Who’s going skiing and where 2019

[Speed 3]

chandrew said:

Speed 3 said:

Four of us are booked to go to Sauze D'Oulx for a long weekend on the 31st. One of our party is getting jittery about the conditions and suggesting cancelling. Given we're already in for flights and accommodation deposits we're trying to calm him down. The video reports don't seem too bad on-piste higher up but one concern is the red link to Sestriere is closed because of investigation into a fatality over xmas, no confirmed date to reopen.

Whilst I think we will go ahead, what theoretical alternative options do we have with a semi-sensible drive from Milan Linate. We're reasonably decent intermediates but getting on a bit in years. Budget is not unlimited as I'm going again with family at half term so Switzerland might be tricky.

We're having a good season in the Engadin / St. Moritz. Of course what this area is famous for are the 5 star hotels and equally smart mountain restaurants but there are cheaper options.

Before moving here we used to stay in Inn Lodge in Celerina. It's where the bobsleigh teams stay when there is a big event. The top floor comprises of studios with kitchens which can bring the cost down.

I think the hotels still do a half-price deal on the ski passes which would bring the cost down.

If you stay outside St. Moritz itself the costs might be lower. The local buses have good connections and are free if you're with your skis / have a ski pass.

As noted though, I'm sure the resort you've booked is OK. The Alps has a real North / South divide and the heavy snow last week was mostly at the North side. I guess we had 50cm over 2 days which was nice but nothing really to worry about.

As thought, we'll be fine. Just wound him up suggesting we might have to cancel for whiteout

[SaulGoodman]

CAPP0 said:

If you're going to the 3 Valleys, make sure you book in to absolutely THE best secret, hidden, hard-to-find restaurant I've ever had a ski lunch at

Don't tell everyone!!

[//j17]

Rojibo said:

So, please forgive me for asking what may be an obvious question, in anticipation of our holiday I've been reviewing the piste map (sad?) and I've spotted a couple of black runs with little L's in circles, any idea what these mean? I can't find a key to it anywhere. Unpisted perhaps? Though these are normally marked natur' I thought.

That's the Alpe d'Huez piste map and the grey background behind the run indicates a freeride area, with the white "L" in a black circle with an orange border indicating a difficult freeride area.

So an unbashed piste who's difficulty will depend on conditions.

[Rojibo]

//j17 said:

That's the Alpe d'Huez piste map and the grey background behind the run indicates a freeride area, with the white "L" in a black circle with an orange border indicating a difficult freeride area.

So an unbashed piste who's difficulty will depend on conditions.

Oooh, thank you, never seen that kind of signage before.

Our hotel is right beside the Grande Sure lift, so if we have some heavy snow one night I know where I'll be heading first thing....

Edited by Rojibo on Monday 21st January 18:56

[//j17]

Rojibo said:

//j17 said:

That's the Alpe d'Huez piste map and the grey background behind the run indicates a freeride area, with the white "L" in a black circle with an orange border indicating a difficult freeride area.

So an unbashed piste who's difficulty will depend on conditions.

Oooh, thank you, never seen that kind of signage before.

Our hotel is right beside the Grande Sure lift, so if we have some heavy snow one night I know where I'll be heading first thing....

Edited by Rojibo on Monday 21st January 18:56

I only know because I was there the week before last and still had a copy of the piste map knocking around

[renmure]

The snow here in Austria is fabulous. The hotel owners and ski school folk as saying it’s the best for 20 years. I’ve had great skiing based at Soll even when the village is fairly devoid of snow. It’s piled up higher than many of the buildings at the moments. Should be a great couple of weeks ahead.

[ThorB]

Yep, currently in Mayrhofen and the conditions are superb.

[Abc321]

Strange one. Going to watch England in Bulgaria (Borovets) in October of this year and was wondering if this is 'in season', or if we'll be able to ski? Went once with school years ago so new to this!

[TCEvo]

Got back from Valmeinier late on Sat having go there late on Tues; so 3.5 days of skiing - had some decent snow on Wed pm which carried on into the night so decent new cover for Thurs.

Generally pretty decent conditions & the resort was due another large dump on Sat evening - looking at the webcam's today that seems to have arrived.

[Fattyfat]

Heading to Pamporovo at pretty much the end of season in March. Never skied before....

Any tips?

[Fluffsri]

Learn before you go and have a lesson when you get there.

[TCEvo]

Fattyfat said:

Heading to Pamporovo at pretty much the end of season in March. Never skied before....

Any tips?

- Insurance that fully covers where your going & skiing/winter sports
- Wear a helmet
- Decathlon gear is very good value, although they start taking winter stuff out of their stores quite early on
- Depending on your view don't/do drink lots of Jagermeister...

