J2Ski Forum Posts and Replies by rossyhead

I am going back to Alpe Dhuez next week with my school pupils and am wondering what skis to take with me - I am sharing a ski bag with one of the pupils who races and therefore don't think I can take both.

I have two pairs-my GS skis and my Volkl Katanas.

Last year we had one of the best weeks skiing in the off piste with the instructors - I would hate to miss out again but I have heard that the snow cover is poor even low down still and even if it does snow as it is reported to this week, it is still very dangerous off piste.

Is there any point in taking a fatter ski or do you think the instructors will not take the kids off piste this year?

Many thanks in advance

I spent a season in Bormio in 2010-11 and absolutely loved it so I am biased but have spent a lot of time in livigno, including a holiday 2 years ago at easter.

Either are excellent, it depends what you are looking for - if you want nightlife go to livigno, cheap and cheerful drink with brilliant apres. Bormio has started a similar apres scene but nothing like Livigno. Bormio is smaller with less pistes but many more options off piste. Bormio is closer to Milan (but you say you're coming over from the other direction)

Regardless of which you choose make sure you visit "La Pozza" - it is the outlet pipe fromt he natural Roman Baths (Bagni Nuovi and Bagni Vecchi) and is brilliant after a days skiing

Weird-just trapsing through the last of my exam marking, my mind wanders back to the snow for a second and I remember I havent been on here in about 6 months! First thread is how quiet it is so thought I'd say hello!
School trip back to alps dhuez will probs be my only skiing this incoming year (outside of Scotland anyway) as the wife to be wants to go to vegas next summer :-(
Hope everyone survives this warm spell...

I actually don't have a clue because it was all booked direct through ski bound sorry

An all mountain ski that is fatter will not initiate as easily into the turn. You might find you have to work them a bit harder to get them to turn.
It depends on a lot of different things-your weight, the flex of the ski and the sidecut but in general they will give you longer gs style turns instesd of quicker edge to edge turns.
I am of the school of thought that you should ideally have two pairs - slalom and powder skis with a gs pair in there if you can afford/store them

I just got back from a superb week with my school kids on a trip.
We stayed at the belle aurora. A ski bound hotel which I'm fairly sure would be at the cheaper end of things. Very close to two lifts that take you up to the main basin.
Faulous area. I got to ski with the more advanced group so skied lots of off piste all week!

the level one course is £400 and the level 2 course is about £1500.

That is if you can do the level one close by a snowdome where you dont need to pay for accomodation. The level 2 must be done on a mountain so flights/accomodation make it £1000 more.

Plus you need to get your 70hours teaching/observing in between the two.

I was very lucky to be able to get about 10weeks staff training/caoching at Xscape braehead after mine but the whole experience coupled with the fact that you are living in the mountains isnt that expensive IMO.

It IS expensive but its value for money i think

My ski season out wasnt instructor based but whatever you do, if you can, do a ski season of some sort!

I love (as you all know) my 4Frnt MSP skis

The only ski that I have ever been on that ive felt could go anywhere.

97mm at the waist so fairly phat, 187cm length which was perfect for longer turns but short enough for trees and tight spaces.

I then owned the Armada ANT 191cm for a while and although they were great I did feel like I needed a further 20cm of snow to enjoy them properly (which I never got)

Presumably the new TST ones are an update of the MSP?

I did try some Whitedot skis last year at Glencoe-they were nice too.

Now Im on a pair of Armada El Rey with touring bindings!