Anyone going skiing/snowboarding this winter?

specialman

specialman

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Pat MacInnes
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Thanks to the GMB tearing into my missus' employer about lack of holiday entitlement, she's now due 40 or so days off this year so in a bid to A) use them, and B) be very selfish, I've recommended to her that a week in the mountains is in order, in a couple of weeks time (just happens to be her birthday too).

Once I've robbed a bank to pay for said trip, Grandparents can looks after the nipper for a week and we can go have some fun and get all luvvy-duvvy over overpriced beer and cakes.

I haven't been since March 2009 so I'm gagging to go and I think even the other half has a burning desire to get out there after a few years of mayhem at work and with the little one arriving.

I love Val D'isere but I'm just going for the cheap deals this year, wherever they take us, but we're probably sticking to France just out of familiarity.

Anyone else heading out and if so, when,where and who you going with? :)
 
I'm not :( very jealous.

I did a season in Italy when I was younger and loved it! Now I'm a teacher and my other half doesn't want to go I dont get to! None of my friends want to go in half term due to prices :(
 
If you can wait then the couple of weeks before half term are usually good value. I usually leave it until a fortnight beforehand and then surf ifyouski.com for deals.
 
We're off to La Rosiere in March, our first skiing trip in about fifteen years. I had to buy new boots as my old ones disintegrated when I pulled them open to try them on, and seeing as there is plastic of the same age in the bindings on my old skis (200cm K2s), I feel it's time to try these new-fangled short-and-wide skis.
We're staying in a fancy chalet, with cakes and coffee waiting for us when we finish skiing, pre dinner canapes and drinks, wine with dinner and port with the cheeseboard.

It's great when the kids are all grown up :D
 
I would love to go again but haven't been since i was at school. I went to america 3 years running for 9 days of snowboarding :love:

Problem nowadays is my gf doesn't know how to board or ski and she's a abit of a whimp when it comes to the cold weather and my mates don't have the money to do it :'(

Hope you have a good time when you get round to going :thumbs:
 
I am going at Easter to the Grand Massif but am a bit wary of lack of snow at that time of year. We are driving so it will be an adventure no matter what.
 
tiler65 said:
I am going at Easter to the Grand Massif but am a bit wary of lack of snow at that time of year. We are driving so it will be an adventure no matter what.
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Grand massiff? That's alpe d huez and L2A isn't it? I went to adh in March when it was warm and the snow was getting a bit slushy but it fared pretty well.
 
specialman said:
Grand massiff? That's alpe d huez and L2A isn't it? I went to adh in March when it was warm and the snow was getting a bit slushy but it fared pretty well.
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Not quite, it is the Flaine region http://www.grand-massif.com/hiver/decouvrez_samoens.php and I will be in Samoens.

I have been a few times, great for families and not too expensive. Only an hours drive from Geneva airport if you prefer the fly route and it is also only 45 mins from Chamonix, Morzine and just a bit further to Verbier in Switzerland.

I went to L2A about 10 years ago.........not a bad resort but the crowds were huge.
 
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tiler65 said:
I am going at Easter to the Grand Massif but am a bit wary of lack of snow at that time of year. We are driving so it will be an adventure no matter what.
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The perceived wisdom is that it's more likely to snow at Easter than at Christmas in The Alps.

We went to Morgins (Portes du Soleil) for the last week of the season many years ago and left behind the best snow they'd had all season.
 
stokes said:
I'm not :( very jealous.

I did a season in Italy when I was younger and loved it! Now I'm a teacher and my other half doesn't want to go I dont get to! None of my friends want to go in half term due to prices :(
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I would have loved to have done a season - never thought about it when I left Uni and it was only when I got into boarding the thought dawned on me. Mortgage and job security meant I never followed the dream. Would love to do an extended stint of two months or so one day just photographing the mountain - pipe dream alert!! :lol:

Tiler65 - my mistake, been looking at too many resort websites my head is mashed!! :lol:

I go on snowheads.co.uk and a fair few people over the years have recommended Flaine as a really nice, less-busy resort that seems to still be popular with the locals. Plus, it has lots of off-piste so I've read.

