J2Ski Forum Posts and Replies by billrol

Hi All,

Has anyone ever used one of the Pro Ski Simulators to help with fitness, out of season and/or leading up to going away? I saw one at the Ski & Board show at the NEC and thought it looked quite good (and half the price of the skier edge!). Any thoughts at all??
Cheers.

Thanks for the info. We're all really looking forward to it. We try to go somewhere different each year. We've really enjoyed Alpe d'huez and La Tania. Last year was the first time we took the kids out of school and we went to Bad Hoffgastien. Couldn't belive the difference in numbers on the slopes! Going to the ski & Board show in B/ham on Sunday, it's the official start to our holiday countdown clock :D

Hi
A group of us (two families and a couple) are off to Montgenevre in Feb the week after half term. Can anyone give us some tips on where to head for and what to avoid? Our abilities range from very timid, but getting better with beta-blockers and hypnotherapy! and prepared to go on blacks as long as the weather is not too grim!
Thanks in advance.
Bill

Hi Ruby1,

As mentioned by others on this thread, please don't be put off by one bad experience. The thrill of "getting it right" and feeling the wind in your face going down the mountain is just fantastic. We are also a family of 4 and have been skiing now for 5 years. Our kids have always had separste lessons to us. Our kids were 8 and 6 when we first went.It's a break for us, but more importantly (I think) it's a break for them away from us and teaches them life skills (meeting new people and interacting in groups). Yes the kids will pick it up quickly and this is another good reason to let them have sepperate lessons. We have been skiing as a group of 14 for the last two years with families we met whilst on skiing holidays. As you are going with another family (I assume you know each other pretty well and that the kds are OK together),private lessons may be an option. You will find that when a number of you book the price starts to fall and the diference in cost between group lessons and private (with four of you in each group) will be offset with the more 1:1 tuition you get.
As for skiing in this country I'd definitley recommed it. A couple that came away with us the last two years had never skied before and really benefited by haveing some slope time under their belts. As for indoor slopes there are quite a few around and NOW is the time to utilise them to the MAX. For some very odd reason they drop thier prices during the summer and it can work out substancially cheaper this time of year as a result. If the nearest "Dome" is a good distane away, make a day of it!
Bulgaria..... we went there for our first two years and as long as your not precious about skiing in the Alps it's a good cheaper option to see if you'd like to keep it up, and if you do keep it up you'll be pleasantly supprised by the extent of skiing when you do go to the Alps.
Hope this helps and remember just enjoy :D

Seems to me that Switzerland may not be able to offer you all you want. You mentioned France. Looking at your criteria I'd seriously consider the Three Valleys. Now before you all start shouting about how expensive Courchevel is (and it is), the place to stay is La Tania. It's right in the middle of the three valleys, the majority of accomodation is ski/out and it is cheap by comparison to it's more illustrious neighbours. With the Area pass you get to ski from Val Thorens across to Meribel and on to Courchevel. Fantastic big pistes lots of tree skiing, top access to all the slopes very good lift system. We went there two years ago with three other families. All of us had varying abilities fron first time skiers to advanced intermedites, and it ticked all the boxes. Fly into grnoble or Turin and about a two hour transfer time. Check out La Tania's own web site http://www.latania.co.uk
It may have put you into even more of a tail spin in decideing where to go, but I hope this helps.
Bill :thumbup:

Cheers Trencher,
Can't find Pav on the site and if he has had replacement surgery I'd love to speak to him. Do you have any details, or can you direct me to a forum that he's been in?

Cheers.

Bill

Went skiing twice whilst in the forces over 20yrs ago and loved it. But, for a number of very boring reasons, didn't go again until 6yrs ago with my family. We all love it. The kids are great and are blasting down the mountains on all sorts of slopes (off pist is next for them I think). However, there is a black cloud looming in the not too distant future. I've already had two knee ligament reconstructions to my left knee and have developed osteoarthritis in that knee and the other is pretty poor also. I've recently had an arthroscopy and clean out of the joint and have been told that I will need a Total Knee Replacement within the next 5yrs (bug!!). I and my family still want to enjoy the thrills of the mountains and particularly throwing oursrlves down them at speed (controled of course). SO which is easier on the knees, skiing or boarding?
I've also been looking at the ski-mojo and understand that a knock-on effect of it is to reduce the stress through the knees, though (quite rightly) the company would not endorse this claim. Any thoughts?
I'm new to this site and have found it incredibly useful already.
Cheers.