J2Ski Forum Posts and Replies by Pole Plant

Got to go high, assuming you are considering Europe. Tignes (France), Zermatt (Switzerland), Obergurgl Solden or Stubai Valley (all in Austria). Or, worth considering USA-Breckenridge, Big Sky (Montana) or Aspen.

If you are staying in 1800 the first chairlift out of Villaroger is free plus a couple of 'magic carpets' at 1800 and 2000. Also there are a few blue runs which are generally wide and could almost be classified as green runs. There are also beginner zones in all main Arc runs. I'm sure you will find something suitable for your beginners in Les Arc.

Got to say that virtually everywhere is rammed out in Europe around the middle two weeks of February. Possibly the Monterosa area in Italy not so bad as most resorts, would suggest Gressoney or Champoluc although there is no way to avoid the half term children! An alternative, and half term free is Colorado-try Breckenridge, Aspen, Vail or even Jackson Hole, although do miss the 'American college spring break'.

How about Colorado. Arapahoe Basin has a season October to May. Limited area but almost guaranteed snow. Also the Colorado resorts-Vail, Winter Park, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge etc.- all open on USA Thanksgiving Day which is usually 11th November. One other American place could be Mammoth in California which has a top mountain height of around 11,000 feet-haven't skied there myself but have skied all the other Colorado resorts. Favourite, if the snow is there, has to be Vail. Good luck!

Flying in to Bergamo then Madonna di Campiglio is well worth a visit. Relatively high resort (village level 1500m) with extensive links to Folgarida, Pinzolo and Marivella. Very fashionable resort with excellent linked lift system (no T-bars!) and some excellent restaurants both in the village and on mountain. For what it's worth I have stayed in the Diana Hotel on several occasions and can thoroughly recommend it. Be wary if booking accommodation as some of the hotels/apartmentsare are some way from the lifts and require bus/taxi connections. The Oberosler Hotel along with the Diana Hotel are both virtually adjacent to the lifts.

Short answer is NO!!! If you are really keen for Austria in April then it has to be Obergurgl or Hochgurgl--both around 7,000 feet at village level and can ski until early May. Most of Austria has low resorts.

Hi Paul. Great choice going for Colorado. The largest ski area in Colorado is in fact Vail, more acres than Breckenridge. Although worth considering, if you fancy a bit of glitz, is Aspen. Heated pavements in town (1!) and three mountains to ski on but not linked to one another as in Breckenridge or Vail. Vail has a sort of 'tyrolean feel' with the architecture somewhat resembling Austrian villages. Also, as already mentioned Breckenridge has the 'old west' feel about and again a very efficient lift system. Beaver Creek also has plenty of blue/red skiing and a compact town with a skating rink in the middle. Loveland, Arapahoe Basin and Keystone are also in the same area. Last skied Colorado three years ago at which time there was a linked lift pass with Breckenridge, Vail, and Copper Mountain sharing this pass. We found the very best way to get around the Colorado area was to hire a car in Denver with a base, say, in Copper Mountain (e.g. Frisco town) and then 'commute' between the other lift pass share resorts. Incidentally, if you are going for 10 days bear in mind the 9 hour difference and, perhaps, opt for a lift pass 10 out of 13. In other words you can choose any 10 days out of the 13 with an option to add the extra one if you feel like it. I have always found the States a great place to ski so do consider Jackson Hole and also the Utah, Salt Lake City area. The other bonus for my part is the queue system in the States-no European queue jumping here with 'marshals' monitoring queue jumpers and also organising the lifts so that seats and cabins are filled when busy ensuring loads of skiing and not much queing.

Skied both Tignes and La Plagne few times. Stick to La Plagne, end of Jauary is way off and conditions wil almost certainly change for the better, Don'tl forget, as already mentioned, La Plagne has a glacier and is virtually as snow sure as Tignes. Also, La Plagne has possible more varisation and, if the snow comes as it will, you are not constantly skiing above the tree line as in Tignes giving more variation and choice of villages, restaurants etc.