advice for first time solo!

Hi, i'm needing some help!! I'm looking to go skiing Dec 09-Jan 10 with my boyfriend. I've been skiing a few times on school trips (the last time was about 6yrs ago!) my b/f has never been skiing, we are both going to be going to thr dry ski slopes for a few month before we go, me to get myself back in the swing of things, him to learn to ski!! I'm wondering if anyone has any advice for where would be good for our first time skiing just the two of us! We quite fancy Austria but theres that much info online i can differentiate between the beginners/intermediate stuff!! :shock: Also we are going to be skiing on a regular basis as of next year when i finish uni, would you recommend we have our own boots and ski's?
Thanks for any help you can give me!!! :-)
Leigh-Anne

Hi Leigh-Anne the whole dry slope issue will being out lots of arguments for and against... but seems to me that the better way forward might be an indoor facility where there is 'real' (ish) snow. If nothing else, it will get yr BF used to putting boot & skis on and off, how they feel, and getting a lesson or two in before you arrive.

Wherever you choose to go, you might want to bear these in mind:

-Is it really easy to get to and from the nursery slopes?
-Can we handle button lifts or would we prefer 'magic carpet' travelator things to get up the nursey slopes?
-Is there enough TRULY beginner territory around for when we've found our feet a bit - so, for example, not Chamonix or Val d'Isere where the green and blue designation on some slopes can be misleading
-In general, am I making things easy for myself - well-positioned accommodation, the right ski school or private tuition (ask for specific recommendations on this site when you're sure of where you're going)

You'll get a ton of responses about where to go on this posting - from people who really want you to have a great time. My suggestion by the way would be Portes de Soleil, esp. Morzine/Les Gets; easy to get to, lots of easy greens, some good ski schools, not crazy expensive like some French resorts. But it's not very high, so keep an eye on snow fall in December... Also, people keep recommending Deux Alpes to me; not pretty, but good snow record and good green territory.

Whatever - have fun!

Indoor snow slope for a few lessons before you go if you can.

Alpe d'Huez is good beginner territory with loads of greens right next to the village, also lots of only slightly tougher runs to progress to. Not the most scenic of places as it's pretty well purpose built resort, but plenty of bars and restaurants if you have the energy, also a lovely heated open air swimming pool.

Dave

thanks!! thats a great help!! i'll certainly have a look at Portes de Soleil and Alpe d'Huez!! amd i better start looking for indoor snow slopes!! lol. I've no doubt i'll be back to ask more questions when we've came to a decision!! (the outdoor heated pool is sounding rather nice!! lol)

You could also add Les Deux Alpes to your list, a proper town which if you didn't fancy skiing has plenty to offer, aswell as the fact that at resort level is about 10 drags serving beginner runs!

Hi Leigh-Anne,
Well, if you live anywhere near one, I think a 'real' snow snowdome is much better than the mat sort of dry ski slope.

I slipped over on a bit of greasy mat (before I'd even got my skis on) and landed on my bum, and I could hardly sit down for about 3 weeks. And then another time I broke my shoulder on the same dry ski slope in a lesson, because my stick got stuck in the mat and caught my ski and over I went.

The sort with snow are much softer to land on, and more like the real thing, although more expensive, naturally.

Ally

Have a wonderful time Conveyor lifts are the devil.

Take a look at going to Banff in Canada. There should be some good deals this season. The teaching there is great (and all speak native English). Sunshine Village and Lake Louise have some of the best beginner terrain available. I would reccomend that you buy some good boots if you plan on skiing a lot. Also, rather than hiring skis, you can pick up some cheap older model skis from a few years ago. Look for an old pair of atomic C9's or something like that. Even some second hand skis would probably be better than most rental models. It will save you money in the long run.

Don't bother with a dry slope. You will fall over when learning; so given the choice between carpet and snow, I know which I'd choose. You will likely learn far more in the first day of your holiday than in a one or two hour lesson even at the snow domes. When you compare the cost, a 1-2 hour lesson at the snow dome is about the same as a whole day of teaching in Banff (on a three day package). It's not worth it in my opinion.