J2Ski Forum Posts and Replies by tonyo74

OldAndy wrote:If it were me I would simply be focussing on enjoyment and not trying to specifically push technique at all.

Kids tend to learn by following and mimicking rather than being told to "plant ze poles" etc.

If he wants/asks for lessons organise them but otherwise just let him enjoy doing what he wants to do and if that is by "doing it right" fine and if that is flying around the mountain and jumping over things fine.

Andy whilst I am in full agreement that skiing is firstly and foremost about enjoyment and this must be a priority especially with younger skiers, it should also be recognised that skiing is a technical sport/pastime and is very much a counter intuative, it is far easier to learn correct technique in the early years than it is to put right bad habits later which it may never be possible to eradicate once ingrained. Lessons especially for younger skiers have changed massively since the 70s, and 80s when it was normal for an instructor to stand at the bottom of a nursery slope screaming instructions at a group of beginners along the lines of 'Plant zi poles!' with the employment of fun games and activities that in effect 'sneak in' good technique without it being an apparent lesson, in fact I would go as far to say any instructor in this day and age that resorts to the old teaching techniques of repetitive drilling should not be teaching youngsters, generally drilling techniques are now only used as a last resort when the afore mentioned bad technique needs to be hammered out. A few good lessons now could save many many hours of tedious lessons in the future and make skiing more fun for years to come.

Exceptionally good for someone who has skied for only 2 weeks (don't you just hate how quickly young ones pick it up??), I would suggest a few hours of one on one lessons next, instructor would probably look to work on eliminating his slight A frame by pushing uphill knee further into slope and rotating bottom foot more to bring knees and lower legs parallel, this will also be helped by decreasing upper body rotation, try getting him to keep his shoulders always pointing down hill I was taught to visualise headlights on my shoulders and to keep them pointed down the hill.

cwagner wrote:Hi, I too suffer from agony in my feet after just a short time on the slopes. There is a J2Skier called cem who has been so very helpful to me. I am getting boots professionally made and fitted this year on his diagnosis and recommendations. Check out his website www.solutions4feet.com. I will be posting reports from Niederau and Kitzbuhel in a couple of weeks so will let everyone know how I go with my new boots from Daleboot in Kitzbuhel!!!

I had 2 - 3 years of pain from boots, was reconmended to go to solutions4feet and have not regreted it, it was quite a distance for me to travel from NE but worth the journey, my feet may never be 100% pain free as i have anything but normal hoofs, but i can now ski for 4 - 5 hours without tears in my eyes, before i had boots fitted correctly 1 hour max.

Think most places give a short grading at beginning of the week, can be a bit embarrassing if you don't like that sort of thing but everybody is in the same boat, private lessons can move you on faster but can be expensive, group lessons also a great way to socialise, lie in??? Your not on holiday!! It's skiing!!!

Agree with La Tania great little resort lovely friendly feel better value for money than Courchevel with superb access to 3V area. La Plagne - stay in Mont Albert (spelling?) again nice village with great access to huge area. Tignes - stay in Les Brev same story. Main resorts in France such as La Plagne centre, Tignes, Courch, tend to be over priced and a bit Blackpool, IMO look for smaller, lower ski in/out villages for base and have a cheaper more relaxed time, cosy apres but still enough to party if you want to, whilst still having huge ski area on hand.

Tony_H wrote:So I'm planning some ideas for next season, doing my usual research on resorts, accommodation, etc

I've been compiling a short list and have come up with one or two places that have surprised myself but came about after reading reviews.

I've even produced a short list of hotels based on value, location, and online reviews posted.

So, I'd be interested in people's feedback on places they've skied on this list, and particularly on the property mentioned if anyone's stayed there too;

Verbier- chalet hotel Montpelier or chalet hameau (I skied verbier 5 years ago and want to go back)

Arabba - chalet matea/elena

Selva - chalet brigitte or chalet igloo

Courchevel 1650 - chalet cascades (surprised myself here with France, 3 valleys and courchevel in particular but reviews tell me otherwise)

Schladming - hotel zum kaiserweg

Bad gastein - chalet hotel tannenburg or hotel Mozart

Cervinia - chalet hotel des guides


I've swatted up on ski areas and all are exactly the kind of places we like, albeit all somewhat different to each other.


Thanks in advance

Hi Tony,

Selva - as mentioned hike to very busy gondola or steep long hill to chair. Great ski area once you are up but a pain first/last lifts. Ok après.

Arabba - Great skiing, good height, access to massive ski area, good easy access, après very quiet.

Courchevel - 3V say no more about ski area, lifts etc. superb! Courchevel very expensive and a bit pretentious - stay in La Tania much nicer village better après and great access to 3V area - love La Tania (hope to go back in 2014).

Cervinia - a totally different experience - all hotel resort no chalets so very busy après, huge ski area but can be quite desolate no tree line, top lifts close if windy (which is quite frequent) and bottom slopes get very busy, some waiting for gondola first thing but not too bad. Allegedly you can ski over the boarder but we got charged extra for the last lift back to Italy, liftys making a few quid, spoils the area!!

Hope this helps.

Done.

Hope you have a great time, let us know when your back.