J2Ski Forum Posts and Replies by verbier_ski_bum

5 more sleeps to go, all my ski gear is already in resort, only need to pack my weekend bag. And it is forecast to snow from Tuesday till Sunday. Finally the summer seems to be over. I can't wait.

It's suppose to start snowing on Monday. And freezing level will drop little bit by mid-week. It's too warm at the moment.

I've had it happened twice. My right foot is half-size smaller, so I do have some room there. I've started wearing protective cap on my big toe and it seems to work. I also wear thicker socks in spring mashed potatoes snow.

My skis are 163-175, and I am 5'6". I also have 156 cravers but they don't see much snow.

Not hard enough so probably they were not serious about it. But if they are this time it's pretty easy to implement and I am sure they will do it. Lets see. But it won't change much for general public - someone will provide the guiding for those wanting it - so I don't think it really matters.

Well you might have to pass up on ski hosting then and explore resorts yourself (this is what many people do anyway). If the law becomes more tight I doubt operators will continue doing it the old way - there are ways to enforce rules and stricter rules will be enforced. I have seen people being guided by ski school instructors and they didn't look particularly unhappy about it or dissatisfied. And I think majority of visitors won't even notice the change or bother about it too much. In any case "local ski instructor" is a vague concept as instructors come from many parts of Europe and they speak English too.

OldAndy wrote:

andyoneil wrote:OldAndy - sorry if this thread of yours got hijacked down a track that you described as "interesting" :oops:

But I think we're all in agreement that the ESF seem to want to be having their cake and eat it!

No probs - been interesting.

And I think ESF want a full 3 courser with choice of wines, coffee and a digestif...
All for 10 euros!!

Don't we all? :) It seems that people wanting "everything included" fall in the same category.

This is actually ESF job and they are taught and employed to do it.

OldAndy wrote:I disagree with a ban on ski hosting.
Ski hosting is essentially very different from guiding and instruction. It is about companionship and taking advantage of someones knowledge of where the best snow is this week and this time of day and not getting lost or spending ages looking for the correct run.
I am in favour of the general only on the piste rules that seem to be being used now.
But, as an often solo skier, ski hosting is a great way to up my enjoyment of a week on the snow.
In my experience the hosts have been competent skiers, often qualified instructors with BASI and skilled at looking after a group of skiers (not losing too many). I know there will be low quality - unprofessional hosts out there, probably quite a lot, but this doesn't mean all should be banned.
As I said earlier I would love to see some statisitcs on number of accidents per hour of skiing in comparison with ski instructors.
Plenty of dodgy instructors out there - including the one I found at the bottom of the piste chatting to a liftie after I had rescued two of her class of kids who had got totally stuck up the piste and out of sight of the instructor. She hadn't even started to walk back - at least she had noticed some of her group were missing.
I do not think you can blanket...
Ski Host = unprofessional, un qualified
Ski Instructor = professional (presumably they are qualified!!)

By "ban" I mean a ban on ski hosting done by unqualified personnel. I don't think you (or any guest) will have objections if your host will be a ski instructor attached to one of the schools rather than a TO's employee and many will probably prefer it that way and some will definitely benefit from it. I am not sure authorities will be satisfied if the host hold BASI diploma, their status should be better defined. Instructors teaching in the resort WILL know where the best snow can be found (actually any liftie/partoller if approached with this question will be happy to advise too), they will also be able to help you to get there. And you can just as well meet others irrespective of who is guiding - your chalet girl/guy or a girl/guy working for ESS/ESF or any other school. Why people prefer everything to be done for them by chalet personnel is beyond me.

Sleeps till ski time Started by User in Ski Chatter, 2661 Replies
5 more sleeps to go, all my ski gear is already in resort, only need to pack my weekend bag. And it is forecast to snow from Tuesday till Sunday. Finally the summer seems to be over. I can't wait.

Snow ......... Started by User in Ski Chatter, 160 Replies
It's suppose to start snowing on Monday. And freezing level will drop little bit by mid-week. It's too warm at the moment.

Black toenails Started by User in Ski Technique, 48 Replies
I've had it happened twice. My right foot is half-size smaller, so I do have some room there. I've started wearing protective cap on my big toe and it seems to work. I also wear thicker socks in spring mashed potatoes snow.

What size skis do you use? Started by User in Ski Chatter, 33 Replies
My skis are 163-175, and I am 5'6". I also have 156 cravers but they don't see much snow.

Who offers ski hosting? Started by User in Ski Chatter, 70 Replies
Not hard enough so probably they were not serious about it. But if they are this time it's pretty easy to implement and I am sure they will do it. Lets see. But it won't change much for general public - someone will provide the guiding for those wanting it - so I don't think it really matters.

Messages posted by : verbier_ski_bum