CFH - *cough* SkiFamille *cough*
There is a reason
Yep, very much aware of them, and they're on the radar! Just that we have good ties with Serre Che!
They do go to Les Arcs, though, which is sorely tempting. *Has flashbacks to C&A onesie skiing in the 80s....*
I can understand that.
Check they do the full chalet based childcare in the village you want if you do go for them. They haven't always in their newer places
^ Agree SkiFamille v good.
And anyway what wrong with a nice erm (look this is what it was called back then) fagbag? I have a lovely snap of me modelling a rather natty Killy yellow number for the Snow & Rock catalogue in 96 or 97, yes, I modelled, it paid good money. They had to nappy pin the back as every time i went off the required jump it inflated like a balloon !
I "modelled" for a few in the bike industry in my time. Thankfully, very little evidence remains!
This is my most recent fartbag (As I've known them for years!) sighting, a young couple skiing at Bridger Bowl. It wasn't a fancy dress day, this was just what they happened to be wearing.
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Had a chat to them on a lift later in the day. Lovely folks, as is the case with most Montanans.
Then again, same day...
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I have to say I'm constantly blown away by how organised vast ski areas are. They just seem to work with very few hitches.
We've been in Schladming since the weekend and it does not disappoint with the organisation and joined up thinking even in summer. We've been staying in an apartment where we get a summercard. On Monday we used the card to use a cable car for free - we then go-karted down the mountain, and I whooped everyone at mini golf. Yesterday it was red hot so we rode a few miles down the road to a swimming lake (free with some lovely small touches like an airline to blow up inflatables). Today we used it to go up and spend the morning on the Dachstein glacier (ice palace, suspended walkway, bit of a hike etc...). All busses are free. We've probably only used the card for 5% of the things we can.
Tomorrow we get a hefty discount on a day ticket for the bike park.
On Friday we move on to Saalbach where we get a similar tourist card for the week. Big difference is that you don't need to pay extra for bike access to the lifts, so no more of that tourist fun, I'm using the bike everyday!
These places are seriously good value.
Good news for La Grave (possibly old news for some)
Lease bought by Les Deux Alpes operator.
[url= http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/ski/news/new-deal-la-grave-safeguards-french-ski-resort-cult-appeal/ ]La Grave[/url]
Anyone skied Davos and/or Wengen? We are considering a trip to Switzerland so that we can visit family, plus I've never skied there. Ski Miquel have a place in Lauterbrunnen that looks like good value for an all in package, but I've just seen a place in Davosplatz via trivago that looks good value for a week. We'd have to sort travel ourselves, but could go via family dwellings more easily that way, rather than sayig "we're in this resort, can you drive over and find a local hotel for yourselves"
We're thinking of going in mid march. I'm ok with off piste (with appropriate guides) but Mrs NBT is more likely to stick to the pistes.
Sold all my remaining snowboard gear last week...a bit sad about that...but a bad injury two winters ago left me too scared of the consequences of riding the thing again. So, I'm now learning to ski. In March a bunch of great friends who supported me through my whole mending process convinced me to head out to Stubai Glacier in Austria with them.
It was just about okay for my level of skiing (hilariously appalling), and was in my price range for affordability. I think it worked out around 600-700 pp for flights, accommodation, ski pass and kit.
It looks like we'll be heading to somewhere again this winter. Any recommendations? Affordable and beginner friendly, but with enough stuff to challenge my friends?
C. 🙂
Just about to book on a New Year trip to Cervinia. It's high, but still going to be a bit of a gamble. We lucked out at Sestriere last January, thanks to the snow making equipment, but can we be lucky again? 😕
Sold all my remaining snowboard gear last week... So, I'm now learning to ski.
Good....good.....embrace it.....another one joins the good side of the force!
Geoff - luck doesn't come in to it. If Cervinia is struggling for natural or man made then the rest so will most of Italy and Switzerland.
The main problem for Cervinia compared to lots of other places I've been to is the wind. It whips up quite a bit and the lifts close quickly. Get the international pass so you can ski Zermatt, but keep an eye on the weather and lift closing times. It can lead to an expensive night on the wrong side of the mountain, an expensive/long taxi ride home or being rescued from a hut and descending on a skidoo (as happened to a colleague and about 50 others last year!)
Cheers hammerite. True, I remember the early season rescue from the Cervinia gondolas going up to Plan Maison this year.
Good....good.....embrace it.....another one joins the good side of the force!
Stop it. Boards or skis we must remain united against blades.
😀
Looking at booking a chalet in la tania. Anyone been?
La tania is at the bottom end of the courchevel valley. Been a long time since i was there (i was there when the euro replaced the franc) but i recall it was fine: Nightlife not extensive, but great access up the courchevel valley and over into the meribel valley, but without the higher costs of the bigger name villages. We were in meribel at Easter this year, the snow had gone from the village entirely and the same was true of la tania, we couldn't ski down to it, although once you got higher the was plenty of snow
Ta, sounds like it's a good choice then.
Can't wait for this winter again
If anybody has space for a 28yr old snowboarder, get in touch 🙂 none of my mates go on snowy holidays. Boohoo
Hans, Neilson and others do "Single Ski" holidays. They're not "singles" in the seedy sense of it at all, but they try and find places and people that work together. Worth a look, perhaps.
If not, looks as if a few trips get organised on Snowheads, so could be worth a look over there as well.
