J2Ski Forum Posts and Replies by andymol2

Essentially the responses in the thread are to the news article about Shumi's accident. The article itself mentions off piste along with a number of other matters.
It is reasonable to assume that it's not unreasonable to discuss the various issues raised by his accident.
None of those comments have been disrespectful to somewhone with life threatening injuries.
J2Ski started the thread so presumably are happy for the issue to be discussed so why do some feel the need to chastise those who have responded to one or more of the issues the accident raisd?

I think most insurance policies that exclude off piste really mean they exclude skiing off piste without a qualified guide or instructor when you look at the small print.

If you assume that the ESF instructor knows his stuff (and presumably to qualify in France he must do) he/she will know of many areas that are technically off piste but are safe but not pisted or marked as such. These areas probably aren't at high enough risk of avalanche to merit the full safety kit that is essential for true back country off piste skiing. They can be useful to teach specific techniques or are just quiet.

If it's ski jumping should think Darren Gough & Steve Redgrave would make a dent on landing!

Never been too convinced I share the rep's opinion of the best places for a drink and even less to eat.

The more mature ones perhaps but if they are are less than 30 the odds are it's fast food restaurant or somewhere that does the reps a good deal for sending clients there.
(OK it's a generalization I know)

I suspect it has highlighted what many don't realise is that the piste ends at the marker and technically anything else is off piste - even a few feet as in MS accident.

Quite what the insurance implications are if you unintentionally go off piste in error (poor markings, fog, or just as part of a crash)?

I'm insured for off piste (not that I do it really) so I don't have to worry about cutting through between adjacent pistes or playing in the powder at the side. However I guess it's important to check your policy.

The answer as to why many beginners need to stop on a slope is usually because they need to catch their breath or their legs are flagging.

Experienced skiers tend to forget how much more physically demanding skiing is for beginners. Lack of technique results in far greater physical work. Skiing slowly also takes a lot of energy too.
Simply going faster and not putting on the brakes is something that takes many people a long time - if nothing else to have confidence in the technique they have. Technique requires lessons and practice.

Negotiating a ski school snake is a nightmare for many intermediates - getting past a snake of kids which crosses from one side of the piste to the other is easy if you are comfortable pointing down the fall line at the edge of the piste but not until you reach that point. It always amazes me that ski schools will take the snake across the entire piste when they could as easily snake them down one side or the other.

It is an issue - I took my children out of school some years as I don't get to have the school holidays very often - something of mixed feelings about taking them out but offset by the savings. I guess you don't get the option to go at other times.

One thing I did notice is that the ski holidays in the USA & Canada don't seem to climb to such an extent as the European ones. My wife vetoed that option as she hates long flights!
If you don't mind driving then that may save the airline rip off so you just pay the inflated accommodation element.

Yes you should go to Austria.
It's a different experience to enjoy. Different culture without doubt. The Austrians are more Germanic in that they like to party.
The quality of food, like in France and elsewhere varies but overall it is as good as France. Unlike the French they don't feel compelled to tell you how good their food is. (I would opine that the French opinion of others food is perhaps stuck in the post WWII austerity era)

It's a holiday after all and I certainly take the view that the world has too many different experiences to restrict holidays to one country or one resort. From what I've been told by those who have been, Bulgaria may not be top of my list for now!