J2Ski Forum Posts and Replies by admin

brayski wrote:Any advice about good ski dvds?

Yes, definitely - the Warren Smith Ski Academy DVDs are excellent, and are ideal for intermediate skiers and above. Warren breaks everything down into very specific technique elements and has simple exercises for each. There are currently 3 Lesson DVDs which each cover the four disciplines of Carving, Steeps, Moguls and Freeride.

There is also a pocket-sized handbook available for the first two Lessons - which are perfect for taking onto the mountain with you and leafing through over a Hot Chocolate.

We have some extracts from the Lesson 1 DVD on our Ski Technique Pages here and you can order any of the Warren Smith Ski Acadamy DVDs here. 8)

Highly recommended! If you have any questions, feel free...

Skiing the week before Christmas is generally pretty reliable at the higher resorts such as the ones you mention; and all those offer great skiing for intermediates. Personally I'd recommend Les Arcs though Val Thorens is the most snow-sure.

Also take a look at Tignes and Les Deux Alpes as they both have high altitude skiing.

There are some good "early bird" discounts on some of the ski holiday packages at the moment, though if you can avoid Christmas itself then booking last minute shouldn't be a problem.

Cheers,

Will Huckitt wrote:The base plate in the heel piece is weak and brakes a lot.

Yup, mine did... no complaints about the rest of the binding though - release has always been quick and smooth when required, and they've never pre-released on me.

Oh, actually, the paint's crap - it was all scraped off after about two days... !ill hmmm

For a mixed ability ski group, with beginners, I'd personally recommend you add La Clusaz to your shortlist; it's very traditional and is a proper mountain town rather than solely a ski resort. There are excellent beginner's runs on Beauregard and some cracking freeride territory at La Balme - linked by SkiBus and lift.

But it depends how wild you like your apres, as...

ash28 wrote:apres-ski scene and ... traditional French charm

...don't usually go together. There is night-life at La Clusaz but it's not Austrian style (dancing on the tables in ski boots right after the lifts close).

Of the others you mention, Serre Chevalier has a good combination of charm and variety of runs but, again, not sure the apres will burn your candle totally!

For more info, contact graviteski on this forum - they run a very friendly chalet in La Clusaz and are super-helpful too. They might even know where the night-life happens... 8)

Are you one of these Radical Carvers - who don't need poles cos they're cranked over so far their hands are on the floor on every turn?

But seriously, you have a point - poles are maybe less relevant to fast and wide, on-piste carving but for short radius turns and off-piste skiing (particularly steeps and powder) they're as vital as ever aren't they?

And anyway, what else do you put your glove on when you stop to take a photograph?

Dave

Trencher wrote:Ent Moot

8)
"never say anything unless it is worth taking a long time to say..."

Maybe our visitors are more interested in skiing than talking. ;)

mick.wilson wrote:maybe you could use ours ?

That would be great Mick, look forward to seeing the results. Will drop you a mail.

Cheers,

Sounds strange but IMHO maybe more likely to be technique than kit-related; maybe a balance issue? or over-edging? Dunno but probably worth taking an hour with a high-level instructor to look at it.