J2Ski Forum Posts and Replies by OldAndy

jbrayden wrote:I'm heading to Tignes on Saturday 26th December.

Which village are you going to be based in?
And to keep you happy get addicted to watching........
http://tignes.roundshot.com/lac/

:)
OA

caltonhat wrote:Old Andy,

I think it maybe time for the snow dance! I seem to remember it worked last time.

:lol:

Ah - but.....
When we did the last one there were very clear signs of snow coming!!
So I don't really have super-atmospheric powers :(

Good plan Doug - lower resorts come into their won from mid-jan in my view. Winning as the snow is more reliable and high resorts hit their coldest and bleakest periods.
Early and late go high.
Mid season and the choice expands hugely.

Glad all OK!
But look on the bright side - only a couple of years before you won't have to side step back to check on Little Adders - he will be well ahead of you..........

There are a few years back in the 1980's that I can picture exactly.
Xmas 1985 - poor snow in Meribel valley but better in Courchevel
Xmas 1986 - Absolutely brilliant in Les Arcs
Xmas 1987 - Terrible in Les Arcs; chair lifts down from higher places
Xmas 1988 - great conditions
Xmas 1989 - OK, could ski back to 1650

These were all pretty much pre-snow cannons. Courchevel had a few but other resorts were only just getting them. With artificial snow more and more slopes could be covered and skiable as long as temperatures are low over night.
The most noticeable change that I have seen is in the Glaciers - the one I know Grande Motte above Tignes. Much smaller now than back in the 1980's. Tignes used to offer skiing 365 days of the year but that stopped a while ago and the glacier has a very limited summer opening schedule now. It is a poor shadow of it's former self.
Lower level resorts used to have a much shorter season before artificial snow. Whilst they would try to open for Xmas this wasn't guaranteed.
Early season skiing is always hit and miss and BB has made a good point about going high.
I have seen projections showing the jet stream moving south from beginning of january and this should herald snow - let's hope so.

Point of order - OA going to ADH on 29 Jan - skiing from 09.30 on Saturday 30th Jan :)

I would wonder how old and energetic Oz is?
And also some personal perspectives on skis for my own benefit.

I'm late 50's, very good technical skier but arthritic with dodgy knees and not very fit.
Having moved to something wider underfoot and with rocker about 4 years ago I have a hunch that about 90mm underfoot allied with the generally softer ski leads to a much easier ski to turn. Less effort to get on the edge and the ski geometry makes short turns (which I love) less tiring.

I always hire and have skied things such as BBR 8.9 (of the marmite ski fame but I loved them), Movement Jam, Cham 87 (the bigger one was great in soft snow but too much like hard work for me) and the Scott Mission.

Just wondering whether my views have any technical basis or are simply what i get on with in my ski choice?
OA

I doubt SC will be possible. I think the drive involves the Col Du Lauteret - which is a continuation of the La Grave road mentioned on a previous thread as a temporary road around the lake. So not only is this route on a dodgy road the Col is frequently closed, especially if there has been recent snow.
Other SC routes involve a huge detour