J2Ski Forum Posts and Replies by DaveW

Been AWOL for a year. Kept a good eye on this site though. What a technical improvement in the set up! Well done Admin Team. Only wish I could keep up with it.

Back to Spanish thread.

Anyone reading my posting 21/02/2011 " Biggest pain in skiing....etc" will know few are more enthusiastic than me for the whole area. I certainly agree with posters' rave anout Baqueira. Couple of posters referred to transfer times, Tolouse in particular.

Be aware that British ski companies are no longer using the "new" (2009) HUESCA airport built to serve Formigal, Cerler, Panticosta and other ARAMON (Aregon Government) resorts (30/45 mins transfers).

I believe this results from poor UK interest/take-up.
By example in 2011, one weekly flight had 4 clients on a euro-bus out of LGW.

This means again transfers out of Tolouse up to 4-5 hrs depending on road conditions.

I've been told recently that Crystal MAY have used 4x4's to cut tranfer times?

As always south of the French Pyrenees side, check, check and check again current snow base before booking the Spanish side and resorts further down into Spain.
When it's deep white it's great. Otherwise it's limited, disappointing and can get expensive. You have to do something in a snowless resort.

It really isn't nesessary to book too far ahead. Unless you insist on certain hotels/travel companies and so on.

Too MUCH snow can mean certain Pyrenean Passes may be blocked. Especially around Lourdes going south. Awkward if you're on a travel company transfer; nightmare if you're driving the family.

Hope this helps!?

Dave W

On 'ice' type 'ice' I'm reminded of a run with a Basi Trainer who was (at that time, and probably still is) reckoned to be the fastest UK instructor round-the-poles. Travelling faster than I've ever gone before we came upon sheets of it (which he knew we would).

He never even slacked-off. He put in a tiny-wedge!

At the end I quiried this tactic. Why not? Was all he said.
I was paying for that and still doubted for years. I did get a lot more off of him, of course, same subject.

Later, skiing Vallee Blanche, the night's wind had cleared off the top snow of much of the glacier. This left 'channels' set in the ice cut by previous skiers/boarders. Just like upturned steel channels. Ok, if s/he had similar turn-radius/length skis as me.
Otherwise it got all jammed-up. With real danger of walking-out of a toe-binding and falling on the ice.

Time to engaged various widths of wedges? It worked well, for about the 2 klicks involved. This tool also works, at very slow speed, to get out of off-piste glue, back on piste, when attempting too much!

One more thing, love to know what what our new poster/instructor thinks about grinding-in the inside of the downhill heel out-of- the-turn, when using the hip movements he describes so well?

Andy, you have had the very best of advice and Tony H sums it up for me. I spent Xmas there this year. It's the Mecca of must do's for me. I recommend Rendle after Galzig. This means you're already clued up for 'That' Galzig run home later. Depends which end of village you are based. Yes, it will be busy, due to most folk skiing from Galzig down 4 into 1 to drink in the KK bar apres. It's a very sharp left-hander if your looking, with one only sign post!

For me, I prefer to use the cross-over to Kapall(oops, wrong key).
This means on down the blue 4/blue 20 for either 20 and 23 all the way to Galzig end of village, OR short Mattun lift to German-bar (hic!). Then a bit of Blue 36 into blue 24 all the way to down to Nasserein,the other end of resort.

And, tell me if that takes you less than my usual 2-days-worth!

If that's too easy, next day try the red 20a x-over to same Bar. The cross-fall is what gives it the red-rating, but slowly, on tired legs.

'Ware the ratings, though, several reds would be black, elsewhere.

See you both on the Valluga.....(lift).

Still hopefully on the thread.. apart from Health issues, my problem recently was losing a ski under the snow off piste and facing a bill of £440, net of discount.

Despite (usually) taking out both 'Recovery' and Rental-shop insurance AND a solid Uk insurance cover for off-piste skiing, I still slipped-up (in both senses). We did find the ski, eventually.

A quick trawl of major internet hirers prompts me to warn (without any guarantee of suitability as to my comments or opinions for your case/situation, Folks. Check-out everything youself before getting into any agreemeny/insurance situation!)

Relying on UK Insurers will mean you're debited (cards)/invoiced cash for full-price of the SKI PAIR. Whereas UK insurers may restrict claims to the proportional cost/value of the ONE ski.

