J2Ski Forum Posts and Replies by AllyG

ise wrote:
You might try switching to Nordic Walking instead, if you put some shoe crampons on (like these) it actually increases the resistance you get and nordic walking's even more benefit than usual. In general Nordic Walking will give you the fitness levels you're looking for on a ski holiday. There's probably a group local to you if you want to do this socially or you can do a single session to get some idea of the technique and go out alone.

We've not tried Nordic Walking with wellies though, I'm sure we could work something out :)

Do you think those crampons would fit over my wellies? They look like they'd be pretty good to stop me from sliding down the muddy steep bits and falling over. I fell flat the other day and got plastered in mud.

Quite honestly I think simply walking up and down our hills is enough exercise without trying the Nordic walking. An 8 mile hike along our coastal path is enough to make anyone's legs ache :D Mind you, I generally stop after 4 miles for a cup of tea and a rest in a very convenient hotel which is right next to the path and allows dogs in the cellar bar :D

Ally

ise wrote:I know a recent Swiss study showed exactly that but there's a lot less research on the impact of altitude on adolescents than there is on adults. IIRC there was some work in Colorado looking at inter-cranial pressure where no increase was found, it was referenced in another paper which I don't have to hand right now. The last International Society for Mountain Medicine statement I'm pretty sure suggested that AMS incidence in adolescents was around the same as adults, that was a few years back but I don't think they've changed their consensus statement.

The advice we get for taking teenagers to altitude is that there's no significant additional risk, that the symptoms will manifest the same as an adult and that we'd follow the same precautions although there's a caveat to that in that we use diamox for all the group unless is contraindicated.

Ise,
Do you give diamox to everyone before they start climbing (like sea-sick pills) or only when they become ill?

I do seem to be affected by the altitude more than other people - maybe this is because I have such a large brain? :wink:

I found an interesting article about this on travel doctor. I'm pretty sure they injected me with dexamethasone when I had concussion (from falling off my horse). Have you used one of the Gamow bags?

http://www.traveldoctor.co.uk/altitude.htm

Ally

I think Dave is just trying to show us that there's still life left in the old dog :wink:

I hope I am as fit as he is when I reach his age, and still able to ski, although I'm not particularly keen on dancing on top of tables or picking up stray members of the opposite sex in bars :D

Keep it up Dave, it is very interesting (and highly educational) :thumbup:

Ally

Sm4sh,
They have several reviews of the hotel Flora on tripadvisor.co.uk.

The reviews aren't actually that bad, surprisingly enough :D
The scores were as follows:

3 = excellent
6 = very good
5 = average
4 = poor
3 = terrible

Most people thought the evening meal was pretty awful, and went and ate out, but then I think that's generally true for all the hotels in Borovets, and there are plenty of places you can go out for a meal :D

Have you changed the date yet? According to Snowbandit's historical snow information you should have a 92% chance of having enough snow to ski on if you go on the later date - only one really bad year from '96 to 2008 :D

Ally

I am trying to get fit, but it's very difficult because there always seems to be something hindering me - like; it was Christmas and I ate far too much, then I had a terrible cold, next we had all that snow and ice (I was walking up to 10 miles per day in it but I couldn't jog on it), and finally we've had lots of rain and everywhere's been very muddy and slippery.

I am also trying to lose weight, but all that seems to have happened so far is that I've put a load on over Christmas :cry:

I can at least now do 60 squats in one go, so my legs can't be too bad :D

Ally

Ise,
So what you're really saying (I think?) is that rental skis are much better quality, because they're built to last.

Ally

Yes,
I have mine from La Rosiere and Val Thorens and I've just purchased a new one from Courchevel (as a souvenir really because I'm pretty sure I could have re-charged my VT one instead).

I don't know anything about skis, but having read that article very carefully I reckon that their maths is all to pieces.

They say this:

Skis cost £500
Bag costs £20
Poles cost £30

Easyjet charges per trip for carrying skis = £37
Allowance for repair and service to skis each trip = £52

Renting skis for 6 days cost £105

They then say that renting skis costs twice as much per trip as maintaining and transporting your own skis. I don't know where they get this from, because £37 plus £52 is £89, not £52-50 (half of £105).

And worst of all, they forget to allow for the capital cost of buying the skis in the first place, which you may only use for 5 years (either because they're worn out or simply outdated), and they don't allow for annual depreciation or the 'cost' of borrowing the money to buy them in the first place.

So, as I said, I don't know anything about skis, rented or purchased, but I reckon the rest of the article is rubbish.

I am quite sure the skis and boots I have rented in the last few years have been very good quality.

Ally