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J2Ski Forum Posts and Replies by baillie353

Messages posted by : baillie353

That time... Of sadness
Started by User in Ski Chatter, 13 Replies
Tony_H wrote:Every year I consider Alpe d'Huez, and then end up booking for somewhere else. I will get there sometime.
As for the swimming trunks, its common all over france and some of italy too. I used to get annoyed about it when I was on camping holidays when I got thrown out of the pool for wearing swimming shorts, and never understood why they insist on speedos, and in many places, on swimming hats too. I understand its all to do with hygiene, as they believe that swimming shorts worn outside of the pool carry germs and dirt.
The French can be quite an infuriating race.

Good to hear someone had an amazing time though. Its all about furthering your own personal experiences.


I definetly recommend Alpe D'Huez. I'm saddened by sitting here at home back in Glasgow, looking all around me and all I see are buildings and city lights. Sob.
However, fair point on the swimming pool issue, it's just so dull I think!

Next stop.. Italy, somewhere near Turin airport in March. We hope this anyway, booked flights - yet to see if it will go ahead! :)
Alpe D' Huez Accomodation
Started by User in Ski Chatter, 5 Replies
grant2404 wrote:Hi

Just got back from my 1st skiing trip to Seefeld, Austria, but found the blue runs quite tricky for a beginner, so am planning next years trip early to somewhere with some greens and Alpe D' Huez looks spot on. From what i've read location is quite important within Alpe D' Huez, can anyone suggest any hotels or self catering apartments? Something not too fancy as we stayed at the Seespitz in Seefeld and everyone dressed for dinner - all shirts and ties and at least 60 years old, i stood out somewhat as the poshest stuff i had was jeans and t-shirts!!

Cheers

Grant

Hey Grant, welcome!
I'm just back from Alpe D'Huez - Last night, infact.
We stayed in Les Bergers - The Maeva appartments, fantastic! Self catering, got all you need, bed sheets, toilet, shower, bathroom etc. Ski lockers on the underground floor.
Should deffinetly take a look - it's also less than 5 minutes to the chairlifts (Romains and Fontbelle) and also the gondola (Marmottes I)
They are the main ski lifts in the resort :)
Here is a link to where we booked the place:
http://www.pv-holidays.com/

Just stick your dates in etc and have a look!


About the resort itself, for beginners it's well catered for, there are plenty of green runs and blue runs. Some greens quicker than others, but green nonetheless.
I'm positive you'll have a fantastic time!
Take care
That time... Of sadness
Started by User in Ski Chatter, 13 Replies
Hey all, I´m sitting here in the internet cafe on my last day in Alpe D´Huez after the most satisfactory holiday i´ve ever had!

Just writing on this to pass some time, but also to get a little chat going. We were thrown out of the apartment at 10 am today and have to wait around until 5 pm to get the bus transfer to the airport. This place is truely amazing.

I could have skied for one more day (or a half day) but that would mean extending the lift pass for 40€, not really worth it - especially seeing as I got done everything on my list.

La Sarenne? AWSOME! Really, really good and seriously long. 16KM (Roughly 10 Miles for us brits)

Le Tunnel, fantastic! Incredibly steep - A real challenge, I did bail twice on this run, but managed it the rest of the way!
What was a little spine-chilling was on the way through the tunnel, we passed a little in-cave, in which there was a gravestone (RIP). That kinda scared me, but as I got out to that ledge and looked down, i´d honestly never seen anything like it.
P.S - Don´t do such steep and fast runs on freestyle skis and boots ;) haha, little thing I learned the hard way! But my legs got used to it after the 4th day :P

The view from the top? (Pic Blanc - 3330 Meters) - Immense. Never seen Mt. Blanc so clearly before - The feeling of standing so tall was incredible, I found myself having to gasp for air after talking - Such a good feeling.