[Welshbeef]

Fattyfat said:

Heading to Pamporovo at pretty much the end of season in March. Never skied before....

Any tips?

If possible take a few lessons first in the U.K. so you are able to stop (pizza) and turn else your first 2 days will be on a very very slight gradient nursary slope.
You will then be able to go up the mountain and explore some great blues.

If it were my first week again I’d not try to go on reds instead simply have a blast on as many blues as possible.

The food is great value you’ll have a lot of fun.

[Fattyfat]

TCEvo said:

- Insurance that fully covers where your going & skiing/winter sports
- Wear a helmet
- Decathlon gear is very good value, although they start taking winter stuff out of their stores quite early on
- Depending on your view don't/do drink lots of Jagermeister...

Cheers,

Insurance to be sorted...
Decathlon provided a helmet, jacket, gloves and goggles for quite reasonable ££. Had to hit sports direct for trousers as Decathlon had low stock.
Going with a few mates of varying ability, Jager is probably on the cards.
Dry slope in the next few weeks.

Can't wait!!

Have a relative stuck out in Pamporovo at the moment, apparently quite a big dump of snow lately.

[//j17]

Fattyfat said:

TCEvo said:

- Insurance that fully covers where your going & skiing/winter sports
- Wear a helmet
- Decathlon gear is very good value, although they start taking winter stuff out of their stores quite early on
- Depending on your view don't/do drink lots of Jagermeister...

Cheers,

Insurance to be sorted...
Decathlon provided a helmet, jacket, gloves and goggles for quite reasonable ££. Had to hit sports direct for trousers as Decathlon had low stock.
Going with a few mates of varying ability, Jager is probably on the cards.
Dry slope in the next few weeks.

Can't wait!!

Have a relative stuck out in Pamporovo at the moment, apparently quite a big dump of snow lately.

If you can try to apres ski Austrian style, rather than French.

Does depend on you/your mates but French style can tend to be ski/dinner/drink on a full belly so thin going to a club till 3am is a good idea. Austrian style tends to be ski/drink on empty stomach/dinner/feel stuffed, drunk and tired/go to bed at 10:30. Both are great evenings, it's just one of these sees you up bright and early and feel much better than you expected when you went to sleep and able to get value for the £££ you've spent on lessons/kit/lift passes, while the other sees you missing lessons/half the day.

[JEA1K]

//j17 said:

If you can try to apres ski Austrian style, rather than French.

Does depend on you/your mates but French style can tend to be ski/dinner/drink on a full belly so thin going to a club till 3am is a good idea. Austrian style tends to be ski/drink on empty stomach/dinner/feel stuffed, drunk and tired/go to bed at 10:30. Both are great evenings, it's just one of these sees you up bright and early and feel much better than you expected when you went to sleep and able to get value for the £££ you've spent on lessons/kit/lift passes, while the other sees you missing lessons/half the day.

Pretty accurate description

I've had to adapt my own style as the Austrian apres developed into the Austrian/French apres many years ago and I was getting very little sleep and when I did, I would wake up with a hangover in the early hours. So now its very little apres, maybe 2/3 beers, back to apartment, shower, chill out then out early for dinner, few drinks afterwards and bed by 11pm at the latest. Not very rock and roll but I get the most of out my days and nights now as I can actually remember them.

[honest_delboy]

That's me bottom left, Les Contamines last week.

Thanks to the fella who suggested speedyboarding for GVA on a Sunday, saved my bacon.

Two questions :

Carte Neige - Do you need it if you have travel insurance ?
Goggles - Any luck finding ones that fit better with a lid (Anon Thomson)

[//j17]

honest_delboy said:

Two questions :

Carte Neige - Do you need it if you have travel insurance ?
Goggles - Any luck finding ones that fit better with a lid (Anon Thomson)

Carte Neige - You don't NEED it if you have travel insurance (with winter sports cover) but it's usually only a couple of beer tokens and as it's linked to your lift pass, so easy for recovery teams to check you have cover so no risk of spending time on a mountain with a broken leg trying to convince the guys you DO have cover.

Goggles - Just take your helmet shopping with you and try some one.

[p1stonhead]

Off to Flaine next week.

Any good tips / thoughts about whats good and whats not? Never been to Flaine before.

[Al Murphy]

An early start for me on Sunday heading to Ruka, Finland. It looks like they’ve had a steady dusting of snow and conditions are good, it’s certainly cold there consistently seeing temperatures down to -20C !

What snow activity tracking apps can you recommend? I’ve never bothered with one before but after some
discussion with the rest of my group I’m curious to track the mileage I cover during the week.

Thanks,

Al