J2Ski Forum Posts and Replies by Gaz C

Tony_H wrote:
I don't like seeing "scruffy" skiers

I like seeing 'scruffy' skiers, who have opted to spend their 'coin' on developing their technique, 'kick the butts' of fashion victims and 'allthegearbutnoidea merchants' when the going gets a little bit tough. -)

I think that organising group lessons over a weekend might be a bit of a struggle but there's no harm in making enquiries. I suspect that private lessons may be the way to go. On face value they are more expensive. They are also more intensive, so you definitely don't need all-day private lessons. Just remember to continue to put the techniques you were taught into practice after the lesson is over. -)

As for recommending a ski-school, you could do a lot worse than these guys:

http://www.britishskischool.com/val_d_isere/courses/

My experience of British instructors is that they are as good as the locals and, what's more, there are no problems with the nuances of the language when trying to put across any technical points.

Prices are on the web-site. You might like to compare them with, say, Oxygene or ESF to see if you think they offer value for money. You'll probably be 'pottering' about on the green and quite possibly the blue runs, but 'hey' it's a start :) (and a great feeling) :) . I'm sure you'll have great fun. As Wanderer says, 'Just relax and enjoy it.' It is supposed to be a holiday after all. -)

Innsbrucker wrote:

I am representing the French cultural attaché to try and teach the Austrians some manners ….

The ones who jump in front at lift queues in Austria normally seem to be German... (the accent is different) and most Austrians find it rude. The numberplates in the car park tell that often Germans outnumber Austrians on the piste.

Last time it happened to me I had a shouting match with the guys who grabbed the Gondola in front and accused them of being "typically German". Then felt bad because there was a lovely, friendly German couple in my gondola.

Speaking of racial stereotypes the Austrian bar owners etc usually rather like the British, on the basis we are more easy-going than a lot of their German guests, who are careful to maximise what they get for their money.

This seems to tally with my experience. The only time I've had to get 'shirty' while skiing anywhere involved some German guys who seemed to think it was OK to keep the rest of the queue for the Hahnenkamm gondola waiting while some of their mates pushed through from the back to share a car with them. Let's just say 'It didn't happen.' -)

The one who didn't end up on his @rse shared a car with me and my mate. The atmosphere in there was 'frosty' to say the least. :lol:

NIIIXSY wrote:Anyone know how long it takes on the long lifts from San sicario to montgeneve I've just looked up piste map and looks like a lot of lifts! Would we be better driving to it ??

Can't remember how long it took , but it was quite a long time and a bit of a 'ball-ache' to ski to Montgenevre from Sauze d'Oulx. Sansicario is the first staging post so it would take a little less time. I still think you'd be better off taking the bus (or driving) to Claviere/Montgenevre so that you can spend all day skiing that area. The problem with skiing there, besides all the 'faffing' with the lifts, is the danger of having to start thinking off setting off back almost as soon as you get there.

I personally think it's better to treat Sauze/Sestriere/Sansicario and Claviere/Montgenevre as two separate areas. There is some nice skiing to be had in Claviere/Montgenevre and it's well worth making the effort to get over there. :thumbup:

Result! :thumbup:

Nice pics! Is the rider of the ski-bike in a pile of arms and legs just out of frame? ;-)

Snapzzz wrote:

Gaz C wrote:

Snapzzz wrote: the slopes are to short to get a decent run to really perfect your parallel turns.

:?:

Sorry bad choice of words. Of course the length of run has no bearing on how you turn. I simply meant its frustrating that one you have made a few turns the run is over.

Yes, I understand your frustration over the shortness of the indoor runs. Skiing in a 'fridge' is never going to be as much fun as the real thing. However, the standard of tuition can be excellent, (no language problems for a start) and practising as many short radius turns as you can fit in on the length of an indoor run is just one of many exercises we could do to improve technique and rely less on brute strength.

I know where you are coming from with the 'Save your money...'. I'm in the same boat as you with a family trip to finance as well as my own 'jolly' ('jollies' if I'm very lucky -) ) and I always feel that I ought to put the money I spend at ChillFactore into the holiday fund. The OP may have different circumstances and have no problem justifying the outlay.

The Dolomites! :thumbup: There's loads of info on this area in the Skiing in Italy section.