J2Ski Forum Posts and Replies by SwingBeep

What about a helicopter flight http://www.air-glaciers.ch/AIR_GLACIERS_WEB_SITE/PAGE_Services_Helico_Sulfatage/vBQAAKKchRtFZkxlSWF5VVpjAQA?WD_ACTION_=MENU&ID=M46 or perhaps a Kessler snowboard http://www.kessler-swiss.com/en-US/pages/products/snowboard/theCross/presentation

AllyG, yes those are the "bum sliding sections". It would appear that they can be of indeterminate length and steepness. I posted the text in its entirety, the whole document is only 29 pages long.

The pistes here are graded in accordance with Chapter 3, Section 3, Paragraph e of this document http://www.seilbahnen.org/dcs/users/6/Verkehrssicherungspflicht_06_d.pdf which governs the safety of ski runs here in Switzerland, below is a rough translation. I imagine other countries use a similar system.

e) Classification of difficulty

For proper operation, pistes must be classified according to their difficulty. Before starting a run, persons using the run must have the possibility of knowing approximately what demands will be made on them.

The classification of difficulty is based on normal conditions. The only parameter used for the classification is the terrain. The user has to take into account that bad weather and snow conditions can increase the degree of difficulty.

The classification is based on the following values:

Easy slopes = Blue
The longitudinal- and cross fall of blue runs may not exceed 25%, with the exception of short sections in open terrain.

Moderate slopes = Red
The longitudinal and cross fall of red runs may not exceed 40%, with the exception of short sections in open terrain.

Expert slopes = Black
Slopes that exceed the maximum steepness of red runs are defined as black.

Piste maps are only a pictorial representation of the terrain. If you want to accurately determine the steepness of a slope you need a topographic map. The gradient can be calculated using the formula (Rise/Run)*100 = Gradient i.e. (200/730)*100 = 27.4%.

There's nothing wrong with your daughter reverting "back to the safety of the snowplough" it's the best thing to do.

Yes, 30 Euro per day plus 2 Euro for sticks.

ADAC (the German automobile club) recently compared the cost of a simple lunch in mountain restraunts across Europe. Spag Bol in Val d`Isère was the most expensive (even more expensive than in Verbier) at 15.25 Euro. If you want to see the full enormity of the situation, here is the article: http://www.welt.de/reise/nah/article11973932/So-teuer-isst-man-in-Europas-Skigebieten.html Its in German but there is a table half way down listing the prices.

The Reka Swiss Travel Fund http://www.reka.ch/en/reka/pages/default.aspx (English) is an interesting organization. "It is a leading Swiss provider of holiday apartments in Switzerland and abroad. The Reka holiday villages in particular offer excellent value for money and are extremely family-friendly, giving them an edge over the competition".

Bandit, if you have a Coop loyalty card you can purchase Reka-Checks from larger Coop supermarkets at a 3% discount, which you could use to pay for lift passes etc.

The Marker Jester has 4 screw holes in the toe piece, there is a template here:
http://www.tetongravity.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=86249&d=1291016999
Make sure you print it out at 100%!

The best people to see are either Jules Mills or Damien Amblard at the Bootroom either at Sanglard Sports in Chamonix, or on Saturdays at Ski Clinic - Racing Service in Cluses http://www.thebootroom.fr/eng/Home.html Between them they have over 35 years experience, including 11 years on the World Cup circuit. You need to ring in advance to make an appointment.

Unless you get really lucky I think you'll have to resign yourself to spending the night at Geneva airport. The first train to Zermatt departs at 05:11 arriving in Visp at 07:52 where you catch the 08:10 to Zermatt (platform 3) which arrives at 09:14.

There are some large luggage lockers (CHF 5) on Zermatt railway station (if the ones on the platform are full ask at the ticket office), so if you change into your ski clothing on the way you could hit the slopes straight away.

If you haven't already got one get a Swiss Transfer Ticket http://www.swisstravelsystem.com/produkttexte.php?passid=3 it will save you CHF 60.