J2Ski Forum Posts and Replies by Lizzie-B

Back from ski trip this year and need to start planning next one to cheer me up. Just wondered what criteria people use for choosing a place and how they check out places.(obviously different needs for different people).I picked Serre Chevalier this year due to advice given from a someone we were chatting to last year at Valberg and Tony H's great report - That and looking at the piste map as we wanted a larger area and green/blue runs to ski back on alongside challenging blacks and reds as we are a mixed ability party. Resort worked out well (some great runs)-could have done with a better snow but even with all the research it was a disappointing to find that the green was just a narrow road back to the base but not sure how I could have checked this out for my friend.I only ski for one week a year love the planning - thought a general thread of pros and cons for favourite ski resorts would be helpful. Love Mr Wickhams photo of St Christoph by the way... and would love to know how Tony H manages to book monthes ahead and still get a resort with the highest snowfall each time!!

tin pot wrote:

Anybody got any tips for dry slope skiing?

Drive past - Went to our local one when kids were young - pointless - drag pulled my arm out of their sockets and one or two turns later you are back down. Maybe yours is better - But ours is nothing like skiing on snow.Probably only good for little ones toboagganing parties !!!

All fantastic advice what my husband kept reiterating all week. Had a 2hr private lesson with another 2 one of which skis so slowly I found it so hard to ski behind her.(the tutor kept trying to get her to go a little faster) Much easier to ski with a little more speed skiing at her speed it is impossible to link any turns. However I agree if the tecnique is not really good it sure shows up when going down steeper bits hence me hurtling down steeper bits right back to sharp z turns and swearing at OH when he shouts out just get you weight forward...//????!!!

Meant to also say had a private lesson with Ski Generation (Laura) very good fixed quite a few problems- Z to S but on the steeper slopes the old Z kept rearing its ugly head from time to time - but definitely on the decrease - worth the money and the many arguments I would have had with the OH !!

Well that was great – back from Serre Chevalier with friends and was not disappointed,can see why people love it. Snow ok, compacted but would take an edge – well nearly always! 5 days of sunshine getting warmer each day (only one windy day when higher lifts were closed) which was great for eating out and skiing but not so good for snow quality, maybe more of a problem next week if they don't get a good dump of snow. Sunshine over Briancon side resulted in some stones coming through about half way but all pistes higher throughout the valley ok. Great skiing over lots of deserted pistes. Red run under the Aiguillette OH said really good also loved Petit Alpe via long button. OH also said didn't feel that the blacks were true blacks but Luc Alphand very enjoyable to ski. I personally loved the top of the Vallons to Serre Ratier and the whole run to Monetier via the Vallons chair which was great. Loved the Cucumelle great to have such a long run. Took the good advice we were given before going and skied all across the valley – great sense of travel and bus available at the base of all resorts if you didn't want to ski back or left it too late to do so.
I stayed in Chantemerle, went to have a look round Monetier and Villeneuve but on balance preferred Chantemerle it had a mixture of everything (and everything was in the one area) there were 3 lifts up and never a queue to be seen, in fact there was never a queue any where as far as I could see. (Lucky there was only one zone of French children on holiday). We had an apartment 50 m from the lifts.There were a couple of good places to sit, drink and eat and watch people hurtling down the Luc Alphand black run. The station bar was quite cheap too. Chantemerle also had the old town bit with restaurants and a band playing at the end of the day which gave a nice atmosphere. There were 2 mini supermarkets with reasonable prices so we didn't feel that we had to drive to the Geant in Briancon. Would recommend L'Estable restaurant. Ate out on the mountain during the day, favourite place was the small rustic hut above Monetier 'The Peyra Juana' with its very friendly nutter of a waiter. Not as busy as other places and full of French families eating inside. A good recommendation – thanks. The only criticism I would have is that there is only the black run and long windy green narrow roads to ski on back to Chantemerle . I would have liked a cruisey blue to do at the end of the day. The green took too long and was busy at the end of the day. Finally a personal tip if you leave it rather late to come down on the last day (when they are waiting to set up the fireworks,) you might get a ride on a skidoo straight down the black run.
Brilliant especially when the legs are just about shot!!!!!
The fireworks set to the drumming live band were fantastic, as was the torchlight procession down the Luc Alphand. All in all a fantastic holiday – I miss you Serre Chevalier. XX
Thanks J2skiers for all your advice :lol:

Well done you - it sounds as though you have cracked it. Just what Mr B has been trying to teach me for the past 2 years. Hope I can get there this year. I don't want to be a Z skier any more want to be an S skier. Take heart it may be over for this time - but how fantastic will next year be !!The pain will ease but the excitement from October next year will be uncontainable. Look forward to the full report.

Don't want to make a big colourful fuss about it (if only I could) but only 1 little sleep left to Serre Che. Hope you had a good time there last week Mr Bald Eagle Man. Happy skiing to all going this week - probably not many as it is the dreaded half term week !!!

Now in colour too !! driving me mad - still cant do it...and its getting larger Mr Wickam ...Mmmm not sure if that reads right now.