J2Ski Forum Posts and Replies by Max Cottle

So I was looking through some skiing articles on the web and they said that In Austra and Switzerland there are BLue (begginer) Red (Intermediate) Black (difficult / advanced) and ORANGE?? (Expert / Extreme).

Now I have skied many European resorts mostly in Austria but have never come accross an Orange Piste (although I would very much like to).

Does anyone know of these illusive Orange pistes where they are etc?

Thanks

Max

I think that you should judge a child on a case by case basis. a small frail 3 year old may struggle but a large strong 3 year ol is likely to be strong enough. If you are unsure put them in for a half day.

The instructures make a huge amount of difference the Austrians are typically very good, the french not so.

I think that it is also hugely important for you to spend some time there watching and supporting your child inititally don't just drop them off. Spend time asking the instructor questions and showin interest. the parents that get involved initially generally have the instructors take more time with them.

chose your school carefully classes that are too big and many different instructors are not good for a young child.

I always talk to my children about the instructors and the class and typically if they don't know the instructors name (amongst other things), I know that they are not spending enough time with them and I will spend more time making sure that things are good down there.

Skiing should be a fun experience for kids if it is not then I will whip them out as fast as you like and put them in another class or spend the time with them myself.

So I am looking for good resorts for Advanced skiers in Europe. prefferably well linked resorts with good challenging runs. Has anyone got any good Ideas?

Cheers

Max

I agree that it depends on the Child but our older 2 kids both started when they were 3 and they loved it.

We started them in Austria because the ski instructors are much better with kids there then France. The majority of them are english speaking as well and far more patient with the children.

A concern though for very young children is the strenght of their little legs.

Also are they able to take instruction.

If you pick the right ski school and are prepared to spend some time settling them in then I would say get them started as young as possible.

Cheers

Max

Hi there.

Take a look at Mayrhofen, hintertux, eggalm, lannersbach, vorder lannersbach that sort of area, you would fly in to innsbruck, a super zillertal pass covers the whole area, I have been there about 8 times really good and Hintertux is a Glacier so if there is no snow at the other areas then you'll still have good skiing there. accomodation is cheap and there is plenty to do there.

Hope this helps

Cheers

Max

The ice is caused by warm temps not snowboarders. Typically the groomer will push an inch or so of snow over the icey patches where it won't stay for long, snowboarders or not.

Hi Trencher, Yes of course Ice is caused by the changing temperature typically the sun will move around the mountain leaving one side in shade and one side sunny. If many boarders have been shaving the snow off a certain patch then when the sun moves on this pach will ice up. The Piste Bashers are maybe not as active in my experience as they have been for you, they typically come out late at night sometimes in the day at some resorts.

Do I have a major problem with it? no, It's not my mountain and to be honest every skier should know / learn to deal with a bit of ice, but It is one of my pet gripes, if you'll allow me that.

I agree that skiing in control also means allowing for unexpected stops and movements by anyone below but we were talking about other people not being in control and their lack of etiquette through inexperience and I would say that controlled skiing /does have a great deal to do with how good a skier you are especially on a harder piste.

My point about the skier / boarder development ratio is that whils I'll accept that it my be easier to learn skiing than boarding I think you must accept that you will progress quicker boarding than you will skiing Boarding Hard to learn easy to master - Skiing easy to learn harder to master. My point is that for a skier to get to the level of a boarder they would typically have to put more hours in on the mountain and as for them being kids an learning things easier, well that was the point I was trying to make in my earlier post.

I myself don't impose any risk on others. I have been skiing since I was 7 and do so very compitently. I suggested that people be aware of the risks and wear helmets etc because you have no control over the person who skis / boards in to you or clobbers you with a pole.

Skiing is far more accessible these days than it was when I started skiing many years ago this is why we see so many more begginers and crowded pistes.

Many people take lessons from their friends rather than instructors as well which again speaks to why people don't know the piste etiquette.

You can't protect other people but you can protect yourself.

Cheers

Max

This is my point, it isn't practical to ban begginers, begginers are probably more important o a resort than the experienced skiers. The only way for begginers to learn etiquette is by wathing learning and gaining experience.

in my humble opinion anyway

Hmmmm, Just to stick my oar in.

It is typically harder to learn to SKi than it is to learn to Board.

Typically a less experienced boarder can try more challenging runs then skiers of equal experience.

Typically Learner boarders are younger than learner skiers

Put all of that together and you can see that begginerish boarders usually have less mountain experience (to get to the level that they are ) than their skiing counterparts because it is quicker to master the board than the skis, The boarders are younger and so typically more aggressive or reckless. THis makes for great fun for the boarder but a possible dangerous situation for anyone nearby.

It is'nt always the Boarders though. I have seen some propper Numptys on skis out of control shifting down the m ountain poles waving and all sorts but most of the time when any of us have been taken out it has been by a boarder.

This is not Ideal, it is the nature of the game, Begginers learn etiquette by being taught by their peers and being screamed at by their victims. Unless we ban begginers or make them take a competency test before they are allowed on the mountain, this will always be the case. All we can do really is protect ourselves, wear a helmet and whatever else you deem necessary it only takes one good bash for a helmet to pay for itself.

SKiers boarders, are not the problem, the problem is inexperienced skiers/boarders with no ski etiquette.

All though I do have one gripe about boarders. Far too many of them try pistes that are far too advanced for them and when they get to a part that they can't cope with they will slide down on an edge and shave all of the snow off. Now this isn't too bad if there is lots of snow but when there isn't what happens is they shave the snow off that area ices up and I come skiing down the mountain, minding my own business and hit this vast sheet of Ice. Well it makes for good entertainment anyway lol I slide well