J2Ski Forum Posts and Replies by bald-eagleman

Its the lid debate again!! ) :)

Just got back from Sauze...via Paris using Easyjet. Took JUST hand luggage...no boots etc as we were only going for 4 days skiing. Piled it in so it would just fit in their 56 x 45 x 25 sizer and it is amazing what you can take. I don't need as much next time!!

As for the issue of TO weight...the airlines all have to work out what their max weight is as the issue is one of single engine failure at V2...technically the speed which they can carry on the climb with one engine out as opposed to aborting the Take off. So V1 is rotate speed....thats when you feel the nose come up and is the speed that the aircraft will fly with all its bits hanging down (wheels, flaps etc...lots of drag)..there can be a slight gap between V1 and V2.....the real danger zone as there is not a lot you can do. Military pilots on opps can find themselves with quite a gap of say 5- 15 knots but civilian regs mean that as long as the AUW is calculated correctly V2 is usually below V1 so any engine failure before V1 means they have options...that is to continue the Take off or abort and still be able to stop before the end of the runway. So weight has a very important position as if the AUW is calculated too low and you have an issue below V2 the AC may not be able to fly...but cannot be put back on the runway. I can go on and explain the issues that altitude and temperature have as well but neadless to say airlines do not like an aircaft full of fat people with oversize baggage flying from somewhere hot and high.

Here endeth the lesson....you are safe, I cannot remember the last time a civilian aircraft operating under CAA regulations crashing with single engine failure and not due to pilot error. )

I have just got back from Sauze D'Oulx and thought I might give everyone who is going there soon an update. Resort had 15cms of snow last Friday, 5cms on Saturday and a further (reported) 20cms on Tuesday. Sounds good ...and is in parts. Until last Friday there were only 2 runs available above mid station. All the runs ABOVE Cortes lift are now open with good snow conditions. The area to the left of the Cortes lift is still closed but I was told is due to be opened this weekend. All the area in the bowl to the right of the top lift is open with fab conditions at present. There is only ONE run open down to San Sicario so is not worth doing. There are currently NO runs to Sestriere open due to patchy snow ....wind is blowing it away, but if you download on the Gondala most of the runs in Sestriere are open with excellent conditions there except on the nurseries which are open but a bit bare in places. Snow is reported as excellent up toward Montgenvre but it really is a long flog from Sauze.
The bad news is that it is unlikely that the lower runs will open in the near future. There is only 10-20 cms on them and the base is yet to freeze sufficiently for them to piste bash it. In fact as we left on Thursday at 0800 the temp in resort was plus 6 due to rise to plus 13....yep plus 13. The locals say that temps are likely to be high for the rest of the week and there is no new snow forcast.Temps low down are going to be to high to use the snow cannons and the instructors I talked to say it is the worst conditions thay have started with for nearly 20 years. They dare not use the piste bashers as the pistes will turn to mud and most probably ruin them for most of the season.

So ....ski high on the upper slopes where the conditions are really good and dont be scared to transfer by Gondala to Sestriere.

)

You will have a good time. Wife stay at Passo you and nipper to Ponti. If you like loots of KMs you willget bored. Try the black Paradisio from the Glacier early morning!

At the risk of being a little of beat, why not try Le Corbier. Plenty of Km for you, nice little resort with an outdoor pool. I went last xmas (I gave you my heart?)with OH who is not a skier. She joined a snowshoe group, went swimming , shopped a little (v limited for that) and sat on the Hotel veranda with either coffee, beer, wine a book (all or and) and had a nice time. Its V french but OK for a week.

We have 2 spare spaces at the Hotel Hermitage for the above dates. One male one female. one night B and B 3 nights HB, 4 day ski pass and skis/boots for £320.

8 of us are going ...by train from Paris sat 17th at 1441 Gare de Lyon. You can arrange you own transport if you wish or come with us and party on the train ...return 0837 22 Dec to arrive in Paris 1330 ish

And its been snowing with more forcast (at last)

If interested either PM me or leave a post

Ta.... )

Cheers mate...been there before..like you I love it....I will think of you when having a pint in La Grotte!! (or two).


Anyone else there 4-11 Feb let me know...it would be good to meet up with other J2Ski people...there are 18 in my group...glug :)

DO get really jealous as I'm going in Febuary!!

Yippee ) ) )