Messages posted by : verbier_ski_bum
|
When beginners attempt to ski all mountain most will struggle in any resort unless it's flat. This is normal and there is no way around this stage and there are two options - either to suck it up and carry on or to stick to easy runs and let friends ski more advanced terrain and then see them for lunch/après. Also beginners really should be at lessons and instructors will take them where they would be able to cope without issues.
|
|
|
Leysin tourist office website should have all information that you need including maps. Ski passes are usually bough at the lifts and you should be able to find a few rental shops in the resort, it's not exactly in the wilderness and not huge to get lost:)
|
|
|
Snowing hard in Verbier at the moment. Roll on long weekend!
|
|
|
Beginners are the easiest group to accommodate as they don't need extensive terrain. Any resort with a nursery slope, couple blue runs and a download option will do for a week. To learn and consolidate basic skills one easy-ish run is enough, as they need lot of repetitions of the same moves and be able to stay focused on executing these moves rather than exploring new runs. I disagree that beginner slopes up on the mountain are not ideal - as long as there is a download option this is the best place for them as snow is guaranteed. I remember problems ski instructors had earlier this season when nursery slopes were not available, and never-evers had to learn on flatter parts of regular slopes, stepping uphill and then skiing down.
|
|
|
One of the guys I am sharing a flat with was caught in avalanche about three weeks ago - after the last big snowfall. It was in couloir so not too wide and not deep, but still he was dragged for about 500m. Walked away with a few bruises and strained muscle on his back but could be much worse - he was lucky not to be taken over rocks.
|
|
|
If I ever travel for skiing it will have to be to Japan. Probably to Hakuba rather than Niseko though as I heard it's steeper and also very easy to get to from Tokyo - I hate having to change flights and when travel not for business choose direct routes whenever they exist.
|
|
|
high altitude resorts obviously. Particularly this season. Due to funky weather early season many lower resorts may not have much left on terms of base by late April.
|
|
|
easy bus is the cheapest (5-10 euros each way) and I think the last bus leaves around midnight. The catch though is that it doesn't take you to the apartment but drops you off at the station so might not be convenient if you have luggage...
|
|