J2Ski Forum Posts and Replies by snowcrazy2005

Allg: Leashes for snowboards have been around for years. They seem to have gone out of fashion but I have always had one on my board. Long enough to be extended into a carrying strap if I need to do some hiking and do not want to put it on my back. As long as you have it adjusted correctly it is not a problem and does not get in the way when riding.

If they are going to help people stay safe from flying boards, not really a bad idea for everyone to use them.

A word of warning to those getting the 'ski a la carte card insurance'. Yes the card is great and should work even better this year, but the Carrie Neige season Insurance that goes with it has changed. They have fixed the loop hole from last season so now they say the Insurance is ONLY valid when you are using the Carrie Neige card as well so I am going back to the Carte Neige that works everywhere, not just the Ski a la carte places. Thought you all needed to know this one.

Just went on the webcams, it looks yuk up there today and yes very wet even up at the top of arpette lift. Please let it get cold again soon and stop raining and start snowing again.

Good news, Owner season lift passes are on line again now for Les Arcs, you can go to the Les Arcs page and buy your pass anytime. Even if you had a photo card before, you still need a new one for this season to download so have it ready. Oh well, at least you can get your pass now.

It does seem strange but for the public, you can only buy the discounted season pass on the Edenski web page through La Plagne, but it is good for both areas etc. This will now run until the end of November they say. A very good deal if you are doing 3 weeks or more in resort. If anyone has any more news about this pass please share it with us.

Ski a la carte passes are also available, gives good discount if you like to visit other places in the area.

Looks wet and snowy today, hope to see better tomorrow. Raining outside right now.

The CN costs about 2.50 Euros a day or 50 -60 Euros per year. If you have private health care like BUPA you should be ok with that and your EHIC card. Or if your credit card has insurance attached then again it should pick up the difference between the CN and EHIC cover. But you do need to check. These are all quite cheap options without doubling up on Insurance.

Just had a quick look at all the webcams, I know, very sad. It looks like the snow line is about down to 1000m today, but very wet. Just a little bit of snow settled on the street by George's Wine Bar up in Arc 1950. It is good having the webcam pointing straight at his place. Think we need a lot more before the 11th Dec. I am SURE we will be ok.

Thanks for the correction, I have edited my last post. I got confused with the names at the top of the post.

Swingbeeps, (thanks for the correction Ally) first may I thank you for finding those links, whilst I did say they were found by someone else, I did not use your name as I did not know if you would want me to on another forum. But thanks again, they had some very interesting stuff.

Ally
In response to your last post, in Les Arcs for the past two seasons they have 9 off piste nature ride areas just as you are talking about. Avalanche protected and partolled'ish. but great to take people to learn off piste without the risk as long as you only go there when open, In Tignes there is the Zone, plus a few other areas. In La palgne they now have the same in four areas and Val d'Isere are also starting to do the same thing this winter.

A good step forward for most skiers I think.

Many resorts also have, fast pistes, slow pistes and beginner pistes. Les Arcs has all of these.

Free avalanche training has been going for a while in Les Arcs at the avalanche park. As Les Arcs and the paradiski area built it's rep on off piste and extreme snowboarding back in the 80's, it is good to see them doing all this now.

As people here seem to take much more care over there replies and seem to understand a bit more about the subject, I thought I would share the following post with you that I have made on another forum and see what comments you have. I hope you find this interesting and worth your time.

From the legal prospective, here is the extract.

'What is interesting is that with the improvement of equipment design it is making it more possible for more people to go off piste. A fact that Insurance companies are starting to be concerned about. With an increasing number of people going off piste the number of accidents is also likely to increase. Until now, on piste collision has and I think will still be the highest risk, but that does not mean we should not consider how to make ourselves safer off piste. Thinking it will never happen to me is a grave mistake.

It has been confirmed by a friend in correspondence he has had with underwriters and brokers that some the Insurance companies are currently reviewing the wording of there policies in line with the changing number of people venturing off piste.

Henry's Avalanche company are now also taking a look at this change as they have evidence that in Val d'Isere some Insurance companies have started to refuse payment for rescues. A very worrying fact.

Going off piste without the whole group carrying the right kit is not safe. In my opinion it might be considered negligent and now some insurance companies might use it as grounds for not paying up.

Likewise not having a good knowledge of an area, yet going off piste there, could equally expose you to being refused compensation.

In French law: Article 121-3 du CODE PENAL which has now been modified a number of times. It is clear that you must not expose others to unnecessary risk as the leader of a party.

According to reports published under the title, 'responsibilities penale et activities sportive and touristic.' They have outlined a number of cases where such actions as going into areas which were deemed unsafe, the groups not having the correct equipment or the level of those not suitable to go somewhere has resulted in prosecutions. Serious concerns for anyone going off piste or even on difficult pistes with others less able than yourself where you could be seen 'as responsible' as the most experienced person present.

Some interesting points to consider when trying to stay safe on or off piste with others.