J2Ski Forum Posts and Replies by ise

Tony_H wrote:or if you have a timed ticket at the Peage and you have clearly exceded the speed limit by a certai amount - .

That's an urban myth as far as I know, the people that get pulled over at the peage have passed a speed check before it and the police are using it as a convenient road block.

The maths of being able to exceed 130 speed limit significantly over peage distances just defeat it as an effective tactic.

Tony_H wrote:I got flashed by 2 speed cameras in the massif central a few years back, but nothing ever came of it. I found out from a mate in the force that they have no access to DVLA

That changed a couple of years ago, under the Road Safety Act the DVLA can give details to foreign authorities.

julietP wrote:I was thinking of a late trip to Val Thoren in early April.

Can anyone give me any advice on whether that is too late for decent snow at that time?

That's not particularly late. Val Thorens and handful of high French concrete carbuncles over exploit that belief, personally I started skiing in Nov' before the lifts opened and expect to be skiing at the end of May when they've all shut.

With Easter being early this year some stations will actually be closing in April as demand tails off, I'm expecting that April is going to be quiet this year and hoping we'll get some good skiing after the crowds have gone.

jclegg19 wrote:I am hoping for the same thing " Snow In March " Going to Morzine for a week 2nd March. But looking at last seasons Snow March should be good and with the great base we have all should be good.

is it a great base that low in that area? it didn't look very good driving past the bas-Valais and the Swiss PdS this morning really. 20cm's maybe by eye I'd have said.

robandliza wrote:
Her biggest fear appears to be vertigo. When going up on the gondola on our last day and even walking around the bar at the top she felt as if she and our kids were going to fall all the way down the mountain


Has anyone else out there experienced anything like this and if so what ,if anything, did you do to overcome it?...is there anyone with any suggestions on what to do

That's not actually vertigo, vertigo is an inner ear balance problem and a very specific form of dizziness.

What you're describing is acrophobia which is a phobia and not necessarily a problem, quite a few climbers and skiers suffer from forms of it, in fact I do to an extent as it happens. The root of the phobia is a concern about loss of control for most of us, so I can traverse an knife edge alpine ridge at 4000m with long drops either side as I'm in control but I'm not happy going up a ladder at all. The thinking is we all have this, it's just the point it kicks in. Research varies, another explanation is that it's linked to past trauma.

Just getting confidence on the skis on non-threatening slopes could be all that's required although lifts are going to be an issue.

Also, as another thought, how high was this lift? Some of the symptoms of mild altitude sickness might present like acrophobia or vertigo.

Liam701 wrote:Hi, were looking at going skiing/boarding somewhere in France/Swiss/Bulgaria/Italy, not made our minds up or mind really just as long as there is good runs for the learners (with a ski school too), and good runs for the more advanced of us too! Where is the best places to go? and does anyone know of any good deals to be had? If its France then we may well drive. We will be looking at going the 1st week in March, is the snow likely to still be good then? thanks everyone!:)

we had one of the biggest snow falls of the season at the start of March last year, it's not a particularly late part of the season.

Here's my record of the last few years :

http://snowslider.net/2005/03/
http://snowslider.net/2006/03/
http://snowslider.net/2007/03/

My own plans for skiing go as late as the end of May so far so March seems pretty early. It should fairly low season that week so you might just be able to make travel plans and book some accommodation later depending on where conditions look good or the best deal is.

Never used it but I know bandit has, she posted a link :

http://www.swissrailways.co.uk/

I think that journey's a little shorter now as well, they've upgraded one of the tunnels.

crashandburn wrote:When in Flaine find a guide that will also coach you (sorry no advice as who to choose) as you will be killing 2 birds with 1 stone. Great off piste adventure and also improve. Lots of guides will just ski off and let you follow - no help here to improve, actually just the opposite - my just trying to keep up means your 'jumps turns' will be a distance dream!!

Guides aren't ski instructors and vice-a-versa though, so most guides try pretty hard not to instruct. Generally you'd say you really shouldn't be looking for a guide to instruct and you ought to be at the standard for the route you're skiing. Practically, it's not a bad thing to share the odd tip here and there of course.

ESF have a special class of instructor who are are also guides and I've had good experience in Val D'Isere with them. Any good instructor should be able to teach that type of technique although you've specialists like Warren Smith who focus on that sort of thing. There's no terrain around Flaine that an instructor isn't able to take you either, it's not glaciated.

crashandburn is right, ski with a guide and you'll improve, it's just you could say ski with a guide for a few tips and with an instructor if you're looking for coaching.

mike bower wrote:Help! I'm arriving in Zurich around 12:45 Saturday (I could arrive at either the main train terminal or the airport terminal). The only trains to Saas-Fe/Zermaat area leave between 6:00 and 8:00 am.

Anyone know of a shuttle or other bus service from Zurich to Saas?

Thanks, Mike

I don't know who told you that but it's not true, you can get the online timetable from http://sbb.ch

If you aren't aware of it you probably need to get a Swiss Transfer Ticket as well, it's the cheapest way to make that journey.