J2Ski Forum Posts and Replies by OldAndy

bandit wrote:

I believe that laughing at pretentious knobs is a very healthy pastime which can be enjoyed by all :D

And it is free :lol:
Low calorie :-o
Small carbon footprint :roll:
And highly pleasurable when jealousy kicks in :mrgreen:

Erm - it is very very clean :lol:
Is it allowed outside in bad weather?
:wink:

I would have thought that the key criteria is accessability to the slopes from the resort, so maybe a ski station rather than village would be a better choice.
Children will need dropping off and picking up, so for M&D to get a few runs in means some slopes right close by and not a long lift, bus, train etc etc away.
There are loads of resorts like this.
Certainly; Les Arcs, La Plagne, Mottaret (rather than Meribel), Les Menuires (as has been mentioned, but I don't like it, always seems soulless to me) and loads of others.
Been looking at Les Saisies, could be a good choice as could Valmorel.
Avoid towny places where buses and walks are needed such as Val D'Isere, Morzine etc and lower villages in big resorts such as Courchevel 1300, Meribel Village, St Martin de Bellevile (below Les Menuires).
Plan Peisey between Les Arcs and La Plagne could work well.
My drift here is accomodation etc. right on the pistes to make all the tooing and froing (how is that spelt?) as painless as possible to maximise everyones enjoyment.
My knowledge is limited to france really, I'm sure others can comment on other countries.
You have a great advantage in going low season and will have a huge choice.
dobby - give us some more info. on what you like/don't like.
Language, transfers, where from in UK, hotel/chalet/self-catering etc etc and you should get more suggestions.

Volf wrote:What about a private plane straight into Courchevel Altiport?

Know some people who did this ...
Best bit, weather closed in and diverted to Geneva.
I laughed.
:lol:

stefan1980 wrote:

Try and stop me!

Haha, that's the spirit!

Absolutely!!
My sister had "sciatica" problems that needed a back op. in 2009.
Skied this last year no problems at all from that but other problems seen which have ended with her needing a hip replacement next month.
She has decided that skiing in 2012 would be a tad ambitous but has here heart set on skiing in 2013.
Never say die!!
She is a Doctor, done her research and is actually very fit, just some bits have failed.
Doesn't see why a couple of fused vertebrae, a plate in her back and a nice shiny titanium (or something) hip should preclude skiing.
That's the spirit too.
:thumbup:

snowb4ndit wrote:At the risk of shattering my demure reputation...I'd be happy to go down the road of straight forward pebble dashing!

And you have regular experience of that?
:mrgreen:
It is an expert job to manage competently and involves a Tyrolean machine.
DaveMac - your experience?
:wink:

Ski jumps get closed with too much wind :roll:

Totally agree with the thoughts re Val and beginners.
My second week ever on snow was in Val - by chance not choice.
It was a baptism of fire and 90% of the lift pass was wasted.
Much better resorts for beginners.
But, a learner as part of a group would still get a good experience. The key being feeling OK and being shown how to use the lifts to get back down.
Copied from www.valdisere.com
SKIING IN VAL D'ISÈRE, IS RESERVED EXCLUSIVELY... FOR EVERYBODY

If you are a beginner or an occasional skier?
Val d'Isère puts at your disposal 5 free ski lifts at the bottom of the skiing area to accompany you in your first slopes.
At la Daille : Ski lift Lanches
Bottom of Solaise : Skilift of the Legettaz, Chairlift of the Rogoney, Skilift of the Savonnette et Chairlift of Village

And then the area between the top of the Bellevarde and the top of the bubble from/to La Daille - called "Ski Tranquille" is a marvelous novice playground which has the advantage of not really being a through route for faster skiers.

Val would be a great choice for a beginner but very expensive and the hard core element to the resort could be off putting.