J2Ski Forum Posts and Replies by bandit

ise wrote:

And I should clarify I'm talking about what we learn when we're training to be ski instructors )

Unless you're on the flattest of slopes you need poles for all the reasons I've given, no one manages without and those that try are simply unable to handle even moderately difficult slopes at any speed.

So, way back in the mists of time, when I was being taught by BASI teachers, we had our poles taken off us for several days at a time. We were skiing French red grade runs (Les Arcs) carving all sized radius turns at speed.
That does'nt happen these days then?

AJ wrote:

2 Tirelessly showing each other their tackle and comparing how good it is :roll:

AJ Adele :thumbup:

I have heard about this phenomenon, but never actually seen it )
:lol:

carona wrote:
anyone know the rules for gatwick and chambery airports?

I think Chambery is going to be a no-no, read about a refusal at check in recently, can't remember where though. As for Gatwick, I think their rules are set by which way the wind is blowing :lol:

I have been to both, though only summer skiing in Zermatt. Both are busy resorts with high altitude skiing. Both are in German speaking Switzerland, both have glaciers.
In Saas Fee, you really get the feeling that the ski area is towering over the resort, the ski area is not too large, and OP without a guide is a no-no, too many crevasses. The village is quite spread out, and I found it a PITA walking such a lot in ski boots. At the op of the funicular is a revolving restaurant, if you can catch your breath long enough to read the menu :mrgreen:
Zermatt is a big village. It has a swiss McD's if the budget is a tad thin. It also has lots of tourists in the summer, large coach parties of Japanese and Americans, all going ...."aaah" and taking the same snap of the Matterhorn. It's got lots of history if you are keen. Plenty of OP opportunities and a good alpine centre right in town. It gets busy, I saw a sign on one of the cable car entrances "45 mins from here"...thats queueing time :shock:
I went there in late summer to ski, and did'nt get my usual high altitude headaches up on the glacier. The last leg of the KM c/c is a little steep, if you get tourists they will likely be a bit noisy :mrgreen: Skied across to Italy where the coffee is better :D I quite fancy going back in winter, I could see how much skiing there is available.
Some photos here.. http://picasaweb.google.com/bandit2106/Zermatt07

ise wrote:

I probably can't win there, OK it's ultra-hardcore, super steep on dangerously exposed slopes :D

It's all relative, you ski steep stuff all the time. I don't, and I'm very happy with my achievement :D

I would have enjoyed skiing it with you, but you did'nt want to ski with me IIRC, too busy :D
Of course I don't ski to anywhere near the same standard, so you would have been a bit bored waiting for me I expect. Still, it's nice to have the difficulty of the run acknowledged :D

Tony_H wrote:
Awesome pics, Bandit.

Thanks :D

My seasons'best moment so far, was making it down to the Moiry Barrage in January. It's between Zinal and Grimentz, and it's really the 1st bit of proper off piste I've done. It was breakable crust, with some rocks to negotiate at the start! I fell over lots, and was very tired when I reached Grimentz.
If you click on the 2nd photo, it will enlarge, and if you look closely you can see some folks coming across the top of the barrage. That really gives a good idea of the scale...big :D
I want to go back and ski it again, and fall over less :D

I know ise skis it a lot, and thinks everyone does it, but that's not accurate, as my OH declined to even try!

If huge amounts of snow fall, then any resort will close areas which are prone to avalanche risk. If it's just snowing :D , goggles on and get out there. As you are heading to Les Gets, the good news is, that if it is snowing, the slopes will be largely deserted...apart from the British that is :lol:

pavelski wrote:Jan Stenmark has great solution, which was posted !

Wear them ! Yes wear them on plane!!! Just get some slippers which you can put on once on plane!

No regulations about NOT wearing ski boots on! He did it!

This solution would likely result in the passenger being denied boarding by security, if travelling through an airport which has the ban in place. There is no logic being applied to the current crop of restrictions, and it seems to change on a weekly basis, as travellers report in after flying. I have read elsewhere of skiers getting through with touring boots on their feet, but not this winter.