J2Ski group holiday to Tignes January 13th 2013

AllyG wrote:Hang on a minute FQ and everyone else, wait for me to buy my bendy pencils first, before you give out your lunch orders :wink:

Felthorpe - I have a copy of the piste map from when I was in Tignes before, and I will circle all 9 restaurants and surely I will be able to find at least one of them for some lunch :lol:

I suppose it will depend on the weather, and what Andy and Catp say, but I fancy having lunch on the first Sunday in les Clochetons, in Val d'Isere, on the blue Santons piste. After I've negotiated that half-pipe I reckon I will deserve a hot chocolate and some lunch, and the prices are reasonable.

http://www.lesclochetons.com/menus.html



Brooksy, I don't think Andy is volunteering to take over all the camera work - just the first Sunday before you get there :D

Ally, this is the view back to the half-pipe, I took this in 2008 - the last time I was out there.



I see they have not changed their chairs yet, you better be careful when you sit down Ally :shock: :twisted:

Thanks Far Queue :D

What a lovely photo! It shows how you have to really go for it, down the schuss bit after the half-pipe, to get to the restaurant without having to 'skate' or walk.

AllyG wrote:Thanks Far Queue :D

What a lovely photo! It shows how you have to really go for it, down the schuss bit after the half-pipe, to get to the restaurant without having to 'skate' or walk.

Which is another reason why it's so hard on beginners to do the Santons run: they've had their confidence destroyed in the half pipe (often) and thus can't bring themsleves to go for it through the end of that and carry speed through the flat. Thus they end up polling for ages, which is tiring and thus they hate it even more

I think they should mark Santons as red to put beginners off and make them accept there's no shame in riding the gondola...

Great photo FQ though!

andyoneil wrote:

AllyG wrote:Thanks Far Queue :D

What a lovely photo! It shows how you have to really go for it, down the schuss bit after the half-pipe, to get to the restaurant without having to 'skate' or walk.

Which is another reason why it's so hard on beginners to do the Santons run: they've had their confidence destroyed in the half pipe (often) and thus can't bring themsleves to go for it through the end of that and carry speed through the flat. Thus they end up polling for ages, which is tiring and thus they hate it even more

I think they should mark Santons as red to put beginners off and make them accept there's no shame in riding the gondola...

Great photo FQ though!

Whilst I agree, it is unlikely to happen as VDI would then not have an "easy" skiable run back to the resort from the Tignes side. Due to the people I have been with, I have never actually done the black to the side of Santons, but I wonder if it would actually be the easier route for competent skiers. Mainly as it would keep them out of the way of the beginners in the chute.

Thanks for the comments on the pic btw. It was actually a snap taken with my phone, and not even a modern phone at that. The full size pic shows it is not so hot, and can be seen here if you wish.. Clicki Ici

AllyG wrote:
I suppose it will depend on the weather, and what Andy and Catp say, but I fancy having lunch on the first Sunday in les Clochetons, in Val d'Isere, on the blue Santons piste.

Just plan to follow you Ally.....

Mind you I have started a little exercise in getting through all you restaurant stops on the Sunday before others arrive from the airport. Presently playing with a couple of options on routes to squeek the time down.
Should be possible, may need the bus back from Val Claret to Les Boisses tho'.
You happy to ski Face?
Bring your head torch with you for the last bit please.

Far Queue wrote:

Whilst I agree, it is unlikely to happen as VDI would then not have an "easy" skiable run back to the resort from the Tignes side. Due to the people I have been with, I have never actually done the black to the side of Santons, but I wonder if it would actually be the easier route for competent skiers. Mainly as it would keep them out of the way of the beginners in the chute.

Thanks for the comments on the pic btw. It was actually a snap taken with my phone, and not even a modern phone at that. The full size pic shows it is not so hot, and can be seen here if you wish.. Clicki Ici

Ive never done that black (epaule du charvet) either - but it's supposed to be bumpy as hell. Id rather do the Face!.

To be honest the best option can be one of the myriad of runs down to la Daille (and I think the OK red is easier than Vert in many ways) and get the bus. Its possibly quicker than the chute carnage/long flat at end of Santons. Depends on where you're headed in Val itself of course

Santons is such a fun run, often spoiled by people being there that wish they weren't. Agree it should be red.
It's the one run I expect to see skiers scared stiff, having been flying down blues all week they suddenly find themselves in a narrow chute and freeze.
Now if it was red at least people wouldn't expect a big wide easy run.
It's not difficult, the gradient is blue, but the narrowness and the steep walls intimidates 'blue' skiers.
Find this run empty with fresh snow and it's a blast, fast and furious. Find it busy, icy and it's a nightmare, having to pick your way through the carnage.

OldAndy wrote:

AllyG wrote:
I suppose it will depend on the weather, and what Andy and Catp say, but I fancy having lunch on the first Sunday in les Clochetons, in Val d'Isere, on the blue Santons piste.

Just plan to follow you Ally.....

Mind you I have started a little exercise in getting through all you restaurant stops on the Sunday before others arrive from the airport. Presently playing with a couple of options on routes to squeek the time down.
Should be possible, may need the bus back from Val Claret to Les Boisses tho'.
You happy to ski Face?
Bring your head torch with you for the last bit please.

Andy,
I think the Face is the one I called Olympic in my report after my 3 day trip to Tignes at the end of April. Most of it was fine, but the last bit was all mogulled up with tapioca :shock:

I should think if I could ski down it like that (although admittedly I did fall over several times) I should think I will be OK to ski down it in January :D

I was thinking the bus would be a good idea as well, on the way back. But when I was there I noticed that there were 2 separate looped circuits running - Les Boisses to Le Lac, and Val Claret to Le Lac. So, if it's the same as that in January we'd have to get 2 buses and then ski down the last bit into Les Brevieres.

Best of luck with sorting out a route for us :D


Here is the link to the tapioca story:

http://www.j2ski.com/ski-chat-forum/posts/list/192/12455.page