J2Ski Forum Posts and Replies by powderhound

Naunie wrote:Would appreciate any tips

As SkiGirl said - chances are you'll be bitten by the bug. So long as your attitude is to have fun, then you will! Learning is hard work, there's no doubt, but the rewards are immense. No longer will you dread the winter, instead you'll start obsessing with snow forecasts and longing for those frosty days when you just know it's going to be snowing in the mountains...

The bad news is that this bug is pretty much incurable, and will quite likely dominate your thoughts of winter for the rest of your life!

As for lessons, if you have a snow-dome near you I think they'd be worthwhile; you can get over the initial shock of wearing ski boots and clambering about on snow with 4 feet of fibre glass attached to each foot. Personally I'd steer clear of dry-slopes as a beginner - falling can be painful and the experience is just not the same.

Once in the mountains, learning in a group of similar abilities can be fun but, especially if you are reasonably fit, you may well find yourself being held back to the slowest pace in the group. If your fitness is at a good level (you've got a couple of months to work on that) then you will progress much faster with private lessons.

You will learn more in a 2 hour private lesson than you will in a full day in a group (IMO) and can then practice at your own pace for the rest of the day. If there are two or three of you at similar stage who can go together, private lessons can be quite economical too.

Don't spend too much on gear just yet - TK Maxx is a great place to buy quality ski clothing at bargain prices - but do make sure you are going to be completely warm and dry. Good quality ski pants or salopettes are a must; you are going to spend some time sitting in the snow and a cold, wet bum will not yield your optimum skiing enjoyment.

As soon as you are sure you want to continue with it, you should think about buying your own boots. Your ski boots are the number one most important piece of equipment, so read all you can now and keep them at #1 on your list of priorities.

Enjoy!

More good stuff - you should write a book! :lol:

Although apparently less common nowadays, French mountain cafes will often offer a "citron presse" - a fresh squeezed lemon with a pitcher of water and a cube or two of sugar. Perfect for getting loads of fluid onboard, with the added bonus of a vitamin C boost too! If that's not available then a bottle of water and a bottle of fruit juice are ideal.

Skiing with a bottle of water is good - regular breaks are even better to avoid fatigue and dehydration.

Absolutely agree about alcohol - nothing else will impair your performance quicker and anything more than a single measure is, IMO, nuts. Drinking and Skiing go together about as well as Drinking and Driving - don't mix them.

If you'd consider hotels, who would probably do you B&B, we can recommend the Bois de la Char in Les Carroz. It's of moderate standard but clean, good value and does good food if you need it - it's at the top of the town next to a piste so is usually ski-in/ski-out. Also the Belles Pistes (not ski-in/out) is fine, friendly and Brit-run.

End January you should get a good price as few places will be full.

PisteHors have produced an excellent review of last seasons avalanche accidents (fatal and otherwise) which we've highlighted in our Avalanche News.

The report reveals a snow-pack that was unstable across most of the Alps for much of the winter, as a contributory factor, but should be required reading for all of us who venture off the piste (even by a few yards).

Now's the time to find out all you can about avalanches and how to avoid them. So head over to PisteHors and print off the whole site to read on your train into work - it'll make you look really hard-core when you leave it on your desk and, you never know, it might just save your life!

sue burt wrote:...where is the best to get a ski pass before we go? And which areas should be we get a pass for?

Don't know about buying the ski passes in advance but which pass you get will depend on what level of skiers you are. If beyond beginners then you'll want at least a "La Clusaz" pass and probably worth getting the full Aravis pass so you can ski in Le Grand Bornand - definitely worth doing.

Early Feb should be good for snow... unless it's a very bad year.

The town has plenty of good eateries, on the main drag and around the main square. Highly recommend l'Outa for superb pizza but it's far from the only choice - quality is generally high and the locals are lovely.

For eating on the mountain there are good options including a couple of restaurants (very sunny) on the pistes above the town, and the big diner on La Balme (fab views). If you like off-piste / freeride then La Balme is the place to go.

SkiGirl wrote:I think I've got fallen arches in my feet, but has anyone else experienced this?

That sounds like the problem and, if so, it can probably be easily cured. Take the boots back to where you bought them (or to your nearest decent ski shop) and explain the problem to their boot-fitter.

It's quite possible you'll be sorted out just with an insole with a raised in-step. Failing that you may need a "custom footbed" moulded specifically to you. But these are very "normal" adjustments nowadays and, when done properly, will make a world of difference to your comfort and your skiing.

But do it now rather than letting it waste snow time on your holiday.. 8)

Early December and your choice will be a bit limited - maybe Les Deux Alpes (fly to Grenoble or Chambery - about an hours drive to the resort) as there are good beginners runs up high on the glacier.

Late December will give you much more choice - La Clusaz (less than an hour from Geneva) has good beginners areas on the Beauregard, maybe Les Gets or Morzine if the snow has come good by then.

If you're willing to drive, then you'll have more choice of resorts; otherwise you'll need to think about public transport or a transfer deal with the accommodation.

If you're going out before the peak weekends around Xmas and New Year then definitely don't book anywhere yet - wait and see where the snow falls. Soft snow makes learning to snowboard just sooooo much more fun (i.e. less painful).

Accommodation is easy to find in early to mid-December so just book your flights now and wait and see - bag the best deal you can to Geneva, Grenoble or Chambery and then you'll have a good choice of resorts to choose from nearer the time. Job done. Site back and watch the snow forecasts!

Boots are the key thing to buy - spend some time to understand the range of options and then spend even more time to get a pair properly fitted. Good, well-fitted, boots will last you longer than skis and are the essential purchase if you want to progress (and enjoy your skiing).

For skis, the benefits of owning are nowadays mainly related to being able to tune and service them (edges, waxing, etc.) yourself.

Unless you're spending the season in the mountains, the cost benefits of owning are marginal to non-existent. The budget airlines are all now charging hefty sums for ski/board carriage.

You can get good deals by pre-booking online, to bring the price down, which will also ensure there is a pair of whatevers waiting for you. Any good hire place will let you change equipment a couple of times in a week, to try something new or because the snow has changed, and most will service the gear mid-week foc if you ask too.

But if you really want to buy then, as Trencher says, do so at the end of the season, do your research first and don't buy without having ridden the ski first...