End of season is a bit of a gamble depending on height I find - La Plagne late-on was great because it has the height, even in resort (apart from Montalbert etc) and even Les Gets (1100m) was good in late March, although warm weather through the day and cold at night created some horrific ice runs in Morzine, especially on the blues that go through the trees . As said, ADH was amazing when i went in March 2009 but it was thawing quicker than it could snow and we were coming down the from mid-station (about 2300m) in T-shirts. The Sarrenne run - Europe's longest apparently at 16km - was ace the first few days with fresh stuff but by the end of the week it was a case of dodging rocks. The last day, cowing my board was for the bin, I just ended up boarding over everything regardless - it didn't feel quite right though!! :)

I think I've just been lucky every time Ive been; I went to Val D'Isere on the 4th of december one year; the webcams were showing now snow up until a week before then as wee arrived, it dumped three foot and kept doing so every night. The trees in Le Fornet were truly brilliant and it was like a whole area of off-piste that was hardly tracked because there was just a bunch of locals, the ESF guys, and about 80 students on a pre-Xmas bash. The day after we left they had avalanches down into people's living rooms - gulp!!! :eek:
 
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Flaine's not bad, but it's famous for being 'family friendly' so there are loads of small kids around, but they tend to stick around the kiddie slopes in the resort. The place itself is a bit soulless with grey monolithic tower blocks, but once you get up the mountains it's not bad at all with, as you say, plenty of accessible off piste.
 
barneyrubble said:
We're having a company trip to St Anton this year.
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did St Anton a couple of years ago. Moose bar is legendary. Just a bit dodgy skiing down the last half mile with 10 beers and numerous shots inside you in the dark :bonk:

we went in march and it was getting a little slushy later in the day - we took a bus about 20 mins around the mountain to another resort (can't remember the name) where it was a lot firmer and some great runs.

hopefully going to Verbier with the boys at the end of Jan (just need to work on my green card with the missus :help:)
 
I lived in canmore, alberta, canada for a year and would go snowboarding every weekend and sometimes just for a few hours in the day since I was less than 20 mins from the slopes. Buying all your own gear and just having to pay a day pass for like $30 made it so very cheap, and you could go whenever you wanted, without all the crowds.

I haven't been since because it just wouldn't be the same for me, I don't think i'd enjoy going somewhere for a whole week of snowboarding, doing it every day, we used to just go for a few hours whenever we wanted. Doing it every day all day, im not sure i'd enjoy it. And paying all that money it would be a waste to just go and do a little bit here and there.
 
Skiing/boarding is thrilling though Joe, how else can we mortals travel at (amateur speeds) 40-50mph without a motor or jumping out of a plane?

The biggest killer for any holiday is the expense but skiing takes the proverbial.

I remember my 1st time in Val d'...........1 night can wipe out your student funds.

Gonna wear a lid for the 1st time this season too...seen too many accidents from rogue skiers bashing into other folk.
 
tiler65 said:
Skiing/boarding is thrilling though Joe, how else can we mortals travel at (amateur speeds) 40-50mph without a motor or jumping out of a plane?

The biggest killer for any holiday is the expense but skiing takes the proverbial.

I remember my 1st time in Val d'...........1 night can wipe out your student funds.

Gonna wear a lid for the 1st time this season too...seen too many accidents from rogue skiers bashing into other folk.
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for sure, I know it is thrilling having done it many times. It's like porn though, I couldn't look at it all day :lol:
 
I ride at Isola each weekend, but am planning on a couple of trips to La Grave, which is just epic. Hopefully I will get a week in Cervinia as well, as its got some good terrain for me, and lots of nice cruisey runs for the missis.
After seasons working in 2Alpes, Risoul, Val D'Isere and Courchevel (5 season) I am definitely veering more to the smaller resorts from choice. Less need to get up at the crack of dawn to hit the fresh stuff, and nowadays the parks are maintained really well all over the alps, so you dont need to get to Espace Killy or Avoriaz to ride some good park setups.
If you are in need of options, dont discount the more southern resorts like Serre Chevallier, Puy St Vincent, Vars and Montgenevre. Some fantastic terrain at all of these. The Flaine area is good as well, nothing beats dropping cliffs with an Ibex stood watching you in Sixt Fer-A-Cheval.
Hope you have a great trip wherever you end up!
 
Stayed in Sixt once myself....my hire-car slid/skidded off a steep drive way to the chalet and I was near vertical sitting the drivers seat....got some funny laughs off the locals as i was towed out. Only damage was to the front spoiler and grill, it is amazing what black magic marker can hide. Took it back to Geneva airport and parked it very close to the wall so it could not be inspected too thoroughly and got away without having to pay any excess....phew.
 
One of my new years resolutions was to learn to ski or snowboard, but I've decided to go with snowboarding. I've been told it's harder to learn initially but is more fun when you get the hang of it.

