J2Ski Forum Posts and Replies by admin

I've used the Toko Mini Wax with good results in Spring snow before.

Well worth having something like that with you if you are expecting slushy/sticky conditions; otherwise it can occasionally feel like you're skiing in glue.

Which one's Dave Mac?

Oh my, that's just got to be done hasn't it?

If you're there LOTA, we need more pictures please!

The latest booking statistics released by easyJet show that skiers are breaking the mould of the traditional Saturday to Saturday ski holiday and are travelling throughout the week, attracted by the lower fares on mid-week flights.

Skiers are looking for convenience and a short airport-resort transfer time, with figures showing the following top ten destinations for easyJet skiers this season:

1. Chamonix, France
2. Avoriaz, France
3. Meribel, France
4. Les Arcs 1800, France
5. Pas de la Casa, Andorra
6. Val d'Isere, France
7. Kitzbuhel, Austria
8. Innsbruck, Austria
9. Soll, Austria
10. Arinsal, Andorra

Charles Martin, easyJet's Partnership Manager commented: "We've found France attracts over 50% of all British skiers using EasyJet flights, so its no surprise to see French resorts taking the top slots. Chamonix and Avoriaz are real favourites with British skiers, thanks to the ease of access from Geneva with transfer times of just over and hour, coupled with the wide availability of easyJet flights from across 13 UK airports."

In Austria the popular resorts of Kitzbühel and Söll are within easy reach of Innsbruck, each between 30-90 minutes transfer time. The airline reports this relatively new route for them is proving to be a success with independent skiers.

The inclusion of the Andorran resorts of Pas de la Casa and Arinsal in the top ten is somewhat of a surprise. Although further from the arrival airports, with transfer times from Barcelona of 3 hours, Andorra is still perceived as offering great value for apres ski, while investment in lifts in recent years has brought them up on a par with some of the top French resorts.

With excellent snow conditions in European ski resorts this year, easyJet believes bookings will continue to be strong throughout Easter as skiers take advantage of its range of ski flights from 13 UK airports to nine European ski airports, across six countries.
Courtesy of and © Snow24 plc

Scotland's five mountain ski areas have been blessed not only by lots of snow this winter, but also more customers than any winter since 2001.

Already they have passed 250,000 skier days and this is around two months before the season is expected to end. This total is 100,000 more than last season, which wasn't a bad one.

This is excellent news not only for the ski companies, but also for the surrounding areas, with the season so far estimated to have generated at least £25M for the Scottish economy, of which £20M will have been spent in nearby local businesses.

The pattern of business is also different this year, with a higher proportion of high-spending holiday visitors, as opposed to day visitors. Some areas report peak time accommodation bookings 500% higher than in previous seasons and tales of people even cancelling ski holidays abroad to take advantage of Scotland's wonderful deep snow cover, no money exchange worries, better value than the Euro zone, and friendly native English-speakers.

With the wind predominantly from the north east, snowfall has consistently loaded the east faces of the mountains, giving new pistes to ski and snowboard at all areas. Some of these runs have as yet not been named. At both Glencoe and Nevis Range, skiers and boarders have enjoyed sliding from the top lifts back to the lowest access points, which is pretty unusual.

Nevis Range Managing Director and ski-scotland member, Marian Austin, commented, "Unlike the ski areas in the east, we do not normally ski to our carpark, but this amazing snow cover, even at low level, has allowed us to offer skiing from 1,190m (3,900ft) down to 100m (330ft), which is about 4.5km, or close to 3 miles. As with Glencoe, the runs to the carpark are not pisted and are for experienced back country sliders – but what runs! With skiers well spread out across the mountain, our worst lift queues last weekend were around 30 people – so we've lots of space for more skiers and boarders!"

Although other parts of Britain are now beginning to look towards spring, in the Highlands there is more snow forecast, and the expectation is that there will still be excellent skiing and boarding at Easter, throughout April and even into May.

People who want to beat the Easter rush are recommended to find accommodation on the official website www.ski-scotland.com, where they can also check out conditions on real time webcams and ski area panorama.

"The snow this year has been fantastic with constant cold and great skiing conditions," added Pieter du Pon of the Lecht Ski Company. "Snow has just piled up week after week since before Christmas, with another metre falling in 36 hours last week. Now is the time try something different and make use of the Ski Scotland 5-day pass to try out all the ski centres, all with great conditions."

Courtesy of and © Snow24 plc

Vail Resorts have honoured Olympic Champion Lindsey Vonn, who moved to the resort in the late 1990s and has now won what the resort describes as, 'Vail's first ever gold medal' by renaming a trail on Vail Mountain after Vonn.

The expert "International" trail on Vail Mountain was renamed "Lindsey's" and the new trail sign is already up to greet skiers and snowboarders.
"This trail is a fitting choice as it was the site of the women's speed events during the World Alpine Ski Championships at Vail and Beaver Creek in 1989 and 1999. Additionally, the central location of the trail gives all guests at Vail easy access to ski or ride it like a champion throughout the winter season." said a Vail statement.

Vonn's unprecedented success in the 2010 Olympic Games is one for the record books. Vonn was the first American woman to win an Olympic gold medal in the Downhill and also took home a bronze in the Super G. Her feats in alpine skiing comprise an impressive list: Two consecutive Overall World Cup titles, four World Cup discipline titles, four World Championship medals (including two gold), 31 World Cup wins (11 so far this season), 60 World Cup podium finishes (17 so far this season), and she currently leads the Overall World Cup standings this year.

"We could not be prouder of Lindsey and her success at the Olympic Games." said Rob Katz, chairman and chief executive officer of Vail Resorts. "'Lindsey's' on Vail Mountain is a perfect location for her namesake trail. As a former race course for the best women ski racers in the world and a groomed black diamond favourite for our guests, it is where future champions and everyday skiers alike can be inspired by Lindsey's success. We are excited to welcome Lindsey home to her new run."

While she was born in Burnsville, Minn. in 1984 but spent her formative years on Vail Mountain, honing her racing skills in all alpine disciplines with the Ski and Snowboard Club Vail, then went on to achieve success in major U.S. and international events such as the Junior Olympics, Junior Worlds, NorAms and Europa Cup before entering the International Ski Federation (FIS) World Cup circuit.

When she's not rigorously training or garnering medals, Vonn makes a beeline for Vail's legendary Back Bowls to free ski. She and former teammate/Olympian Thomas Vonn married in September 2007. When they're not travelling on the road, the Vonns make their home at the Arrabelle at Vail Square, A RockResort in Vail, Colo.
Courtesy of and © Snow24 plc

Trencher wrote:I think you posted here four years ago

:shock: Good spot Trencher! Mr nonproexpert can discuss his technique here. Mr alpinski has left the building. :roll:

For good reasons to get a guide there, see Pistehors - one reason and another.

Do it, but do take a guide.