J2Ski Forum Posts and Replies by nicoatridge

Thx, can't wait to get up there! Probably at Xmas.

The new lift and run at Mürren sound good. Have you seen a new piste map yet of the resort for this winter?

You have two challenges early January - it is cold at high altitude so resorts like Saas-Fee and Zermatt can be pretty bleak, and often there can be a shortage of good snow, despite the cold. Wengen and Adelboden are both fabulous resorts, but the apres ski is subdued (although if you go to Adelboden during the FIS World Cup, the resort is hopping and only a couple of slopes are affected by the slalom runs - similarly Wengen for the Lauberhorn downhill). More lively throughout the season are Verbier, Flims and Davos, and they invariably have snow on account of having glaciers but also have some nice sheltered lower slopes. Andermatt is probably the best place to be sure of good snow.

Mt Fort definitely scary. Tortin, whilst we are there, is long, steep and usually icy. The Grand Couloir at Courchavel had me nearly pooping myself. The Swiss Wall is scary just because of its reputation, although a necessary rite of passage. An obscure resort called Stoos in Switzerland has a ridiculously wonderful views and, off the Klingenstock, some really steep pistes and safe, lift-accessible but steep off-piste. The red run is definitely the steepest red I know of (http://www.swisswintersports.co.uk/stoos.php).

bandit wrote: Yes, our Co-Prop meeting minutes issued last week, give details of several apartment blocks in the planning stage, which will coincide with the building of the new link between Grimentz and Zinal.

Do you know whether they plan to have the link open for 2010/2011 season? In some ways it's ahame to see Val D'Annivers open up to more skiers, but it is a bit special.

Geneva is a poor base for skiing. Zurich is much better, but both airports are connected to rail stations so I suggest you fly in to either then take a train to a better ski base. It is also feasible to take the train all the way from London to Zurich with a change in Paris. The train system in Switzerland is fantastic (as are the post buses). If you want to ski lots of different ski areas using public transport, Lausanne, Sion, Serre, Chur and Interlaken make good bases. For beginners Wengen, Grindelwald, Arosa or Flims are good choices of places to stay which you can get to by train. Flims is also probably the best resort for boarders. For experienced skiers Engelberg, Les Diablerets, Champery, Murren, Andermatt, Davos, Klosters and St Moritz are easily accessible by train. Zermatt is possibly the best all round ski resort in the world and is also on a rail line. If you want to hire a car, definitely think of staying in the Rhone valley to savour Nandez, Val D'Annivers, Saas-Fee, Villars, Leukerbad and Crans-Montana (although you can also get to these resorts by post bus from the valley). Flims, Zermatt, Verbier and Engelberg have good apres ski as well as good skiing and snowboarding. Visit www.myswitzerland.com and http://railaway.rail.ch/snow-n-rail/ for more.

Probably OK even for a complete beginner, but contact the school there - details at http://www.ecole-suisse-de-ski-villars.ch/ or + 41 24 495 22 10 or info@ess-villars.ch.

peterk11 wrote:Can any body tell me if i am better off getting my euro's while i am there ?

Thanks

Peter

Resort exchange rates can be poor. Shop around before you go, UK airport rates are usually pretty good and often you can change back your spare Euros for Sterling when you get back at no additional charge.