Messages posted by : Max Cottle
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Hi There,
I wouldn't worry too much, there will be beginner slopes open. At all resorts there will be ski schools which need nursery and begginer slopes to teach on otherwise they wont be able to charge people for lessons lol. Even if the slopes lower down are closed there will be blues open higher up. Have fun, don't worry it is always worth going besides I think you have some snow coming your way. have fun cheers Max |
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Profeet ski Lab is not cheap If you have the money and the time then fair enough. I would say the following,
1) Don't use thick socks they make your feet hot, which can cause your feet to swell get proper modern ski socks, they are worth the money especially if you have boot problems. 2) Some people have a foot shape that allows them to wear boots a size too small for them I congratulate them because the thought of that causes me pain lol. In fact Professionals will often use a size smaller with very thin inners and ski socks because this will give them more control..however watch how quickly they loosent their boots when they finish their runs. 3) I would spend the time and effort to get boots of your size that are comfortable for you. if you have akward feet (as I do) many shops may try and fob you by selling you boots which are a size or two larger than you should have. These may seem comfortable to you but as Trencher rightly says you will end up having to over tighten your buckles because your feet will slip back and forward and you wil have less control of your skis. 4) If you are begginer skier I would hire boots for as long as you can, if you are an Intermediate skier I would buy the most advanced boot that you can because otherwise you are likely to outgrow your boots quickly (in my experience) Soft comfortable boots are great for begginers but you will need stiffer responsive boots as you improve and once you have bought and fitted the right boots for you can get a good few years use out of them. 5) Don't let the people in the shop tell you what you need, do your research and don't let them sell you the wrong boot because you wont be able to take them back. 6) Buy your boots at a resort rather than in the UK, In the UK the people selling them don't generally know what they are talking about and you can't try them out poperly. If you go to a resort they will typically let you try the boot before you buy it. If one shop wont another will and because they are selling you boots they will spend the time to fit them properly for you over a period of days with you trying them out in earnest on the snow. Hope this helps cheers Max |
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I would definately go if you can afford it. If you are not a confident skier Xscape will give you the opportunity to find your ski legs befoe you take your holiday and you can have lessons there as well (not cheap) but this way you can make the most of the time that you have on holiday.
Also if you have just bought new boots this will be a good place to try them. as for getting fit for skiing I'd say try a few spinning classes, or squash, that's what I do. Cheers Max |
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Hi Michelle
Sorry to hear about your knee. Try Maria Alm it's on the Salzburg side of Austria, you can fly in with Ryan Air prety cheaply. Maria Alm is a hidden Gem, very picturesque great for begginers but not too challenging for advanced skiers. Loads to do there from the Rodelbahns, the sleigh Rides, visits to Salzburg and general shopping and looking around Maria Alm itse'f as well as some very pretty nearby towns / villages. I was there myself New year 2005/2006 had a great time but the skiing was not challenging enough if it wasn't for that we would have returned this New Year just gone. I can reccomend a place to stay as well. Please see below Alpengasthof-Hotel Annerlhof Alfred Rohrmoser Schattberg 28 A.5761 Maria Alm Tel.0043-(0)6584/22948 http://www.annerlhof.net Fantastic Service and very central and pretty cheap as well. Hope this helps Cheers Max |
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Hi There
Sorry that was a spelling mistake. I meant get your boots Blown out. They will heat up the boot and stretch the Chassis to relieve the pressure on your feet. if they feel better when you have the boot undone then it sound more like your foot is being squashed even though it may feel that the pain is caused by a thin sole. I have had untold problems with my Hobbit feet I would really spend some time with someone good in a shop. don't let them sell you boots unless you feel you want to buy them, try and get the ones you have fitted correctly it will take a few repeat visits but will be worth it in the end. Hope this helps Cheers Max |
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I have had similar problems and so I tried a heat molded insert which made things worse. I would suggest taking the soles out.
Also take out you ski boot inner and check to make sure that your sole plates (if separate to the chassis) are not cracked or broken. Make sure you use proper modern ski socks these really do make a difference. also if this pain only occurs when the boots are done up then maybe you need your boots blown out. I suggest that what ever the issu you don' waste time trying to get it sorted in the UK, when you go to your next ski resort take the boots in to a boot shop and get them to look. The first thing they will say is that you should try on some new boots just to compare. of course they are trying to sell you new boots but be firm and get them to fix the ones that you have. They can try all sorts and you can ski on the boots immediately and see the difference over a few days. hope this helps cheers Max |
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I can't speak for all of Austria but I just got back from St Anton yesterday 13th Jan.
Conditions were better than most other places but still poor. there was a lot of rain lower down and a lost of slush and Ice. If you are an intermediate or advanced skier you can get to a lot of higher up slopes which are good I spent most of my time on Black 2 down from Galzig and black 25 from Gampen and reds 37 and 24a to ski down the mountain. When you got lower than 1800 meters it was unpleasant above that it was ok but visiblity was usually bad but then low visibility only ads to the thrill I say. Lessons for begginers would not be fun they were done at the bottom of Nasserein bahn which on slopes which were a mixture of sheet ice, slush and grass as it would typically rain over night and thin out what scraps of snow there were and then freeze over in the mornig only to slush up in the afternoon. I had a great time skiing though it did snow for 4 days straight and I skied 12 out of 14 days and I wasn't dissapointed I believe if we hadn't have gone to ST Anton however I would have been extremely dissapointed. It was snowing when we left yesterday morning early don't know what it is doing now but I'd say if you are going to Austria you need to be heading in the St Anton Direction if you want to ski at all. Hope this Helps Cheers Max |
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I like Hintertux glacier good skiing up there and you can ski down from the top to the botom on some long easy reds to the bar at the bottom. you can also ski back to mayrhofen fom the glacier.
also look at try lanersbach, vorderlanersbach, finkenberg and eggalm there is plent to ski there so get abou don't just ski mayrhofen. cheers max |
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