One for the instructors...

I am really just wondering why your beginner friends want to learn to ski in one of the more advanced areas of the alps?
There are countless other more suitable places to learn, and there is also the ski in ski out issue.
And if they are, as you put it, 'plain tight', why go to the most expensive place!!! :shock:

Brucie wrote:I am really just wondering why your beginner friends want to learn to ski in one of the more advanced areas of the alps?
There are countless other more suitable places to learn, and there is also the ski in ski out issue.

It seems like a good compromise. there are beginner's ski areas at the bottom of most of the resorts, and places like Domaine de Balme and Brevent/Flegere seem OK for when the beginners progress a little.

Add that to the fact that we can do the whole week in a private apartment including lift pass for around £500pp and it doesn't seem too bad.

Ski in/ski out not an issue for us. We've got a car and will be able to find our way around.

And if they are, as you put it, 'plain tight', why go to the most expensive place!!!

I may have been a little harsh when I said that, but the financial situation has worsened a LOT since we booked. Given that fact, my friends are reluctant to part with more money than strictly necessary.

I haven't really found booking in Chamonix particularly more expensive than other places. Also, the girls aren't going to want to ski all week, so we wanted to go somewhere where they could find other entertainment while us boys are on the mountain.

I know all about it - I'm Scottish after all!!!!!!!!!!

I dont know what advice to give on the instructing issue.
Like other posters have said, I think that a proper start(ie ski school) will be worth the expense in the long run.

The slopes all over the world are littered with self taught skiers who, due to a lack of basic technique, find it very difficult to pass intermediate level.

Anyway, dont get hung up on it. Have a great Holiday!! :lol:

I'm Scottish after all

I'm sure there's some scots about that wouldn't like that too much, but I've never found one yet!!! My boss is exactly the same...tight, Scottish and proud!

I'm not gonna get too hung up on it. We'll have a good week no matter what, but I just want to help them make the most of whatever we do, as it was me who persuaded everyone to go in the first place.

Looking at some prices, private lessons for 5 people will work out to 23 euros for a 2 hour lesson. Doesn't seem too bad to me, but I'll still have to convince the others.

Hoop wrote:As per my previous posts...I'm off to Chamonix at the end of January with the OH and 3 friends.

I'm a fairly confident intermediate skier, but the rest are complete beginners. I'll be having refresher lessons before I go just to get back into it, as it's been a couple of years since I skied

The rest will be having 6 hours of lessons before we go, so should be able to snowplough turn. After that I think they'll be relying on tips from me as the price of lessons is going to be prohibitive...especially with the exchange rate so bad.

My question is this...

Assuming the rest of my group can ski, turn and stop in snowplough, and use their edges to stand up on a slope etc, what other skills would you introduce, and in what order?

I'm pretty sure I can pass on what I know, but just want to know whether there is an accepted order of learning.

Cheers.

Hoop, oops, big mistake, you must have lessons, find the money, drink less beer, well ok forget that one but for you and your mates to enjoy there very expensive holiday they will need to continue with the lessons, I can pass on loads of tips but I'll be doing you a disservice. Convince them find the money. :lol:

I'm sure if between you all, you payed for rossF or bennyboy to come they'd teach them!

Hope you don't mind me volunteering you two by the way?? :mrgreen: :lol:

Hoop,

Like the other ex's, I would not deem to to offer a weeks diy ski manual on J2.

Also, like some of the other guys, I can't believe if money was a seriously critical issue, that Chamonix was the wisest choice. Or even France. I submit that your day costs will be a factor approaching 3 x those in Austria, and your evening cost might be double or maybe one and a half if you are sitting in the apartment at night.

So you could have gone to Mayrhofen, 20th Jan, b&b, for £249, fly, transfer, b&b. Menu meal for about a tenner. Lift pass £160, total £480. Tuition cost £120. Total £600.

Difference £100, and I will wager a guinea, you will spend more than that on the difference on the combined day+night cost between Chamonix and Mayrhofen.

Not only that, but if you had chosen a resort where the nursery slopes are in the village, you would not have needed a lift pass, just pay points for the Poma. My point being that part of the reason why your deal seems attractive, is that it includes the lift pass....

But, ~ you are where you are. I doubt that you will get a bona fide ski instructor in France to "do you a deal", he would have insurance costs and other overheads.

You could try and find a non-ski instructor local who would do you a cash in hand deal. You would not know what you are getting, and there could be bad outcomes.

All in all, it just comes back down to the fact that your friends are not understanding the real importance of getting instruction. By not investing in instruction, they are not saving £160, or £200. They are wasting the cost of the holiday.

You could try the tourist office, or, better still, the ski school. Explain the predicament, and see if they can offer a lower cost solution. You can also tackle your chalet offer, and see if they can substitute the lift pass offer with some ski instruction.

Hoop wrote:[
A can of worms indeed, but unfortunately, despite my best advice they all seem determined to avoid paying for lessons once we're there.

With the greatest respect, are these people total idiots?
Anyone thinking of skiing anywhere, let alone somewhere like Chamonix, without taking a full weeks worth of lessons must have something missing upstairs.
What price a weeks ski lessons compared to totally doing yourself in, doing someone else in, or just not getting on or enjoying it at all?

As Mr Mac has pointed out, you can get learn to ski packages really good value, and once you have had the basis weeks lessons, then is the time to experiment with what you can do yourself, under the guidance of an experienced skier or two I would have thought.

I am glad that you are not suggesting you will be giving them lessons, as they really would open up the can of worms, but they really should be looking to join a group or even take individual lessons. Being able to snowplough turn does not make anyone a competent skier.