Who is going skiing and where in 2017

[feef]

Unless you're Saucerboy, and then blades are cool

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ffyMGbD-3c

[NorthDave]

Jarcy said:

P.S. 'blades were a real hoot, but of course totally knobbish, and especially inappropriate now that I'm the wrong side of 50.
Secretly - I'd still like another go on them.

I've never tried them - worried I'll enjoy them and start skiing them, with the prerequisite fancy dress outfit!!

[ColdoRS]

feef said:

ColdoRS said:

I'm in Courchevel just now, typing with a beer in front of me and Olga our chalet host behind me getting the dinner ready.

The weather is great and skiing is good, if a little light on the white stuff. Plenty in 1850 but can't ski down to 1650 as yet. I think we'll head over to Val Thorens tomorrow.

Goal for this holiday is to master backwards skiing...!

Ski with one leg ahead of the other and looking over the shoulder of the side of 'back' or downhillmost ski and switch as you turn. It'll make it easier to see where you're going.

Yeah getting there, it's the seamless 180 back to conventional skiing that I've yet to get the hang of…!

Off to Val T today

[malks222]

ColdoRS said:

Yeah getting there, it's the seamless 180 back to conventional skiing that I've yet to get the hang of…!

you need to really lean onto the back of the skis to get the front back round. when skiing backwards you normally stay in the same position as forward skiing, so when your going backwards your weight is probably over the front of the skis (the equivalent of leaning back over the tails of the skis when skiing downhill), you need to get pressure onto the tails of the skis, which in turn helps them engage and actually turns you back round.

[Condi]

Just about to book a 3rd trip this season, quick week to Morillion and the Grand Massif in Feb.

[RC1]

RC1 said:

//j17 said:

December in Morzine, France and Feb in Arabba, Italy booked.

Now to hurd cats, I mean friends to get a Jan week in Ischgl sorted...

have never ski'd but am booked to go to morzine over xmas with the family

any idea on whether i should be getting a transfer to the resort or hire a car?

i have had fun with buying the gear though...

so a quick update following the excellent help from you guys over the past weeks. i am now into my third day at morzine. some highlights

- alpybus did a great job door to door but i would have been equally happy with the drive from gva to morzine given the total lack of snow (save for avoriaz)
- morzine is very cute and the esf school at the foot of pleney has a great little run for some apres ski lesson action
- the bel alpe chalet is fantastic and what value - eur 1700 for 4 people in family room for 5 nights including breakfast and a 3-5 course dinner (no alcohol)
- les gets is a 10 min bus ride away and offer more hustle and bustle and what looks to be a wider range of snow activities
- doorstep skis came to our hotel at 8pm on the day of arrival to get my boys kitted uo
- the esf school is busy although i hear mixed reviews for kids group lessons compared to the other smaller local outfits
- notwithstanding the above, after 4 hours my boys are able to get their gear on and off, glide down a gentle incline, walk uphill etc etc
- on the downside, neither my wife nor i have been able to get any instruction so far given our limitation on logistics

certainly keen to come here again so thanks again to all that helped me navigate my first ski adventure
- we never got around to

[jonny996]

RC1 said:

so a quick update following the excellent help from you guys over the past weeks. i am now into my third day at morzine. some highlights

- alpybus did a great job door to door but i would have been equally happy with the drive from gva to morzine given the total lack of snow (save for avoriaz)
- morzine is very cute and the esf school at the foot of pleney has a great little run for some apres ski lesson action
- the bel alpe chalet is fantastic and what value - eur 1700 for 4 people in family room for 5 nights including breakfast and a 3-5 course dinner (no alcohol)
- les gets is a 10 min bus ride away and offer more hustle and bustle and what looks to be a wider range of snow activities
- doorstep skis came to our hotel at 8pm on the day of arrival to get my boys kitted uo
- the esf school is busy although i hear mixed reviews for kids group lessons compared to the other smaller local outfits
- notwithstanding the above, after 4 hours my boys are able to get their gear on and off, glide down a gentle incline, walk uphill etc etc
- on the downside, neither my wife nor i have been able to get any instruction so far given our limitation on logistics

certainly keen to come here again so thanks again to all that helped me navigate my first ski adventure
- we never got around to

Glad you are enjoying it, truth be told if you are enjoying this little snow then a full blown snow dump will certainly have you smiling, keep at it , it is worth it in the end & your kids will thank you for it

[PHuzzy]

I'm going somewhere on the 7 or 8th January for a week but until more snow starts falling I haven't made a decision on where.
I did the 3V last year and the off piste was amazing so if a snow god is listening I'd like a repeat of that!

