J2Ski Forum Posts and Replies by AllyG

Thanks Ian and Bandit,
I think I am a holiday Ally, not a holiday Harry :D :D :D

Hi Alistair,
Thanks for asking :D

No, I haven't done any packing yet. I was waiting to see if my ear infection cleared up with the antibiotics and ear spray. However, I went to the doctor's yesterday and he said I'm good to go!

I have 3 houses to clean/finish cleaning today, and an exhibition to help set up tomorrow, and then we can catch the train (and as you said I have to pack at some point).

We're flying Sunday and ski-ing on the glacier at Tignes Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. The weather forecast looks pretty good - 10cm snow on Sunday before we get there, and then 3cm on Monday and sunny on Tuesday and Wednesday. The winds are forecast to be very light and temperatures between -7 and +1.

There are currently 6 lifts open out of 36 (might increase to 8 though with the snow on Sunday), and the snow conditions are good on piste but 'limited' off piste (wasn't going to go there anyway, not without my survival tent, whistle, avalanche beacon, shovel, probe, extra lung or whatever it's called :D etc.).

Ally

I guess it's another reason not to go off piste without a guide :lol: :lol: :lol:

But I'm glad you were okay Dave - apart from the mud and the embarassment etc.

Ally

I'd actually managed to forget about this thread.

Telling that story about the mushrooms had rather an unexpected result. I had a private message from a producer working on a series for Animal Planet who wanted to include me and my family in the program because:
'I'm interested in potentially including a case of accidental ingestion of a hallucinogenic drug.'

Anyway, I decided it wasn't worth putting myself and my family through a load of unwelcome publicity, even though apparently they would have used actors if we'd preferred, and Admin very kindly told them to leave me alone.

It just shows how careful we all have to be with what we post up on here. I suppose the producer found my post by doing a general google search for 'magic mushrooms' or something.

As I said before, I don't think anyone should drink over the legal drink/driving limit before ski-ing, but I can't see any harm in having a glass of wine, or something like that, at lunch.

Ally

I like the 'you should exercise common sense' bit :lol:

I thought the whole point was that it's very difficult to predict which slope is okay and which is dangerous and likely to avalanche, because there are many variables to consider.

I don't think I'd feel comfortable ski-ing off-piste with this insurance unless I was accompanied by an instructor or guide, or I was an expert skier/boarder with many years of experience ski-ing/boarding off piste.

Ally

I don't know whether my instructor will be taking me in the Snow Park, well, the Boarder Cross actually, but I was taken in it several times last year by two different instructors in group lessons so I should think it is quite likely.

I have been very careful each time I've been in there (using a snowplough to cut down my speed at the start) and so far I haven't fallen, but it is quite likely.

I am going to ask my insurers about it because worrying that I'm not insured whilst following my instructor over the jumps and up the wall is not likely to improve my performance :lol:

I'm sure the instructors realize we're quite likely to fall because they make us keep a large gap between each other so that if we fall we won't get flattened by the person behind.

If and when I get an answer from the insurers I will post it up. I am sure the search and rescue is covered but it would be nice to have it confirmed in writing. I will, in any case, also be paying a few extra euros for the carre neige insurance on my lift pass - just in case!

Ally

I have 9 sleeps to go - but only if my ear infection clears up by then. It's just my luck that the one time I decide to go by plane I get an ear infection :cry:

I am going to write to the Post Office and ask them if their cover includes search and rescue, and also if I am allowed to go over the tiny jumps (like in my avatar) in the snow park during my lessons. I am going to look a real idiot if I have to tell my instructor that I'm not allowed to do it because I'm not covered by insurance! And last year I really enjoyed it.

Ally