J2Ski Forum Posts and Replies by jonG

:Dhi completenovice :D
all i can do is just compound the advice you already have been given,be fit,relax,dont look at the tips of you're skis when on the move,also in the event of a tumble try to fall up the slope as it is less distance to fall and also to push yourself up,and do not put your're hands through the wriststraps on the poles to start with as the natural instinct is to put you're hands out to break the fall but if when your're hands hit the snow palms down with the poles still under them it is possible to dislocate the thumb. :D
jon.
p.s- one other thing,throw away any beach towels you own as after a weeks skiing you will not want to sit on a beach again :D

:Dhi silver,
for the last 14years( does this make me sound tight?)i have been using a berghaus polartec(200) fleece which has a goretex windstopper lining,the only thing i wear underneath is a thin long sleeved roll neck top.Even in temperatures as low as minus 26(whilst stuck on the Toviere chairlift between Val & Tignes some years back) it was still comfortably warm despite its relative thinness compared to thicker jackets.As long as it has regular washing with pure soap flakes it still performs and looks like new,mind you i have had it so long i think it will soon be shortly back i fashion,the only downside is that in blizzards the snow sticks to it like s*** to a blanket and i end up looking like a snowman. :Dits even dry on rainy days to.
jon.

:Dhi welcome,
i agree with freezywater about Austria or switzerland for chocolate box charm,any tour operator over xmas will charge a premium,but if you look in the ads section in the Daily Mail Ski & Snowboard Magazine you find plenty of privately owned accommadation (apartments & chalets)which may offer abetter price,also or catered accommadation Ski Miquel is hard to beat,and all thier chefs are fully qualified.

Many regards and hope you have a enjoyable,safe first trip in feb although in 18 years i dont think i have ever met anyone who has been skiing for the first time and was not hooked after the week.
jon.

:Dhi,i feel your other half may have missed the boat for this season (unless he takes an instructor course over the year on european glaciers,or goes to New Zealand in the summer) a lot of courses once the basic elements have been passed will then require a length of time (so many teaching hours) as a probationer before being given full instructor status.Also to teach in france the final element is to race a preset slalom course within a certain time set down by a race qualified instructor.

For more info about becomming an instructor you could try conacting B.A.S.I (British Association of Snowsports Instructors ,or I.S.I.A (International Ski Instructors Association).

As for your other halfs miraculous skiing advancement the only thing i can think of is to loosen his bindings :D
many regards
jon.

:Dhi,sorry got my wires crossed the lift pass you will require is the Les ArcsPeisey-Vallandry pass 198.00euros for ages 14 -64,and 148.50 for ages 6 -13 and 65 -71years.
many regards again
jon.

hi,
with regards to getting to La Plagne from Les Arcs now the cable car is out of action i remaber someone saying that there is and off piste route down into the valley between the two near Peisey and from there you can catch a bus to La Plagne( but have never done this myself so i would advise asking at the lift pass office or touriste office in Les arcs 1800 (located near the bottom of the Transarc telecabine),also as the cable car is out of action you will only require a Paradiski Decouverte ski apss (211 euros for ages between 14 -64 years and 178 euros for ages 65 -71)this will cover you for Les Arcs 1600,1800,1950,2000, from 2000 down to Le Pre,and vallandry and Peisey-vallandry,if you do decide to go to La Plagne you can just purchase a full day or a half day pass when you get there.

If you do not want to go to the lift pass office you can purchase you lift passes online om the les arcs website www.lesarcs.com and they will be sent to your home address ( but this will leave you at the mercy of the british postal service).

For good places to eat out there is L'Ancolie near Vallandry (booking advisable),the restaurant/bar La Ferme in Le Pre at the very bottom of the Auguille Rouge from arc 2000,also Onre's which is also owned by the same family as La Ferme is situated halfway down to Le Pre aswell,and down in bourg-saint-maurice i can reccommend the Hostellerie du Petite Saint Bernard,Le Refuge alt810 and La Savoyard(the Petite st Bernard and Le Refuge should be booked in advance also).While out skiing if you are a bit peckish and fancy refuelling and are on the les arc 2000 side there is a small restaurant hut by the side of the main piste whhich serves excellent quiches,flans,tartes etc for next to nothing.

i hope some of this is usefull also and hope i have not waffled :D
many regards
jon.

:Dhi,from grenoble airport you can take a taxi/transfer bu to grenoble train station and then the train to bourg-saint-maurice train/bus station then a bus up to les arcs 1800,or fr the train station in BSM then walk to the funicular which will then take you up to les arcs 1600,at the top of the funicular all the free ski buses which run between arcs 1600,1800,1950 and 2000 are situated about 30 yards to the left.Also if you go to the grenoble airport website home page,on the left hand side you will see Access,Parking,Transfers use this to select the menu for on demand transfers,you will then be given a list of transfer companies which operate from grenoble airport (a return ticket is around 68 euros per person from memory,but you should check),the last alternative would be to hire a car from grenoble airport ( the car hire centre is dircetly outside the terminal) through someone like Autoeurope -0800 169 9797 ,www.auto-europe.co.uk you can hire a car from about £100 - £135 per week + fuel + tolls( this also gives you the advantage of skiing other resorts inhe area aswell.
Hope this is of some use and wish you all the best for your trip
jon.

:Dhi,i can whole heartedly reccommend les arcs,it has one of the most underated ski areas in europe,most skiers do not give it a second thought as they are skiing the so caled trendy mega resorts.But while the likes of val and tignes up the road may be larger,les arcs has runs and off piste to match them,also as the other resorts can get over crowded at certain times of the day (some dangerously so) the les arcs area remains crowd free for most of the time,although as with most resorts in france Feb can be busier due to school holidays.
Also in its favour are the resorts of La Rosiere,Ste.Foy whci are a short drive away,also along with the restaurant Le Ferme in Le Pre,Auberge le Perce Neige in Viclaire,L'Ancolie near vallandry and several restaurants in Bourg-Saint-Maurice you have some of the best places to eat in the alps.
A good run is the Aiguille Rouge all the way down to Le Pre,you can stop off half way down for lunch at Onre's and then ski all the way down to le Pre for a glass or two of Mutzig in Le Ferme,Michelles wife is an excellent cook also(bookings for evening meals usually required).
many regards
jonG.