[piers1]

Off to Les Deux Alpes next Tuesday

[caterhamboy]

piers1 said:

Off to Les Deux Alpes next Tuesday

Been there twice, good resort and if you are feeling brave you can get to La Grave ( the grave) !!
from the glacier. ( would hire a guide tho )

Don't forget the have a few apres in the umbrella bar at the bottom of the learner slope !!!

Also it's good for a mini race, you can ski top of the glacier to umbrella bar in one run of 8.5 miles, my best time was 18.47 mins.

Edited by caterhamboy on Tuesday 27th December 18:22

[cashmax]

Having just come back from Xmas at Morzine, I can report that the conditions are very grim indeed. Zero snow or open runs at Morzine, Super Morzine, Les Gets. Everyone hitting Avoriaz where a sprinkled snow on a number of hard packed ice bases have allowed a handful of runs to be open. The Swiss side looks like something from the sound of music with some areas totally devoid of any snow at all leaving 6 or 7 runs in Chatel the only savour.

There are more lifts open for walking than there are for skiing and almost every resort in the PDS area has reopened lifts for biking.

I think this next week will be the hardest for the area, because Xmas week is no longer premium because of the snow risk. Most chalets were unoccupied, but as from today there will be at least double if not treble the number of people and however good the Prodains lift might be at sending people up to Avoriaz they just can't steal any more snow from anywhere and the snow makers don't work in warm conditions. Even if they do manage to keep it open, they will without doubt be forced to limit the number of passes sold, so if you haven't bought a multi-day pass by now, you are likely to have to drive a very long way to find skiing and even further to find decent skiing.

[Welshbeef]

Bansko is open lots of runs open fake snow running all the time and it's cold really cold.

So if your after snow covered Piste it's worth a consideration given Les Gets and others are grass Pistes.

[cashmax]

Welshbeef said:

Bansko is open lots of runs open fake snow running all the time and it's cold really cold.

So if your after snow covered Piste it's worth a consideration given Les Gets and others are grass Pistes.

I seem to recall reading a while ago that you had a Chalet there. How often do you end up using it?

[Welshbeef]

cashmax said:

Welshbeef said:

Bansko is open lots of runs open fake snow running all the time and it's cold really cold.

So if your after snow covered Piste it's worth a consideration given Les Gets and others are grass Pistes.

I seem to recall reading a while ago that you had a Chalet there. How often do you end up using it?

Every year skiing and also manage a summer too - plus we have a big summer holiday elsewhere.

Does it make financial sense? Hmm take the rose tinted off nope

[lost in espace]

piers1 said:

Off to Les Deux Alpes next Tuesday

I am off on the 7th, got an incredible deal Hotel Brunerie with Crystal for £330 with half price ski passes. Lets hope for more snow!

[cashmax]

Welshbeef said:

cashmax said:

Welshbeef said:

Bansko is open lots of runs open fake snow running all the time and it's cold really cold.

So if your after snow covered Piste it's worth a consideration given Les Gets and others are grass Pistes.

I seem to recall reading a while ago that you had a Chalet there. How often do you end up using it?

Every year skiing and also manage a summer too - plus we have a big summer holiday elsewhere.

Does it make financial sense? Hmm take the rose tinted off nope

So do you rent it for the rest of the year? I have always fancied a chalet somewhere, but just can't get my head around the economics of it all, if you use it twice a year only, then unless there is decent capital appreciation, how do you justify owning vs renting?

[Lotus Notes]

My local resort...

[cashmax]

Les Crosets 2 days ago. Unlikely to be any white left by now.

[//j17]

cashmax said:

I have always fancied a chalet somewhere, but just can't get my head around the economics of it all...

Don't start trying to apply economics to ANYTHING to do with skiing!

[anonymous-user]

cashmax said:

So do you rent it for the rest of the year? I have always fancied a chalet somewhere, but just can't get my head around the economics of it all, if you use it twice a year only, then unless there is decent capital appreciation, how do you justify owning vs renting?

I had a place in Verbier for 4 years that I rented on an annual contract.

When you isolated the costs associated at travelling at peak times (I have school age kids) and then get a man maths magic calculator it wasn't so bad.

I was able to allow friends to visit, last minute no thought mini trips and all travel with hand luggage.

I am only a moderate skier so never got bored of the skiing and enjoyed really getting to know an area and some of the people in the resort.

I'd definitely consider doing it again.