Yes check your out Snowheads. Never been on one of their Bashes, but they always get good feedback.
I've been with snowheads, bashes are great. Also consider a trip with UCPA via action outdoors, see feedback on here (last year's ski thread) and elsewhere
HansRey - for European trips have a look at ColdFusion Chalets - they cater for the solo traveller and for Canada have a look at NONSTOP ski & snowboard for their 2 week improver courses etc.
Looking at booking a chalet in la tania. Anyone been?
Going there in early March, but skied there the past two Jans. 2016 was great, but 2017 was getting a bit thin and icy.....getting down to La T, but above is fine and you have a bubble lift that elevates you right up to the good snow and from there the world is your oyster.
Not the most boisterous nightlife....pretty quite really.
So having spent a year or 2 on the board I'm wondering about a change back to skis
What do people think to these as an option.
Looks like fun
[url= http://www.theshortskishop.com/buzz-atom-ice-99cms-ski-blade-snow-ski-with-tyrolia-release-bindings-new-fr-2841-p.asp ]skis [/url]
You're banned.
Lol, they are like the bmx of biking though
CFH - check his height / weight first. Those are fine if you're sized like a toddler with huge feet.
Otherwise - fair enough.
O....K.....
I can only imagine the fun in the transition area as ski/board kit is changed for endurognarpyjamas! 😀
I've done the peak to peak in queenstown, ski, bike, paddle, run, bike. Was quite fun.
Scotland in march, anything could happen with that. Could be bike from the top or ski right to the bottom....
Just been sent a video of my 4 year old nailing the button lift at the Hillend Alps. She's quite timid but can ski really well and this week long course has seen her absolutely smash it and be super enthusiastic (she had breakfast in her ski gear...). Proud Dad (and helpful as we'll be moving nearer the proper hills in a couple of years ..)
About the only scheduling that will suit the whole family this year is Christmas week, 23rd to 30th. (group of 5)
Any recommendations for resorts and/or operators?
We normally prefer Austria and Italy to France, but I appreciate that going this early might necessitate looking at Val Thorens/Alpe d'Huez/Tignes too.
Cervinia offerings seem quite limited.
The Austrian glacier resorts are not typically linked to massive areas, so not a good match for the twin requirements of snow-sure and extensive.
Would you risk Ischgl or St Anton this early in season?
Could be bike from the top or ski right to the bottom....
Sounds like a format for a new type of 'Enduro' ... oh hang on a minute..
[url= http://nofussevents.co.uk/events/ski-an-duro-2018-march-17 ]Click me!![/url]
Sounds like a format for a new type of 'Enduro' ... oh hang on a minute..Click me!!
Or, see my post above. 🙂
Or, see my post above
Note to self ... "must pay more attention to CFH's posts ... " 😉
Would you risk Ischgl or St Anton this early in season?
Never been, but I recall a friend taking his family to Ischgl for Christmas a couple of years ago when there was very little snow anywhere. He said it wasn't great but they did ski every day....which I was really surprised to hear.
I should think so too, Digby!
🙂
Ecky-Thump - We've been to Austria the last 3 Christmases. All three of those have had pretty poor natural snow across most of the Alps. 1st year we went to the Skiwelt - it was pretty poor and when it did snow during that week they didn't open up any more of the area for "avalanche safety" or as we suspected preparing and sandbagging the rest of the area for the much busier New Year week.
Then we went to Wagrain (Ski Amade). It was excellent. The lift system is modern and so is the snow making, everything was open. It's linked to St Johann and Flachau and a short bus ride to Kleinarl which is linked to Flachauwinkl and Zauchensee.
Last Christmas we went to Hinterglemm. The area is even more advanced than Ski Amade. The pistes were covered well and everywhere was open.
My point is that snow making is probably just as important (or more important) than being high - there were lots of places much higher than where we've been over the last two years who struggled to open up anything. Obviously it has to have been cold for them to be able to snow...
BTW - I'm in Saalbach at the moment. If there really is no snow the mountain biking is excellent!
We did Bad Gastein at Xmas a few years ago. Had a bloody great time. Skied to 2pm on New year's Eve in a couple of feet of fresh snow then flew home. Fantastic
Point to remember is that the temperature needs to be below zero for snowmaking to work. Skiwelt is awesome but I'd still be thinking snow sure (not necessarily high) plus extensive snow making.
If you're a gambler and not fussy hold on and book near the time but expect to go to 3 valleys, val d etc
Grahamt1980
We (4 adults 2 toddlers) stayed in La Tania last week of January.
I was dubious as it was the lowest part but the wife's liked the child care (more info if requested).
I shouldn't have worried.
Easy access to the 3 valleys. Val thorens and back by mid afternoon. Really nice tree lined home runs which, because la tania is end of the line, are quiet at the end of the day. The up lift first thing is maybe a 10min que but nothing after that.
The resort itself is prettier than most but still suffers from what I call gorbals architecture. There are some nice places to eat but only really one apre bar. The bus is free to merebil and courcheval but I think it runs quite late and is only 10 min.
Christmas skiing appears to be pot luck, really!
Had it one year at Sauze, so not at massive altitude. We arrrived on 23rd(ish) to not a lot of snow. End of the first day (or second, I forget!) it started snowing. Hard. Rest of the week was deep and fresh.
