J2Ski Forum Posts and Replies by Dave Mac

Have flown on most airlines, mainstream and budget, cattle and Business class.
My view of BA was of an average service, with arrogant staff. The staff attitude has changed remarkedly since they were introduced to the real world.

The OP used to put Ryanair and EJ into the same band, changing this view, only when regular users reported good service from EJ.

Have used Ryanair, it took me longer to read the small print than it took to book the ticket. I very much doubt that I would use them for a ski flight, unless I was travelling light. After all,that is their policy.

I am a regular EJ user, more than 25 flights. Sadly they have increased a couple of charges, but this will not affect my view, they offer the best value from Edinburgh. I manage one free return flight per year, plus one/two sub £70 return trips to the alps per year. The hand baggage is free, and, although it is constrained by standard airline size, it can be of any manageble weight. Since on recent flight, my total baggage, including ski boots, only weighed 12.5kgm, I am relaxed about add on costs.

Austrian Airlines are to be recommended. It was Lauder before. The service is really good. It is worth the fare just to be able to watch as you fly into Innsbruck airport!

In general flight offers are largely subject to your location. Edinburgh has great offers. Belfast has, in general, poor offers. Elesewhere, I guess is in-between.

Apart from actual air incidents, I don't get stressed by flights. I prefer to get onto the aircraft, and choose who I sit next to......

Tissue dispensers may be quite useful in St Anton, helps to get over the last run down........

Fairly sure it is approx a 6 month window. Used to be less than that but has been 6m for a couple of years.

Far Queue wrote:
Didier Cuche retired from World Cup Ski Racing today, by completing his final race using 80 year old skis, he was suitably dressed as well.

Watching him struggle and fall on the skis, made me wonder if he should have called Dave Mac first for some advice :twisted:

Haha, indeed, I would suggest drinking the schnapps AFTER the race!

I was looking at a pair of ancients a couple of days ago, and thinking I wouldn't mind trying them, just to see how they would behave on pisted snow! And your posted video, (absolutely excellent), had me musing about the age of some of my skis.

My 210 Firebirds would be 39 years old. I used them for 26 years, and the guy I left them with in Colorado said they were going into their museum!

My 215 White Stars were refurbished when I got them 43 years back, so that puts them about 46 years old. I sold them to a guy about 5ft 3in!

The earliest skis that I owned, 210 Elan Jets, were about fifth hand. I gave Ellis Brigham £3 for them. They were a painted wooden base, with screw segmented edges, cable bindings, (similar bindings to the ones shown in the vid) The segmented screw edges dates them to pre 1950, since continuous edges were first designed in 1948, and were put into serious production by Howard Head in 1949. They were quickly adopted by other ski manufacturers. Hence, that would mean that I skied on 63 year old skis.

The year before I bought these, my climbing friend and I hired skis, cable bindings and all, and went up Cairngorm on the side by side chairlift for our first try at skiing. Unbeknown to me, cable bindings were really dangerous ~ the cable slid through crimps screwed to the side of the skis. What happened was that through skis coming into contact with each other, the crimps would trap the cable, and the bindings would not release.

So one hour after I had my first go at skiing, I was in an ambulance on the way to Raigmore Hospital, from where I emerged several hours later, with a full leg plaster cast!

Very good information, LOTA, thank you. It is very helpful. Headed there tomorrow.

Daisy,
We had a great New Year, based in the next village up from Soll. Munich is also a good alternative, you can get a train direct from the airport to Kufstein. Then a taxi,or maybe an hotel bus?

Think adders is deep stuff. I copied Ally's source site into my favourites. All you have to do is right click, then......

Thats a real bummer, we had some good posts and info from Steve.

Too many good guys. Yesterday, my long term ski buddy, Mel, passed away.