J2Ski Forum Posts and Replies by Hudman

For the last 7 years or so I have been skiing in France, in January. Once very early (ie over New Year....never again..hangover was just too bad!) but normally the last week.

Weather has varied from very cold to unseasonably warm but I have always (with the exception of a few icy patches) had brilliant snow conditions.

If your friends are good skiers then the amount of skiing available to them and the snow conditions should probably outweigh the desire to sit in a deckchair outside a cafe and get a tan!!

If expense is not too much of an issue, go somewhere big (3VL, Paradiski, PDS or Chamonix valley etc) and get the miles under your bases!

Already looking forward to Les Coches on the 23rd Jan!!!

This all seems a bit strange as there was an Irish Bar, with a micro-brewery, in Les Gets when I was there mountain-biking in 2009?!

I can't remember what it was called but it was right on the "main" street and was a brilliant place to calm the nerves after a day of eye poppingly scary downhill runs or just to sit and watch the injuries walk by!

Cheers All!

Shame your Monsters are too short, Bandit!

I tend to ski with a DIN just below 7 which seems to work although they did fall off when I landed a big jump in a park in Meribel recently. May however had something to do with my landing though!

Tony, where do you normally look for last seasons skis? I know Google should be my first port of call but are there an online/in store retailers people would recommend?

Ok, so it's admission time!


I've been skiing for about 6 years and can probably ski most pisted runs, although not necessarily with much style, and am pretty confident off-piste if guided and if the snow conditions are good.

I've been hiring skis every season so far having used at least one incarnation of the Saloman Tornado, Scott Aztec Pros and this year Head Monster IM78s which I loved.

I'm looking to buy my first pair of skis ready for next season and can probably have a stab at what kind of ski I want for the type of skiing I enjoy but I have no clue about what to look for in bindings!

It's probably because I can understand talk of radius and underfoot width etc etc and relate it to skis I have used but what defines a "good" set of bindings? If the boot stays on when I'm skiing and comes off when I fall over isn't that enough! I imagine not but I would be grateful if the more expenienced of you could enlighten me!

If it makes a difference I'm 183cm tall about 85kg with size 11 plates of meat, and tend to ski a 177 - 180 depending on the model.

Oh, and if anyone has a pair of Head Monster Im78s for sale, I'm in!

Paul

Good Snow?

Good Shops?

Miles of skiing?

It's not Austria but sounds like Chamonix to me!!

I shouldn't worry too much. We'll be in Meribel next week and although I agree the long range forcasts look a bit overcast we're unlikely to see no sun all week!

The upshot is that there will be a nice fresh dusting of snow and the skiing will be brilliant, which is why we're going isn't it!

The only thing that can spoil the 3VL is if the wind picks up and the links between the valleys start closing. If this happens or is at risk of happening you either have to just stay in your valley or worry all the time when you're in Courcheval or VT that the lifts might close and strand you!

Anyway, you'll have a brilliant time, just might not need the sunglasses!

Hi Glynn,

I would recommend Parallel lines school based in Meribel itself. I know you're going to be in mottaret but as you're all intermediates a quick warm up run done Truite (green) to get you to the Chaudanne shouldn't be a problem.

As I've said on here before one of the senior instructors is an old friend of my fiancee so I am not entirely unbiased however I have heard very good things from other people who have used their company as well as skiing quite a bit with him last year.

For prices and stuff their website is www.parallel-lines.com

Of the other British run schools I have used New Gen ski before but in Peisy-Vallandry rather than Meribel. They were also very good with excellent instructors, I would assume you would get the same level of service in Meribel.

Booking wise, you are probably wise to pre-book if you want the same instructor for the whole week or for very busy weeks (shouldn't be too bad in March). The bonus of booking with a British company is normally that they will give prices in sterling so you know the price won't change between now and a couple of months time.

The Brit schools are more expensive than ESF across the board however in my experience you often get a higher level of service and all instructors will be english speakers.

Lift pass wise, are you staying in a chalet/hotel or DIY'ing. If the former you should be able to pre-book the passes to be waiting in your accommodation for when you arrive. It doesn't save you any money but it does mean you don't have to buy a pass on day 1 of skiing.

Whatever you do, have fun. I'll be in Mottaret in 18 days time and can't wait!

Meribel is a fantastic resort, brilliant for access to all of the 3VL and a really good apres atmosphere!

I would second the recommendations for runs off the Platieres lift (both into Meribel and Courchevel valleys) and also the Mont Vallon runs.

Also Jerusalem is a fantastic run down towards St Martin which never seems to be too busy and can be skied very fast if that's your thing!

Food wise, Zig Zag in Mottaret is good and cheap for France, there is also a little creperie in Courchevel 1550 which is brilliant value for money however only probably worth it if you're in 1850, starving and not flash enough for the 1850 price tag.

The bar straight ahead with green chairs when you ski into the Courchevel 1850 lift stations is best avoided. I asked my wife to be to marry me on a little bit of off piste above and then thought we should go to the nearest bar for a celibratory vin chaud.......24 EUROS later (for 2) I thought it may have been a step too far, (the wine, not the proposal!)

I don't know if you've sorted ski hire yet but I can't recommend Freeride enough. Slightly more expensive than some places but the level of service and the quality of kit was excellent last year. I only need skis but I had a brand new pair of Scott Aztec Pros to play with all week for about 100 euros.

Also if you've already booked lessons it's probably not helpful but I have had very good reviews from friends in our party of Parallel lines ski school. I am slightly biased as I know one of the owners but know him to be very professional and (annoyingly) a much better skiier than I will ever be!

Finally, when are you out there? I'll be around with some mates from the 23rd Jan for a week and absolutely can't wait!!

Paul