Messages posted by : bedrock barney
|
Well I haven't skied in NA but was surprised by Val d'Isere's gradings (even though I'd read up beforehand and was aware of the under classification). The reds seemed about right as did the one black I skied but the greens and blues were all over the place with some very tricky sections for beginners. The only upside for beginners was the ability to come down the mountain on chair lifts and gondolas at the end of a session. I suppose once you reach a certain level it doesn't matter as you will presumably tackle any slope. However lots of people ski with families and friends and that often means a mixed group.
|
|
|
It can be done but a pretty complex exercise. I met up with my old Uni pals in Barcelona last year for a long weekend. Lots of organising required but we all made it. Ended up suffering from borderline alcohol poisoning though......! Rather than taking me back 20 years, it made me feel 20 years older.
We haven't planned next year's skiing trips yet but will keep an eye on this and see if we can co-ordinate. |
|
|
..or a 0% credit card.
Having just skied in similarly priced Val d'Isere, we got through the week by pretending we were handing out monopoly money rather than euros to the various (no doubt rich) owners of the eateries and bars. |
|
Have you learned anything about yourself on a recent ski trip?
Started by User in Ski Chatter, 19 Replies |
|
|
I know that I am very very lucky to be able to afford to go on two skiing trips per annum. I do not take it for granted at all...
I just wish I'd got the bug when I was younger (but of course had no money!!) Does anyone else feel slightly "odd" when you are heading down the final piste on the last skiing day of a holiday? I do.... |
|
|
Is that particularly cold for the alps?
We holidayed in Norway December 2010 and that was, by far, the coldest I've experienced so far. Minus 15 was the warmest day and we hit minus 25 one afternoon. I found that ok as long as no skin was exposed. However a couple of the higher chair lifts/pistes were pretty grim with the windchill factor. Touching the shaft of your ski pole with bare hands no fun I can tell you (that is an innuendo free anecdote...) We were reliably informed by a local that it had hit - 35 on the thermometer the previous season (presumably colder than - 40 with the windchill factor)! There were signs near the chair lifts with the words 'advarsel' and 'frostskader' on them. No need for a translation....! |
|
|
Other than driving with a degree of common sense, the biggest aide for driving on snowy/icy roads is the use of winter tyres. And I mean 'winter' tyres not mud/snow or all season.
We own an Audi four wheel drive (A6 Quattro). When we bought it (December 2010), I also acquired a 2nd set of alloys which I had shod in Vreidstein winter tyres as we were planning to take the car over to Norway. The additional grip on snowy roads was a revelation. We drove from Oslo up to Hemsedal in April 2011 and December 2011 without incident. Not as good as studded tyres of course but definitely the next best thing for general use. We were able to drive up and down the access road to our cabin in Hemsedal even though it was permanently covered in snow and was a series of switchback bends. The majority of the german and dutch visitors were using chains. Interestingly the tread has now worn down to between 4mm and 7mm and the grip is already going. Apparently winter tyres need changing earlier than summer tyres. We uploaded a couple of clips to youtube when 1st trying out the tyres:- |
|
|
No music for me whilst skiing (although I am big music listener when at home and travelling). I like all my senses to be tuned in to my surroundings....
|
|
Just when i though i couldn't afford a third ski trip this year.........
Started by User in Ski Chatter, 14 Replies |
|
Bloody hell, I could have got that one right.... |
|