J2Ski Forum Posts and Replies by Mark Allison

Hi Coops, skied Schladming with my family and big group of friends this half term. Group included some young children. Their parents said ski school was great (they used the one at Rohrmoos) and their kids certainly improved over the week. The resort is great - nice town and a brilliant ski area. I was really impressed with the lift system, apart from one or two slow two-man chairs up from the bottom stations. Pistes were immaculate. Bit busy, but hey, it was half term. It wasn't cheap, but they've invested heaps in the ski area and there's a new 8 man chair going up this summer. Four big mountains to ski, big vertical drop, varied pistes (a bit limited if you are advanced). Go for it.
I've also skied St Anton a fair bit and loved it, but I'd say Schladming is better for kids. St Anton is huge and very lively and much better for advanced skiers. Massive off-piste. Cheers - enjoy!

Hi Frostbite,

Morzine is pretty busy at half-term, but nowhere near as bad as many French resorts. Because half of the Morzine clientelle go up to Avoriaz via the cable-car in the village, this leaves the Morzine/Les Gets side reasonably quiet. We ski Les Gets most half term weeks and rarely queue. Snow has always been good in February. So if you can still get a deal, either places would be excellent for a mixed family group.

If you want to go cheap at half-term, do the following.

1. Drive. Use Tesco vouchers to go under the Tunnel (free!). Petrol and tolls will be about £300.
2. Rent an apartment. You should get one for £600-£900.
3. Don't go for a big ski area - Les Gets/Morzine was about £450 for the family booking on-line this year. The Notre-Dame/Praz sur Arly area is cheap too and is lovely.
4. Take your own food. Ready prepared meals/pizzas/tins of chilli/pasta sauces etc aren't too hard to knock together in the evening. Not too much of a chore over a bottle of wine whilst the kids chill in front of a DVD. Also, take cereal etc. £150 at most.
5. If you don't have your own gear, rent on-line from the UK and pick up in resort. However, it's much cheaper in the long run to buy your own stuff, particularly if you drive as it's a piece of cake to take. £400 max
6. Do not give your money to a Tour Operator. It's them that take the profit at half term. Resort prices don't go up that much (ski passes etc don't go up at all). It's just the TOs that bang up prices as they know they'll sell out regardless.
7. Take it easy at lunch time - sandwiches aren't that bad in the reasonable French resorts discussed in this thread (4-5 euros) and if you take some choccy snacks up (buy in England) it doesn't have to cost a fortune. £200.
8. Don't go out and get ratted every night. Once or twice is plenty! £200 spends.

Altogether, way less than your target spend of £3000.

Simple. You'll save enough to have two holidays! Trust me. It's the way to go with a family at half term without bankrupting yourself.

Any more advice, just ask.

Mark

Looks like Mr Sesuna has given you more important things to think about than my missing wiggles, Admin!

Just checked Vienna and it is up to date - just the Geneva wiggles that are old hat. And as I'm going to Les Gets, they're the ones I'm after. Thanks, Mr Admin.

I see Sunday 00Z - no 6 hourly update since then! Should be on Monday 12Z by now. I can't believe I'm so sad that this matters to me!

Hi Admin,

What's happened to the GFS charts? I'm missing the wiggles - off out next week and want to know what to expect - what to pack, which wax to use etc! Only kidding, but where have they gone? Tried the Wetter Centrale website too, but can't find it there.

Yep, exactly the same injury. However, did plenty of the RICE treatment - as well as Ibuprofen to get swelling down - and once I had a ski boot on, I didn't even know I had the injury. In fact, I reckon it healed better during a week skiing than if I'd have been walking around at work on it.

Way better than getting a knee injury just before skiing. The boot acts like a cast on the ankle, but a knee......!

Get the swelling down and go for it.

It's usually pretty good in the higher French resorts well into April. I've skied Val Thorens late April and had a foot of powder one day and fresh snow most mornings. It can get warm, however, so you can expect heavy conditions some afternoons. However, the skiing will still be good early on. I'll be skiing Les Gets (1200m) early April and expect to get 7 days skiing in. My advice would be...Go for it! Snow has been pretty good this season, so there'll still be plenty around higher up. Accommodation should be pretty easy to find in April, as resorts tend to be quieter - the French have their hols in Feb/March and only get a long weekend at Easter, so you could wait until late and pick up a cheap DIY deal, particularly if you can drive down to the Alps.
Enjoy!

Les Gets would be quicker and super for a couple of days. Snow will be fine there until April, barring a major catastrophe (these have happened!). Loads of snow and very cold there at the moment.

Bel Alp is a nice 2 star hotel as is Stella Alpina, both close to the slopes and town centre. Could be apartments available for a couple of nights if that's what you want. PM me if you want any more info.