J2Ski Forum Posts and Replies by TC

Getting back to the buying of ski boots, I bought my first pair this season and it has made a big difference to my skiing, so much that I may have chosen the wrong flex on the boots, or need to upgrade!

Not 100% sure on this flex things as I have found out there is no standard for this but was just speaking with others and they all think that I should have a stiffer boot 90 or 95, at least, not the 75 I have as I have progressed very quickly.

Any one that can throw some light for me on the flex issue it would be appreciated.

I got my boots from Ellis Brigham in Milton Keynes, very good fitting took about 2 hours, discussed everything with me tried on loads of boots, got a custom insole made, they didn't push that at me either.

The beauty of buying from there is that they have a comfort guarantee so will work on the boots to stretch and grind any pressure spots and if not satisfied they will give up to 70% of the purchase price back even if you have used them for up to 4 weeks skiing and you have the receipt of purchase.

Not sure they will change for me because of the wrong choice of flex, but the heels were killing me by the end of the day so much so it was painful skiing and difficult to walk in ordinary footware so taking back to discuss now, as I'm not sure there is anything they can do with the heels I might be lucky to change boots to a stiffer flex and fit.

Might be worth considering as an option to buy in the UK, as you have chance to get things changed and more accessible than the resort.

I have booked to go to Champoluc in March and used SKI 2, very good package put together for us for a short break.

http://www.ski-2.com/site/travel/ski2/ski-2-skiing-holidays-in-champoluc-san-cassiano-ski-holiday-champoluc-italy-champoluc-ski-deals-hp

They specialise in Champoluc and San Cassiano, accomodation, transfers, lift pass, half day ski guiding on first day and lunch voucher for slopes each day all in the price, though perhaps would have chosen Milan Malpensa as I believe Linate adds 30 or 45 minutes to the transfer as it is the wrong side of Milan!

Worse this year with Easter being early and then the school holidays being out of sync with that, exploiting those of us with children.

Also kids didn't go back to school until 8th Jan, so longer break there this year, we had to take kids out of school New Year 2006/07 for the first couple of days of the new term and send them in on a Friday, something like 4th/5th.

Depends what sort of accomodation you want as well, you an make these trips as cheap as you want if you don't expect too much from the accomodation. If you can be flexible with dates and prepared to put some time in reasearching your trip, you will find something to suit your budget.

I only took up skiing last season at age 40!

Had the same mental block about colour of runs, until I had a second trip to Meribel with a group from our village, one being my brother-in-law, who convinced me my ability was fine to try a red and I now echo Gareth Fair's comment the colour is in the mind.

The reds were actually more comfotable to ski than the blues I had been battling with the prevous day or so and really taught me just to adapt to what was in front of me and forget the colour.

Good idea though just to ask someone in the chalet/hotel who is local just to point out their favourite runs and why.

I used Snoslope MK, their Ski in a day package, superb for me!

By about 3pm in the afternoon, after a 10:30am start, 1 hour for a lunch break and rest, no previous experience, I was deemed competent enough to hit the main slope and was introduced to poles

Hit the slopes 6 weeks later on my first trip and with 2, 2 hour shared private lessons there (2 to 1 instructor), I was paralell and saving my old knees.

Called off!!!!

Glucose powder with added vitamin C, which you can get a big pack from BOOTS for about £1.50, is good just added to water or mixed with a squash as well.

A client of mine who is leturing in sports science recommended to me, infact the vitamin C element was more important than the glucose but for sports that gave a good combination.

So probably comes back to the fruit bars with Vit C in!

Yep was Ski Club see link - http://www.skiclub.co.uk/skiclub/resorts/gssg/resort.asp

then choose the resort, Alpe D'Huez, and under the comments half way down the page they are mentioned as highly recommended.