Switzerland Skiing?

[rfn]

An opportunity has arisen for me to go with some friends to Switzerland skiing in February next year.

Now, I haven't been on a ski slope, real or not, since I was 10 (and I wasn't very good then)...

My friends aren't brilliant skiiers but a damned sight better than me.

Would I be unwise to go for this opportunity, bearing in mind I live less than half an hour from the Snowdome, Tamworth? Is it something I should pick up soon ish?

Oh... and should I drive or fly? (plane costs about £60).

[sleep envy]

don't bother with a dry slope, book some lessons when you're there

if you can get a few people together driving is always the better option, IMO, unless you can get tickets for the snow train

[eightseventhree]

I would say get some snowdome lessons in the UK.

I have been snowboarding now for 7 years and when i first started there was nothing better than going on first holiday and going to the very top of mountain and riding all the way down.

If you are having lessons you are going to spend 1/2 the week learning and missing out.

Get the basics here (up to parallels) then ride with your mates when out there. You ill pick it up quicker as you will be pushing to keep up with them. (or laying in a hospital)

[130R]

Tamworth isn't dry slope. I would get down there and have some lessons, you will enjoy it more in Switzerland if you do. You should be able to pick it up quite quickly really.

[sleep envy]

the most annoying thing for people who can ski or board is having to wait for those that have had a few lessons back in blighty come down the mountain

it ruins the day no end

[Marcellus]

Gift horse.....mouth....never look into one!!!

of course you should go, why wouldn't you??

Even if you don't ski or don't wnat to ski.....mountain air, vin rouge, good food, week away with your mates what could be better??

As for fly or drive.....flying is a lot cheaper!!

[eightseventhree]

i know what your saying i have waited for ages for people at the bottom of runs and it is annoying. But much better when there is a bar to wait at!

[rfn]

Marcellus said:

Gift horse.....mouth....never look into one!!!

I think yes is going to be the answer. Having been to Switz in summer I'd love to be there in winter! Such a charming place.

Marcellus said:

As for fly or drive.....flying is a lot cheaper!!

Maybe I'll save the driving for another time, it's 800+ miles each way which is two/three days driving (and about £100 each way in fuel + accomodation). The plane takes about 2 hours and is cheaper.

[Thorny]

do it - you will love it!

I personally prefer driving as easier to take all your kit and I love roadtrips! Also nice to stop for a night en route...

[tegwin]

I went to Switz last year the week the slopes opened for my first skiing sesion...

Was tricky at first but with a good insturctor I picked it up in no time....Really good fun...DO IT!

Dont drive out in the winter...more hassle than its worth..

But DO drive over someime in the summer!

[HiRich]

Definitely go, and definitely get some lessons at the SnowDome. Closer to departure, get one of the group to come with you and "assess" you.

There are always options for the whole "will I slow them up too much" thing:

• You might continue with lessons in the resort (all day or half day). If you progress, you can always bale out for a day and arrange to play with your mates.
• I've been with total novices. In the morning they took lessons, while we blitzed the mountain. After lunch we were happy to cruise, choose routes that were more suitable for them, and take them places the school never would (good experience and much more fun for them)
• If you do ski with them you can always bale out for a bit to let them have a blast (you stop for a coffee while they go back up the lift for a quick blast. Meet here in about 30?)
• They might want to split into fast and slow groups anyway.
• There are often easy and difficult routes to the same place - you take the green path, while they drop over the edge through the mogul field.

If they're a decent bunch, there are always ways and means provided you are committed to the skiing, and sympathetic to their needs.

[mechsympathy]

rfn said:

Maybe I'll save the driving for another time, it's 800+ miles each way which is two/three days driving (and about £100 each way in fuel + accomodation). The plane takes about 2 hours and is cheaper.

It's a day you big poof. Otherwise you have to get to the airport (with associated taxi or parking costs), wait two hours with the cretins who don'tunderstand what 100ml means, arrive in Geneva and then face a long and tedious trip in a coach, which has been delayed as the same cretins who were at the airport now can't find the right coach.

Drive

[sleep envy]

HiRich said:

* You might continue with lessons in the resort (all day or half day). If you progress, you can always bale out for a day and arrange to play with your mates

but don;t do more than 3 hours lessons a day, you'll be so knackered you'll waste your money

best do 9am-12pm, have a fat, booxy lunch and back on the slopes at 1.30pm

[rfn]

Thanks for all the advice, Rich, mechsympathy, sleep envy (and the ones I can't recall while typing...) Much appreciated!.

I will look into driving more seriously over the weekend - just thinking got to add up cost of buses/trains from Geneva to Kandersteg as well. One minor issue is if I break something I might not be able to drive home?

Edited by rfn on Friday 15th August 15:15

[9.3]

HiRich said:

Definitely go, and definitely get some lessons at the SnowDome. Closer to departure, get one of the group to come with you and "assess" you.

There are always options for the whole "will I slow them up too much" thing:

• You might continue with lessons in the resort (all day or half day). If you progress, you can always bale out for a day and arrange to play with your mates.
• I've been with total novices. In the morning they took lessons, while we blitzed the mountain. After lunch we were happy to cruise, choose routes that were more suitable for them, and take them places the school never would (good experience and much more fun for them)
• If you do ski with them you can always bale out for a bit to let them have a blast (you stop for a coffee while they go back up the lift for a quick blast. Meet here in about 30?)
• They might want to split into fast and slow groups anyway.
• There are often easy and difficult routes to the same place - you take the green path, while they drop over the edge through the mogul field.

If they're a decent bunch, there are always ways and means provided you are committed to the skiing, and sympathetic to their needs.

+1 What I would have advised to the letter!!

[Thorny]

mechsympathy said:

rfn said:

Maybe I'll save the driving for another time, it's 800+ miles each way which is two/three days driving (and about £100 each way in fuel + accomodation). The plane takes about 2 hours and is cheaper.

It's a day you big poof. Otherwise you have to get to the airport (with associated taxi or parking costs), wait two hours with the cretins who don'tunderstand what 100ml means, arrive in Geneva and then face a long and tedious trip in a coach, which has been delayed as the same cretins who were at the airport now can't find the right coach.

Drive

[Marcellus]

We have loads of "mixed ability" groups out....works well with the novices having lessons (only 3 hours as someone else said) and then meeting up with their mates for lunch and going off in the afternoon.

[Nimbus]

sleep envy said:

don't bother with a dry slope, book some lessons when you're there

if you can get a few people together driving is always the better option, IMO, unless you can get tickets for the snow train

Driving, or snow train to Switzerland ???

[BoRED S2upid]

I went with some very good skiers, had one lesson agt tamworth basically learnt how to snowplough down the slope, when I arrived I went to ski school every morning whiles the others went skiing, in the afgernoons we messed around by the fourth day of skischool I was joining everyone else in the afternoons and keeping up (even if I did end up on my butt a bit) end of the holiday we had some great runs out together and it was a great holiday.

Oh and next time I willincorporate a road trip into it.

[DWP]

Should you go, of course. Fly, pick up hire car in Geneva. Book flights now and car. If going on charter holiday, your transfers will be arranged. Worth making sure you are fit enough to slide about on planks all day. Begin gently now, running and cycling, mix that with a snowdome trip or two. That way nothing will come as a huge surprise in the Alps. Also when of the best kept secrets in Switzerland is Dole.