J2Ski Forum Posts and Replies by verbier_ski_bum

Le Tour is the easiest, but I think Brevent-Flegere may also suit you, it's some where between Grands Montets and Le Tour in difficulty. Plus if you are staying in town Brevent cable car is the nearest. You may find Le Tour a bit boring and your groupe sounds like everyone will handle Brevent-Flegere area without problems and there is a bigger variety of runs and you don't need to go off-piste for challenge. Off-piste at Le Tour is accessible but there is a perfect terrain trap. With this season's snowfall you may want to stay within marked runs.

Shoulder width is about right, unless you ski moguls, then you want your feet closer, because skiing moguls is about rotating your skis simultaneously. And try not to rotate your upper body after your skis. Keep your hands where you can see them without having to turn your head - this also helps with keeping weight forward. To bend the knees you must flex your ankles so that your shins are touching the front of your boots. If you start with bending your knees you'll end up in the back seat. Your knees should be over the lugs of your boots, and you shouldn't feel any strain in your quads - this is how you know your weight is forward.

Verbier is awesome! Off-piste mecca, but if your group is of mixed ability for off-piste you better split. Off-piste skill is better learned with instructor who will take whoever needs lessons to safer places between runs. Verbier itineraries are generally not for learning any skills. All itineraries are marked but they are not easier from it. You shouldn't need a guide if you can ski well, just follow marked trail. Vallon d'Arbi can be avalanche-prone, so take precautions. Get 4 vallees pass as it gives you more options than regular Verbier pass. More interesting pistes than in Verbier are on the 4Vallees side. But allow yourself time as it only looks close on the map, and only linked to Verbier by lifts and ski routes, if you get stuck taxi is a bout 300 Swiss francs. You can also try Bruson, reds are much steeper than on Verbier side. Nice itineraries too especially if the snow is good. But it takes about an hour to get there - lift down to Le Chable and then bus. The plans for the lift from Le Chable to Bruson have been approved, but the lift is not there yet. Will be fantastic when it's built. Generally, the only places you will need a guide is for the back side of Mont-Fort and front side of Mont-Gele. Particularly front side of Mont-Gele, which is a one-fall place and taking wrong turn there can be lethal. The easiest itinerary is Col de Mine, but if you go there after lunch be careful and don't turn towards Vallon d'Arbi - you may not have enough time before Tzoumaz lift closes and it's expensive to get back to the Verbier side.

I just checked with Swiss, and Jan 23 one way is 430 pounds out of LHR whereas Jan 23-24 return would be 130 - both with insurance. Cheapest rates are hardly ever available with Swiss for one way only. Maybe if you book 6 months in advance - I've never checked as I usually don't, you can get the same rates available for one way as for one leg of the return flight. But skis travel for free, so I guess pricing will be comparable with BA if extra weight is taken into account. As for EJ - I've made my opinion on them based on personal and other people's experiences averaged out over time and unless I travel really light like with one handbag and in risk-free period, I will avoid them whenever possible. 20 pounds of possible savings (at most) are not worth it IMHO. No good value for money. And 20 pounds is usually for people who are willing to spend a sleepless night and depart at silly hours.

I think you should try google. The choice is really big. You might even be lucky and get a transfer from the airport without booking it in advance. Unless you want a totally private tranfer (which IS very expensive) even private companies, not just Altibus, often drop you off in the centre of town. It will depend on how big a group they will have to take, where they are all placed and whether the driver needs to get back to the airport. And you might have to wait for later flights if the transfer is a shared one (I think it's about 50 euros p/p return - but you don't need to book a return transfer, you can book it a day or two before departure, ask at the hotel you will be staying in).

POC makes awesome goggles that are good for low-light and overcast conditions.

I am not sure about cheap one way, but often it's cheaper to book Swiss or BA return and just don't use the return ticket. Swiss don't charge for skis. EasyJet only looks cheap in adverts, once you add all the associated costs one way will be more expensive then return with the "proper" airline. Also, you are facing less delays with proper airlines. Usually when the weather is adverse (snow etc) EasyJet flights get delayed indefinitely and won't leave until all the regular flights depart. And this is important factor in winter. As for transfers from Airport, just get the train. This is how most people travel here. You wil be in Verbier in 3 hours. Or try to book www.AlpyBus.com. You need to know your arrival time though.

Ian Wickham wrote:I have harped on about skier awareness for a long time now and the two in front were just in a world on their own.

It's the guy behind, the one who fell, who has awareness issues. No matter what the skier ahead is doing, he's the one with priority and the guy shouldn't just cut him like. There is some justice in the fact that it was he who fell, probably blamed the boys though;).