J2Ski Forum Posts and Replies by KevinC

Ski Sunday wasn't great - giant(?) slalom rather than downhill which I hate and a rather dull piece on Chemmy 'I'm rubbish and injured'.

Next week's should be better....

Face run really isn't that bad. I'm by no means a good skier but ended up giving it a go.

The first half of the run is really good fun. The steep part at the end is daunting, but once you have the nerve to go for it, it's ok. It looks worse from the cable car than on skis.

Good luck!

That is obviously the correct answer, and people shouldn't be embarrassed to do that - a new skier in our group did that every day after the first experience. However I think the opinions being expressed in the thread are that some resorts are incorrectly labelling some of the runs to appeal to a wider range of skiing abilities.

A 'nervous' skier may reasonably expect to be within their capabilities on a 'blue' graded run. If they see a blue run they may assume that they can ski it relatively comfortably and not know that the better option for them is the gondola. If the piste gradings cannot be relied on, then this knowledge only comes with skiing a mountain, something a beginner wouldn't have done yet.

Another post has just reminded me I do know the Santons run. Responsible for my one fall this year, on the first afternoon.

Run was sheer ice for the first half, followed by a long walk to get into VDI, the snowboarders with us were less than amused. Apart from my fall and it's certainly no good for a beginner.

Right, now I've read this properly and it says face planting and not face painting I get the relevance now.

I was on my first afternoon skiing in a couple of years in January so was on an easy blue in Val d'Isere which turns out not to be so easy, as it was extremely narrow and very icy - like a natural half-pipe (not sure if there is a proper term for them).

Anyway as I was the first in the group I decided to lead people into a few gentle jumps up each side of the run. Unfortunately on the second attemptI found that the snow was absolutely solid ice which caused my skis to step dead. I was catapulted forward out of my bindings and flew chin first into the snow off the side of the run.

My only fall all week, and it had to be witnessed by the whole group and i was left with a grazed chin as a reminder. Zut Alors.

Which blue run are we talking about in Val d'isere? I was there a few weeks ago and the green run (Verte) from Bellevarde down to La Daille was horrendous - on the last day when I was too tired I chose to take the black Face down to Val. It was an absolute joke.

I don't think there is any doubt that Val D'isere have just labelled a handful of runs as blue and green to get people there - unlikely that people will return though if they are nervous skiers and have no confidence at the start of a rain they haven't done before.

Crash - sorry to hear of your problems but useful to know.

Last car hire I had I amended the booking when I realised I'd been allocated a diese, not sure I would have done the same again after reading other comments.

I did mention that some threads suggest a small amount of petrol in the tank stops the problem without damaging the engine, but it's a brave step.....

The only thing you need is perseverance! You'll have heavy falls and the balance is tricky at first bit you rapidly improve once you learn the basics.