J2Ski Forum Posts and Replies by Grizwald

Rossyhead, is the transfer to Livigno not nightmare-ish?

If you're group are more interested in beer than skiing then there could be no harm in Bansko/Bulgaria. I've not been, probably never with and in April I wouldn't count on having much to ski-you never know though.

For snow sure, and good apres in April I say Solden.

Pippak, you'll be better off in St J for what you want by the sounds of it. Soll is a really good area and part of the biggest linked area in Austria but if you're new to skiing you don't need kind of mileage on offer.

St J is far more aethetically pleasing.

I think like the other near by areas (SkiWelt, Kitzbuhel, ect) St Johan closes around mid April. Mid March should be fine St Johan tops out around 1700m from memory and the like of Kitz, Soll etc are more around 2000m. With the season we've had so far it's hard to tell how things will be come March-you should have something to ski on but it is relatively low however March is usually the best time to ski in Austria IMO and at the end of the day these places wouldn't be viable if they couldn't provide a reasonably long season. Worst case scenario the home runs will be kept open with snow cannons.

It's a nice area and will suit you if you're a beginner, there are several resorts that you can easily reach by bus too.

1. Yes there are many. April things can start to get iffy in terms of snow quality-the majority of resorts start to think about closing by mid April. I avoid school holidays like the plague so I've no idea what it will be like numbers wise. But by April the Germans/Austria/French are starting to think about sunny beach holidays rather than skiing. Spring/April skiing can be rather splendid though 20 degrees on the mountain and warmer in resort-enjoying a beer on a sun lounger in shorts and t-shirts is awesome!

2. Sadly IMO your budget is wholly inadequate for a week anyhow. Chamonix is actually very easy to get to from Geneva and an abundance of accommodation that will offer short stay. You may get a good deal that brings your flights and accommodation to <£300 but I'd expect that to be room only or B&B at best. Lift prices don't get discounted unless you get a deal form a UK TO. So bargain on £200 for that, ski and boot hire £80-£120 for a week.

3. Chamonix is a fantastic resort IMO to others it's very disjointed meaning it's a pain in the arse getting around, It celebrated for it's off piste and challenging terrain and less so for it's suitability for beginners or timid intermediates. For France the nightlife/Après is very good extortionate French beer price aside.

4. Chamonix would actually be pretty good in this respect, could get up the gondola to meet the skiers for lunch and as it's a proper town there is more to do and see. I can't think of anything worse than being a non-skier in one of the big purpose built French resorts. In this instance I'd usually recommend a proper town as a base but many of the resorts I would recommend usually I wouldn't risk in April (unless you can book late).

Some of these are sweeping generalisations but generally nightlife is limited in France and what there is, isn't unusual to charge 7-8 euro for a pint food is also very pricey. Austria has good beer and it's available most places for around 3 euro a pint, food is also more reasonable but it lacks the huge areas generally that France has but has some high altitude snow sure area and some of the best glacier skiing. As previously mentioned Solden in Austria is a good shout, I'd also add Ischgl and St Anton for good April snow and excellent nightlife-if you can learn to ski in St Anton it's said you'll be able to ski anywhere.

The cost of skiing in NA is only really ever justified in my mind if you're making it a longer trip or planning to couple it with a non-ski holiday-like you mention seeing a city. There are a huge number of resorts in the US and Canada.

In the US I've skied in several of the Californian resorts when I've been doing driving tours of the state-my favourite holidays of all time I would say. Canada I did my instructor quals over there in Banff and before heading onto New Zealand headed west and sampled several. I wouldn't say the skiing is any better or worse just different, but here are a few thing s to consider if it will be right for you or not.

The main reason to head to the US, or Canada (West coast) is not withstanding this year they seem to get more snow in quantity and frequency than in the Alps-many parts of the US in particular have really suffered until recently this year with snowfall.

In the US there are generally hills rather than mountains.
The mountains in Europe are simply bigger, grander, jagged, rugged. Exceptions to this are Toas, Jackson Hole and Mammouth mountain in CA. In part this is also true of Canada but parts of the Rockies are stunningly wild and beautiful. The huge linked areas of Europe can't be beaten with the exception of maybe Whistler if you don't like skiing the same piste over and over again then choose carefully. But particualry I've found in Canada the piste aren't groomed to death so are rather more fun than the flat motorways you can get in euro land.

Which leads onto Vertical: American resorts like to quote the amount of 'vertical' Some who claim to have the largest have around 4000 foot in Europe you can easily get 6000+.
Attitude: In NA I find people treat it more like a sport than in europe and are determined to skis as much as possible in a day as they can not putting much emphasis on stopping several times a day for a leisurely coffee and lunch while having a chat. In Europe the lifts tend to be very quiet first thing while people sleep off that glass of wine too many, or big meal from the previous night, In NA the locals want to be on the first lift. Same for lunch times when the numbers ease up in the US they don't but they are relatively that much quieter you'll not motice.
Queeing ettiqette: Different Euro countries differ from resort to resort but compared to NA are a free for all, in NA everyone seem to queue in an ordely fashion. Nice for keeping half wits marking your top sheets!!

Lift passes: Lift passes are just a bit daft in the US in particualry for the popular resorts. There are exceptions but they are just plain expensive in large part.

Off piste: In NA strictly speaking there is no on and off piste like you get in Europe, rather in bounds and out of bounds-literally ropped off to demark what is what. In bounds everything is up for grabs, patrolled and avy checked-this can vary from resort to resort but gives a general idea of what to expect. The inbounds stuff inbounds on a good powder day can get tracked out quickly in NA, in particular I found in Canada people love their off piste (evident from the fact there is more off piste training in the instructor quals).

Restaurants: NA doesn't really measure up to Europe particaulry for on mountain stuff IMO. What there is tends to be self service burgers and fries. Doesn't matter one iota to me but if the highlight of your day is a nice lunch on a sun soaked terrace think carefully.

Apres: Far lower key in General in NA although some ski areas are serviced by proper working town in the main rather than purpose built resorts so you do get all that goes with that but also bus rides to resorts rather than ski in ski out.

I hope this is of some help to you. I'll be going to Canada next year but it's part of a larger trip visiting family. To answer your post title I think it's worth trying if you're aware of the pros and cons and have the money. I'd have hated to have been in some resorts at or around Christmas given how things were but in March you'd be safer.

If you're wanting to head to the US because you're worried about snow reliability I wouldn't let that be the deciding factor either.

The Elans above are now sold.

Hudman wrote:Hmmm....the Ti's sound good....what are we talking price wise?

Open to offers. If you prefer just drop me a PM,

Cheers