Messages posted by : andyoneil
|
Def Tignes will keep you busy for a week - the Espace Killy is huge, bigger than Whistler I'm pretty sure.
Tignes itself doesn't have a lot of trees due to altitude but plenty on the VDI side off the back of Solaise heading down into Le Fornet. |
|
|
I'd second much of what Dave has said - too many variables at work here unless we know a bit more about your group.
The Inghams brochure idea is a good one but, beware, even this can be subjective: as one example take Val d'Isere. Inghams offer several chalets and hotels here that are "ski in / out". Cant remember all names and don't have brochure to hand but one of the super swanky 5 star hotels is ski in / out IF your idea if ski in is to come down the Face black run at end of day when its busy and mogulled (it may be no problem to you but beginners will have no chance). Some of the other accommodation is off the end of the Santons run as it runs into town. You can see plenty of threads on here about Santons and how its never a blue - but for ski out its subjective as, though the piste goes past the accommodation, its flat at this point so its a walk not a ski Plenty of other resorts will have similar issues - tell us more about your standard and we can help with resort/ accommodation choices I'll start you with one in VDI: Chalet Danaides with Inghams - cosy, pleasant but basic. 20 yards from Front de Neige so def ski in/out for anyone |
|
Absolutely - fit, as in "boots that fit you" is of paramount importance but one can go too far. Comfort is king if you want to keep skiing as there's enough hurdles to overcome as a beginner without having sore feet! My summer sport is golf and, whilst I like a bit of new kit as much as the next man, I'm astonished at the money people pay for infinitesimal gains. That said good golf sales people are like good ski sales people / fitters: they are enthusiasts first and commission hungry second (or more like eighth or ninth). I tried a new driver or 3 and the guy said "you're hitting them no better than your current one - spend half of the £350 on lessons to improve and bank the rest". When I DO want new kit I will return to him as I know he's not just trying to sell me what he has a promo on from the vendors that week All that said my own boots are from Snow and Rock as there isn't much choice in Newcastle... |
|
Not pelters per se - I can see where you are coming from and kind of agree with the logic behind it but I'd say it all depends on your definition of "fitting" (which clearly will be different from one person to the next) I think that a "fitter" explaining to a beginner that it will feel tight, it needs flexing to get your heel back in the pocket etc is definitely "fitting" and is important. As for me - I spent my first few years skiing fastening my clips in the wrong order (simply went from toe to ankle as it seemed logical). A "fitter" got me to do them up properly and my need to take boots off every time I stopped for a drink/lunch etc went away. Happily keep my boots on all day and night now (though physically getting them from one state to the other is the trick as I have no ankle flexibility at all - maybe I need DaveMac's rear entry boots! |
|
|
That pic will be a collector's item very soon BB - the new gondola on Solaise is in operation this season so the chair lift is no more
|
|
|
Chalets def offer the option to meet people round the table (and thus decide if you want to ski with them)
Equally the big TOs are still doing "ski hosting" in places where they are not fighting the ESF so that's another chance to meet peeps - Ski Club of Great Britain does this too (at cost of joining) However the point of your question was more around the resorts - I've never been solo skiing (other than for odd half days when the wife was a beginner and in ski school) but logically: single occupancy is going to be a big bump on the budget. I don't know if the TOs let you book one half of a twin in a chalet (or if you'd want to do such a thing with a, potential, serial killer in waiting). Other thing about resort choice: as a solo skiier will you want lots of mileage to give you the sense of achievement (remember that you will cover ground significantly faster with only your own boot faffs, comfort breaks, tumbles etc to delay you) or do you think that won't matter as you'll take the opportunity to work hard on technique on your own so the same slopes will be a welcome comfort? Personally I think I would be in the former camp (as I would def cover ground faster than when I'm with a group - less so if its just the wife as she's quicker than me) so would want somewhere with a lot of variety. Based on that, from what you have listed then La Plagne (with a full area pass) is the most mileage (never done it myself but heard good things - and the Vanoise Express looks cool). Off to Soldeu ourselves in January with Inghams (nearly 20 years since I did it too) so we might well end up there together! Fair amount of ground to cover (not Paradiski/3V/EK levels but bigger than somewhere like Niederau). Hope this has helped (even if its just to make you think "he's an idiot, I'll do the exact opposite"!) |
|
The optimism is legendary - and yet you have been a member only one day and have only made this one (somewhat derogatory) post? |
|
|
Top Stuff
I'm on there now! And echo what Adders said - thanks to AllyG for doing this year on year!(we never did get to meet in VDI after you straightlining the Face) |
|