J2Ski Forum Posts and Replies by Dorset Boy

I agree with Tony. I had a free ticket (thanks J2Ski!) and was shocked at the full price (£18 for a weekday ticket) :shock:

I worked on the Snow & Rock stand at a number of the Ski Shows in the 1990s, both at London and the NEC. Back then S&R took as much money at the London Show as any of their permanent shops took in a year. I was therefore shocked to see them not have a proper stand. There also wasn't the buzz or atmosphere I remember from those days, but then they only managed c.7,000 visitors a day this year.

I thought there was very little to buy, or grab my interest, and not having a 'big' slope with some action on it made for a pretty dull time.

I think the ice rink and the curling rink were good idea for those with kids.

By contrast, we went to the Cycle show at the NEC at the end of September. Again little to buy there, but some very interesting stands (if you're into bikes!), but they had a big BMX arena with some fantastic riding, a separate stunt area, a 'pump track' with pro riders, and then there were limited opportunities to test ride bikes. The Saturday was rounded off with a 'Crit Race' for the UK domestic pros which was good entertainment.

IIRC tickets were about £11 for an adult.

I'd go back to the Cycle Show, but wouldn't pay to go back to the Ski Show.

I think it depends on where you live. For us 45 min to Bournemouth and then into Geneva means we could be in a Grand massif or Portes de Soleil resort in between 6 and 7 hours from our door.

Train means 30 mins to the station, 2.5 hrs to Waterloo, time across London, then check-in etc, so probably barely in France in 7 hours.

We often fly out Friday instead and get the extra day that way, with a night in a cheapish hotel in resort on the Friday.

BTW, I ran two of tghe chalets in that first photo with my better half. They are superbly located!

If you want to stay in France and not have too far a drive from Perpignan, then try Les Angles - not a huge resort, but probably enough skiing to keep you occupied for 4 days.

Will you commute each day, or do you plan on staying in resort?

It's a long drive from Perp to Andorra!

Oh the days when Glen Plake used to shred a mogul field on 207s and downhillers were on anything up to about 225!

These days around 180s for me.

Have they invested a new helmet that stops the brain smashing the inside of the skull?
It's not the smash on the outside, it's the brain hitting the inside of the skull that will cause the fatality.

The helmet will prevent other injuries, but is unlikely to prevent the fatal one.

As old Andy says, this has been going on for 20+ years, with guides, sorry hosts, being arrested at regular intervals.

The key is the being paid bit.

However the ESF should have licenced hosts years ago, running a pre-season safety course, with refresher courses held annually for the more experienced. That way they make money from it, and ensure that a paid host understands their role and responsibilities properly, as well as knowing that the skiers who are too tight to pay for lessons aren't allowed to tag along with the hosts.

It's a simple solution that would work for all sides, IMHO, and I've said this ever since I worked in Meribel in the early 1990s.

Tony_H wrote:Is it true he would have made the olympic ski team, except he kept skiing down the wrong runs with those milk bottles on???????

Couldn't afford the lift pass and realized he didn't have to pay to use the ski jump. The rest is history.

As Barney says, all those who were vitriolic towards him should have had the balls to do what he did, or keep their traps shut. Next to none of them would have been big enough to jump off a 90m hill. :shock:

The man is a legend!