J2Ski Forum Posts and Replies by marko.pyhajarvi

completenovice wrote:Just got back from my first week skiing at Les Deux Alpes. I absolutely loved it!

Thanks to everyone who gave me advice before I went, i was all really useful.

By the end of the week I manage to get down a few blacks, not particularly quickly, or classily, but it was under control and I wasn't worried by them. My instructer even sent me down one on my own cos he could see I was getting really bored with waiting for the rest of my group still struggling to snowplough down blues!

I shall definitely be going again... this season if I can afford it!

Not quite so Completenovice

Nice to see you progressing. Hey, I have written some beginner's skiing tips in my blog. You might want to read those few articles in http://homeboyski.com/2007/11/30/learn-to-ski-skiing-beginners-tips-part-i

There are three articles so far and more coming. I hope it's useful for you.

For others, sorry for spamming my blog. I believe my articles could be helpful for 'completenovice'.

I must say I am shocked with the weather conditions here in Finland. Just few days ago we finally received snow. Now it is melting fast! I remember we used to have very cold winters in early 80's. I went skiing when it was even -25 to -30 in northern Finland. I live in Hel(l)sinki now and I see the snow melting. Just unbelievable..

Depressing winter.

Have you recognized climate changes in where you live?

I already replied this thread some time ago, but I must say my kids started skiing at 4. When my son was 2 I almost took him with me. Then I thought may be 2 is just too early.. :)

I think prices are getting higher every year, but there are some cheaper choices. Last year I went skiing in France with my son and we stayed in hostels and we went by car. Very cheap, good for us.

I agree with Meercat, Davos is good.

Grand Combin and Matterhorn. I've been there on the classic Haute Route.

Did I hit right?

I have only been riding my bike in Wengen, which is also fabulous, but my friend lived there two years and he said Wengen provides one of the best backcountry skiing facilities in Europe. Not much tourists, high mountains, lots of god forests, glaciers and awesome aeriel views. Be awere of the cliff from where some guys go basejumping. I went there with my bike and I have to say it is a scary place even though I used to go parachuting some years ago :)

So I definitely recommend Wengen for you. My friend is a experienced telemark skier. You could ask him some good runs by email. Just send him (teemuhellman AT hotmail.com) email and say greetings from me. Just replace AT with @.

I don't know about UK, but I suggest you to fly to northern Finland in January for a different skiing experience. Damn cold, open fires, northern lights, skiing in -20 celcius degrees..

Ok, you would need a bigger budget, but it would be worth it. I am from Lapland. Sorry for this little promotion.. :)