J2Ski Forum Posts and Replies by OldAndy

I've used Intersport the last two years, with a lovely -20% discount voucher this year as a repeat customer.

and that was you last year was it Stewart??

Stewart Dowling wrote:
Booyakasha innit

Booyakasha ???? Not heard of that resort - is it in Eastern Europe? Can you recommend the skiing??
:mrgreen:

Hi,
Some positives and negatives for you to consider ...
I think you absolutely MUST go and try out the Alps for a season (or more) before committing all your UK life to a foreign country.
A season is such a different proposition to enjoying a week or two's holiday. I did 9 seasons in total (admitedly many years ago) and the best I can say it is the hardest I have ever worked and amazingly rewarding but also terrible frustrating at times.
Silver Ski (I think) is a good company looking for couples to run their chalets - could be a good start.
The catered chalet market is extremely competitive with many big players in the field who cost things out in a way that a sole operator would be unable to manage. There was a TV reality show a couple of years ago about running a chalet (anyone remember it - I can't remember the title) pretty sure the upshot was that to expect to cover costs in the first year is unlikely, so you would need cash behind you.
Do do everything you can to keep some sort of base in the UK, financially, otherwise you could get stuck abroad with no realistic way of returning and rejoining the UK housing market.

So .....
Go for it - so glad I did! :D
But be really cautious about commitment until you are certain.
Do a season or two for someone else - you will find out if you like it and learn an enormous amount (at someone elses expense) and don't forget to think about what you will do in the summers.
Hope this helps.
Andy

OK Lucy - I wonder if the question you posed is just too big?
This may help you narrow down your choice - http://www.snowandrock.com/ski-ski-buying-guide/content/fcp-content but, of course, it all depends on YOUR assesment of your ability, style, preference and needs.
I stopped owning skies many years ago - only skiing a week or so a year I couldn't see the point anymore as skis change so much.
I hire good skis in resort and spend some time talking to the people in the shop and asking what they recommend for the present conditions. This works for me and I have only once been back and swapped.
Salomon X wing this year, great at start of the week but could have done with something a bit stiffer in the tip later in the week. Daftest was a couple of years ago - K2, the laugh is they were ladies racing skis !!! And absolutely brilliant for the hard and icy conditions for me as a good skier but a bit old and unfit.
My point is that I trust the shop to believe me and understand the conditions - but each to their own.
If you are certain you want your own then all I can say is do not be tempted by a cheap deal unless you know the skis are right for you.
Skiing with a mate who had paid £250 for skis and bindings - I persuaded him to hire for a day and he was amazed how much better the hire skis were than his, and how much his skiing improved!!

It is marked on the piste map as Valley Perdue. Above La Daille. Half the fun is finding the start !!

La Piste Perdue in Val D'Isere came up as a topic and with a fun video link and Lucybear asked about anything around Zell am See .....

What other odd/unusual/interesting places to ski off the beaten track have members enjoyed?

I used to enjoy some fun skiing, especially in bad weather, in the trees above Vallandry/Peisey next to Les Arcs. There are three, possibly four, little bowls hidden in the trees. No idea if I could find them now :cry:
I used to miss them as often as I found them years ago.

I've skied piste perdue a few times, really quite good fun! Not at all difficult as long as you keep the speed down.
Trying to work out what the season was in the video, didn't look like there was that much snow, spring maybe?
I've been down it when quite empty of snow like in the video and when absolutely full of snow, when I had to climb up and over some bits.
There is, somewhere, almost a tunnel which fills up and means a bit of uphill to get over it.
No idea if I could find the start now - but it is under the Tommeuse chair and follow the tracks probably.