J2Ski Forum Posts and Replies by Zwee

Ally,
Thanks for your feedback - the forecast is looking good at the moment so hopefully we wont have to deal with the same conditions as you.

I think we will leave booking of lessons until we get there to see was the situation is like and to find our ski-feet again. (Went to Hemel in September and spent the whole lesson like Bambi so couldn't really get to grips with any drills - after 90mins when lesson over I had found my feet but couldn't remember anything said in the lesson.)

As the Chalet is a long way from anywhere does that mean Apres ski is confined to the Chalet itself?
We were hoping to go to a club at some point - the highlight of our social lives this year was my daughter's 13th birthday party so we were hoping we could rectify this at the weekend!
Thanks,
Zwee

AllyG - glad you are having a good time despite the tricky conditions. I'm going to the "camp" next week and the forecast is for cold and snow - hopefully that will be the case.

I'm not a very confident skier, one of my ski buddies has only had 1 week skiing and another busted her knee on ice a few years ago so if we are not lucky then it looks like we may need to bring several good books, lots of cash for the bar and extra swimmers for the hot tub!

I've been wondering about lessons too - especially if conditions are as tricky as you have had - can you recommend yours - how much were they?

del40boy
We went to La Massana a couple of seasons ago (the one with not much snow :().
The Gondola takes you up to the slopes at Pal and is quicker and more civilised than the bus in from Pal village. Due to lack of snow the were few slopes open for beginners and very early intermediates and the link to Arinsal was closed. However we still had a good time - my other half and the kids had an excellent instructor (big bald guy called Manel)who spoke very good English and managed his class of very mixed abilities and ages very well. My Instructor was also good though his English was not quite as good and we were able to get further afield onto Red slopes which were less busy.

I expect in a normal season there will be more people about but more spread out so it will feel less busy.

Left skis etc at lockers by Pal slopes.

Ski Hire shop in La Massana was good (and quiet).

Not much Apres but then we didn't need it - tho' we did go to Irish Bar at Magic Hotel a few times.

My biggest criticism was the food on the mountain - all fast-food and very greasy.

Anything specific you want to know?

Well I have got an answer from the Insurance Co. and their definition of NOT Glacier Skiing is

"Egg Travel:
'Glacier Skiing' is an excluded activity, and these policies cannot be extended to cover this.
There are a number of ski resorts which are built on glaciers (e.g. Tigne in France and Solden in Austria).
These are standard pistes with ski lifts, nursery slopes and bars and restaurants. A Policyholder travelling to a resort such as this will not be deemed to be 'Glacier Skiing' and cover can be provided as normal."

Which is the answer I was hoping for :D so I can now get excited about my trip to Tignes without worrying about that.
PS Insurance wasn't free it was reduced (£30ish) for annual family with wintersports cover - not bad really.

Dave Mac wrote: Why don't you ask the insurers?

I did and they didn't know :roll:!

I suppose I will have to write to them but I wondered if there was a standard definition for "Glacier Skiing".

My "Free" insurance excludes Glacier skiing - does this mean I can't ski on Pisted Glaciers (e.g. Tignes in November :)) or does it mean the likes of Vallee Blanche? If it does exclude my Tignes trip can anyone recommend a top up?
Thanks.

Just giving this a bump - I'm off on 5th Nov for 3 days with two other buddies.
Flying from Luton - this is what we calculated it would be...
£125 + £36 + possible currency supplement of £18 + £58 flight + £20 carpark = £257 for everything excluding lunch and drinks.
We didn't think that too bad and as a weekend away from husbands and kids it actually a bargain :)
Has anyone else signed up?
Zwee

Thanks for replies.

Would prefer Ski-school rather than private lessons as its includes the social side of a holiday. We tend to go just as a family (i.e. not with friends) so it is good for them to make friends via ski-school.
Zwee