Flying to Bergamo, Italy - where to go skiing from there?

bandit wrote:Reducing grooming frequency has some benefits.

It keeps speeds down.
It reduces costs for the resort.
It discourages slope users with limited skills from venturing beyond their capabilities.


Why should all the slopes be flat?

I think most people who go to ski in resorts (something I know you dont do much of on piste these days) expect the slopes to be kept in good condition, which means groomed and smooth. Flat is probably the wrong word.

However, please dont assume that anyone who skis on piste is a slope user with limited skills.

I'm assuming here that you have seen the results of ski hill remodelling when the slopes are uncovered in summer.

The Northern French Alps in particular have produced some absolute shockers.

Still, we can't have to put up with any of those nasty natural features eh )

It's not to do with remodelling, it's to do with poor piste bashing. The piste was maybe 2.5 piste basherers wide and the outsides had been done first followed by a final bashing down the middle. This left a 8-12" rut either side of the central bit.

I like to be objectively with my comments remarking on the 'states' of the pistes compared with others at other resorts. Regarding 'discouraging slope users with limited ability' - is that not somewhat elitist?

Simply put, slopes should be flat (well groomed -rut free), lifts should be working, runs should be open. That's what I pay for and probably the majority of others do too. If you want uneven then go off pisting.

Toucanspeed wrote:. Regarding 'discouraging slope users with limited ability' - is that not somewhat elitist?

No not really. I took lessons beyond the basics to improve my skills and enhance the experience I get on snow. If you think that's elitist it's fine by me.

If you want pristine grooming I suggest Courchevel 1850 would suit your party.

There are huge problems for many resorts at the moment with the dumbing down of slopes leading to excessive speeding, collisions and fatalities.

http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/0,1518,599190,00.html

[abuse removed - be polite or keep it to yourself, ta, Admin]

Toucanspeed wrote:[abuse removed - Admin]

I'm here to help the OP. :mrgreen:

PS. Where exactly in the report does it say 'dumbing down'or 'speeding'?

Actually I expect that as you seem quite cross about this resorts failure to come up to your standards that you addressed the lift company while you were there.

What was their response?


You seem to be slagging off a whole resort and damaging the livelihoods of the folks that live and work there. Perhaps J2ski should invite the resort to respond directly onto this thread.

Flinging abuse around on J2ski does nothing to help the original poster.

Perhaps I can interject and diffuse this situation.

Bandit, your post did actually come across as giving the impression that you were better than people who use pistes. I know you dont think that is the case, but your wording did hint at some kind of snobbery. Sorry, but thats the way it read to me, and obviously to the other poster on this thread.

I also think that they were making a comment that the pistes had not been pisted particularly well, not that they were looking for perfection. I also tend to agree that when you pay for a lift pass, you expect the lifts to be in working order, notwithstanding those closed for other reasons such as avalanche risk or lack of snow for example.

I think Toucan maybe needs to retract the "cock" comment, as it was unnecessary and does not do any good, as you rightly pointed out Bandit.

Knowing as much about you and what you do Bandit, I know you have a wealth of knowledge, but I do think in this case you maybe didnt quite get across what you meant, unless of course you did mean that people who use pistes are just limited in their ability.....which I dont think you did.

Anyway, kiss and make up?


Christ, me the peacemaker?????? Who'd have thought it?

Tony_H wrote:


Christ, me the peacemaker?????? Who'd have thought it?

Hells Bells, have you been drinking :shock: