J2Ski Forum Posts and Replies by dgou

No sorry! 8/10 for trying though!!

Iceman - sorry I can't see anything! :-(

I know, but as with anything 'nothing ventured, nothing gained'! Peeps on this forum seem to know SO much....!

Hurrah! Glad a lot of you are in agreement about my suggestion of instruction on how to use a chair!

Seriously though I have sometimes found that it is much easier being on a chair by myself - I can shuffle to the middle, I won't put the bars down and trap my leg (as has happened quite often on a 6 man chair, esp when you are all different nationalities! and the word for OUCH is not easily recognised!) I often find that you can sit down gently on the chair and get yourself comfortable for the ride up - and then once you are ready to disembark at the top, put your skis flat on the floor and just stand up - the chair will gently push you forwards - practice sitting and standing without using your hands on a normal chair.

I often wondered why the lift man at the bottom did not have some sort of indicator he could put on a lift with a terrified person on, so that the man at the top (or lady!) knew to slow the lift down or at least help in someway - and guide the person gently off? I also think it would be a good idea for those cautious skiers (I am one with over 20 ski holidays enjoyed) if people could wear some sort of tabard, so you knew to keep away from them and give them space and be courteous - and also assist if they fell over - as you never know what the person in front of you's skiing ability is like. I always stop, help, chat, share my Mars bar... makes a big difference to having someone cover you in show as they whizz past! :D

Thought this was worth a shot on here, as many of you will probably have heard this song which I have been trying to find out the name of/group since I heard it in Spain in 1979 - played regularly in assorted ski resorts but can never find the DJ to ask what it is. It has a conga type beat, and sounds like lots of different songs mixed together, and seems to start of with the words 'Que, que, que, que, que...' I have spent time on Youtube searching, so thought I would ask J2ski peeps in case someone knew..... Oh OK then, no-one does!! )

Westendorf is also worth a look, very good for learning to ski, the Alpenrose gondola will take you up to the higher slopes, good for confidence building, but drag lifts and nice gentle runs in the village. Niederau is another thought, although have not skied there since mid-1990's, so things may have changed as regards lifts. I do remember several happy afternoons skiing there on the blue up the top (is it Markbachjoch?)

I have skied St Johann too, but it seemed quite a steep drop for a blue on the run back to the resort centre, but I do remember the lifts and they were OK.

Remember it is a holiday, you are there to enjoy yourself!

Don't look at Stubai Glacier then, as they have some very, very long t bars and kill your legs after a while - and if she falls off, she will be even more scared.

I too am not too fond of chairlifts, as from first learning they never seem to tell you how to get on and off, however, I seem to remember - I think it was Saalbach-Hinterglemm - where the chairlifts slowed right down for getting on and off (very sedate), some were heated, and some had the magic carpet where you just stood and went with the movement whilst the chair gently scooped you up. Saying that, I find that if I sit in the middle and stand up and ski straight off I usually have no problems getting off, or you are at least some way out of the way of anyone else. Watch On the Piste 1987 for how NOT to tackle a chair lift...! Would it be worth having a word with the ski school to see if there was someone who could give you an hour's instruction as to how to get on and off (supervised) this might then build her confidence? Sounds silly, but this is obviously stopping the enjoyment of a ski holiday - and what comes down has to go back up - just a thought!

Echo what all the others who HAVE been to these places say, as I have been to Banff, Lake Louise, etc and also Vancouver/Calgary, but would also mention how nice Granville Island in in Vancouver. Rather than take a book - you will need a good camera, pair of binoculars and enjoy the fabulous scenery and wildlife (and in Banff I actually saw an elk on Elk Street!) - lovely!