J2Ski Forum Posts and Replies by AllyG

Last year we stayed for a night in the Ibis hotel at Geneva airport. It's pretty cheap (cheapest rate £67 pn per room) and they do free transfers to and from the airport between 5-30 a.m. and 11-15 p.m.

If it was me I'd definitely book a hotel, get train tickets and catch the train in the morning, like SwingBeep suggested. 10-25 p.m. is pretty late to be looking for a lift, and after collecting your luggage and allowing for delays it's going to be even later. And even in a car I think it's about a 3 hour journey from Geneva to Zermatt so you wouldn't be there until about 2 in the morning.

Ally

We've skied when it's pretty cold. I suggest you stay lower down, on the tree-lined runs, in the sun if possible. And avoid going on chair lifts exposed to the wind. I'm sure the resort will take a few precautions at these sort of temperatures as well, to protect their customers. And if you ask around, in the tourist office for example, I'm sure they'll tell you which runs to avoid, depending on the wind direction, altitude, and aspect.

A few years ago we were ski-ing in Val Thorens and they shut one of the chair lifts because it was too cold up there (-18 I think). You really don't want to be stuck on a chair lift at very low temperatures. Drag lifts, or gondolas, are better.

Another tip is to put your goggles on as soon as you get outside. I've had mine freeze up on the inside when they were round my neck. And my instructor said the only thing I could do about that was to put them inside my jacket until they thawed out.

And as for hand cream, I use the hemp hand protector from the Body Shop, which smells awful, but does a great job on extremely dry skin.

Ally

Maybe he's afraid to try the hockey stop - perhaps he's fallen trying it at some point?

Other than that, I can only think that he doesn't want to stop - I've seen lots of teenagers like that.

Bandit - I still use the snow-plough, but I have had ski instructors telling me off for using it. I find it very handy going down narrow, busy, blue runs, and going into the queue for the lifts, and at the start of the boarder cross for cutting down my speed.

I was watching something on telly yesterday showing amputee soldiers learning to ski on those special disability skis, and the instructors were doing a snow-plough and controlling their pupils with a long leash. So, yes I think the snow-plough is very useful and Ian should definitely practise it some more :wink:

Ally

I always just bring my trainers, and I've never had a problem wearing them to walk to the shop etc. And, of course, I wear them on the plane/train as well so I don't have to bring any additional footwear, other than my ski boots, and slippers if the accommodation require them.

I admit, though, that I don't indulge in any 'apres' - does this require walking boots :?: :lol:

Ally

Emma,
The hire shops I have used have always given us skis with nice sharp edges and told us to come back and have them re-sharpened free of charge overnight if it's very icy and they start to lose their edge (after, say 3 days of ski-ing on ice).

Ally

EmmaEvs wrote:2 SLEEPS TO GO

Sleep Emma :?:

I wouldn't have thought you'd get ANY sleep with all those little smilies bouncing up and down all night in your head :lol:

Have a great time :D

Ally

We had snow lying on the ground over Christmas, which was very pretty, but we had a thaw yesterday, on Boxing Day, and then it rained last night. So, we are back to our usual winter weather - mild, windy and wet!

Ally

Don't buy bottled water to drink with your meal in the mountain restaurants. We did, a few months ago in Tignes, and it was 3 euros for a small bottle! If you're buying a meal they should give you free tap water - in a carafe or whatever. A plate of chips and mixed vegetables was 7 euros.

Ally