J2Ski Forum Posts and Replies by SwingBeep

The nearest ski hire shop to the Club Med hotel is Genzianella Sport next to the gondola lift, about half a mile away.

The locals here tell me that they haven't seen this much snow this early in the season since the 1950s http://www.slf.ch/schneeinfo/schneekarten/hsm/index_EN Even down here at 700m there is 30 – 40 cm and more is expected tomorrow and on Saturday.

I think a back protector with a coccyx protector is preferable, as if you fall face first the board can whip up and hit you in the middle of the back which is also very painful. Wearing gloves with wrist protectors is also a good idea.

Legally the piste ends 2m from the poles that mark its edge. It might be worth checking if you're covered for skiing itineraries with your insurance company, as although they are marked and protected from avalanches they are not prepared or patrolled and therefore present a higher risk.

If you are planning to ski off piste in the Alagna sector of the Monterosa ski area, be aware that it is in Piemonte where it's mandatory to carry an avalanche beacon, probe and shovel when skiing off piste. If you're caught without the fine is 250 euros and if you have an accident your insurance might be invalid.

The cost of search and rescue can be crippling. Every year there are few incidents for which people receive a bill for a five figure sum. There was a very unfortunate incident at Axamer Lizum last season, for which the bill came to 78,000 euros.

The tax is called "tassa di soggiorno" in Italian. It was abolished in 1991 but reintroduced by the central government last year. Each municipality is responsible for levying it and determining the rate, Sauze D'Oulx reintroduced it in July http://www.comune.sauzedoulx.to.it/doc/Delibera_istituzione_imposta_soggiorno.pdf
It doesn't apply to children under 12.

The relevant section is to be found on page 3 and begins:
Ricordato che Il Consiglio Regionale ha adottato, in attuazione dell'art. 12 del d.lgs. 114/1998 e dell'art. 9 della legge regionale 28/1999, la deliberazione n. 412-5585, avente ad oggetto i criteri per l'individuazione delle località turistiche ai fini degli orari delle attività commerciali

Crystal might not have known anything about it when they were preparing their brochure.

jcat wrote: my calves are 16"

This is probably the cause of the problem. Modern ski boots seem to be designed for 13" – 14" calves, skiers with larger calves are forced into a position that is to the rear of where they should be.

These articles should give you a better idea of what the problem is http://www.solutions4feet.co.uk/files/ankle_flex_article.pdf (see size matters) http://custom-bootfitting.southernski.com/balance-in-skiing-is-critical.html

The solution usually involves heating the plastic with a heat gun until it softens and flaring the cuff backwards using a special tool. A hair drier will have no effect as the plastic used in most ski boots doesn't begin to soften until 110 degrees centigrade.

This is a ladies boot, it might not have a spoiler. What is the circumference of your calves at the top of the boots?

Chamonix doesn't seem to have got as much snow as some other places did last week.



Chamonix Meteo is forecasting 30-50cm at 1500m on Tuesday; if that arrives conditions should be OK. If not you might have some explaining to do. In any case the Grand Montets will only be partially open and Les Houches will only be open at the weekend.

How flexible are you? The Monterosa ski area opened today and until the 25th of Dec you can ski for free http://www.lovevda.it/turismo/pacchetti_vacanza/sci_alpino_e.asp?tipo=scheda&pk=5875&nomesch=sch_paginagialla&ts=paginagialla