J2Ski Forum Posts and Replies by OldAndy

Hello Momof3
Such a huge question - where to start.
Well skiing is wonderful! Mind you not for everyone.
What ages are the under 9's?

Driving from Paris - most of the French Alps is easily reachable but queues can be really bad on change over day around the end of the Autoroute and then on the final climb up to resort. You'd need to make sure you have snow chains in the car and know how to use them.
TGV - simple, quick, probably no more cost than driving - but got to manage luggage for 5 with only 4 hands!
Christmas is the start of the season and so you would need to choose a resort reasonably high - say 1500m plus.
I would suggest a compact resort as you don't want the added problems of a bus with three kids in tow. So; accommodation sensibly near the ski school meeting point.
And as total novices you will be looking at ski school I am sure.
Self catering is an option but I would suggest not totally independent on bookings. Having a resort rep floating around could be hugely helpful to get you going otherwise you will be spending all your time finding ski school and booking and then lift passes and then skis and boots......
A managed chalet hotel could be a good option - sensibly chosen this won't be more than self catering probably and would have advantages of other people on hand to help and offer advice - also bound to be other kids floating around to help get rid of excess energy. Because the parents will be exhausted and the children totally "wired" at the end of the day, begging to go tobogganing etc when what you want is a soak in the bath and a drink :)
This is enough to get you started - do come back with more questions.
But; don't leave it too long, Christmas does get booked up early.

Done......

Now DaveMac - I think with this next trip there will be serious questions asked as to your existence if you duck out of skiing with us, somewhere!
We have a cunning plan at the embryonic stage.
As this is a two week trip to Kaprun; you come to us one week and we return the favour on the other and check out Niederau with your guidance.
:D
I'm sure we can organise transport from Kaprun - you may even know a likely "man with a van".
It would be fun.
:thumbup:

You can't come this next trip anyway Bedrock - you are down for the 10th anniversary trip in 2023 !!!

Dave Mac wrote: do I wait another season for you to get closer???

I should move if I were you Dave.....

By the way - 277 sleeps to the first week :)

J2Ski wrote:Please note that this trip is not organized by J2Ski (we leave that to the experts!). If you are interested in joining this group, please reply here or contact the organizer - OldAndy - by Private Message.

Trips! says the title of this thread.
The annual, traditional J2Ski Holiday (other ski trips are available) has changed.
Our informal group of people who came together first in 2013 and gone skiing/boarding together every year since has changed a bit this year. Numbers have grown to the level that it became impossible to find somewhere sensible to meet everyone's needs and so there are basically three trips in 2017.
Some of the old group have decided to organise something separate and I have been told that they plan to put that up on J2Ski for other likely people who may find the holiday of interest.

Next season we have chosen the Austrian resort of Kaprun - staying in the Hotel Tauernhof (http://www.tauernhof-kaprun.at/hotel-kaprun-austria.html).

Just to confuse things there are two dates.
Saturday January 21st and Saturday January 28th with a few lucky souls going for both weeks.
We couldn't agree on a week and so going for two was the obvious solution!

This looks a really decent hotel and not a bad price - so a medium range ski/board trip and possibly a little more upmarket than in the past. Pricing is complex depending on flights and travel, weeks and rooms etc but between £900 to £1000 for Flights, HB in the hotel and area lift pass.

If you are interested then probably easiest to get in touch with me by PM in the first place and we can discuss things.

Sadly, one of the group already has his count down sleeps to skiing clock going and has bookmarked the relevant webcams, sorry :(

OldAndy

To Ranchero on ski choice.
I have skied the Cham 87 a couple of times and the Cham 97. Nothing wrong with them but I think quite heavy and they feel a bit dead compared with others such as Scott Mission, Movement Jam, BBR 9.0

Laurent, the shop owner, recommended the Rev 90 and I found them really good in the mixed and varied conditions we had.
The Sin 7 was a great ski, very light and lively. Had these for only one day as they were booked out next day and the shop only had one pair in my size. I would have liked to have tried these in different conditions, particularly on hard icy (spring type) stuff. The reason I wanted to ski these is I have been fascinated by the Soul 7 but never tried them. Thought these would be an interesting option as a bit narrower and more in line with the mainly piste skiing I do with a few forays off piste.