Overall, the resort for Alpe D´Huez is really, really good! I know this isn´t much of a detailed or specific report, but it´s something at least.
There are two outdoor pools, one of which i´m looking out onto just now. Looks really cold :P

The chairlifts from where we were staying (Les Melez) - The Maeva hotel. They were pretty close, just walk accross a little road, pop your skis on and ski about 100 yards to the nearest Gondola. The balcony Looked out onto the Altiport (The small runway for small aircrafts and helicopters) That was pretty cool to look out onto every time something passed through.
Nearby was a little supermarket which had all the necessary things, bread, milk etc etc.

The lift pass was good for what it offered - Access to the whole area of chairlifts, free access to the swimming pools (there is, however, a stupid rule they have on the swimming pool - i´ll tell more later), free access to the night time skiing, which was also amazing! - I´ve taken a load of photos and videos, I might upload them to here or post a link to them when i´m home!

Now, the swimming pool - On the resort guide it states that men CANNOT wear swimming trunks? What?!?! Why not?
Instead we must wear tight speedos which I just wouldn´t. It also states on it about the swimming pool not being a washing machine or a shower.
How on earth can they justify these bloody stupid rules?
That was one thing that really annoyed me.

Anyways, this will do for now as it´s way too warm in here, the heating must be up full. So I will return to this post when I get home and reply to any messages!
Cheers, hope you all have/had a great holiday!
Ski distances on holiday
Started by User in Ski Chatter, 27 Replies
ise wrote:
micric wrote:I'm with you on that one tino,we tried a watch style GPS,the joggers watch an several friends managed 45/50mph,some other mad bloke managed 87mph on a pair of Atomic Excellent IIs and took the beer honours that night,now ise tells us we're dreaming,that's depressing!


87mph? Not even close :lol:

Your small GPS isn't that accurate, what happens is that the speed is calculated between two points, both of which it got wrong :lol: I use a variety of GPS devices and it's common, it tells me on foot I'm hitting 70 or 80 mph sometimes, I'm pretty fast but not that fast :D



Maybe so! But i'd certainly use it to gloat about speeds i've managed :P It's a good idea, if the 55 mph was true, then fair play to him.. It was him and his brother decided to go straight, ski tips pointing down and just go... They both recorded their speeds and he managed 55 mph. Not sure what his brother's said it had reached!
1st trip of the season
Started by User in Ski Chatter, 22 Replies
Tony_H wrote:£40.02 for those without skis, yeah thats good. I just dont like Ryanairs baggage restrictions and ski carriage charges.
BTW, Easyjet charge £16.50 each way ski carriage.

For the record, you can fly BA to many ski hub airports for under £100 return, and they include 23kg of luggage and FREE ski carriage. Plus you get a far far better standard of service. Not sure about from Glasgow to be fair.

Anyway, enjoy.

Thanks for that Tony_H! :D
I'll keep that in mind
1st trip of the season
Started by User in Ski Chatter, 22 Replies
RossF wrote:It is a good deal considering most people rent gear so it is only £30 return each. Con? Nah, deal!


£90.02 per person*
Although for those not taking their own skis (which the other two booked aren't taking their own) it's working out at what, £40.02?
Still, ski hire is ontop of that and of course, might even cost more on the overall cost of the holiday for them.

But hey either way, I'm happy with it :P
1st trip of the season
Started by User in Ski Chatter, 22 Replies
Ian Wickham wrote:
baillie353 wrote:
Tony_H wrote:So its £90.02 for the return flight?


Yeah, £90.02 - But the initial flights themselves - 2 pence. The baggage is a cost everyone has to pay regardless :) It's expected

Con


I don't think it is.. Considering Easyjet and the like are charging £50 return for ski requipment and £20 or so for baggage.
Good in terms to budget airline to be honest - We're talking about taking a bag, skis, boots and flights for 1 week @ £90.02?

Decent in my opinion :)
1st trip of the season
Started by User in Ski Chatter, 22 Replies
Tony_H wrote:So its £90.02 for the return flight?


Yeah, £90.02 - But the initial flights themselves - 2 pence. The baggage is a cost everyone has to pay regardless :) It's expected