Planning for 2016/17 already

Brucie wrote:Lech is pretentious and tacky. Have you considered Andorra at all?

Lech is swanky and upmarket, and the only way I would afford to go there would be chalet board! I have done St Anton twice and liked the skiing in Lech and Zurs. Tacky it most certainly isn't.

Andorra.....I had 3 days there a while back, Soldeu was totally closed due to a lack of snow so I only skied Pas and Grau Roig on the big area, but enjoyed Arcalis a lot.
Soldeu is the only place I would consider, but having looked at it every year, it always gets taken off the list, hence why it isn't on the list above.
It just doesn't do it for me, and yes I am fully aware of your regular experience out there.
It would have to be a freebie or ridiculously cheap offer to tempt me I think.

Tony, just back from Arosa/Lenzerheide. Full trip report to follow. You might like it...

I based my lech observations on a visit to a slopeside cafe where a group of heavily tattooed fat Russians were stripped to the waist and drinking Krug by the neck at 11am!
I didn't consider that swanky and upmarket but maybe some would!

Brucie wrote:I based my lech observations on a visit to a slopeside cafe where a group of heavily tattooed fat Russians were stripped to the waist and drinking Krug by the neck at 11am!
I didn't consider that swanky and upmarket but maybe some would!

You can find Russians doing that anywhere in Europe, it wouldn't be fair to judge Lech on it ;-)

Maybe I would be wrong in basing my observations on Pas de la Casa from skiing down into it and sitting at a bar, just like the other 20 nearby, full of heavily tattooed British people smoking weed and drinking Skol by the barrel load listening to blaring house music?

Ach Tony you're too easy. AND I was talking about the women. Imagine what the boyfriends/husbands were like!
We do agree on Pas however, hideous, loutish place.

Some excellent areas to choose from there, Tony. We are just looking at returning to Les Arcs, it's a brilliant ski area for so many reasons. Just regarding Italy, I see that Skiworld have pulled the entire range for 2017, due to such poor snow conditions over the last 2 years (their words). Good luck in your choosing, it's one of those nice dilemmas!

Ps.....Barney, I've done lech twice. Let me know if I can help with anything.

Cheers

Steve

stevie999 wrote:Some excellent areas to choose from there, Tony. We are just looking at returning to Les Arcs, it's a brilliant ski area for so many reasons. Just regarding Italy, I see that Skiworld have pulled the entire range for 2017, due to such poor snow conditions over the last 2 years (their words). Good luck in your choosing, it's one of those nice dilemmas!

Ps.....Barney, I've done lech twice. Let me know if I can help with anything.

Cheers

Steve

That 'entire range' in Italy amounts to two resorts - Courmayeur and Madonna which suggests that company was losing interest in Italy long before the last couple of 'poor' years.

of that list Tony you know that I'm a big fan of VDi/Tignes

yes it CAN be expensive but it can also be dirt cheap (you dont have to drink in Dicks) - like anywhere you CAN get ripped off and there will always be somone who tells hysterical tales of 15Euro a pint and igniore evidence from people like me and BB who have paid more like 3 in Happy Hour

the EK has a HUUUUUUGE variety of skiing so well worth a shout

I also like Verbier but (as discussed with you before I think) I though the interconnection a little poor (itinerary or cable car the only way down from Tortin I think though VSB will correct me if I'm in the wrong place in my head). I also dont like only 2 lift stations (and 2 runs back) to serve the whole town. Busy if you like to be on first lift and come down around 4pm as we do. Also Verbs CAN be expensive and make VDI look cheap (but again you can do it cheaper too)

never done selva but hear good reports of the Sella Ronda - snow concerns me though - one patchy bit makes the whole cisrcuit a non starter from what i understand. great to add a tru classic downhill on the Camel Bumps to one's ski CV though!