J2Ski Forum Posts and Replies by TC

I had the same problem with EB, took them back and got them replaced, but 3 pairs of boots later I don't feel any further forward so I am planning on seeking help from a boot fitter loaclly, just don't trust EB anymore as every time I went back the person I had seen before had left and someone new took over!

Tony_H wrote:I've been eyeing up Champlouc for a couple of years now, looks fantastic for confident intermediates as theres a lot of hard runs and off piste. However theres plenty of blues and reds that you ought to be fine with. Its a largish area with slow long lift connections from what I can make out, but I am sure you'll enjoy it. Make sure you comeback and write us a report!

Tony, from what I have read of your posts you are a competent skiier, then you would enjoy Champoluc without question, but as long as the snow is plantiful as that is when the area really comes alive as there is pleanty of off piste too.

The group I have been there with has a high "%" of boarders and they love it when the snow is good, though boring for them if not but the height and the snow record is pretty good, we were just very unlucky on the first trip there 4 years ago, I think, where it didn't snow anywhere for over a month but all the runs were open but icy and they managed to keep the whole area really well and skiiable.

Snow Secrets is your best bet for reasonable priced accommodation and as I mentioned in a previous post you can fill up on Pizza and all sorts at Pachamma's and not need buy any food in the evenings which I know a few guys that did that, as they just had a bed and breakfast deal.

Fed and in bed early ready for the first lift in the morning.

I've been twice and like you the first time was as an early intermediate. The area is challenging but very manageable as an early intermediate.

My first trip there was as an early intermediate, the snow cover was poor and very icy but managed fine just took my time down difficult parts.

The better skiing for me is over the Gressoney side, though you will look at a piste map and see it linked coming back by a black. Don't be fooled, apart from one fairly steep but short section, perfectly manageable and nothing wosre than a red in my opinion, probably black because of a narrow link but still don't see why it is a black.

Also the black that takes you all the way over to Alagna is very manageable, but ensure you head straight over there at the begining of the day, else you will be stuck there if you time things wrong and it is a 2 1/2 hr taxi ride back to Champoluc so you would end up staying there really (or so we were told anyway, didn't bother trying to find out went there straight away from first lift Champoluc side about 8:45am and lunching back in Gressoney by 1:30pm).

You can save time now anyway by getting a bus to a new funicular to the Frechey side, which will save about 45 mins to 1 hour skiing time, but the run down from the top of the Champoluc side is great, but easier than it used to be as there was a real tight "s" bend situation which was just chaos in the mornings, so they have blown away the rock and opened it all up.

Also a few nice runs at Antagnod, but not linked so 5 min bus ride and probably worth an afternoon there. It was a useful area to have as well as the lifts can be closed due to high winds from time to time, but you can ski up there usually so at least you are doing something.

Stayed in the Hotel de Champoluc on the 2nd trip, really easy for the first lift as you come out of a door at the bottom of the hotel where the boot room is and walk across to the first lift so I would say 100mtrs.

Coming down at the end of the day is mad because there is only 1 route down to the village and a tricky section that gets mogully by the end of the day, but once you have negotiated that it is a cruise all the way literally to the door of your hotel.

All the bars are really friendly and most of them lay on food to go with you hard earned tipple. Pachamamma's is the liveliest place for apres

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=43946898073

Don't think you will regret going I been twice and would go again without question.

CEM - Your post covers boot fitting perfectly in terms of an ongoing process, but I think the frustrating part when buying from a larger chain is the lack of consistency of perhaps being able to consult with the same person each time. With skiiers like myself, I go once maybe twice a year and want to enjoy my days there and having problems with the boots tarnishes the experience slightly, but obviously not enough to not enjoy the days and want to keep going back.

I am not nieve enough to expect rigid ski boots to be entirely comfortable on my feet 7 hours a day but some guidence to how tight they might feel, how tight they should be on the buckles etc. for the fit of my feet, level of skiing and conditions would help.

I think what you offer over the chain stores for boot fitting is the consistancy of speaking to the same person about the boots and your experiences of boots either yourself or consulting with many different levels of skiier that you fit boots for.

Having had 6 trips to a well know chain, seeing 6 diffrent boot fitters, and have had the boots replaced 3 times telling me they are the wrong ones for size and flex, got footbeds made, had then redone and then back a further couple of times trying to make the current pair more bareable, I'm still not there yet as the first hour or 2 of each day of this years trip was unbareable at times and time to consult someone like you, which is your point in your post.

Flew to Salzberg this year for 5 night trip to Flachau, great area.

£100 flight BA, transfer £40 return, £100 a night H/board & afternoon tea/cake 4star hotel with pool/spa, though you can adapt the hotel obviously!

Ski and lift passes are what they are!!!

If he's only 15 mins down the road, why on earth did you go to EB's

Spending some time at MK on the slope learning and recreational preactice it seemed logical to go to EB as they seemed to know what they were doing and then get help as required.

Basically, didn't know any better, but do now thanks to all the threads on here!!!

I'm on pair of boots number 3 after having them "properly" fitted at Ellis Brigham. first 2 pairs were too big, but when you are a novice you aren't sure what boots should feel like and seems as soon as you get to the resort, lower temperatures, everything is different with the boot.

I now have the right size, as in length of boot,but the rest of the fit seems wrong.

Having a correct fit for any sport footware is important and only experience/time lets you know what that feels like for you. The only thing I can relate it too is football boots and trainers after playing footy and running for many years you soon knew when trying new footware on what was right and what was not.

For me I think I will be contacting a certain J2skier to get mine looked at, as he is only 15 mins down the road, could be the best money I spend as the first hour of every day in my boots is a nightmare.

Bizarely, one of our group this year decided it was time he purchased some boots and what better place to do it, in a resort with people who have dealt with this sort of thing for years. All that happened for him was foot measurement, a quick check on fit and that was it, he has now worn them for 10 days skiing no problems!

So I'm more confused than ever!!!!

I should look at the piste MAP, no easy accesible, Easy Blues in Champoluc or Gressoney without doing some hard Reds first.

It is though a wonderful ski area and Champoluc is the better place, in my opinion, to stay having been there 2 times now.

Snow record in March is good as it is high and think they have had the area open to the end of April for the last few years no problem, though when there is no fresh snow it can be very icey.

Don't really need the ski bus, though there is one and there are many good places to stay in Champoluc.

Try Snow Secrets for accomodation as they specialise in Champoluc.