J2Ski Forum Posts and Replies by boardbiker

Learn to snowboard, fall backwards down a hardpacked piste...... not wearing a helmet..... that was enough for me to start wearing a helmet (whether i'm boarding or skiing). That and when someone tries to play 'tap ma heed' on the ski lifts with the safety bar ie they sat down so everyone must be ready...

I respect the right of anybody to wear or not to wear a helmet, i prefer to, but not all my group does, but i do recommend to those learning to snowboard, where you get little warning when the edge bites back!!! :roll:

Brilliant countdown page!!! wish i could do that for my group!!!! :D

28 days to go btw to my Italian trip and 45 til USA trip.......

The worst i see every time, is groups of skiers (usually in lessons, but not always) snaking down a piste or tight track leaving absolutely no room for anybody else to pass. Dont go edge to edge, leave some room at the edges for others (boarders and skiers alike) to pass (safely).

Skiing - heavy 'robocop boots', two poles, two plamks steady learning curve, possible sore knees, able to stand when on the mountainside, drag lifts easy!

Snowboarding - one plank, comfy boots, no poles, possible sore rear / wrists (unless have appropriate equipment!), lots of sitting and kneeling on the mountain, drag lifts..... take some practice!!!!

I converted from skiis to board and havent looked back. Once you get past the first 2/3 days of frustration then you can really get on snowboarding, just be prepared to fall flat on your face with little warning.

Either way - do have lessons, dont try to 'learn it yourself'.

Resort - Europe or North America - budget / preference?

PS: welcome to the site.

Last season i was paying 9 euros for a pint guiness in Serre Che in France! Think France, Italy etc all gonna be expensive for the drinkies with present exchange rate....unfortunately. But Sestriere / milky way deffo worth a visit!

I love this resort! Been there for the last two years and had a one day visit (from 2Alpes) the year before. The people are so friendly and the resort is huge!! gud snow cover and lots of different types of terrain to play on. You skiing or boarding and where abouts you staying (there are four points usually detailed about the resort.

Boyz (6 of us) off to Sans Sicario Italy 24th Jan and better half and me back to Killington US of A 10th Feb (she loved her first week of skiing that she was so keen to go again she even took 3 days unpaid holiday before the half term!!).

Its only 6 months to xmas.... so not much longer after that til first trip!!! wishing the summer away haha.

Get some knee pads too - you'l fall on them too, but also when kneeling they help keep the cold from getting in there.