J2Ski Forum Posts and Replies by admin

lillie1967 wrote:hi, can someone tell me what constitutes 'good skiing'

Talk about an open question... "good skiing" is anything that sends you home with a smile on your face!

That could be anything from making your first turn on an almost flat slope to making your first turn in waist-deep powder. It can be looking back up your first Black Run and thinking "YES, I did that", or cruising miles in Spring sunshine from a coffee in one pretty village to a lazy lunch in the next.

Even riding the first lift up in the morning and humming the theme to 2001 with your mates as the sun breaks over the mountains... 8)

For a taster, have a browse in the forum and see what pushes the buttons of some of our regular posters; some very different people doing some very different things :-

- Read Pavelski's posts for some great tales and one man's Zen of Ski.
- Check Trencher's carving videos (don't try this on your first day).
- Browse ise's blog for great views and a wilder side.

So little time, so many mountains... enjoy.

bandit wrote:imagine being snowed in at a mountain hut and having to eat one of the group. Now that's fairly hardcore )

Yep, sorry ise, we're only going to accept your claims of being hardcore when one of your blogs recounts having eaten one of your party... :lol: 8)

Which comment leaves me wondering if that falls within bandit's experience!? :shock:

Tony_H wrote:Ok, whos been and can give me some tips on where the best runs are

With current conditions, the best runs are all over everywhere... 8)

Montfort for steep and deep (steep and nasty if the snow's hard). Itineraries likely to be in superb condition (but need caution sometimes); col des Mines and Tortin are great runs. Savoleyres (sp?) has some good fun freeride areas as an alternative to the main Verbier sector, and Bruson is worth the trek (gondola down to le chable and then short bus/taxi) as there are great slopes and few people.

Worth getting hold of a piste map before you go and planning your first day or two.

Tony_H wrote:what time the first lift is out of town, and some tips on a couple of good drinking holes?

Main lifts start with Medran at the top of the village - bit of a bottleneck first thing on busy (or powder) days but you should be fine; it moves lots of people fast. Or grab a bus down to Savoleyres and start there.

Offshore bar by the Medran lift is the place for a swift one straight off the slopes, Farinet in the centre for loud-n-lagered apres; often have good bands or DJs. Pub Montfort popular and varies from mild to wild and back. Many other places but be careful of prices.

Tony_H wrote:Is this right across the alps? IN particular Switzerland, and a resort beginning with V?

Central and Northern areas got absolutely pasted today - 60cm+ to resort/valley level. More coming tonight. Latest forecast has lighter (relatively) snow over the weekend and then more big falls early/mid next week.

Oh yes... Verbier is awash with it too... 8)

The forecast snow arrived in style today - half a metre plus across much of the Alps, with snow right down to 700metres and lower in places.

And there's more to come... more snow tomorrow and then again Monday/Tuesday-ish with yet more promising lumps of precipitation by the end of the week.

And it's going to stay cold! 8) 8) 8)

But but but... the avalanche risk is likely to be through the roof for much of the next week so please, please, please take care.

Only venture off-piste if:-

• You're sure the slopes are safe (check the local avalanche bulletins, talk to the pisteurs and be very aware).


• You know where you're going (visibility may be pretty poor at times).


• You have appropriate kit (bleeper, shovel and probe) and know how to use it.

Conditions on the piste are going to be fantastic, so stay safe.

And Enjoy! 8)

lillie1967 wrote:think i will cancel and go for that beach holiday instead...

We won't have talk like that round here please... 8)

Have you tried e-Bay?

Failing that, you could come up trumps by waiting until you're out in resort - the ski shops all start sales right after Easter and you can often find great bargains as they clear out stock to make room for mountain bikes and hiking gear (or just to shut-up shop for the summer).

This is where the fickleness of ski fashion works in your favour - the ski shops know there will be different models / colours / designs next year and the longer they hang on to their stock, the less it's worth.

Combine that with all the snow that's falling... early April will be a great time to be on the slopes. Go for it. 8)

caron-a wrote:could you stick a bit of sun in there for me please admin? :D 8)

You should be so lucky...

Crikey! Look at the size of that precipitation spikey wiggly!

Please take it easy if you're driving up into the mountains tomorrow; chains will be required to reach many resorts - and it might be worth considering your own personal snow-plough... it is going to SNOW!

Tony_H wrote:Never been here before, but got the opportunity of a last minute deal going this Sunday.

You booked it yet? Just do it. Now.

St.Anton is a ski area everyone must do at least once, and many go back again and again. One of the great freeride areas on the planet - take a guide on your first time out off-piste.

Actually, with conditions as they are, you'll have great conditions on-piste much of next week!