So, take out double cover UK/local like I do and your clear?
Maybe, but not certain unless the small print states 'Loss' as well as 'damage' and 'theft'. A busy ski shop on the first day may not be the ideal place to do this! Check the limit for hire-skis it may be restricted to say, £300.

Check the security stipulated. Locked when un-attended? How, Where and When? Lunch times on-mountain, apres ski, overnight in accommodation, car, 4x4, the pub in the street? Lockable racks in mountain rail stations and so on. What constitutes an acceptable locking device or fixed object?

My insurer actually states in-policy... (the exclusion) does not apply to skis left during daytime for the purpose of obtaining refreshments.
You MAY get what you pay for/deserve. Caveat Emporia,
let the buyer beware!

bandit wrote:

DaveW wrote:

Snowcard's recent rewrite asks just 6 questions. Then,(in part).."If you can agree this declaration any existing medical conditions will be coverd by this policy".

It's probably not a good idea to be sent for any tests or scan's, or have any health changes whilst running a Snowcard Ski Insurance Policy.

When I was a policyholder, I'd informed the company (as obliged to do in the t&C's of the policy) that I was having an MRI Scan of 1 knee (which was to confirm the consultants' findings) Snowcard quickly withdrew cover for "a knee". When the consultant viewed the results and advised doing nothing, Snowcard were IMHO quite slow to act and seemed reluctant to reinstate my cover. I've skied about 70 days since then, and not been back to Snowcard.

My consultants' summing up consisted of 3 words "you're getting old".

Yes I did read your earlier posting. It's a bit different if you're running a multi-trip, seasonaire or annual policy. Updating the insurer can be tricky.

Speaking as we find, I have always noted that in any discussion wih Snowcard they did seem quite willing to accept my many pre-conditions raised with them. My only reason in posting was that it has struck me that their re-write seems to confirm my earlier impressions of them. That is NOT the same as a record of 'Claims' experience, of course.

In a number of (single trip) ski-touring, skiing and low grade rope-work, I have never had a premium 'loaded'. I am currently running their Health Declaration past my doctor. Apparently people do this all the time. I never have!

OldAndy wrote:I'm with Direct Travel (annual) and have a pre-disclosed medical condition.
I get asked a series of questions and get a letter confirming this. I am then covered for ALL problems.
Once they know that it is reasonable to travel the fact I have a life long medical condition doesn't up the premium or reduce cover.
They are happy that it would be really hard luck if I needed medical help for the pre-disclosed condition on holiday.

Probably my posting is well covered in the umpteen pages thus far on travel insurance on j2ski and HAT France etc

Briefly, at my age I've always given my insurer 'shopping' lists of medical pre-conditions. It seems the insurers are also trying to clarify dodgy situations that are currently being discussed in various fora.

Snowcard's recent rewrite asks just 6 questions. Then,(in part).."If you can agree this declaration any existing medical conditions will be coverd by this policy".

chaletslovakia wrote:
Today (sunday 22nd Feb) is the first sunny day in almost two weeks. Up until today it has just snowed and snowed. I was off-pisting on over a metre of freshies up the top yesterday, and more to come from tomorrow....!

School holidays are over - time to get on those empty slopes....

Hi Guys,

What a shock I had when I saw this post of yours!

It certainly was "......discovered"..., I can tell you. By me.

In Feb 1968 during the "Prague Spring!?"

I skied there on wooden skis and Strobel(?) leather boots with cable bindings. First time on skis!

Oh dear, now you've started something. I'm skied-out (3 times this season so far) and skint.

I'll cast around a few of my group still with live business connections there. They may see it as another option for me to 'Review' who knows?
I've been out of that loop for yonks.

I really am gob-smacked.

How the hell did you organise to get there, may I ask?

Best wishes,

Dobre den!

Dave W

Tony_H wrote:How much mileage is there on the pistes, and what did you pay for a week if you dont mind me asking?

Hi Tony,

First things first, old boy!

You'll be delighted to learn that we did the Mayrhofen £149 B&B deal, with Crystal, on Dec 6th.
It was excellent AND plenty of pow.

In Formigal,there is 137Km available pisted. With heaps more available, safely, just off. That is a feature that struck me as of great potential for intermediate improvement 'on the run'.
They're all better than me anyway!

For Formigal, we paid £425 H/B. This was Feb 8th. Crowds were winding-up prior to leaving. Obviously for the W/E into the Hols. Nothing like that Photo of yours in front of the Penken though! We were there just before that week and it was empty.

Keep ploughing on,



DaveW