J2Ski Forum Posts and Replies by Alpine Pursuits

Ski and board technology has advanced to the stage where almost anyone can venture off piste with competence and enjoy the powder.

Unfortunately the down side is that a lot more inexperienced people are heading into danger.

Even worse I've seen lone surfers and skiers making for known avalanche areas, tempted by the fresh snowfall, when the risk warning is flagged high. If you get into trouble on your own, with no-one to track you or call for help, you're in real danger even if it's just 50 metres from the piste.

A mobile phone can help, but:
- can you pinpoint where you are?
- can you move to reach it? (avalanched snow turns into concrete)
- extreme cold reduces battery power
- mountains mess with phone reception

There is plenty of safety information around on the web (google: ski avalanche safety) - check it out, it can save a life.

The latest skis and boards can make you feel invincible off-piste, and it is a great feeling when it's going well. But it's not the whole story, and for some this comes out in the news reports every year.

A few precautions don't cost much and won't spoil the pleasure.

I'm currently offering 25% off available January accommodation in Les Gets and Morzine as you'll see on our website.

However for a limited period exclusive to J2SKI forum readers I'm extending this to 30%, and 35% for catered accommodation.

You won't see this advertised on our website, so please quote J2SKI when you contact us. You can find more information on the accommodation and contact details at our website (see the signature below).

Ski conditions are fabulous at the moment so why not take advantage of the great discounts!

As with everything it depends.....

When snow reports talk about 50cm of fresh snow this is then compacted on piste to a fraction. Pre-season you're looking for a big fall to form a good base, then more on top of that.

On piste if it looks all white and you can't see the ground starting to come through then generally it's fine to ski on. Skiing on meadows is ideal as if you've 4 or 5cm of compacted snow, even less in parts, you're safe (or the skis are more to the point).

With stone or rocky terrain you can get the stones rising as the piste gets churned up. However it's not so much these that are the problem as they're loose, it's what's lying underneath and fixed in the ground as you go over it. Sometimes you can actually see a polymer strand off the base peel itself back!

Some resorts or web sites publish snow depth (at highest lift and at village level say) which gives an idea - but of course it's measured at certain points, and it might be a bit optimistic!

Howver when you see reports of 30-50cm of fresh snow, and you know it's falling on an existing base however small, that's a good sign! Time to start packing.

Hi Rob

There are quite a few ski maintenance guides you can google, and there are also quite a few videos on utube - e.g. this one for edge tuning -


I've been servicing my own for about 15 years - forced into it when the cost of having 4 pairs got too much. However some notes of caution:

- to do a reasonable job (i.e. not wrecking costly skis) it's wise to buy some tools made for the job. Some people might make do (and a good ski technician probably could) but when you're learning it could be a disaster. I bought a vice pack (3 ski vices that clamp on a workbench as the skis need to be very steady), an edge tuner (adjustable for different bevels), files to fit, steel scraper, an abrasive block, a nylon ski brush. Consumable like wax - different snow temps. If you have an old iron (without steam holes!) that's fine - I use an old travel iron as it's a good size - ski wax irons are very expensive. You can get all of these usually in a good ski shop in the UK, or probably from the internet.

- so if you're buying the basic maintenance kit, not cheap, it's an investment. If you decide to give up after a couple of services you might as well have spent the money on a professional service. So it's worth really thinking about whether you want to be bothered (especially if it's just once a year). Which brings me onto.........

- it takes more time that you think, and a bit balls-aching. By the time you get to the third pair you'll want to be somewhere else....and there's another pair to do. It's better not to leave doing them the day before the ski holiday (as I often did!). It's also better for the skis to service them on return from the ski trip as the wax will prevent them drying out over the year, and they'll be ready for the next trip.

- basic waxing is not too much trouble, don't let the iron stay in one place! Edge tuning is necessary but more care and technique is needed (check whether bevels are needed or not, and to what degree). Filling holes with ptex certainly needs practice, ideally on older/cheaper skis - initially I just got these repaired professionally.

- sometimes edge tuning with a file is not actually needed (and you can take off too much!). After a two or three days skiing you sometimes find a slight burr on the side edge - you can detect it using your fingernail. To take this off and return the sharp edge I just use an abrasive rubber block (for edge de-burring) - well-worth it and you can feel the difference when skiing. To do it imagine your ski face down as normal, then bring down the block at right angles to force off the burr at that point, then move along to the next section.

Good luck!

Modern apartment in Morzine, sleeps 4/5. Just at the foot of the Pleney pistes - ski in / ski out.

Now available for the Christmas week and the New Year week.

10 minutes walk to Morzine centre, and to the Pleney telecabine/ski schools, very convenient.

For a full description, room configuration and photos of the apartment visit the website - Le Sautaillet

or call/email for more details -
gina@AlpinePursuits.com
From UK 0845 450 5380
or +33 687 48 44 49
http://www.AlpinePursuits.com/

Large ski apartment in Les Gets, Portes du Soleil.
Ski lift just 100 metres away, ski back down blue piste to the to door!

4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, well-equipped kitchen, sleeps 8 adults or up to 13 with children. Terrace facing the piste (for entertainment!).

Available for Christmas - 22-29 December.

Details and photos at:
http://www.alpinepursuits.com/Caribou/ski_apartment_Caribou.htm

Hi jobster

We have a self-catered luxury apartment available for the New Year in the centre of Morzine, 2 bedrooms but with a very comfortable bed settee in the living room. It's a short walk to the Pleney and Avoriaz lifts (Avoriaz altitude 1800 metres).

Full details and cost at
http://www.alpinepursuits.com/Slalom/Slalom_apartment_morzine.htm

Regards

Gina

I've also heard from a local it's going to be a long, hard winter, very cold, as his onions have got extra coats on this year!

No arguing with that.