yet another newbie

To answer your question firstly are you going on your own or friends ??

Again look around the resorts close to Geneva, easy transfers, good prices, and pistes for all abilities.

Hi
If we went to St Anton it would be with friends all of whom are competent skiers
or if we go somewhere else it would just me me and the boss lady.
thanks

Jabski I've just had a look at the piste map for St Anton. Never been there myself and I don't doubt for a second what the others are saying. I just wondered whether there would be a way you could have a good hol and still be with your mates.

http://www.snow-forecast.com/resorts/St-Anton/pistemap_full

There do seem to be a few blues around, although piste maps don't actually tell the whole story. Sometimes they're nothing but roads linking reds etc. But the mountain opposite the main ski area seems to have a number of blues together. On paper it reminds me of the Kitzbuhel piste map, where the Horn had a few blues together and this is where skis schools would work with beginners. I'm wondering, if you booked lessons while you where there whether it would be manageable for you? You would likely be away from your friends during the day, but able to meet up for Apres and obviously in the evenings. An instructor would only take you to runs you were able to manage, which would prevent you finding yourself somewhere inappropriate and at best losing your confidence. I've no idea what the ski schools are like in St Anton. Maybe there is someone on here who could give more of an insight into that?

Dry slopes tend to be more like carpet these days than the bristle chequerboard pattern that was prone to snagging thumbs.

Whilst they are not as nice to ski on as snow they are fine for getting the basics and certainly cheaper than the snowdomes. I guess it depends on where you live & what's available - you could have your basic lessons on dry & then a couple of goes on artificial snow before you go. that way you'll get more from your holiday.
Once I had been skiing on snow I couldn't enjoy dry slopes any more.

hi
we live about 20 miles from Chatham Dry slope so i guess we will check it out when the snow has gone.
thanks

Jabski,
If you go ski-ing with friends in St Anton, don't let them persuade you to try going down a run that's too difficult for you.

That happened to a friend of mine, and she was really frightened, and ended up having to walk all the way down a long red piste. She was fine on the blues, but the red was too much for her.

Good skiers sometimes don't realize that what appears to be really easy to them can actually be too hard for a beginner. If in doubt ask your ski instructor about easy runs that he's sure you'll be okay with, considering the conditions (whatever they may be at the time) and get them to ski with you down those.

Best of luck with the dry slope :D

Ally

From what I've heard and read, st. Anton isn't at all suitable for total beginners.

For dry Ski slopes the best way to describe them is like riding an old giant toothbrush.

From experience your turning abilities is much less and it takes a while to build up any speed and if you stack it, you feel it a lot more.

In response to the previous posts. My school of thought is yes. (You should try on the dry slope) The reason being that if you can work a dry slope then on the real snow everything is much easier.

The only thing to take into consideration is that once you get on the snow expect everything to be a lot smoother. If you compare the two, being on the snow is a 100 times better. But being on the dry slope is a 100 times harder and good experience to prepare you with a fun holiday. (If you take the dry slope you won't be left spending half your holiday falling over or stuck on the baby slopes.)

Best regards
Boualem Bouderba