I've booked my first ski trip, now I need advice.

If it's busy season with kids, I do the following.

Up first thing,
Skip breakfast
First to lifts (7.45 they will usually let you up with staff if you get friendly)
Board whilst its quiet
Take breakfast at 10.30 whilst the slope fills out.
Board over lunch whilst everywhere is packed and the hill empty
Break for beer and cakes about 3pm
Board till last lift at highest point, longest run
Have a beer at top if possible
Have a long run home 45 mins after the last lift / no-one there perfect!!!
Few apres ski beers with the crowds
Nap
Late (and most importantly) large dinner when kids are all out of restaurant
Few more quiet beers
Bed


......and always carry at least 3 decent sized chocolate bars, I prefer Snickers cos thye release of energy from the nuts is slower than the chocolate :)

Yeah I think that's great advice

I don't care much for having lunch, we will probably take something to eat with us on a back pack.

and as dinner goes i'm from Portugal so I usually dine later than everyone else, so hopefully the restaurants won't be full up, and i have my 4 course meal at the chalet paid for already.

1. My strong advice is to book into lessons for the full week. As long as the classes are not too full, and they shouldn't be at that time of year, they are usually good fun and very sociable. Even a very average instructor will bring you along much faster than you will manage yourself and will ensure that you keep out of trouble - there is nothing worse on a 1st holiday that finding yourself standing at the top of a steep slope utterly terrified and with no other way out than to ski it or slide down on your bum!!!

Most experienced skiers will continue to take lessons from time to time - otherwise you do not develop and bad habits become ingrained, habits that will let you down when faced with more challenging terrain.

2. Alpe D'Heuz is a great resort for beginners - there are extensive easy slopes within easy reach of the resort and it tends to be bright and sunny. The conditions at the time are really a matter of luck but there should still be plenty of snow. In any event, there is no point worrying about it.

3. Don't sweat the draglifts - they are intimidating at first but like everything else you will get used to them quickly enough.

4. You will be astonished at the amount of progress you will make in the first week, particularly if you do opt for lessons. Relax and enjoy it - 99% of people fall madly in love with the sport (and many become obsessional about it - be warned :twisted:).

I've checked a school in Alpe D'huez and it seems like the lessons are only two hours a day, from 10 to 12, i don't know why i thought the lessons would be the whole day.

Can you please advise me of a good school in there?

tino_11 wrote:If it's busy season with kids, I do the following.

Up first thing,
Skip breakfast
First to lifts (7.45 they will usually let you up with staff if you get friendly)
Board whilst its quiet
Take breakfast at 10.30 whilst the slope fills out.
Board over lunch whilst everywhere is packed and the hill empty
Break for beer and cakes about 3pm
Board till last lift at highest point, longest run
Have a beer at top if possible
Have a long run home 45 mins after the last lift / no-one there perfect!!!
Few apres ski beers with the crowds
Nap
Late (and most importantly) large dinner when kids are all out of restaurant
Few more quiet beers
Bed


......and always carry at least 3 decent sized chocolate bars, I prefer Snickers cos thye release of energy from the nuts is slower than the chocolate :)

You and me need to ski/board together, Tino.

Sure that can be arranged, I wonder where we would do it? :?: :wink:

I missed out the 9.30am Glühwein...how careless

tino_11 wrote:Sure that can be arranged, I wonder where we would do it? :?: :wink:

I missed out the 9.30am Glühwein...how careless

Not got a trip to "The Hof" booked for next season yet, but I would consider it a distinct possibility that me and Mrs H will be there for a week at some stage. Lets see if the dates work. I have a feeling we would get on, that was all, nothing weird or dodgy )

I agree and I should hope not as well :shock:

The Hof is easy for me at short notice, just hop on the overnight train about 1am, and boom in Mayrhofen first thing the following day refreshed and ready to go.

I love living in central Europe, it gives you a lot of flexibility!