J2Ski Forum Posts and Replies by andymol2

Presumably the French are having a blitz on drink driving.

I went to Le Mans a few years ago & they were testing driver after driver - according to the local rag they tested thousands over the weekend and had almost 200 positive tests - all but one were locals!

Mittens are better than gloves - the fingers share the heat and the exposed surface area is reduced.

You can wear liners inside for extra insulation - silk if you prefer.

Is it the height or fear of falling as she gets on & off?

The reality is that more and more drag lifts are being replaced with chairs perhaps so persevering to overcome the fear may be the long term solution. Most resorts have some drag lifts but they are often accessed by chairs or simply service the nursery slopes.

Perhaps learning some relaxation techniques or even hypnosis before she goes may ease the situation.

It may seem a daft question but why do you want to go to Avoriaz if you are already in Morzine? Once on the snow you can easily go between the two.

The latter has much more for the non-skier & it's probably easier for you to ski down to Morzine than for a non-skier to get up to Avoriaz (Presumably some sort of lift pass is still needed to go up).

Unless you ski for a living (instructor, racer or rescue team etc) then the term effective skier is almost irrelevant.

For most of us there is only one reason to ski - enjoyment. Yes you have to be effective enough to be safe but beyond that effective should be replaced with enjoyably.
For some enjoyment means getting better but the flip side of that is that you have to come to terms with how to deal with getting past your peak.

I took up skiing after giving up playing competetive sport & wanted to do something I would never be good enough to do competetively and thus only do for enjoyment and to motivate me to exercise to keep fit enough for it.
I'm happy to improve but not at the expense of enjoying my holiday.

A police caution is effectively a conviction but that shouldn't intefere with travel in countries not requiring a visa (ie Europe).

If you were going to the States it would be different - a conviction preculdes travelling on the visa waiver scheme (or whatever the new variation is called) so he'd need to declare it and apply for a visa.

I've ski'd both Morzine and La Plagne and would say that La Plagne is probably better for a novice.

I've been to Morzine twice and found it crowded which is quite offputting when you aren't used to crowds of people shooting past you. They are continuing to build in Avoriaz which will make the situation worse.

The pistes seemed wider in the La Plagne area which spreads the crowds as well as giving you more room for your turns.

I went there in April 3 or 4 years ago and there was pleanty of snow.
Apparently the lifts to the left of Clotes rarely open even if there is snow!
You could ski back to Sauze itself - slushy as you got down towards village but the snow went to within 20 yards of the road. I guess in a less snowy year you might need to walk further or come down in the lift.

It's not uncommon to need to take the bubble across to Sestriere as the linking pistes are not snow sure.
Part of the way to Sestriere requires the use of a lift (used to be rickety 1 man chair) as it crosses a flat valley which is really too flat for skiing.