J2Ski Forum Posts and Replies by ise

mikey111k wrote:thanks for all the input. My next question now is since you think wrist guards would be helpful would it be worth getting the level gloves with the biomex integrated guards? I looked at the flexmeter guards and they look like the best thing out there from all my research but im afraid that those will hinder her to much with holding the poles, as would any of the short guards such as the dakines. The biomex system seems to have really good movement and support. is there anybody out there using the biomex gloves? thanks

You're quite right, snowboard wrist guards are basically splints and it wouldn't be possible to correctly hold a ski pole using them. There's a number of exercises and drills instructors use that don't need poles, so she'd be just fine using them for that but as soon as poles were required it would be a problem. I see why the Biomex supports look better but I'm don't think it would change much. I've picked up my boarding gloves, which have supports, and tried to ski with them and it's totally hopeless.

Novice wrote:I have 2 pairs of Fischer Europa Step xc skiis, in pristine condition, that are made in Austria and are fitted with bindings marked Trak (made in Norway) that have 3 prongs to lock the boot on. The tips of the skiis have quite a dramatic curve.

Does anyone know anything about these skiis - when they were made, what they are made of and most importantly would they be ok for a beginner?

if you had a photo that might help :D

How long are they? and what does the base look like? And do they have steel edges? or holes in the tips?

They sound to me like old classic telemark skis rather than xc skis as such, or XC backcountry skis. Probably not too good for a beginner, a new xc set with skis, boots and poles is so cheap it's probably not worth bothering with. In fact I put a similar set out ready for to throw away at the weekend :D

three pins sounds like the Rottefella "rat trap" binding, I don't think anyone uses that any more and it's superceeded by NNN or SNS at least for classic skating or loipes although backcountry skiers may still use it.

do you have boots as well?

Geoff Smith wrote: Now that I am more or less retired I am lucky enough to do several weeks of skiing each season. I also have enough time to keep reasonably fit by doing the following in the off season months:

1 When at home I cycle for half an hour every day.
2 I do a 10 mile walk once a week.
3 I do about six weekends, per year, mountain hiking in the Lakes or Snowdonia
4 I do two separate weeks mountain hiking in the Alps each Summer.

I find these activities keep me in good enough nick for the ski season. But I very much agree with Ise and 'Admin' that technique is also very important for long days of comfortable skiing.

Geoff Smith

All cardio vascular type stuff exactly what I'd expect to be most useful. Where in the alps are you hiking?

bandit wrote:

ise wrote:
that's usual, there's no mass market interest after Easter either from the UK or even locally. It's a good thing, we get a few quiet reasonably tourist free weeks which we obviously deserve :D

Those will be the same tourists that subsidise your season lift pass :P

I shall make it my mission to ski late season this coming winter :D

Driving there on the transport infrastructure my taxes paid for :D

The lifts reopen the weekend after next I think for the summer.

bandit wrote:
Marv, you're very welcome :D It's been so long since I took a package, I'm stunned that the main tour operators are quitting the mountains so early next winter. I've looked, and it's true :shock:

that's usual, there's no mass market interest after Easter either from the UK or even locally. It's a good thing, we get a few quiet reasonably tourist free weeks which we obviously deserve :D

leemac wrote:We have been skiing at Christmas a number of times and to be honest the snow cover can often be a bit hit and miss in Europe. Therefore I strongly recommend you chose a high altitude resort at that time of year (ie above 1800m).

In the past at altitude we've seen snow accumulations starting at 2000m in October leaving a nice base by Christmas. More recently that's not been the case and there's not been substantial snowfalls until well into December. When that happens high altitude stations can be utterly desperate, the base required is just so much higher than that required lower down. Some of alpine meadows round here need only a few cm to be skiable but higher up it's more like a minimum of a meter.

My memory of the last 5 or 10 years is that Austria's done rather better over Christmas but my memory could be fairly partial.

Geoff Smith wrote:Hi Babyrose,

I would be careful about responding to one or two individual preferences (or prejudices). Ski resorts throughout the Alps have their pros and cons. If you want to get some objective information about ski resorts consult a copy of The Good Skiing and Snowboarding Guide by Peter and Felice Harding or Where to Ski by Chris Gill and Dave Watts. Alternatively you could look at their websites.

Isn't the "Good Skiing and Snowboarding Guide" compiled at least in part from reader reports though? I seem to recall finding some awful rubbish in it over the years.

Geoff Smith wrote:
I am biassed but I suggest that subscribers would be hard pressed to find better and more extensive ski domains, and easier lift systems ,than in the big French resorts.

I think that's probably beyond question, some sacrifices have been made in my opinion at least, if some of those stations can successfully turn the dial back and get some atmosphere back and up their standards in terms of service and accommodation they should hit an unbeatable formula. Of course in some stations they never lost that anyway.