J2Ski Forum Posts and Replies by andyhull

For how many people?

I'm 12 and a bit stone (least I was before the holiday) and a vertically challenged 5 foot 6.

After a lot of reading up and a long conversation with a guy who had ski tested a lot of this season's skis I opted to buy a pair of Scott Crusade skis in 169 length. (Replacing 2005 Rossi B2s)
I've just come back from skiing 6 days on them in St Anton and I still have a big grin on my face.
Paired up with Marker Squire bindings, the first thing to mention is the weight, about two thirds of the weight of my old skis. It makes them so nimble and easy to ski. Particularly off piste.
They ski a little shorter than my old skis as they have tip and tail rockers, they also have a shorter turning radius than my old skis. That and the lighter weight means they turn on a sixpence, something that has taken a little bit of time to get used to.
90mm under foot, with a big shovel up front, they perform really well off piste, they feel like a fatter ski. On piste they have excellent edge grip, turn easily in both short and long turns and are very responsive.
They do need to be skied, get lazy and they are a bit passive. Put a bit of energy in and boy do they respond. With the lightness of the ski having a bit of energy left on the last run of the day wasn't a problem.
Off piste conditions were pretty iffy last week, 10% brilliant, 90% rubbish. Powder to porridge, crud and wind blown. We didn't do a lot, but what I did do the skis handled really well. Snow that would have challenged my old skis, the Crusades managed without too much trouble.
Can't wait to get them off piste in La Plagne.
I'm really pleased with my purchase and would thoroughly recommend them to anyone looking for a all mountain ski that will perform pretty much everywhere.

It rained in St Anton a couple of times last week, warm temperatures are killing the slopes. Fresh snow just before we arrived and a bit more Thursday night gave us decent piste conditions but it was more like April than Jan. they need a meter of snow and a drop in temperature to put things right.

Ski hosting is still popular, last week over half of our group of 37 went on one or both of the hosted days in Lech/Zurs or Sonnenkopf.
I went on the Sonnenkopf day, vis wasn't good but a bit of fresh snow was superb, having someone who knew their way around was invaluable while we made the most of the new snow.
I'd be interested to hear what people think of the new services being offered in France?

Mountains are looking very bare all around. Piste conditions ok, but more like late April than early January. Skied in Warth today, interesting little area, would be a lot of fun with a foot or two of fresh.

Big deteriation in piste conditions in the last couple of days. They will be desperate foe snow by the beginning of next week. So glad we're here now and have ok conditions. Never known January snow like this.

I'm in St Anton, it's been about 2c today and sunny. Forecast is similar for most of the week.
Piste conditions are superb which was a pleasent surprise given the lack of snow in recent weeks. Off piste it's a bit hit and miss by some good stuff found.