J2Ski Forum Posts and Replies by Ian Wickham

amanda n wrote:

Ian Wickham wrote:

amanda n wrote:i have been reading this thread, i thought blue runs were beginner slopes i cant figure out the narrow icy track bit? am i getting it wrong again?

i also thought the blues were very wide and only a gentle slope.

It seems mainly in France that mountain roads are left to the elements, and hey presto a blue run, they normally run through the valleys so they are pretty flat, and the width of a road :shock: :shock:

thanks wickers didnt realise that

swskier wrote:its not that posh, is in austria ski amade area. It includes return coach from bristol to gatwick, flights to salzburg, transfers, 7 nights in youth hostel type hotel inc breakfast, packed lunch, dinner, ski hire, lift pass and tuition. Not an amazing deal considering i went to winter park colorado in 2004 albeit with my old school for £960!

amanda n wrote:i have been reading this thread, i thought blue runs were beginner slopes i cant figure out the narrow icy track bit? am i getting it wrong again?

i also thought the blues were very wide and only a gentle slope.

gaz jones wrote:I could'nt find a topic to introduce myself so I thought I would do it here as the title of the thread is "Newbies"
Hi, I am Gaz an English guy who lives and works in Romania, I have been skiing for about a year now and I would consider myself an advanced beginner (oxymoron if I ever heard one). I have a few ski resorts within a couple of hours of where I live but I mainly ski in Poiana Brosov or Paltinis. My wife (who is Romanian) has been skiing since she could walk and my ambition is to at least be able to Ski the same pistes as she does in the near future.
If anyone wants any info or recommendations about skiing in Romania please feel free to ask otherwise I will see you on the other boards.

Tony_H wrote:I am not a fan of the blue "tracks" as I call them. These are often roads which are pisted in the winter, and usually offer nothing more than access from A to B. Yes they can be narrow, but you really have to learn to ski on all types of surfaces and width runs.
It does not mean all blues are tracks, but it probably does mean all tracks are blues. I prefer to ski reds as I prefer something with more momentum, and I obviously prefer wider reds too. But you cant always choose the type of piste you ski on.
I have found these kind of runs are often exit runs from a mountain, or links to a lift station. If you dont like them, you dont HAVE to ski them.

KevinC wrote:What a can of worms this has opened! There have been some fair points made by both experienced and novice skiers but I'd like to clarify my comments about those 'blue roads'.

I was learning to board last week and having to come from the mountain that way as it was the only blue run to the village. I was capable of 'sliding' down and turning. I'm still a novice though and am entitled to a bit of space either side to turn so that I don't have to go straight down at full pelt - this is dangerous for everyone. Unfortunately in Bardonecchia one doesn't seem to be afforded that courtesy with people flying past on both sides simultaneously within a copule of inches.

I really don't think that's acceptable........but I await correction!

Edit - there was an alternative red run to the village!