J2Ski Forum Posts and Replies by verbier_ski_bum

Most fears are irrational so they can be overcome. However one of my friend wouldn't ski no matter what, despite being born and raised in Haute-Savoy and living in Switzerland. She's just one of these people who struggle with balance. She says she really had miserable time at school when she had to ski with her class and was very happy when she finished it because for her it meant that nothing could make her go skiing anymore. She's been pretty bad with X-C skiing, ice skating, roller blading or biking too. Her husband is an avid skier but he's given up on her and just goes skiing by himself.

Are there many mountain tops with restaurants (I can't see people taking off there skis for other reason than going inside a restaurant) that can be get to exclusively on skis or chairlifts? If the thief got there in this way he would have to leave his skis behind, non? Alternatively there will be either a gondola nearby, or a walking trail.

anygasman wrote:Saloman suspect then worth a punt?
Any pros and cons over the Armada del Reys ?

No. You don't want a park-specific ski if you want to be able to ski all mountain without hating it.

It was -25 on the mountain in Verbier this weekend but I had the best skiing ever! It was literally empty. We did few lapses of Gentianes-Tortin itinerary and every time apart from us there were no more than 8-10 other skiers. Unbelievable. We did a 30 min hike to Rock Garden yesterday and walking up the snowy ridge in ski tied to the back I had to take jacket off. And after skiing down we did few lapses on empty groomers and it was a fanstastic experience to be able to zoom through all known bottle necks withut having to worry about crowds. I hope this weather stays or at least comes back for few more weekends. Don't be put off by cold, there are things called "layers' for this occasion. Protect your face well, so that not much skin is exposed, warm gloves and hit the mountain. If you are a solid skier this is a good weather to hire a guide and do a bit of exploring as snow is awesome and snowpack is fairly stable. Yeah, and keep complaining to everyone around that it's too cold to ski - we like the slopes empty:)

I always put sunscreen on ears - I didn't once a few years back when watching Xtreme Final, and my ears got quite badly burned and peeled. Lesson learned. Glad your results are negative.

You need also to consider that Chamonix is 'proper' town so going to the mountain (there is a choice of different ski areas too, but they are disconnected) will involve commuting. So, if this taken into account, maybe for newbies Morzine will be better.

snowb4ndit wrote:

verbier_ski_bum wrote:Well, your choice is a tricky one. I've never skied in Morzine, but I know it's not a very high resort (just like the rest of PDS) so going in April might be pushing it a bit. Though this season so far has been execptional snow-wise and you may well get away with it. Last season I know it was quite abysmal in Morzine by the end of March. Mountains are higher in Chamonix so it's should be better than Morzine for this time of the year, but it's not really a beginners' resort, although ski schools do a good job of putting newbies on skis there. Chamonix got tons of snow this season and it's guaranteed to have better than Morzine snow conditions. So maybe just bite it, go to Chamonix and stick with a ski school.

It's not that tricky IMO. I wouldn't worry about the snow in either area. Morzine/the PDS has higher areas that are snow sure. Last year Chamonix had no snow on its lower slopes in April, much like Morzine, but higher up both Chamonix and the PDS had snow. In Fact Avoriaz (which is a lift away from Morzine had snow on both lower and higher slopes in April. Chamonix was without snow on it's lower slopes from the first week in march.

Chamonix April 2011 upper - 99cm Lower - 0cm
Avoriaz April 2011 upper - 100cm Lower - 36cm
Morzine April 2011 upper - 80cm lower - 5cm

Chamonix average upper - 298cm Lower - 31cm
Avoriaz average upper - 195cm Lower - 142cm
Morzine average upper - 193 Lower 16cm

(All figures from first week (in April )

As I said I wouldn't worry about snow in either area for April this year...I would make my choice based on the other criteria.

I've not been to Chamonix so cannot give advice re ski schools etc.

I only said it because my friend went lastt season for a b/d weekend on April 1, and they didn't ski at all, they said it wasn't worth it. But it looks like it will be enough snow this year.

Well, your choice is a tricky one. I've never skied in Morzine, but I know it's not a very high resort (just like the rest of PDS) so going in April might be pushing it a bit. Though this season so far has been execptional snow-wise and you may well get away with it. Last season I know it was quite abysmal in Morzine by the end of March. Mountains are higher in Chamonix so it's should be better than Morzine for this time of the year, but it's not really a beginners' resort, although ski schools do a good job of putting newbies on skis there. Chamonix got tons of snow this season and it's guaranteed to have better than Morzine snow conditions. So maybe just bite it, go to Chamonix and stick with a ski school.