J2Ski Forum Posts and Replies by felthorpe

I can endorse everything that has been said about this group. We are a mixed bunch but have found we get on really well.

The first year my OH and I went and we were outnumbered by singles (people who are or just ski without their partners), it made no odds because we all had a common aim; to ski/board and have a good time on holiday. Last season we brought our 19 year old son with us and he had an equally good time, meeting up with other younger members of the group and blasting off leaving us oldies behind. Although he also joined us some days, mainly so he could laugh at me falling over I think! There were some members who had been with us the year before and some new people both family groups and singles. Once again a good time was had by all.

I would say that for single skiers/boarders who are looking to buddy up, this is a good group to join. I don't like to ski on my own but am lucky that my OH will put up with me (I am a lot slower than him), so I don't have this problem but, in any case I find it is much more fun to ski with a group.

We have had occasions when there are probably too many of us together at once and it gets a bit messy but this is usually when we start off or meet up at a pre arranged place. We soon separate out into smaller groups again that want to do the same things, it is all very friendly and each person chooses who they want to ski with and we swap about a bit.

If you want to be in the super fast go everywhere and do as much as possible group, especially steep blacks, then join AllyG. If you want to take it a bit easier and cruise the blues, reds and occasional black, (with plenty of coffee stops) then join me. This group caters for all and would be very happy for you to join us :-)

P.S. the party starts at Gatwick the night before for some of us ;-)

Have you thought about renting both lengths and comparing before you spend the money?

Can't wait :D

Asking for advice is the first step, because you obviously want to get through this. I agree with the others, the right instructor is key. I was a very nervous skier, some days I could do it and others it all went to pieces. My OH was very frustrated because he knew I was capable, it was all in my head. A few one to one lessons with an instructor who saw my limitations and just got me to follow him, so I understood how to deal with it, was enough to overcome my fear of icy slopes (that was my weakness). Haven't looked back since. If you persevere suddenly you will have that eureka moment and it all becomes clearer. You are still not brilliant but you understand the mechanics and are not so scared anymore. It is about finding a way to deal with the terrain that you know you can handle, we are not all going to be experts or particularly stylish! I have my limitations, speed is not my bag but I do love skiing and can get down most things now. I like feeling safe, that doesn't mean I can't take the black home. :-)

I must be an odd person then because I write reviews on Trip Advisor good or bad. I find it a most useful website but I take what I read with a small pinch of salt. However, lots of different people saying the same thing is something that should not be ignored and I have not found the reviews to be wildly different from the experience once I have been there. If you are going to a resort renowned for carousing all night then you would expect the reviews to be mainly from people who have gone for that purpose and take account of the fact when reviewing them.

The Sauze Hotel has been chosen because it fits best with the disparate group that are the J2Ski holidayers. It won't please everyone but I also hope it won't offend anyone. Clearly it is not of the standard that Tony_H would consider but then that is his prerogative. Even if it wasn't my first choice (and I am not saying it wasn't) I am happy to fit in with the majority because they are a great bunch of people and I want to ski with them.

The J2Ski holidayers are democratic and those who had been on previous holidays all had input into choosing this hotel. So we are happy and we would encourage anyone else to come and join us.

AllyG has done an excellent job organising this ski holiday for 3 seasons now. Unless you have tried to organise a disparate group, who all have different requirements and come from all over the place (not just the UK), I don't think anyone can appreciate just how hard it is and just how impossible to please everyone.

There are compromises to be made but the last 2 holidays have been excellent, which may account for why many have returned and why we ran out of space so fast this year. This group is open to all but unfortunately the hotel would not let us have the number of rooms we wanted. This was not made clear to us before we settled on this venue and so is something we will watch for in future years. However this does not stop late comers booking through Crystal and getting virtually the same deal. So I cannot understand what all the fuss is about!

Considering there were a few doubters when this was first mooted, I think this group holiday has been remarkably successful. I, for one, have made many new friends and would encourage anyone to come along. It is daunting going on holiday with 20+ people you have never met but our experience has been a good one. I can thoroughly recommend it, especially for people looking for ski buddies, as we have a wide range of abilities and ages and include families, couples and singles amongst our number.

Long may it continue.

Good news about the new chairlift.... thanks for the info.

The trip is getting closer now and we are getting excited, just trying to resist watching the webcams although receiving a snow mail from J2Ski last week nearly tipped me over the edge (metaphorically speaking) :-)

If we all take Ian up on his kind offer, he will need to hire a coach!