J2Ski Forum Posts and Replies by andyhull

As long as I can get to St Pancras on 18th Jan and the train is running....

Spotted this mentioned on the SCGB site, great idea for those that want to DIY.

http://v2.muchbetteradventures.com/ski/

It's a web site where you enter your chalet requirements, then chalets owners contact you directly with offers. Could save a lot of trailing through websites looking for what you want.

http://www.skiclub.co.uk/skiclub/news/story.aspx?intStoryID=8733

I've been to Les Arcs in January, like most places it' a lot less busy in January than later in the season once the French holidays start.
You shouldn't have any problems with queues or crowded pistes at all.
Fantastic ski area, which has everything you are looking for.

I think the name changes are a good idea, though reading some of the news stories a lot of locals don't agree.
To me resorts with numbers in the name sound purpose built ugly places, which can be far from the truth.
The improvements to the lift system just goes on, already the best linked area, it's just getting better year on year.

Courchevel 1850 was called that because their marketing department wanted everone to think it was at 1850m, they wanted to compete with Val D'Isere. The village height is actually only about 1790m.
One reason for this change is it's plain to anyone with a GPS navigation device (an iPhone!) that 1850 is a lie!

About 38 minutes after the 2012 snow dance....

Lets hope none of that nonsense is necessary this season....

Not sure how to go about this, I'd rate resorts differently depending on what I rate on. Some resorts are pig ugly but have great skiing for instance. There are also a lot of resorts to remember! Here's my top 10 based mainly on the quality of the skiing.

1 Alpe D'Huez - Outstanding varied ski area, awesome runs, somewhere I will keep going back to. Best resort for big varied ability groups I've been to.

2 3 Valleys - didn't know whether to rate the resorts I've stayed in (les menuires, Val Thorens & Meribel) separately, but really the area is so well linked I'm not sure it matters that much. Meribel is the most picturesque and best placed, but least skiing on your doorstep.

3 Verbier - breathtaking area for good skiers, friendly. I'll be back.

4 St Anton - Good for similar reasons to Verbier, huge challenge, bite off as much as you think you can chew! Head over to Zurs or Lech for a cruise. Extreme nightlife!

5 Val D'Isere/Tignes again can't split them, awesome area skied here more than anywhere else. Will keep going back.

6 Jackson Hole. Friendliest place I've ever skied and one of the most challenging. Small area but so much packed in.

7 Les Arcs - Great area, varied terrain. Awesome blacks.

8 Sella Rhonda - Amazing area, spectacular scenery, one of the best down hill runs too.

9 Serre Chevalier - Only spend a day skiing here, but certainly impressive area, would love to go back.

10 Soldeu - huge ski area, completely different to anywhere else I've skied as it's packed with beginners. Actually there's miles and miles of great runs, only the odd run that could be called challenging but loved it never the less.

http://www.bensbus.co.uk/ are advertising £74 return.