J2Ski Forum Posts and Replies by Zwee

As we are now tied to Half-Term and wanted hotel rather than self-catering accomodation, we are on a DIY trip back to La Massana/Pal in Andorra.
Despite the lack of snow, this was one of our most enjoyable holidays from a sociable and ski-tuition pov (Ellmau being the other) - our trips to small French resorts have been poor on both of these.

Having managed to book flights, accomodation, transfers and equipment I am struggling to find a way of booking the lift pass and private tuition - the main Vallnord website has lots of info but no direct booking system for either of these. I have done plenty of googling but can't find anyway of contacting the school or lift company other than phone numbers - I speak no spanish or catalan.

Does anyone know of a way to book these?

Cheers,
Zwee

Tignes - 10 in our party and yes I was packing MY bags (I'm not packing anyone elses this trip) - well trying to find everything that I supposedly put away in one place, but somethings have definitely gone walkabout.

Well I'm just bumping this up coz i'm too excited to not tell anyone - TWO :)

AllyG, have a great time - looks like you will have better conditions than you did last year! I believe the hot tub is also working again now. I'm not going until Nov 18 (27 sleeps I think)- hoping that there will be some more runs open then.

Also met Emily Sarsfield whilst we were there - an Olympic hopeful recovering from a knee injury and finding her ski legs again.

Well as you know plenty of snow fell last week - we were soooo lucky - the groups before us could only sit and watch the snow falling as the mountain was shut for 3 days due to high winds but finally opened at 1:30pm on the Thursday. This led us to a late transfer from Geneva to resort as some experienced sliders left their inexperienced "mates" to ski down on their own, they struggled and obviously the transfer bus had had to wait for them!

Our first morning the 3 of us felt a bit nervous but particularly our 1 week only friend. We asked advice on the best runs for her and, after a sharp intake of breath, it was suggested that we should go down the chair lift on the left after coming out of the Furnicular and then up a drag lift. Trouble is we couldn't work out how to get down the chair lift :roll: - it seemed to be chained off - so after chatting to some folks from chalet we decided the only way was up!

First part of the red run was fine and she (& we) were fine but then it suddenly got steeper and lumpier - she lost count of the number of time she fell over (at least it was soft!) and after a hideous experience on a drag lift we stopped for lunch and she gave up for the day :cry:!

Prices at the restuarant were expensive (4.80 for bowl of chips) and even the French were complaining.

Slamb and I ventured out after lunch trying to see if we could find anything suitable for our friend but were not confident enough in our own abilities to be able to encourage her out or teach her anything. But we did have a good ski - and I managed an extra run with some other chalet residents.

That evening we met up with a British instructor who I had been in touch with on another well known forum (rorie) who was lovely and suggested how he could help all of us the next day.

We met him at 8:45am the next morning and he showed us how to get down aforementioned chairlift :oops: and up the T-bar. Our friend was still struggling and so he sent slamb and me off and he spent the morning with her. We met up again at 11 - all smiles from them and us - she had remebered everything she'd been taught before and we had skiied a black run very succesfully (without knowing it was such until after the event!). Rorie then took Slamb and me out and gave us excellent instruction - a bit of carving, a bit of coping with ice, a bit of offpiste/powder and a bit of bumps all whislt skiing the Double M to the bottom. He left us at 1:45pm with only 100E from us in his pocket - excellent value for money for 5 hours! By the time we got back up the mountain there was no food available and by the time we had a loo stop and an incident woth the chair lift the lifts had stopped running so there was no more skiing that day.

Saturday night it snowed again and although there was a sweepstake we never did find out how much fell - Sunday loads of powder but light was so poor that you couldn't see the contours or lumps of soft stuff so it was very tricky skiing and I finally fell over. I wimped out soon after that with a list of excuses - tired, jelly legs, can't see, boots not right but I do tend to go to pot on my third day on all my ski holidays - I think I need to get fitter.

All in all an excellent break - really glad we didn't have to take walking boots (although that would have been lovely too) - I think next time we will try to go a bit later once more lifts are open. The Chalet was basic but comfortable, warm and food excellent, staff very attentive, very sociable guests - thanks to the "welsh lads", "Kim and Sarah", the "4 lads with a scottish guy" and "Declan's crowd" they kept us laughing. :lol: :lol: :lol:

According to the equipment guys a group of just women is "odd" so come on girls get out there!

Well done to all those still reading this - will post some piccies when I've worked out how to!
Zwee

Got back late last night (well actually very early this morning) and as the school run, work and unpacking have to be done I can't write much now but we had a FAB time - sorry AllyG but the snow that fell once you left was wonderful. Agree staff fantastic, food fantastic and prices in chalet reasonable. Will write more later!

Yippee - Flying out tomorrow!