I'm planning on doing a few indoor lessons then perhaps going up north for a weekend or so. Can't wait to give it a go!
 
Matty2 - lucky sod!! :lol: Would love to have some terrain close at hand. I skied in Leicestershire one year but a vertical drop of about 15 meres isn't exactly AK!!!!!

Steven001 said:
One of my new years resolutions was to learn to ski or snowboard, but I've decided to go with snowboarding. I've been told it's harder to learn initially but is more fun when you get the hang of it.

I'm planning on doing a few indoor lessons then perhaps going up north for a weekend or so. Can't wait to give it a go!
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Good luck with the lessons when you have them.

I was told by an instructor that it's easier to break something on skis (because things can go in different directions) and boarding you'll generally pull, twist and sprain things. You also hurt your bum more boarding.

I's guess they both have their difficulties.

Lessons are worth it to at least give yourself something to go on as and when you get out to the mountains. I went to France without having any - after some swallowing of my pride, I booked two hours with an ESF instructor and it was well worth it.

tiler65 said:
Skiing/boarding is thrilling though Joe, how else can we mortals travel at (amateur speeds) 40-50mph without a motor or jumping out of a plane?

The biggest killer for any holiday is the expense but skiing takes the proverbial.

I remember my 1st time in Val d'...........1 night can wipe out your student funds.

Gonna wear a lid for the 1st time this season too...seen too many accidents from rogue skiers bashing into other folk.
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Yep, gotta agree that it's the best thrill in the world IMO.

But expensive - jeez... unless it's Bulgaria or similar, it's one of those things that only the well-off can afford to do many times a year. I managed two hold in one year and it wiped me out for the rest of the year.

Helmet - good man :thumbs:. I wear mine religiously these days after I took a tumble off-piste in Dal d'isere and hit a tree. Knocked myself out and smashed my camera. Folk must have thought I'd been partying too hard at Le Folle Douce when I got up and was all over the shop for a few minutes....

BTW, really tempted by Flaine. Looks a great resort size-wise, very much like Les Gets. It's also super-cheap for the Flaine-only lift pass if high mileage isn't your bag.
 
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I did my season in cervinia!!

Thanks to special man, im now going on the school ski trip next Easter! :) Woop Woop!
 
Me and the missus are taking lessons at snozone (castleford) in a few months time, looking to get away boxing day for a week -somewhere in Europe, not too sure where though.
Ive been checking out a few ski/snow board sites and theres a decent choice of where to go.

Cant decide wether to try skiing or snowboarding, even though its early days im pretty excited about it.
 
So, the grandparents have said they'll look after the nipper so it's just a case of getting the misses' holiday okayed and we're set for 21/22 of this month.... can't wait!! :)

Thats my sock said:
Me and the missus are taking lessons at snozone (castleford) in a few months time, looking to get away boxing day for a week -somewhere in Europe, not too sure where though.
Ive been checking out a few ski/snow board sites and theres a decent choice of where to go.

Cant decide wether to try skiing or snowboarding, even though its early days im pretty excited about it.
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Crimbo and NY can be very expensive, but a late deal with one of the good independents should see you right, although with the great snow over Xmas the past few years the deals haven't been as forthcoming. Start of january is often the best time to go - cheapest deals.

If you want advice go on snowheads.com, although it's more of a skier's site **BOOOOO** ;)
 
So the grandparents have retracted their offer of childminding for the week - gutted. Looks like it's no snow for me then... ;(
 
barneyrubble said:
We're having a company trip to St Anton this year.
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Very jealous. Would love to go to Austria to see the snow but can't afford it in winter . Will just have to live with my two weeks in summer for now.

They are overloaded with snow at the moment in St. Anton, I get updates for the town via facebook.
 
stokes said:
bad times!
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They rang back this evening and said they'd do it.... top stuff.... although the misses is now cutting her nose off to spite her face by saying they had their chance.

I'm disowning her... :lol:
 
My mates have just been to Bulgaria for a week skiing, they're due back today so I'll ask them what it's like.

I was going to go to Zurich at the end of the month with work for a couple of days but it's too expensive
 
Zermatt for me! Pity its CHF as the Euro is starting to look a little beter value than the last couple of years!
 
Went to Tignes at Christmas, was a fantastic trip. Snow was one of the best I've skied on, better than Whistler, I think it snowed about half a metre every other day.

Also going to La Plagne last week in february, in British school term. Hopefully it won't be busy and the snow will keep falling!

Joe
 
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