J2Ski Forum Posts and Replies by JamesA

Several good tips here. Good advice all.

OF note try to get into shape and remember to stretch. You will be using muscles that you don't normally use and you will be sore.

Take a hot bath after a day on the slopes to relax the tension out of your sore bones. You'd be surprised how much tension is inherent in a new activity.

I saw a Learn to ski film once where the instructor said that there is only fear where there is danger and danger is there because of ignorance - lack of knowledge. Eliminate the ignorance and danger is gone - then there can be no fear. Knowledge is what makes us successful. - take a lesson to learn about our sport.

Look at the web and watch good examples of what you will be doing. The mental rehearsal is good for the brain.

I know it's alot to take in at first but keep trying. Babies learn to walk one step at a time and after they fall they just keep on going withoout self deprication. Joy is their sucess button. Joy of accomplishment should be yours. Don't measure yourself by the others who ski with you - remember you might just be the best in your family!

Last tip dress for the sport. You wouldn't go swimming in a baggy jeans and a sweater that 's just stupid. The same goes for a good ski experience. Wear proper clothes that breath, keep you warm and dry. Gloves or mitts a proper hat and eye protection sun glasses or goggles wear it all - hey it's a chance for you and your girlfriend to shop for a new wardrobe and that's worth merit points :wink: !

I know that each trip I take to Europe is chock full of adventure and part of that adventure has included a car rental.

Transportation in Banff is not so great. There are buses but they are limited as to schedules and comfort. They are what we commonly use as school busses with vinyl bench seats and cramped accommodations. On the other side of that coin I have enjoyed the Post buses of Austria - so who's to say you won't enjoy our quaint buses.

I would absolutely suggest a car rental. The rental shops in Calgary where you will probably fly into, are set up to rent you a snow ready car and the driving is easy and relaxed compared to Europe. There is little traffic and the roads are in good shape. The distances are greater than you might be used to in Europe. For example, the ride from Calgary to Banff is about 1.5 hours to Lake Louise 2.0 hrs on four lane expressway (no tolls) with limited access. The speeds are 100 -110 kph so the distance is 150 kms or so with no towns in between. You will need to buy a Canada Parks pass to drive your car in Banff and this will cost $85 for the week - actually a year long pass is cheaper than a five day pass)

The freedom a car affords is essential to experience the Canadian Rockies. The driving is relatively stress free and the cost for a week reasonable.

With your own car you will be able to drive to the hills at your leisure and get about town without having to rely on buses that don't even exist after the ski day is over. Banff is a town of about 7000 and has no public transit system to speak of - Canmore just down the road is in the same situation - no public transit to speak of. Lake louise has no buses either. Taxis are expensive and a car would surely pay for itself.

To get to Sunshine and Lake Louise will necessitate a car. Norquay is the most bus serviced area being just a few minutes above the town of banff - but that's still a bus ride, the walk is about 10 kms up the switch backs of the access road.

If you can try to drive one day as far a Golden and Kicking Horse Mountain - Google it- another hour past Lake Louise. The skiing there is fantastic... see the car can get you to the hills and that's why you are coming isn't it. :lol:

Allow me to please extend a warm invitation to you from Canada. Ski and enjoy yourself it will be a holiday of memories to have for a lifetime or until you return.

I found it SNOWBOUND by Sarah Vaughan - try it for a slow lovers song in-front of a fire.

One word - Christmas cake.

High in calories and protein and I think yummy.

Power bars? Power bars. We don't need no stinkin' power bars.

(Apologies to "The Sierra Madras" a great Bogart film.)

Oh yea water too. You need to digest all that goodness. Right on Pavel.

Answers:

1. shop online for a job by sending your resume to every resort that interest you. Do this in November.

2. Most employers provide a pass for on snow workers they need them to get around . Some have huge discounts for staff that aren't lifties.

3. If you work in town you can get area passes at good rates starting about June. Very few banff areas provide accommodations and that's only for on hill hotel staff say at Sunshine or Big White. Marmot at Jasper provides some rooms at the Fairmont at good rates for staff during the winter only.

4. Sunshine and Marmot share a pass. Fernie and Kimberly share. LL has some deals with other resorts tri Area Norquay, LL & Sunshine only. Norquay has night skiing.

5. Good idea set aside about $2000 CDN for a good car as the winters are hard on old clunker. Buy a new battery, fan belts, and good snow tires and get a fluids flush and a working plug in block heater. at minus 30 it won't start without one. Stick to a front wheel drive compact like a Honda Civic or a Toyota Corolla these will keep their value and you will recoup your investment when you leave. Some areas like Sunshine and Marmot have shuttle busses for staff - great deal. To get to the major centers there are busses from all town called Greyhound. These coaches are the cheapest way to travel. Trains are for freight.

6. Gear can be had cheap if you buy late season or slightly used. Ski areas will sell rental gear to staff. A snowboard will run you about $300. Boots $200. THis will be good gear that will get you through a whole season. Cheaper stuff won't last. Stick to brand names like Burton and K2.

7. LL is good for a whole season You can ski Sunshine and Golden also on day trips. Once you get here Golden will call as it's the Fernie of the northern Rockies. 1500 meter vertical from a six man gondola. Awesome snow and great chutes.

8. See above. Golden BC is not a party town but a great town for skiing and good access. I'd work there but I'm about the skiing not so much the bar scene which is all C&W out here anyway Bleech! Not a good rave club in any ski town. The big cities like Calgary and Edmonton are OK but the outback - not.

Hope it helps.

Folks,

Sorta ski related.

I was out doing some shopping two nights ago in a local department store. While there I was shopping for an Ipod and thought of the thread on this website that talked about ski tunes. While I was shopping I heard a song over the Musak, that insipid background music that theses days plays naught but Christmas drek or so I thought, when a whimsical ballad was player with a lyric that was basically "snow, snow". The tune was slow and sung by a smokey voice female much like Peggy Lee of the fifties. I'm not sure but that's who she sounded like.

I was wondering if any of you out in cyberspace can identify this tune from my flimsy hints. I'd appreciated it as I'd like the song for a video project I'm working on.

It will also become a tune for my skiing adventures....there ski related. :wink:

Thanks J.

My daughter has a place in Squamish BC just 40 kms outside Whistler. She's looking for a roomate for a few months to ski with and just "party" she's 22 and single like you.

She's international and speaks French, Italian, and German. Her place is a two bedroom "loft" Condo great for two people. I'll pass along this post to her to let her contact you and you can chat.



Cheers.

A short post on ski school. Miles is smiles. There is no substitute.

You get intellectual with the telling, and visuals with the showing, but it's the doing that teaches the reflexes and muscles and finally imprints on the long term memory to get skiing to it's apex.

Kids leard quickly because they are less cereberal about the whole skiing thing they take an holistic approach. Getting down is the fun not the way you do it. Try it for yourself "just do it" is the motto of the day.

On memory: a shade off colour :shock: My fairy god mum said when I was born that I could have one wish, she said I could have a long memory or a long "hoo-hoo". I forget what I decided. :D

Just a short turn of humour on the site....