistes this time around
The Sella Ronda is a comfortable day's ski from Arabba. Some of the Ski Nazi's (first lift/last lift/no stopping) in our group did it both ways in one day - but Italian coffee's too nice for that. There's also a run that takes you to a little museum on the WW1 front line in the area and another to a restaurant in (I think) top right of the whole area map, so maybe 2 over from Arabba. Also a very long cable car that takes you to the top of a very long red - though as usual I can't find any good piste maps online (at least that match my memories!).I know the Badia/La Villa/San Cassiano/Corvara/Colfosco area reasonably well as I did 4 days there last year - the intention this time is to do the Sella Ronda circuit - I have another 4 days in the region in early March.
Last time I did all of the pistes I could with the pass that I had, which included Vallon and the Gran Risa, so I'm hoping the Sella Ronda will give me access to some different and interesting pistes this time around
I assume the restaurant at the top is the one at the Top of Piz Boe with the 2 man lift up to the black run which runs onto a long red down to Corvara? I went up there last time and it's a nice run down
There’s also plenty of people who can actually ski fast and well, whose legs are up to the forces involved!
I’ve never hit anyone ever but do hate all the slow ditherers who clutter up the piste.
As such, we’ve recently started backcountry touring to get away from all the (sad to say) Brits and Dutch who seem to have zero awareness of what’s going on around them.
That said, had quite a funny thing happen two days ago in Mayrhofen. A big fat English bloke was on the far right of the chair and when we got to the top, decided he had to be on the left and that the best way to do this was by immediately carving left across everyone’s tips as he stood up. Incredibly, his pole seemed to *somehow* get stuck between one of my edges and my own ski pole and we all got to watch him fall over in slow motion as it was looped round his wrist. Helped him up with a couple of words of advice and sent him on his way
Honestly, think I’m done with resorts. Too slow, too many Brits and too boring. We skinned up the Halslpitzl for a morning and then skied back down it and it was simply beautiful. No pistes, no lifts, no queues and no f
king people. Best day skiing I’ve had in years.
I’ve never hit anyone ever but do hate all the slow ditherers who clutter up the piste.
As such, we’ve recently started backcountry touring to get away from all the (sad to say) Brits and Dutch who seem to have zero awareness of what’s going on around them.
That said, had quite a funny thing happen two days ago in Mayrhofen. A big fat English bloke was on the far right of the chair and when we got to the top, decided he had to be on the left and that the best way to do this was by immediately carving left across everyone’s tips as he stood up. Incredibly, his pole seemed to *somehow* get stuck between one of my edges and my own ski pole and we all got to watch him fall over in slow motion as it was looped round his wrist. Helped him up with a couple of words of advice and sent him on his way
Honestly, think I’m done with resorts. Too slow, too many Brits and too boring. We skinned up the Halslpitzl for a morning and then skied back down it and it was simply beautiful. No pistes, no lifts, no queues and no f
king people. Best day skiing I’ve had in years.troc said:
...we are considering whistler for Christmas but I’ve only ever been later in the season so not sure what it’s like tht early in.
I'm sitting in YVR right now, on my way home having arrived on 15th December. The resort had c.200cms in the week before i arrived, and maybe 150cms since then. I've owned a place here for 15 years and never had a bad Christmas/post Christmas. Far less of a roll of the dice than Europe. flight147z said:
I assume the restaurant at the top is the one at the Top of Piz Boe with the 2 man lift up to the black run which runs onto a long red down to Corvara? I went up there last time and it's a nice run down
Nope. Managed to piece it together and it's the one at the very bottom, right corner of the Alta Badia area, out past Badia (https://www.dolomitisuperski.com/en/Experience/Ski-areas/Alta-Badia/Ski-map). And the cable car long red is of course Marmolada.
//j17 said:
flight147z said:
I assume the restaurant at the top is the one at the Top of Piz Boe with the 2 man lift up to the black run which runs onto a long red down to Corvara? I went up there last time and it's a nice run down
Nope. Managed to piece it together and it's the one at the very bottom, right corner of the Alta Badia area, out past Badia (https://www.dolomitisuperski.com/en/Experience/Ski-areas/Alta-Badia/Ski-map). And the cable car long red is of course Marmolada.
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