J2Ski Forum Posts and Replies by KevinC

getjim wrote:

RoseR wrote:I am completely lost now, I thought it was all decided and Sochi got it. I am easily confused :oops:

Sochi did get it RoseR

Erm...........not according to the official website www.sochi2014.com - Baghdad gets it. Just ahead of the moon.

I was in La Plagne last January(and will be on the 10th Jan this winter) so will answer what I can!

Temperature - stating the obvious but it is entirely dependent on the weather (sun in or out). It was sunny every day but one for me in Jan 2008 and I was always too warm due to the exertion. I was wearing something under my pants and just a long sleeve top (running top to take away the sweat) under my jacket which was zip down most of the time. It's not until late afternoon skiing in the shade that it ever felt cool ( but I'm from Gateshead .....some lads in my ski lessons were from Sunderland and kept being told off for skiing in T-shirts). But you always need to be prepared for bad weather....I was in Serre Chevalier once when it kept blizzarding - sitting on a chair lift that's not moving due to the wind is no fun when your coat is icing up......so either keep an eye on the forecast (posted at the gondola stations etc.) or take warmer clothing with you on the slopes.

Plenty of choice of slopes - from easy to challenging so will only depend on progress. If she's going to stick at skiing she's best off going to most to be at her best - she can always ski during lunch break etc. or skip one or two at the end if she wants. She should aim to go down L'Arpette by the mid to end of the week - really fun blue run but is quick in places.

Can't think of anything in particular - pants, jacket, gloves, sunglasses, (goggles if snowing) hat, baselayers, socks...then basically anything you want in your room that a small supermarket might not have - we took tea bags, hot chocolate etc. Something sweet to give you energy in the afternoon perhaps, if you don't like French chocolate or whatever.

Plenty of restaurants on the slopes, on the glacier etc. But they are expensive - with the Euro it's going to be costly this year so you might want to visit the supermarket instead. But if passing through Belle Plagne both Le Matafan and Le Face Nord are good.

We were in a taxi last time but it seemed well-signposted. But I suggest you get directions from the RAC website if you don't have Sat-Nav.

Anything else?

Mont de la Guerre off the back into Champagny - more info please! What standard etc.

Thanks

rob123 wrote:

If it all goes right! I know a couple of people who have ahd it, and it messed their eyes up in a big way. I suppose there is a risk with any surgery though...

back to the specs, i`ve just ordered the E.E Explorers, with high index optical inserts. i think that`s the only way forward for me.....

Rob - there is risk with anything you do (including heading down a slippery mountain with two planks of wood strapped to your feet etc. etc.) and there may well be occasions when it hasn't worked 100%. But in life you get what you pay for and I can think of 5 people who have had it and been very pleased with the results.

Not that I'm trying to sell it to anyone, as it is a risk, but to anyone considering it, it's relatively painless and makes skiing etc. a whole lot easier.

I agree - don't bother with the Paradiski pass, just buy an add on for the day if you need it. The La Plagne pass is significantly cheaper and the area is easily big enough for a week. I was there last year when the Vanoise link to Les Arcs was out of service - wasn't a problem at all.

Well luckily I can't comment on the schnoz but I can certainly vouch for laser eye surgery! An odd experience but makes all sports a lot easier and will save you money after a few years. :shock:

I intend buying a pair of boots at some point but as a novice do I not need to wait until I'm relatively experienced?

What I mean is I'm assuming I'm not making a choice based on the colour of the boot but rather the standard of the skier - in which case should I be waiting until I have a few weeks under my belt or is it not that important?

Thanks

Ise - I've looked further and you are correct that it's not a legal requirement (as already stated there is a lot of wrong info on the net) but every single thread I've read states that hire cars in Switzerland all come with snow tyres. Point being they are highly recommended/necessary.

More to the point though it may not be a legal requirement to have snow tyres but if you have an accident and have inappropriate tyres on your car good luck trying to get the insurance company to pay up!