Skiing for a single beginner on a budget

Back to the subject of where, I have to agree with one of Dave Mac's selections.

Filzmoos is perfect for beginners and there is enough intermediate should you progress quickly. I was there last Feb, and although slightly more advanced than a beginner I found it a great little resort. The starter slopes are right in town, no need for walking or busses. There are a couple of long reds also should you get that far. I also heard (but have no experience) that the ski schools are very good.

There is some nightlife, and the apres ski is very family orientated, at least till 8.30pm. Good selection of food places and a very friendly atmosphere all round.

Warning. Stay in the village, I stayed about 4km out at the home of a very nice British couple. They provided transport but not at 4am ;) Saying that the locals are more than happy to take hitchikers home in the middle of the night.

Have fun!!

Dave ... I'm glad you said that about different snow types.
It's funny the preconceptions you have before you try something like skiing. Just turned the wrong side of 40 and still learning.
I was under the illusion that there would be lovely fresh snow all the time ... WRONG !!
There was no new snow all week we were there, there were a couple of brown patches mid-piste, and you couldn't ski all the way into town because of a lack of snow .. meaning a pit stop at a bar :D !!
The sun shone most of the week which was beautiful ... but meaning that the mornings were generally a bit icy and the afternoons were a bit slushy and as a beginner it is not easy when your ski hits a mound of slush !! Ski stops and body keeps going.
Another thing I couldn't quite understand .. some places you have to go down a red to get to a blue .... and your comment (best left for another time)about what is a blue and what is a red - I think I agree with you !

G

Preconceived ideas and skiing dont mix.
Luckily for me, the year I went to learn for the first time, it was very cold, sunny and bright during the day, and as soon as night fell it snowed by the bucket load, all night every night. And when the sun came up, the clouds went and it was clear sky and sun all day. Perfect.
My 2nd trip wasnt so good. It was the first time I went with my mate who was an excellent skier, and we went to BKK. Sadly it had been very warm and the snow had all but gone, apart from one red run which was like a sheet of scratchy glass until 11.30, whereupon it transformed into a river. I was still quite rubbish at skiing, but trying to get down a steep aggressive red on Fischer racnig rental skis on a sheet of hard ice was asking too much, and I had an absolute mare. Somehow though, those awful 3 days skiing did me the world of good, as I would not be beaten, and finally made it down the mountain without falling, wet, sweaty and exhausted. So we spent much of those 3 days getting very drunk, but the experience was a good one in the long run as the next trip saw thick snow and fantastic conditions, and I was able to progress much quicker.
Despite some dodgy weather in the past couple of years, I have never found somewhere I have been not been able to have some thoroughly excellent skiing, even in Sauze when the lower slopes were closed through lack of snow.....you can always find some good stuff somewhere if you are prepared to search.
6 weeks today. Not that I am counting.

Tony,
I read a lot of the old"er" posts regarding boot fitting ... sounds like a jungle.
I seem to remember one of your comments about wearing ski boots for the first time ... and I was the same. 3 people asked me ... "How do they feel?" and I replied "Fine ... but how are they supposed to feel?"
I was lucky ... or I have normal feet .. did the same as the others - just tightened them by one notch in the afternoon and all was fine.
But after only 1 week I still couldn't say if they could fit better ... skiing is a sport that takes experience (like any other sport) but unfortunately it is an expensive sport.
I rang my local bootfitters - 5 minutes around the corner ( and getting the terms right in a foreign language is not easy)and they said they should have me sorted in about an hour. They have a very good reputation and a guarantee that you get 80% of the price paid back if you are unhappy with them. They stock Atomic, Salomon and Dalbello boots - still looking at maybe an Atomic or Salomon 80 flex.

G

on the other subject of skiing alone...kinda my specialist subject... :wink:

I got fed up with the ridiculous :roll: single supplements I started putting together my own trips of people on their own. I was very cautious about not making them for "single" people - just for solo travellers...nobody really likes to be labelled "single"

the benefit there is you can get to know the people you are travelling with months before you leave...sometimes with the tour ops they will say they will put you with someone "of the same sex" but within the genders there's a variety of types! - you could end up with a party animal, a Neanderthal, a boring sod... i usually try and match up personalities as well! 8)

Also - I usually pick resorts that are good for all levels - Morzine/Les Gets has been a popular choice historically as there's Avoriaz and the sno parks for the boarders, some great stuff on the Pleney for beginners and the Les Gets bowl for improvers.

I started in Morzine trip No1 as a total beginner, progressed to Les Gets but got more lessons and stuck to blues on trip No2 (did a red on the last day) and trip no3 i spent most of the time on reds. I like to play it safe so hence I took my time... 8)

Now i'm looking to branch the trips out to other resorts - looking to try Val Thorens, Verbier (at Xmas), St Anton, Les Arcs...I need to get out and about!

xx

Re solo skiing and Queen of Sheba.

I'm back into skiing after 34 years!! but my other half does'nt like it. What would be good would be a list of like minded people willing to share.

I would have liked to push off for a few days now to Andorra or anywhere but the single cost for accom for 4 days is £400 (half board). Add ferry and diesel and you're talking the best part of £600. Now is there was 2 3 or 4 sharing the cost plummets and you get to meet new people all with pretty similar interests.

Maybe a specialist subject on solo skiers would be good

Dave

from a very unsnowy Devon

bald-eagleman wrote:Re solo skiing

I'm back into skiing after 34 years!! but my other half does'nt like it. What would be good would be a list of like minded people willing to share.

Maybe a specialist subject on solo skiers would be good

Dave

from a very unsnowy Devon

I'm just up the road from you in sunny (and frosty) Avon, also a solo skier much of the time. Always looking for others to hook up with for trips.

Dave

Have car, have kit, have a pink chit from Mrs G, just need the will to move really. Anyone else out there fancy 4 or 5 days somewhere


Dave :lol: