J2Ski Forum Posts and Replies by 3bigcats

Hi guys - many thanks in advance for any replies to this one. We all know how bad it was early season this year. I remember the BBC filming in December from the slopes showing lots of grass and warnings of how global warming is about to ruin the ski industry. I did ski in Obergurgl a few years back at Christmas and had no problems with conditions. Thing is I would really like to ski this Christmas 2007 and was wondering what you guys think the best bet would be. I'm assuming high obviously and sticking to the Val Thorens and Tignes etc but does anyone have experience of anywhere else. Would love to go to Italy as we will be back in La Plagne in Feb 2008 but have heard that Italy is erratic at the best of times.
Any suggestion would be gratefully receieved guys
Many Thanks

I may be a bit against the norm here but having skied for years now and used Tamworth snow dome and Xscape quiet a bit - I personally spend a good few weeks every autumn on the Dry slope at Gloucester. I know there is a real snobbery about dry slopes and yes they are different but the positive points for me are that 1) you get to ski on a reasonably uncrowded slope even in peak periods 2) If you can get your skis gripping and turning on dry then snow just seems so much easier when you get out on the mountain 3) It's outdoors and good fun on a nice winters day especially at night under the floodlights. 4) It is much cheaper than the snow domes 5) you get more chance to run in new boots (although never use your own skis on dry obviously) 6) Pound for pound you get more skiing time in because it is less busy.
I personally hate the snow domes - not because they are no good but they cram so many people on the slope it is almost impossible to ski any more than 10m down the fall line before you have to stop or face hitting someone. Xscape is better in truth as they have a separate nursery slope but everytime I have been to Tamworth I have complained to a steward becasue they put so many people on the slope it is bloody dangerous - money money money I'm afraid.

Hi Hedges 59. As someone who was in a very similar situation to you a few years ago let me give you my two penneth if I may. I can add that I have no allegience to any country or resort so can give you a neutral opinion. First may i say as a parent that the most important thing is your little girl. If she is not happy - you won't be - simple as that quite honestly especially when you are also beginners. If you were experienced and could take turns to ski and look after the little one if she didn't take to it that would be OK but when all three are beginners it is a different ball game. Our first trip was a bit of a nightmare mostly due to our own naivety so I hope you find this useful. My first bit of advice is to go to France. The main reason for this is that the lessons are only half a day. Trust me this will be enough for your ten year old at this early stage. We first skied in Obergurgl a few years back now and found that due to the fact that the Austrian Lessons are am and pm. It was a nightmare getting back to our little one for lunch when we were on a different part of the mountain. (Unless you book lunch time supervision of course but they get a bit lonely all day when it's their first time) We got back late for lunch one day and found our little girl in tears as we were the last to pick her up. When we told the Instructor we had to be back to get her, he was very unsympathetic. I'd also add that once they have had lunch, they get a bit tired and just want to build snow men or at least ski with you. In France you can all have your morning lesson and then choose to take some easy runs together in the afternoon to practice or go off and have some fun. This doesn't work in Austria because if you take the afternoon off you fall behind your group and they don't like it. Trust me if your little girl doesn't enjoy the first time it will put her off for la long time. You honestly mustn't force them to ski - it's important they have some fun in the snow aswell and the French set up allows you to do this. Secondly I can't state enough the importance of going to one of the big french purpose builts. When it's first time for all of you - you need it to be as easy as possible to allow you to focus on skiing and learning. A 10 minute walk to the nearest lift may not sound much, but with boots on, skis on your shoulder and a ten year old in tow - this aint easy trust me. One of the guys above mentioned Flaine - I totally agree, this is a massively under rated resort in my honest opinion. We took our second holiday there and completely transformed our little girls first ski trip nightmare to a wonderful ski holiday. yes it's ugly and yes it's purpose built but the snow is fabulous and the beginners areas are wonderful, you will all be skiing from the top of the mountain after 3 - 4 days. We are off to La Plagne next week for the same reasons - snow and convenience. If you ask me, when you have young children that is all that matters. Austira is beautiful and I do not doubt the quality of skiing, the people there or the scenery but ther are few resorts that can match france's snow and convenience for Families. The French still have a massive majority share in family ski holidays. This is not just luck, this is for a reason and you can't beat it in my opinion. So my reccommendations in order- Flaine, La Plagne, Les Deux Alpes, Alpe Duez, Val Thorens, Tignes, La Rosier. Start with them and you won't go far wrong and make the mistakes that we made.

ant - don't do this yourself buddy - unless you really know what you are doing - you could really risk injury when you use them - Trust me mate - take them somewhere and get a ski technician to set them up properly for you. I've bought skis online myself and have then taken them into Snow and Rock for them to fit the bindings but also to give them the once over. For all you know there could be some hairline fractures or anything - this is the risk unfortunately when you buy online. Check them out mate for your own safety.

Hi there - ironically Obergurgl was our first ever ski holiday. We stayed at the Haus Gurgl which was up by a cracking little bar and eatery the name of which I can't remember. (Strumpl bar or something)
The main ski school meeting points are in front of the Hotel Eidelweiss which also houses a cracking outdoor bar. I think Obergurl is a great place to learn because it has some of the best snow in Austria due to it's height and is a relatively small area which is simple to navigate. If memory serves, you should start on a little green run at the bottom end of the town with a T Bar drag. However by day 2 you'll be on the Gaisberg lift enjoying a lovely blue run back down to the front of the Eidelweiss.
The festkogl has some magnificent views and there are a couple of lovely mountain eateries at the top of the lifts.
There is a little spar supermarket which has everything you'd need.
A few practical tips if I may

1) Your little ones will ski down at Bobos ski school which is bit of a walk from where you will start your lessons. This is something to consider because unlike France the lessons have a morning AND afternoon session so if you haven't got lunchtime supervision you need to let your instructor know that he needs to have you back to base for lunch to pick up the little ones. We had one day where he got us back late for lunch so we were late picking up our little girl at Bobos and she was in tears bless her. Discuss this with your rep and they will explain all the timings for you. You will also need to drop the little ones off 5 mins before the start of lessons in the mornings to give you time to walk up to yours.

2) Get up as early as you dare on day one and be first in the cue at the rental shop. With four of you to kit out - it will take a while and you don't want to be in a rush and a panic to get the kids to their lesson and then find your way to yours. We were a bit too relaxed on the first morning and everything was a bit of a last minute panic as a result. If you have the chance to get your skis, boots and poles the night before grab it.Trust me it will be worth the hassle even though you've just flown/bussed in and just want to crash out and have a beer.

3) Finally get all of your clothes and kit ready for the day the night before to save time in the morning. Some may say this is a bit OTT but with little ones, you'll know how tricky it can be getting them up and ready at times. Well multiply this by about 5 when ski wear and ski gear is involved.

Please don't let above things make you wary - they really don't intend to - I just hope a few of the lessons we learned as first timers skiing with young children will help you.

One last thing - scenery - Obergurgl is absolutley beautiful - it will literally take your breath away. One reccomendation I have especially with young children is to take an afternoon off after a few days skiing (Instrcutors don't like it but who cares - you're the customer) Take an afternoon off -get the gondola from the opposite end of the village to Eidelweiss up to the mountain restaurant on Festkogl (normal boots not skiing gear) and have a nice lunch, couple of beers and let the kids run around and throw a few snowballs. We did and as first time skiers it was one of the most enjoyable afternoons we had sitting with a beer admiring scenery that almost brought me to tears it was so beautiful watching you little ones just play in the snow and the mountain air.

I have to totally agree with Justacey. I remember when I first started skiing a few years ago and before we went (Myself, wife and daughter) we all had about 6 or 7 lessons on the dry slope - it made a huge difference when we got to the snow. When we joined the novice class on the first morning, we were catapulted about two groups ahead once they knew we could snow plough, plough turn and stop. We were skiing from the top on the first afternoon when the novice group didn't get there until day 3. To this day I still use the dry slope at Gloucester regularly in the build up to each season. I think there is a real snobbery about dry slopes. Yes they do hurt a bit when you fall and yes they just aren't the same but they still make a difference. Last year I had a private lesson on the dry and then just skied the whole week in Flaine red and blue without any tuition and the dry lesson really helped. I got more out of a single one to one dry lesson than I did a whole week in a group in Obergurgl. Also if you can learn to turn parallel and carve on dry, you will find it so much easier on snow because you struggle to get your edges to grip on dry as there is nothing to work against the underside of the ski. As for the snow domes, I have a real issue with them. They are great if you have never skied before and want to now how snow feels but I have stopped using Tamworth now as I think it is literally unsafe becasue of the amount of people they literally cram onto the slopes. I have seen so many near nasty collisions there, I'm amazed they haven't had any serious incidents. It really annoys me because it costs a fortune (About £90 for two hours for the 3 of us to ski) and you can hardly ski 10 yards before you bump into someone going much slower. Basically if you are a beginner, the snow domes are great - if you're not they are just as bad as a badly crowded blue at the end of the day in any French major bang in the middle of the French Holidays in Feb - i.e a nightmare.

Hiya Justacey,
In my opinion the P an V were the best located of anything in Flaine - seriously. They are at the end of the Foret next to a bar called the Dutchman from memory. If snow is good you literally can walk out of the door - skis on and scoot down to the Grand Vans Chair about 500yards away to your left - if the snow is a bit patchy you may have to walk the first 300yards or so until you cross the road but trust me it's neither here or there - they are practically ski in ski out. However, if you want to take the main Cable to the grand platiers there is a better way of accessing it than taking the funiculars down to the forum. Simply scoot down to the Grand Vans Chair and on the right hand side is a very small rope tow (very short) on the right hand side. At the top of the rope tow, there are three drags. The middle one accesses the Faust red run (If I remember this right) The right hand run accesses a lovely little green run great for a quick warm up and the left hand takes you half way up crystal. From this half way point you can ski straight across to a 4 seater chair which takes you to the top of Serpentine at the top of the Grand Platiers. However, from the top of this little rope tow you can also take a short but easy red run on your right hand side down and around to the bottom of the cable. Trust me this is far easier than getting in the funiculars and walking down to the cable from the forum. So basically from P and V you can access everything once you get your bearings. Also the Grand Vans is recently refurbished to a high speed 8 and is by far the most pleasant chair I have ever taken. My little girl enjoyed the way up as much as the way down.
I know people knock the Ugly French purpose built tower blocks but for me you just can't beat them for easy access to ski areas. Flaine is a classic example of this. I can bearly remember ever walking with my ski boots on (Unless it was to the bar lol ) We skied in Obergurgl about three years ago which whilst lovely was a nightmare with my little one. We had a good 10 minute walk with all gear to the bottome of the lifts. There were lots of tears unfortuntately and coupled with a dodgy kids class, my little girl didn't enjoy. One of the reasons I kept her out of ski school in Flaine was to let her see a ski holiday can be very relaxed, spontaneous and fun. Thankfully, Flaine restored her confidence and it seems she can't wait for La Plagne.
Dare I ask how did you find La Plagne - do you think it will suit us bearing in mind I we just go for skiing, snow and convenience - not bothered in the slightest about nightlife or beautiful surroundings etc

Sorry forgot to mention we stayed in the Foret in the Pierre et Vacances residence which although obviously not 4 star where clean warm and practical - everything you need. Some nice bars in the Foret up at a mini shopping precinct which houses a supermarket/bowling alley and some nice shops. Mind you the free funiculars which run between the foret and the forum are so easy and frequent moving between the two areas is no problem. Sorry I can't remember the names of the bars guys but they were all good enough although I'm a bit old to party I'm afriad so can't really comment on the late night scene. For skiing and snow though Flaine is fab.
(Don't know how I got that emoticon on my post above by the way - sorry about that - not sure what it's supposed to mean)