J2Ski Forum Posts and Replies by Dave Mac

Hoop,

Like the other ex's, I would not deem to to offer a weeks diy ski manual on J2.

Also, like some of the other guys, I can't believe if money was a seriously critical issue, that Chamonix was the wisest choice. Or even France. I submit that your day costs will be a factor approaching 3 x those in Austria, and your evening cost might be double or maybe one and a half if you are sitting in the apartment at night.

So you could have gone to Mayrhofen, 20th Jan, b&b, for £249, fly, transfer, b&b. Menu meal for about a tenner. Lift pass £160, total £480. Tuition cost £120. Total £600.

Difference £100, and I will wager a guinea, you will spend more than that on the difference on the combined day+night cost between Chamonix and Mayrhofen.

Not only that, but if you had chosen a resort where the nursery slopes are in the village, you would not have needed a lift pass, just pay points for the Poma. My point being that part of the reason why your deal seems attractive, is that it includes the lift pass....

But, ~ you are where you are. I doubt that you will get a bona fide ski instructor in France to "do you a deal", he would have insurance costs and other overheads.

You could try and find a non-ski instructor local who would do you a cash in hand deal. You would not know what you are getting, and there could be bad outcomes.

All in all, it just comes back down to the fact that your friends are not understanding the real importance of getting instruction. By not investing in instruction, they are not saving £160, or £200. They are wasting the cost of the holiday.

You could try the tourist office, or, better still, the ski school. Explain the predicament, and see if they can offer a lower cost solution. You can also tackle your chalet offer, and see if they can substitute the lift pass offer with some ski instruction.

Tony_H wrote:

If you insist on edging and waxing, and the bases dont look as if they have any gouges or deep scratches, the skis should be in good order, but get someone you know who has their own skis, maybe an instructor, to give them a look over to check.

Also check that the skis aren't railed. The base should be level with the metal edges. Worn skis develop a groove in the base, alongside the edge.

Scarlet, you may want to get hold of a copy of "The Allmountain skier" by Mark Helling. Gives a good insight and understanding. Also, demonstrates that carving is just one technique among many. Pages 168 and 174 has photos showing "legs together"! So don't decry your close leg capability, there are many on J2 that cannot do that.

Then go ahead and learn carving, which is another useful technique. Along with downward unweighting, page 182, and others.

You hear many people extolling "carving" as though it was the only acceptable form of skiing. This is a technique, suitable for certain conditions, and when you can perform it as well and freely as Trencher, would be enjoyable to do and to watch.

Dorset boy uses the hire figures for skis only of £70~£100. I have just hired ski and boots, for beginner friends for 61 Euros a set. At that cost, it doesn't make any sense to buy skis (£200/£300), and pay the transfer cost, (£33) each time you use them.

When I am not in Niederau, I hire skis. After a couple of hire experiences, I learned to book the bronze level, (lowest cost) My experience was that the higher ranges tended to be much stiffer skis, and these did not suit my skiing.

Every time I have hired, I have changed the skis at least once during the week, for varying reasons. This is never an issue, so should you feel that there is a problem with your skis, it is easy to fix. None of this has to be confrontational, most places want to please the customer ~ especially when you have made an effort to be friendly from the first instant.

As regards ski condition, most, but not all places are hiring stock that is current or last seasons stock. Sure there are other places that go with older stuff, but they earn their own reputation.

For the previous three or four hires, (since joining J2ski), I have used Skiset, finding their hire outlets to be very acceptable.

With regard to boots, I would not be averse, in hugh_b's situation, to hiring for the first holiday. You have been a boarder, so may have no experience of ski boots. Also, if you buy, and there is a problem that later arises, you may or may not be able to get it fixed. Conversely, if you have a problem in the hire boots, you can go back and change them. By hiring, you will learn a lot, that will stand you in good stead when you do come to buy.

Ian W's point then may come into play, that if the boots do perform well, you may get an opportunity to buy. The best time to do this is normally towards the end of March, but you never know. This is an odd year for all concerned in the ski industry.

Oh, one tip about hiring. Keep a note of the gear you were given, including all the gear you changed, and write down the strengths and weaknesses. If you end up hiring two or three times before you buy, you will have some good reference information that applies only to you.

Ski well

Niederau closes on 29th March. The Schatzberg at Auffach is open until 13th March, but the Niederau Hotels will be closed, and you would have to stay at Oberau, Muhltal or Auffach. This is really too late for the Tirol, and the chances are you would be skiing slush, at best.

Would go with Tony on this, go high.

My thinking is that there will be some good prices to be had for Easter, but will be subject to timing. Clearly, much of Europe is going to feel the effects of recession to a greater or lesser degree. So as it gets closer to the time, there may be some reducing in pricing. That will be recognised all over Europe, and is likely be soaked up, not least by teachers, and constrained parents. Hence, would not leave it too late.

It may pay to sign up to all the email alerts, having first short listed your resorts. If the UK TOs have a bad season, they may extend out the offer dates.

It's only second guessing, but the UK TOs do have bed and flight contracts to fulfil.

Ise, like tony, i wa a bit confused about the siyuation. The AA seeems to have changed it's info during the past year.

It would be interesting to bottom out the law in Germany and Switzerland as well. People join J2 all tyhe time, and the question gets asked at least twice a season.

Tony, re access to Niederau, you have previously expressed your intention to travel by autobahn, and that leg of the journey should not be an issue. Niederau is 7 km up from Worgl. The road is not that steep, and it is well serviced by shovels and gritters.

In the event that you are travelling up the hill during a dump, then snowchains will do the job.

catrinmorrissey@hotmail.c wrote:this may sound really stupid but going skiiing for first tine on sat in austrai and want to kno0w if 20cm is enough to learn to ski on on lower slopes

Hi catrrin, welcome to J2ski.

It isn't stupid catrin, it's a first time sensible question. All the main slopes, including the beginners slopes, will have been pisted. That means a large tractor like vehicle will have flattened and combed the snow, and made it easy to ski on. And yes 20cm will have been enough. In most resorts, snow cannons will have added more snow to the beginner runs, and this will have added to the depth.

You might want to change your J2ski name to something a little less direct. All the regular J2skiers here are nice folk, but you never know who's lurking. There is a contact route through J2ski without giving your direct email address.

Trencher wrote:

poleplantingisforgods wrote:The first is a video of some of the best (past and present) Canadian skiers.. they might not make a solid pole plant but the move is there.

So please explain what function the poles have for them please ?

In the interest of forum niceness, I should say this is a trick question :wink:

Trencher

Aye Trencher, I was waiting with bated breath! You didn't let us down!

Most of us need sticks to stop us falling over, when we get bumped! Apart from that, it just makes us feel good, helps keep your hands warm, and gives us something to do with our hands. :-)

And since your centre of gravity rarely gets more than about 30" off the snow, you would not be a prime candidate for sticks. :wink:

For the uninitiated, you need to watch Trenchers Ski & Board mixed avatar, which was panned by Admin, (quite rightly, it made my eyes sore :-) Just searched for it but couldn't find it.