J2Ski Forum Posts and Replies by graviteski

Sorry for the late posting - but we have been enjoying the recent snow fall too much to be anywhere near the computer for the last few days.

Anyway we had our first ski of the season in La Clusaz on Thursday 30th October!!!

Knee high fresh fluffy powder aided our decent down the Cret de merle right down to Bossonet which is the village level at 1100m and we didn't even wreck our ski's! Looking forward to loads more. :-o

Pics on the website later today hopefully - www.gravite.co.uk
[linky fixed - Admin]

Off to Tignes - cos they have more snow forecasteed and it's clear skies on Fiday!!! :P

Hi Carl,

I'm not sure whether a formal statement has yet been made by the separate communes, but driving past the Croix-Fry the other day they were installing the new electronic barriers to work with the hands-free passes that we are finally getting in the Aravis ski area this year! :wink: So my guess is that is pretty much a sure thing. I'll ask around this weekend and get back to you.

BTW, The snow is falling thick and fast here this evening at 1350m! First fall of the season - aaahhh, it's good to see it all white again! :D

If you're looking at driving to the slopes this winter, you probably need to be aware that (as from 1st July 2008) the French police are now doing checks on whether you are carrying a fluorescent gilet in addition to your warning triangle, spare bulbs etc. in case you need to stop in case of breakdown, fitting snow-chains by the roadside etc. Failure to have/wear one is going to cost around 120 euros! :shock:

One of our friends out here has already had a warning, but they are enforcing it with on the spot fines as from 1st Oct 2008 - you have been warned. :!:

More info here:
http://www.theaa.com/motoring_advice/touring_tips/compulsory_equipment.pdf

Could be the must-have item to be seen on the slopes this year! :lol: :wink:

A quick google search for "custom snowboard graphics" brings up a few possibilities...

http://www.customsnowboardgraphics.net/
http://www.beaterboards.com/

They seem to be US-based, but I imagine their are similar offers in the UK. Anybody used this method of stick-on vinyls before? I imagine they get battered pretty quickly.

I had my first go on one of these snowscoots (http://www.snowscoot.com) yesterday and loved it! Totally different experience to skiing/boarding and a great new way of getting down the mountain. Just been in contact with the guys at Insane Toys about buying one and they are offering a very good end of season 50% discount on their new rigs!

It's great! Perfect skiing weather, sun and blue skies with well-groomed pistes and you can still find soft powder if you know where to look! :wink:

All the runs have good snow-cover down to the village and there's about 1.5m at the top of the mountain.

Balme is excellent first thing - I may well join you, look out for bright orange salopettes! :shock:

Hi Lisapeep,

Yes they are still the old-style photo passes for 3-days or more and the self-adhesive wrap around type for 1-2 days. I kind of like the photo-style cards though, as they are a good reminder of how bad your hair looked when you skied a certain resort when looked back at in years to come! :lol:

I'd recommend a good pair of waterproof hiking boots with some form of ankle protection for snowshoeing with salopettes or gaiters if walking through deep snow - which you may need if you're going to walk at Confins or Beauregard in the next week or so, judging by the J2Ski weather forecast for the coming week! :D There are special snowshoe maps available from the tourist info, or you can join an organised walk if your french is up to it?

Have fun in La Clusaz!

I know that the ski bus does not run very regularly. But I'm afraid your only other option by public transport is catching the train to Annecy and getting the bus to La Clusaz from there, which is an hourly service and takes about an hour. Make sure you get a direct train to Annecy though as we have known it to take 4 hours if you need to change en-route.

It may actually pay you to bite the bullet and contact one of the private transfer companies that run out of La Clusaz. We use Aravis Tours a lot who offer a very good service and will get you up to the resort in an hour from Geneva.

HTH!