J2Ski Forum Posts and Replies by Dorset Boy

Would she not be better off in ski school - a weeks half day lessons would cost you quite a bit less that the 3 hour private, and she'd experience more of the resort. You could then go over some of the ground she covered in the lesson.

Taking skis off and sliding down on yer bum is one of the worst and most dangerous ways down of a ski who inadvertently has got a little out of their depth.

Far better (and safer) to traverse, sit down, swing the skis around, stand up, traverse and repeat.

That all said, their is a certain amount of politics in piste grading, but equally no resort will want people getting out of their depth. Snow conditions can also play a major part.

Overall, tis a tough one!

So if it was your fault, can you afford a potential pay out of many hundreds of thousands of pounds?
Are you a keen gambler?

Do you insure your car?
What about the other skier whose life you've wrecked?
Personally I don't care if you have to cough up for your own trted, but what about your responsibility to everyone else on the slopes?

Repeart custom is your life blood. With the big ski areas people will generally keep returning year after year as they will never get bored, and then they are all areas that everyone 'must' ski once in their career, so you have a much larger pool of potential clients.

Small out of the way area, you have to ask yourself how many people will want to ski the area year after year after year?

Of course rent etc is higher in the big areas, but so too are the prices you can charge.

Length of season is also an important consideration. No point in being in a low area with a short season!

Hmmm, look at the shape and compare with the shape your foot, ankle and lower leg will make in a ski boot.

Your feet are probably the most important part of your body when skiing, so it's not worth skimping in that area.

That said, some people have feet that feel everything and need constant boot adjustment, others just stick their foot in the boot in the morning and need do nothing more.

Tube socks are a disaster for the former, but may suffice for the lsatter group.

There's not much nightlife in Flaine, but le White Pub in the forum has a couple of reasonably priced happy hours and the Flying Dutchman attachs a big dutch crowd!

Don't know about the accomodation though!

On size of chalet, when we looked ast it many years ago, we felt that you probasbly want 6 en suite rooms that take 12 adults, but could squeeze a couple of younger kids in.

Any less and you wouldn't make money, any more and it is too much of a slog and you can't sell yourselves very well.

Most operators rent their chalet though a few also own some or all. Silver Ski certainly used to own some and rent some, and one tiny chalet company I worked for own both theirs.

If based in one of the msin chalet resorts there are usually plenty of people happy to help out on change over day. There are also now loads of licenced private transfer companies so you don't need to go to the airport yourselves.

Being organized is the key to having a great time. First season chalet staff tend not to be very organized and get little skiing in. by our 5th season we had it well sussed so that one powder day we were out the door at 9am having cooked breakfast, cooked the cake, prepped dinner and cleaned the bedrooms etc. We were rarely in the chalet post 10 am in any event, and didn't need to return before 6 - 6.30 pm.

Again to keep things easy, being slopeside or short walk from the first lift saves having to offer minibus services, but you'll pay more for the property though can charge a premium.

I also don't thing that you need to have a really tight food / drink budget. If charging an average of say £400 pp (no travel) then will someone really be put off if your charge is £415 with the extra £15 being spent on making their stay more special? We used to take champagne and canapes to the airport as a welcome for the guests and provide at least one bottle of port per weeek, plus all toiletries.

Sites like Merinet.com will give details of many independent chalet operators, many of whom don't offer travel as part of the package, and they are successful companies who have traded for many seasons (eg Ski Cuisine)

I totally agree with Andy - working at least one, preferably more, seasons for a specialist chalet operator before tryting to go it alone. You'll get to learn what works and what doesn't, whether to operate to a strict budget, or go more luxurious for minimal extra cost.

I also think you'll learn far more from a specialist chalet operator than a mass market company such as Crystal etc. Their business model is too different to the one you will need to use.

I worked for 3 seasons for Silver Ski, but there are lots of specialist operators who would be good choices too. Meribel, Courchevel, Val d'Isere and Verbier are 'THE' chalet resorts in which to work and learn your trade.

Be very realistic about your occupancy rates in your first couple of seasons. also find out about the extra revenue sources - lift pass commissions, ski hire, etc.....

Good luck!