J2Ski Forum Posts and Replies by Marksman

Oh - Missed one. Canadians understand beer in a way that the French or Americans never will. Germans and Austrians on the other hand...

I've not got a lot of experience but have skied in Whistler and French alps.

Whistler pros:-

The public:-

Really can't stress this one enough. If you stand in the street and look confused then people will stop and ask if they can help.


The Staff:-

On our first day we couldn't get hire boots to fit my OH's funny shaped feet so missed the start time for ski-school. No problem, they just re-booked it for another day and seeing she was upset the guy behind the counter gave us a coupon for a free meal at the top of the mountain.

The mountains:-

Just spectacular.

The lifts:-

Because the only route up the mountain is via the lower gondolas then these are the only 2 places passes are needed. No faffing about. No bending around to stick a card in a slot or swiping a card. A list operator comes to you and scans the pass with a mobile device. Also a separate line for people skiing alone. This way you can fill in the extra last place if a group of three want to ride on a four person chair. Wouldn't work in France but isn't abused in Canada. When you get off the gondola then there are no more pass checks on the other lifts, you just ski to them and get on.

Canadians know how to queue:-

It's so much more relaxed and civilized that Europe. If I could go to the US or Canada I'd do it just for this reason.

Language:-

Bit cowardly this one, but I'm poor with languages. For me skiing in a country where English (or a pretty close approximation to it) is the primary language is more relaxing. I couldn't even try to say "there's a injured man with a head wound hidden behind the second rock outcropping on the left half way down run XYZ" in French or German.

Whistler cons:-

Long haul flight.

Really silly lift prices.

A bit of a plastic resort if compared to older European ones.

The "Service Culture". Wages are low but are supplemented by tips. Therefore if someone opens a door for you or drives your bus, or brings a drink 3 steps from a bar to your table then you should pay them each and every time for doing so. Personally I was divided on this. I like the thought of people who give a better service earning more then those who do the bare minimum, but on the other hand found it pretty grating.

As you can tell I was rather taken by Canada.

Can't speak for any other resorts though, are they similar in attitude?

Cheers,

Owen.

I met a chap who worked as a self employed builder on Lanzarote during the summer and then ran an airport shuttle service in the Alps during the winter. Outdoor work all year round, a house in both places (available to rent out when in the other location) good wine/coffee and a season's skiing every year. Hmmmmm.

Owen.

Ooooooohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh. Liking that a lot. :thumbup:

A couple of bits where there were no others on the hill (so no sense of scale) it looked more like flying an aircraft than skiing.

Nice work.

Owen.

Thanks Rich.

That sort of imformed / quantative reply is why J2Ski is such a good site. :thumbup:

The chest harness would seem to be a good way of seeing if the skierist is over rotating their torso. "If wathching your home movies results in sea sickness then point your shoulders down the valley..."

Cheers,

Owen.

bedrock barney wrote:...This is a run down the arcelle piste in Val d'Isere (with stops!) on Fri 13th Jan 2012. This is using the chest mount and at highest HD setting (1080). Results seem pretty good to me.

Very nice indeed. I like the point of view from the chest harness too.

How much footage can you shoot at 1080 for a given card size? Lots of companies seem to give meaningless "up-to xxx hours" statements.

Where I'm coming from is can you switch the camera on and then forget about it or do you really have to turn it on and off to record the bits you want?

Cheers,

Owen.

An interesting topic.

Of the two things I love above all else with skiing one is the sense of getting away from the grime and grind of the real world and ascending into an unspoiled landscape of breathtaking views and cool crisp air...

Now in a club or pub (where I may choose to go) I don't mind the smoke at all. Free choice 'n' all. In fact sometimes it adds (if you'll excuse the pun) to the atmosphere. I don't smoke but that's my choice and others are free to do what they wish.

I remember a trip up a beautiful drag lift last year. An old gent (an instructor no less) was smoking a cigar on the way up, and my word did it smell good. Blue skies, fresh piste and that subtle smell. Magical.

Conversely if I were at the only restaurant half way down a mountain run this type of attitude would irritate the hell out of me...

snowb4ndit wrote: ...Non smokers who sit outside and still complain about the smoke. I feel like telling them to 'go forth and multiply'...

If I'm a non smoker then I do indeed feel I have a right to sit outside, admire the view and enjoy my meal and not have someone else's second hand smoke waft all over me!! I fully respect an individual's right to do anything they please providing it doesn't impact on those around them.

Imagine I saw nothing particularly wrong in relieving myself up against a tree in a deserted forest. Now it would make an unpleasant smell, may well be offensive to others, may represent a heath risk, would disperse into the ground / air in a couple of minutes, but would probably put someone off their lunch. Now I might chose to do so in that deserted forest, but I wouldn't do it 2 feet away from a table with a family of four who are probably trying to enjoy the best week of their year that they've spend the last 51 weeks saving up for...

For me not inflicting my habits on others is just a respect thing, like not pushing in, or watching your language when there are kids around.

End of rant.

Owen.

Brucie wrote:The alternative is hammering a couple of nails in the bedroom wall and admiring them!!!

You say that like it's a bad thing :shock:

O.S.