J2Ski Forum Posts and Replies by SwingBeep

I agree with Admin about swapping Zermatt and Chamonix (I live about an hour away from both of them). Zermatt is linked to Cervinia so you could ski there as well.

Being able to speak German is obviously an advantage, but don't worry when the locals reply in English. They rarely speak Hochdeutsch and the dialect here (Walliserditsch) is reputed to be the most difficult one to understand.

Swiss Railways have a range of special tickets that reduce the cost travel considerably http://www.swisstravelsystem.ch/en/content/offer/tickets/ but they must be purchased from outside Switzerland. Make sure you travel from St Moritz to Zermatt on the Glacier Express http://www.glacierexpress.ch/en/Pages/default.aspx it's one of the finest railway journeys in the world, change in Visp if you decide to go to Chamonix first.

The P-tex spaghetti Pavelski mentioned is also known a P-tex repair string or wire, at 3mm it's a bit thicker than spaghetti. It's actually high molecular weight polyethylene (HMWPE) welding rod intended for use in the plastic fabrication industry http://www.drader.com/injectiweld-products/welding-rod/stock-welding-rod You can get it from http://www.snowrepublic.co.uk/Tools/Base-Repair/Snoli-Surface-Repair-Wire

Here is the document you need Tino http://www.iata.org/whatwedo/cargo/dangerous_goods/Documents/DGR52_Table23A.pdf you should get approval (in writing) before checking it in.

Sadly LOTA I think you're probably right, I hope there won't be a next time.

If you don't want to splash out on a heated boot bag you could warm the front of your boot using a hot water bottle. If there is a substantial difference in the diameter of your calves, putting some padding between the back of the inner and outer boots will equalise your fore/aft balance and stop you from having to over tighten the boot which will make it stiffer than the other one. If you have not regained full ankle flexibility by the time you want to go skiing ask your phsyio about putting a wedge under your heel, boot fitters often fit them for skiers who have limited dorsiflexion, although I'm not sure what effect of just using one will have on your skiing.

Hope you make a good recovery.

Thanks Lynn super report! I really enjoy skiing in the Dolomites, the scenery's fantastic, there's something for everyone and the tree lined runs make skiing in bad weather much more pleasant.

Admin, Arabba along with Malga Ciapela - Marmolada has some of the best off-piste skiing in the Dolomites. Some of the descents are described in the guide book 'Freeride in Dolomiti' http://www.versantesud.it/INGLESE/dettaglio.asp?id=254 but, the authorities often put signs up prohibiting off-piste skiing, if you ignore them you risk being fined and having your pass confiscated. Although not in the Dolomites Solda all'Ortles (Sulden am Ortler) west of Bolzano has equally good if not better off-piste and is less authoritarian.

There are still a few pairs of the previous specification (21m radius) GS skis to be had; this shop http://www.skicenter.it/product.php?id_product=83 still has a few pairs of Kneissl White Stars for 75 Euros a fantastic bargain, if you have the skill and the muscle.

Is it true that now a helmet is legally required when skiing/boarding off-piste in Italy?

Yes but only if you're under 14, failure to do so could result in your parents, trainer or instructor being fined 30-50 Euros, unless of course your surname's Berlusconi! )

Dumping the boyfriend would give you a lot more scope, although it should be possible for him to get a job here if he has the right skills. http://www.ch.ch/schweiz/00157/00174/index.html?lang=en

There are lots of jobs going in Zermatt and Saas Fee at the moment http://gemeinde.zermatt.ch/news/jobs/ http://www.saas-fee.ch/de/page.cfm/footer/jobs-saastal/jobs-saas-fee