J2Ski Forum Posts and Replies by admin

ise wrote:you've been busy :D

:lol:

Beat me to it by about 5 seconds... topic locked.

Thanks for the comments on the maps guys, I've now opened a thread here for you to give some Feedback on the Ski Resort Maps.

ise - we'll be adding some more resorts to the maps over the next week or so but I'm keen to include as many of the smaller stations as we can, so please let me know if we miss one of your local spots.

TBH, I haven't had the heart to remove Abondance yet... I skiied there almost 20 years ago now and there was, indeed, an abundance of snow on that occasion... :cry:

Maybe we should add little tombstones for the resorts that fall victim to global warming and economic factors? :(

The stats never lie... :wink: ...but over the Summer our traffic runs at around 10-15% of our peak winter months (December through March).

Since the August Bank Holiday in the UK (last Monday) we've seen, as with previous years, a sharp upturn in traffic and that'll continue now.

To put the forum in perspective - most of our traffic at the moment is researching ski resorts and checking holiday prices; the forum accounts for around 10% of our page views - and the readers outnumber writers by a very large factor.

Hi Gareth,

Our newly extended Map of Ski Resorts near Geneva shows the locations of around 100 different resorts within 2 hours drive...

Unless the snow fails you should have plenty of choice for that week and should be just before the half term peak weeks.

What level of ability are your group and are you looking to party or to ski?

Pavel, if you send him a PM, he should get a notification to his e-mail.

As this extraordinary saga approaches its finality, I've been asked to clarify the place in space and time of the server... 8)

Although physically located somewhere in London the server is currently running in European time. This is due, of course, to it being an International Machine of Mystery - and not just because it's always been like that...


As the competition ends at midnight "J2SKI Time" (I did get that number right didn't I Pavel?), our visitors in England need to post their final answers by 11:00 p.m. UK time. Synchronize watches.


I strongly suspect the post mortem will run for almost as long again, once Pavel reveals all... off to think of my numbers now!

ise makes an excellent point - the number one, no question, way of lengthening your skiing day is to improve your technique. And stance is fundamental.

A balanced, relaxed position working with the ski can be maintained all day with only moderate levels of fitness - but "taking a back seat" will punish the thighs from the first run.

To answer the question in the first post, as well as "general" fitness there's obviously a need to work on "ski specific" exercises; balance boards, etc. I have a Skier's Edge in the lounge and that certainly works the thighs - but it also works best with a good skiing stance (it also feels enough like skiing that I actually enjoy it - as opposed to being bored rigid on most gym machines).

I'm not a horse-rider but I'd imagine being balanced on the stirrups must be very good training for that relaxed stance (absorbing all the bumps while staying centred) - does that sound sensible SkiGirl?

Early December is always a bit of a gamble, although Alpe d'Huez has altitude on it's side so will have what snow there is. You could literally have anything between no snow and knee deep powder at that time of year - there is really no way to know.

Possible changes in climate patterns mean that historical records are even less of a reliable indicator than they were before. 2006/7 saw poor snow at low altitudes through most of the season - the year before had an abundance. Next season could be different again... sorry, that's the way it is. :(

You might want to consider Les Deux Alpes as an alternative, as you have a group of beginners. LDA is sometimes referred to as an "upside down" resort because there are beginners runs at the highest point - over 3,000 metres altitude.


Seriously, my advice would be to wait and book last minute. Early December is never busy in Europe and you're pretty much guaranteed to find accommodation at a good price. Wait and see what the snow does, then follow it - make a list of high altitude resorts and do some research between now and then.

You've also got the time to get your group organised - have a party and watch a ski vid or two, get the group along to your nearest Snow Dome (I'm assuming you're in the UK) to find your "ski feet" and get them stoked for the great adventure they're about to embark on.

Beware - this is a one way ticket for many people; your priorities may change, you may never take another summer holiday again (except to ski in the Southern Hemisphere)... 8)