J2Ski Forum Posts and Replies by OldAndy

The above sorry episode, totally out of character for the group as a norm, was the disparity on return time which varied from 02.00 to 04.30 depending on who was relating the tale.
Mind you doubt any of them could have focussed on a watch whatever the time.......

acarr wrote:

bedrock barney wrote:we need photos!!

... or it didn't happen!

Damn!!
Caught out......
:(

Some words on our 2016 trip to the Hotel Christina, Alpe D'Huez.

27 in total - I counted them out and I counted them all back !!

From two trips to a dry slope to [cough cough] "many years" and an age range spread over 55 years.....
Brilliant trip say all - everything worked as expected with the usual blips - fog in Grenoble delayed a few and either an inability to listen (my view) or lack of clarity on where to get off the transfer bus did confuse a few.

Hotel was ideally situated - a little walk up in the morning, enough to stretch the muscles and back to the hotel on skis at the end of the day. The Christina is an old, tired, hotel and being knocked down and redeveloped. Pretty much everything worked though and the age was made up for by excellent food and a great staff. This time we used a tour company and their resort people earned their money, and saved any of us a headache, particularly with the one who did the knee ligaments/blood wagon/medical centre and special delivery through the airport route!
Alpe D'Huez - my first visit, although many of the group had been before. A good but not great resort would be my summary.
What impressed me the most was the extent of the so called green runs all around the main (1850) resort. Really quite amazing, and not simply a flat bit of gently sloping piste. Beginners, second, third weekers and anyone wanting to ski gentle slopes would have an amazing time on these.
Mind you on the first day, with a white out and over a foot of new snow (well wet concrete really) these greens caused real problems for the most experienced skiers - including the getting lost bit, failure to find the restaurant meeting point (except for 3) and a half kilometre walk back on the flat for some of us :roll:

I will leave any discussion of the high up stuff on the glacier to others. I didn't get there. Snow and wind kept it closed a lot and I am allergic to 40 minute queues. Others managed at odd times and an intrepid three did the tunnel. The view, when asked, of some saisonieres was that conditions on the Tunnel were "not good" !!

I liked the lower runs (Oz-en-Oisans, Vaujaney, Villard Reculas) but snow not good lower down and rain stopped play on one day. Also the Auris areas was great.

Biggest shock was the lift queues in the morning, more than expected in what should have been a quiet week for the resort.

I will leave discussions of Toffee Vodka (and it's effects), Snow Angels and Snow Ploughs, Karaoke debauches etc etc to those more intimately involved..........

Anyway - must dash - 2017 holiday to organise :thumbup:

Well it's over :(
All 27 got to ADH (some - eventually!!) and all 27 got home (ish!!).
More to follow about the resort and hotel and things.
We had our first blood wagon and Medical Centre casualty but the Resort rep was professional and really looked after things.
Major lurgy floating around that knocked many people out. Such a friendly group to share these things :)
So ......
2017?????
Discussions have started if anyone wants to PM me to show interest please do.

Try on several makes - then buy the comfiest one that actually fits your head shape.

bedrock barney wrote:Have a great time j2ski peeps. I'm sure I'll join you one day!

I have a place reserved for the 10th anniversary trip in 2023.....

Well - nearly time to go......
27 on the trip, one less than last year - I have failed :(
Three are out already - checking things out as the advance party. Mind you they turned right not left at went to the wrong resort but never mind.
I am leaving Friday - getting the over night sleeper train. One car full going down.
The rest flying Saturday.
Very excited now as I have wanted to go to Alpe D'Huez for a long time but not yet managed to get there.
I'm sure there will be some updates and a report later on.
Probably time to think about 2017 soon as well :thumbup:

I have perfected a technique for those difficult and steep mogul fields that should be perfect for all.
I call it the "Gondola" technique - lessons are available :)