OT FOAK Skiing

What he said.

Italy, IMHO, isn't much cheaper (if at all) than the French, Austrian or
Swiss Alps, but you get more for your money, so definitely better VFM.

 

On Mon, 29 Nov 2004 07:20:10 +0000,

scribbles notes.

Ooo hot. Had to get the de icer out this morning. I'm waiting until
this afternoon before I take the bike out.

There'll be snow at xmyth tho?

Not needed, none of us have skiied before.

Each lift taking you to a run yes? I know nothing..

Noted, ta TOG.

 

Why? You seem pretty determined, but IME _anyone_ can get to enjoy it.

Boring fart.

Hmmm. You're looking for one week, or two? You may find some places,
particularly in France, will be getting booked out, especially for New
Year. FWIW I'd prolly recommend Flaine, in France, as the best overall
bet for beginners, although it's not the most lively place for older
(16+) teens. How old are yours again?

You'd be wasting an opportunity if you didn't at least try. Honestly,
you may like it - it doesn't have to be strenuous, painful or cold,
you know.

 

Because I seize up when I'm cold. Then it hurts and I get grumpy.

But there's books and the sea and it's warm - what else could anyone
want from life?

Ideally two from 18th.

11 and 14.

I like the idea. It's the falling over and getting wet and cold bit
that doesn't appeal.

I don't believe you.

 

Bollocks. French Pyrenees.

As cheap as Eastern Europe, and *miles* better.[/QUOTE]

But nothing like as good as a proper resort. Serisouly, Nina, for a
first time ski trip you should _not_ go to a bargain-basement,
unreliable-snow resort, no matter how much TOG pushes it.

I'm not knocking his choice, you understand, and I do often ski at
similar small-scale places myself, but the first ski trip is the most
important you'll ever do, and a poor experience will put you and your
kids right off.

Of course, maybe that's what you want...

 

You'll only get wet & cold if you don't wear the right clobber. Thermal
wicking layer & goretex bike gear with CE armour works for me - no
extra expense either

 

I could dress you (fnaar) such that I'd guarantee you wouldn't get
cold. For most beginners, however, it's being too _hot_ that's the
problem.

Right - should be fine for them then. 1 hour transfer from Geneva is
good, compact village and centralised layout of ski schools and
nursery runs make for easier meeting arrangements.

Alternatively, as others have suggested, Andorra is also worthwhile.
We repped there for three weeks over xmyth/new year last season and
were impressed. Stay at Soldeu, _not_ Pas de la Casa, though, and
choose somewhere in the village proper, not one of the more outlying
bits.

Decent kit (I'm sure there's folk here that would lend you some) makes
a _huge_ difference. The falling over bit is less easy to avoid, but
if you're just a bit cautious it shouldn't happen too often, and
anyway, it's not usually painful.

"Trust me, I'm a Ski Club rep."

 

Yes, but maybe not great quality. However, for learning on the
nursery slopes, which almost always have snowmaking machines, you
should be ok.

Give me a phone call if you want to ask stupid questions in a private
and non-piss-taking environment.

 

There is much truth in what he says.

5 mins on lastminute.com shows a few French alpes trips at what seems
like reasonable prices to me - of course, having to pay for two little
people as well means it will never be 'cheap'.

 

Big myth! You'll never be so warm as when you're learning to ski.
You know how nesh I am, and I'm never cold when boarding, with the
sole exception of the first chair lift after lunch.

Hmm. 12 seems to be the age when kids count as adults holiday-wise.
But I guess you knew this.

You will fall over. Unless you're unlucky with the weather, you won't
get wet - snow in the mountains is pretty dry. You won't get cold.

Well, Ace has been skiing for years, and knows lots about it. Why not
trust his opinion?

 

Thanks both. I'm not going to book anything until the passports come
back, then I'll look at what is available and give you both a shout.

 

There are still many resorts that _don't_ have snowmaking, you know.
Check first.

Likewise. Or email (addy in sig) might be easier. Or just post it to
rec.resorts.skiing.europe and there'll be a few other helpful folk.

 

IME it doesn't really matter *where* you go, more *how* you go. For
all relative values of "cheap" you'll need to ...

a) Drive there yourself
b) Rent a self catered chalet

We've done this for a number of years and it works out quite cheap for
4 adults. Our price per person over the past four years has been a
steady sub-500 snotters all-in.

We've done
Verbier, Switzerland.
La Plagne, France.
St. Anton, Austria.

Best of the lot is Verbier. For beginners I'd probably recommend La
Plagne, although TBH, for real beginners, anywhere will do, just try
somewhere high (over 1300m) for "guaranteed" snow.

Rough breakdown of what it's cost us:-
Getting there, fuel, food & booze ~ £130 (ea)
4-star Accommodation ~ £130 (ea)
Skipass ~ £130 (ea)
Misc. ~ £100 (ea)

OK, you'll have c.£50(ea) for ski school & same for beginners' equip
hire on top of that.

Now, if you want to come along with us to Verbier this year and
baby-sit in the sun all day ...

 

Wot he says. Heine Gericke Voyager kit works for me. ...

 

This isn't helping your 'I'm not from the Midlands' claim you know.
You'll be saying 'dunt' instead of 'doesn't' next.

Oh yes. I really do have to sort out some work, but I'm still holding
out for something I will enjoy rather than just paying the bills.
There was a student advisor post going at the Uni last week but then I
remembered I don't actually want to deal with distressed human beings
anymore.

Oh I do. I just *hate* being cold.

 

ooo ta, I didn't know there was one there. I know tamworth has a snow
dome. I wonder if i could get away with just taking them there and
still get to sit in the sun?

Shush. It's going to be fine. Post office checking service, two weeks.

 

heh. I learnt 'nesh' from Windy (she called me it) - I'd never heard
it before then. But it's a very useful word, with no obvious
mainstream equivalent, so I don't see why it shouldn't be pressed into
service.

Why should you be any different from the rest of us?

Don't hmmm at me, girl. We know what we're talking about here.

You really, *really* are very unlikely to get cold. The only
circumstances are where it is raining in the mountains, and one is
stupid enough to go out in it. (BT, DT, don't bother any more).

As an example: on my first ever ski trip (which admittedly was in
early March), my ex, having tried skiing and decided she didn't like
it, came up to the mid station on the mountain (about 1800m), walked
out to a large boulder stuck in the snow, climbed to the top, stripped
off to a bikini and read a book in the sun, while people skied around
here. She got a great tan, too. Now, Christmas will be colder, but
you'll be exercising enough to keep warm. I get much, *much* colder
on a bike than I ever do snowboarding.

 

I'm from deep in the Midlands (Walsall) and I'd never heard "nesh"
until I moved to Nottingham. Good word it is, along with "twitchel".

 

She bestowed your GYASB# didn't she? Obviously a woman of taste and
discernment, I regret not meeting her.

I'm trying to remember what the Welsh slang was and failing.

Because I can be. At least until the savings run out.

I shall hmmm or indeed hmmmm all I like and you know you can't stop

Being cold yes?

Well I've booked a family ski lesson for tomorrow evening in Sheffield
so we'll see how that goes.

Tried it once, didn't like it could be applied to so many things.

Ah the important stuff - what book?

She'll be all wrinkly all over though.

I can't find my thermal long johns And I've melted part of my
thermal jumper.

 

I've not heard 'twitchel' - what's that one all about then?