J2Ski Forum Posts and Replies by OldAndy

Early March normally has about the deepest snow depth of the season as loads (hopefully) has fallen and it hasn't started to thaw yet.
Weather can be very variable from blue skies and remarkably warm in the sunshine to very cold, loads of snow especially higher up.
You could just watch the forecasts and see where is looking good until late Feb and then book?

matt23 wrote:Anyone know what condictions we nees to see for them to start adding to the pack with cannons ????? ideal temp etc ????

It's a combination of both low temperature and low humidity.
So just being cold isn't an indicator that the cannons will fire up.

andyhull wrote:Doesn't the Grand Motte look inviting this morning?

Looks like it is actually snowing up there at the moment

The freeze-thaw level is bouncing up and down like a yo-yo though! (French Alps). Which means, whilst good snow at thigher levels, some very heavy rain in resort.

What's the Austrian/Swiss picture looking like?

In Avoriaz overnight, quite a decent amount by the look of it.

A dusting in Courchevel ....

Non in Tignes!

andyhull wrote:

Dave Mac wrote:The only thing to add to YoungAndy's response is that run grading is not a precise activity ~ there are blues in one resort, that would be called red in another resort.

Absolutely, if Santons blue (Val D'Isere) was in Andorra it would be black.

I thought Santons was green at the moment?
:mrgreen:

Gosh what a question!
I'll have a go and try and give a coherent view - but it's only my view. :D

Runs are graded to give skiers an idea of what they are likely to encounter if they go "that" way. This is hugely subjective and there is no standard formula. As has been discussed on here before a blue in one place can be a red in another resort. For example, last Xmas skiing with my son (17yo), top of a red in Courchevel - "Whoa, that's steep!" - hadn't skied with him for a couple of years as he had been on school trips and boasting about all the blacks he had skied, he had also really improved as a skier.
He skied it well, the snow was great - my second point;
Snow conditions make a huge difference to how difficult a run will be.
Icy, slush, heavy fresh snow, all make a difference.

So .....
There is a big difference between getting down and skiing down. And who you are with. Most of us first go down something a bit harder following an instructor or trusted friend. There are untold tales of tears, arguments and divorces after someone being persuaded do try something beyond their comfort level by a so called "friend" or relative!

3rd point - that one; comfort level, not even necessarily skill level, but "how am I feeling". This is probably why there are so many tales of hairy skiing (on blues, red, blacks etc) after a few sherbets at lunchtime!

And finally on a very prosaic level.
If you can ski pretty much parallel and in control down a good blue, then it's time to try some reds.
If you can ski pretty much parallel and in control down most reds then it's time to venture on a black ...

If you feel like it!
:thumbup:

manny2003 wrote: the4mathes has asked for recommendations for family skiing in Austria and somehow lapdancing came up. I think you should all lighten up a bit and stick to the point. I know a lot more smuttier places here in England than in Austria. And I am female!Lol

Point well made manny, thank you for putting some sense back into the thread.
:thumbup: