 Poster: A snowHead
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@sheffskibod, It is the punter who is losing out. Perhaps inconsiderate is the wrong terminology, but I do think for some people it seems that the cost of the time is irrelevant.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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welshflyer - I suspect he was speed-riding down the Banane and went off course somewhat but yea he shouldn't have been over an open piste thats for sure!
sheffskibod - yes as Frosty the Snowman says cost is minimal consideration sometimes. I have had clients that have NOT wanted to do 9-12 or 1-4 but instead say 10-1400 so booked a full day private... other times ive had people decide that its 'too sunny' for a lesson and just not turned up etc! All sorts! But its not really any skin off my nose APART from hanging around for a long period of time waiting and waiting unless im told they are running late etc!
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Had a fantastic week in Tignes and woke up nice and early for the drive home. Plenty of cars already leaving from 4:30am, will be on my way by 5:45am once have woken the kids. Fingers crossed it’s early enough to beat the jams!
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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Traffic mental way before the tunnel at moutiers already, on the way up
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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@stefoy4me, Just discussing that on WhatsApp with a mate, never seen it that busy that early though it the locals cities have started their school hols
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Not helped by accident just after first set of lights. Truck just cleared it. After that plain sailing
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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Not helped by accident just after first set of lights. Truck just cleared it. After that plain sailing
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Passing traffic the other way, At 8:00 the traffic was back about 3km from Moutiers (heading up to the mountain), also a 3 car pile up half way between Chambéry and Albertville which caused a big tailback, and from Chambéry to the toll booth was mainly stopped. Definitely worse than our journey up a week ago.
On the way down we were behind buses all the way from Tignes through Bourg so leisurely progress, just had about 15 mins queue at Aime / Siaix tunnel (hit back of queue 7:00am exactly, seemed to be building quite fast so got a bit lucky) but traffic heavy but flowing at normal speeds through to Chambéry.
Back home 09:45 after 2 toddler sick stops, all is well now.
Edit 13:30 - Savoie-route shows the jam going all the way back from Aigueblanche to the motorway toll at St.Helene d’Isere, and Albertville completely jammed also from the Annecy lake road route. Reminds me of our Christmas 2017 run (11.5 hours Geneva to Menuires). Ouch!!!!!
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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raino - glad you had a good week and hope the journey was OK today. Yes the traffic is bad right from the go in these parts at this time of the year! Wish more accommodation providers could get together to sort out more Sunday - Sunday options really or even Friday to Friday!
stefoy4me - gets earlier ever year it seems - hope wasnt too bad! Hope the accident doesnt back it up for too long!
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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Thanks @Steve Angus, your advice from last year saved us a long wait in jams.
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You know it makes sense.
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@Steve Angus, Thanks for letting us be part of your story for a week. I’m now in a hotel near Dijon after driving down this afternoon. Saw the jam up. It was something horrific to see as we drive mile after mile with no end in sight to the stationary traffic on the left. Except the bits where the movement wave has reached and people who had got out were running to catch the car. I felt sorry for them thinking the end had arrived but they still had at least 10km to go
Back to skiing. Fri was dead as Steve says. We did Le Fornet to Les Brevierres whilst son 2 was off at a lesson (moguls). Queued for a lift in Solaise but otherwise was pretty much straight on.
Sat and we checked out and on slopes by 10.30 which is good for us. We did the snowpark and on to Grand Mott. Amazing views and only the compulsory few mins wait for funi and car. All the while I’m thinking I could be sitting in traffic!
A snowball fight at 11,400 feet ensued which was rather exhausting. But at least it wasn’t slushy…
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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raino - no worries! Happy to help.
AndrewBailey - glad to hear you had a good journey out but mainly that you had a good week. Yes the traffic is something else isnt it! Overall it sounds like you certainly got around the resort thats for sure!
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Poster: A snowHead
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Yummy lunch before it starts again!
It was so nice NOT to have to set the alarm this morning. But of course Ben decided that he wanted a cuddle nice and early. Clare needed to be up as she was working all day but for Clares mum, Olivia, Ben and I we enjoyed a special breakfast followed by a chill morning!
It was really nice to be totally chilled with an extra pair of hands around!
The sun was shining and it was warm once again but I was glad I was not out there after a busy week and another one coming up!
For lunch we headed into town to Le Garage for a sort of end of week with 'granny' special lunch! As usual it was an amazing lunch - the burgers and pizzas in there are amazing! All washed down with a nice beer!
Eyes bigger than the stomach syndrome though as the kids went for pudding which almost beat them but for certain grannies pudding beat her. Haha.
So this evening (and afternoon) it has been a mix of playing games, chilling and other bits with the kids! To be honest a very lazy day. We have seen the helicopters coming and going with the private transfers and also a SAF medical chopper too unfortunately!
Ben has gone off on a sleep over to a friends (school hols have just started here so the kids have the next two weeks off) and we'll have a chilled one. Tomorrow I am teaching meeting mid way to Tignes but then have a very busy afternoon as have someone coming to look at AV kit that needs moving ahead of our renovation works starting this Summer!
Also whilst looking out the window earlier it was the usual case of people sledging on their first arrival day but what I dont get is people doing it on an open slope with skiers all around.... call me an old g i t or whatever but these are the same people who will be preaching about health and safety on the slopes in the morning. Its a bit like watching Ski Sunday just now and preaching about safety in one breadth with the valid and awesome Skier X code and the next showing people (Ed) ducking signage - what sort of a poor message does that give out. People notice things like that and copy it yet most people dont call out dual standards.
Sorry a bit of a moan there.
Anyway TTFN and see you'all tomorrow.
I know it DOESNT look busy out there when this photo was taken but it was! Doh
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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@Steve Angus, at 6.5 minutes the new Vallon must be twice as fast (at least?) as the old one. No more getting overtaken by the drag lift!
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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@Steve Angus,
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The weather meanwhile tomorrow is set to be one more nice day and then should start to change by mid week and we should get a lot of snow coming our way later in the week.
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The return of winter is also forecast here in the UK at the end of the week with low pressure and northerly winds.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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michebiche - I believe the 'standard' time for the current one is 12 minutes so nearly twice as fast yes!
Kenzie - I like that - I have a 'to scale' world atlas somewhere and love seeing how countries measure up. Being a qualified Geography teacher I love this sort of stuff.
welshflyer - love to see it turn into a big dump here - time will tell!
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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First time posting here, I normally just read for the info! (apologies for the long name, it was created the first time we brought the dog out skiing with us!)
@Steve Angus - you mention about using the two chairs instead of the Olympic - just wondering how difficult is the connection between the two? It's red on the map, I'm fine (have skied both the red and the black but that was at 19, halfway through my season and a long time ago and so I can't remember) but my other half has only skied a few times so don't want to do something he wouldn't manage!
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By this stage of the week everyone is pretty clued up to understand that you can take the two chairs in order to get up the mountain instead of waiting in line for the Olympic.... so we did the double and instead of Grand Pre today we headed Verte direction and spent some time on the Borsat lift.
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I can do a test run but thought I'd ask for the expert opinion as well 
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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@Mr_Bennetts_Ski_Trip, It’s my favourite way of getting up Bellvarde. As frosty says it’s a gentle slope across the piste but do look up the hill for skis, poles and boards heading your way at high speed which may, or may not, be connected to a human.
It also saves taking your skis off and getting frustrated at the way people don’t fully load the Gondolas on the Olympic
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Thanks @Frosty the Snowman it doesn't look that bad then so will give it a try (only 2 weeks to go, I'm not ticking the days off or anything!)
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You know it makes sense.
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| chocksaway wrote: |
@Mr_Bennetts_Ski_Trip, It’s my favourite way of getting up Bellvarde. As frosty says it’s a gentle slope across the piste but do look up the hill for skis, poles and boards heading your way at high speed which may, or may not, be connected to a human.
It also saves taking your skis off and getting frustrated at the way people don’t fully load the Gondolas on the Olympic |
I do love the humour in your posts. Are you a fellow Tyke by any chance 
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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@Frosty the Snowman, Indeed Sir, currently living within the sound of the bells of The Cathedral and Metropolitical Church of St Peter’s.
Though I’d rather be listening to the rather tinny sounds of L’Eglise Saint Jacques at this time of year.
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Poster: A snowHead
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@Mr_Bennetts_Ski_Trip - as the above.... its an easy enough ski.... you can snowplough it and barely turn the whole way if you really needed too.... the issues with it are:
1) mentally there is the 'drop off' onto the lower part of the Face to your left which mentally can be challenging for some. If you have a weak left footed turn (to the right) then this could be a problem!
2) sometimes people dont like everyone else rushing past them from one chairlift to the next
3) skiers crossing from above etc can be unnerving for some and dangerous for others!
But the actual ski is not hard. The added bonus (but negative for others) is when you get to the top of the second chair (Loyes) you dont have the full height of the initial slope from top of the Olympic to deal with (which is not nice for lesser able skiers) BUT you have to traverse on the left leg and its a tough traverse across to get above the Bellevarde restaurant.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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Thanks Steve, yeh that was part of the appeal when I saw your comment, the other half isn’t a fan of the bit at the top of the Bellevarde so a way to remove part of it is appreciated! He’ll be fine I think to do the two chairs this time round!
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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| Mr_Bennetts_Ski_Trip wrote: |
| Thanks Steve, yeh that was part of the appeal when I saw your comment, the other half isn’t a fan of the bit at the top of the Bellevarde so a way to remove part of it is appreciated! He’ll be fine I think to do the two chairs this time round! |
Brilliant. You CAN get to the same place (and thus avoid the ski down right from the very top by top of Olympic) by coming out the Olympic lift, turning immediate left and walking down the steps. See my explainer on Instagram as have a vid on there about it.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Morning all, with only 5wks until we come to Tignes again, I am in full webcam watch and piste map study. I’ve only been to Tignes twice so still don’t know the area all that well. Being only a piste skier, I have a couple of questions for you if you don’t mind:
1. Do those dotted black run class as on piste as far as insurance goes? I don’t ski off piste (don’t know how; don’t want to pay for lessons to learn; don’t want to pay for equipment to do it, etc.) but I’m not bothered about whatever conditions I am faced with generally.
2. When are those ski races this year? We went to Tignes last year when there were races down the Orange under Marmottes. I only ask because I was skiing the afternoon with the kids and heading down to La Daille on the blue. My kids were scared to death by these  ends buzzing far too close to them on their way down. My kids have only skied 3wks in total and it totally knocked their confidence. If I know in advance, I’ll feel better.
3. How come there isn’t a piste down from Manchest Express to Val d’Isere? Purely out of interest especially when piste map shows a restaurant. I’m not planning on checking it out or anything: just wondering.
4. My brother went to tinges years ago and he tells me that they used to get on the bottom of the Bollin and get all the way to the top of the Fraise. As I say, I’ve only been twice but both times, we have always had to get off and get back on again. Any explanation or reason?
5. I noticed that I have not skied the Genapy. Can you get all the way down to Val d’Isere from the top of Borsat? Every time I’ve skied Santons, it’s been rubbish. Not that it’s too hard or anything. Just narrow, busy, and generally rubbish. Didn’t know there was a black above it. What’s that like?
6. Finally, Valley Perdue - not for me. Having watched Graham Bell on YouTube going down it, what’s it really like? What’s it like now? Will,it hold up until 1st week in April.
Thank you as always
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| Dougie wrote: |
Morning all, with only 5wks until we come to Tignes again, I am in full webcam watch and piste map study. I’ve only been to Tignes twice so still don’t know the area all that well. Being only a piste skier, I have a couple of questions for you if you don’t mind:
1. Do those dotted black run class as on piste as far as insurance goes? I don’t ski off piste (don’t know how; don’t want to pay for lessons to learn; don’t want to pay for equipment to do it, etc.) but I’m not bothered about whatever conditions I am faced with generally.
2. When are those ski races this year? We went to Tignes last year when there were races down the Orange under Marmottes. I only ask because I was skiing the afternoon with the kids and heading down to La Daille on the blue. My kids were scared to death by racers buzzing far too close to them on their way down. My kids have only skied 3wks in total and it totally knocked their confidence. If I know in advance, I’ll feel better.
3. How come there isn’t a piste down from Manchest Express to Val d’Isere? Purely out of interest especially when piste map shows a restaurant. I’m not planning on checking it out or anything: just wondering.
4. My brother went to tinges years ago and he tells me that they used to get on the bottom of the Bollin and get all the way to the top of the Fraise. As I say, I’ve only been twice but both times, we have always had to get off and get back on again. Any explanation or reason?
5. I noticed that I have not skied the Genapy. Can you get all the way down to Val d’Isere from the top of Borsat? Every time I’ve skied Santons, it’s been rubbish. Not that it’s too hard or anything. Just narrow, busy, and generally rubbish. Didn’t know there was a black above it. What’s that like?
6. Finally, Valley Perdue - not for me. Having watched Graham Bell on YouTube going down it, what’s it really like? What’s it like now? Will,it hold up until 1st week in April.
Thank you as always |
Edited: changing wording slightly.
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| Dougie wrote: |
| Dougie wrote: |
Morning all, with only 5wks until we come to Tignes again, I am in full webcam watch and piste map study. I’ve only been to Tignes twice so still don’t know the area all that well. Being only a piste skier, I have a couple of questions for you if you don’t mind:
1. Do those dotted black run class as on piste as far as insurance goes? I don’t ski off piste (don’t know how; don’t want to pay for lessons to learn; don’t want to pay for equipment to do it, etc.) but I’m not bothered about whatever conditions I am faced with generally.
2. When are those ski races this year? We went to Tignes last year when there were races down the Orange under Marmottes. I only ask because I was skiing the afternoon with the kids and heading down to La Daille on the blue. My kids were scared to death by racers buzzing far too close to them on their way down. My kids have only skied 3wks in total and it totally knocked their confidence. If I know in advance, I’ll feel better.
3. How come there isn’t a piste down from Manchest Express to Val d’Isere? Purely out of interest especially when piste map shows a restaurant. I’m not planning on checking it out or anything: just wondering.
4. My brother went to tinges years ago and he tells me that they used to get on the bottom of the Bollin and get all the way to the top of the Fraise. As I say, I’ve only been twice but both times, we have always had to get off and get back on again. Any explanation or reason?
5. I noticed that I have not skied the Genapy. Can you get all the way down to Val d’Isere from the top of Borsat? Every time I’ve skied Santons, it’s been rubbish. Not that it’s too hard or anything. Just narrow, busy, and generally rubbish. Didn’t know there was a black above it. What’s that like?
6. Finally, Valley Perdue - not for me. Having watched Graham Bell on YouTube going down it, what’s it really like? What’s it like now? Will,it hold up until 1st week in April.
Thank you as always |
Edited: changing wording slightly. |
Here goes with some replies for you:
1) Yes they are classified as pistes for insurance as marked trails just not pisted! BTW you dont need special kit to learn to ski off piste if you dont want to!
2) You're talking about the Scara races - week of the 2nd-5th April I believe it is this year. Yes (and its not just racers but members of the public too) it is the bain of my life people buzzing others and affecting their confidence - its AMAZING how often this happens - grrrr
3) There's no piste mainly as its very flat - to flat to ski. The restaurant is mainly there for the Summer months trade but obviously owners want it mentioned for the Winter months too so when its safe enough to get there in the Winter its quite popular location!
4) The Bollin Fresse lift had technical issues pretty much from the day it was built back in the late 1990's and for years they tried to keep the mechanics working so you could if you wanted go bottom to top in one go but they have given up with that all now so you have to get off and back on again!
5) Genepy piste turns into Santons! The black Epaulet du Charvet is not and easy option no!
6) Yes will be fine into April. Its a pain in the ****run if you ask me. I always say its James Bond meets, Indiana Jones, meets snowplough / sideslipping survival. Its nice for a bit of fun but otherwise I wouldnt bother personally.
Hope that all helps
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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Classic errors
As is always the case I am sitting here and had fully planned out a really good update as to what wanted to say but totally forgot most of it - doh!
Anyway Clare was off this morning so it was me to get Olivia and Ben to their meeting point for Club. It was noticeably colder but decent weather this morning. The meeting point was pretty quiet and being a Saturday of course everyone was on the roads! After the piste bashers have done their magic for a second night the pistes hold up MUCH better and today was no exception... the grooming was stunning and the snow so soft. It was perfect snow.
Anyway I had a lovely lady who had been here all week but had been too scared to ski... she has skied much of her life and much of that time in Val d'Isere. In fact she has been coming for more than 30 years. However she decided at the start of the week before putting skis on that she did not have her mojo anymore so it was my job to get it back! Unfortunately I only had a session as she was heading home tomorrow.
It was lovely and quiet and we headed up Olympic, walked down the steps and skied across to the Verte... all good. I noticed as usual there was several people deciding to carry ski kit right down the middle of that first pitch... I know the steps are not that obvious but really where are peoples common sense. You can tell by the way they were walking down the slope it was a complete newbie to the sport coming down with their 'expert' friend about to teach them to ski... I know lets put skis on for the first time at the top of Verte - well you know how it is going to go from there - doh!
Anyway Verte followed by Borsat and then Genepy and a coffee at Empreiente was the go'er. It was good to warm up as it was probably the coldest morning of the last few weeks and certainly the coldest morning of February by far.... I almost should have putted my heated socks on - now that tells you something as I dont often say that!
After coffee we did a few laps of Grand Pre and she really did regain some of her confidence - well done. We finished with the Club Des Sports blue piste from the top of Grand Pre and then headed back to town to finish up. I collected the kids from club and headed home for lunch with them ( Clare has just taken them back for the afternoon). Tomorrow Olivia has a Tarantaise valley race and Ben will either ski with a friend or spend the day at a friends house as Clare is helping at the ski race and im starting a full week booking).
So it was a chilly but sunny day - just perfect. Tomorrow will be quite busy as another week of well over 100,000 skier nights (84.1% occupancy rate) are expected. Local schools remain off so it will be a busy week. The roads today are once again very very busy! Hope its going OK for those of you on the roads!
Finally I have been thinking about my 'top ten' tips and recommendations for skiers:
1) Never use the phrase (or variations of it). 'When I learnt to ski' - if you think you learnt then it makes you think you completed something. In fact you are always learning - and I mean always learning and improve.
2) Dont undo the good work you learn in lessons. I see it all the time. As soon as people leave lessons they stop practicing what they learnt in the lessons and this stop getting better. Spend 5 mins here and there working on what you learn in lessons as its a muscle memory acquisition sport - you need to teach the body to do things that are NOT natural!
3) Dont stop taking lessons (yes I know some people will think as an instructor im saying this as it creates work for us / me but it is true!). Many people get to a 'level' where they can get around the mountain with some element of skill and then drop lessons. I can ASSURE you that as you get older and brute strength and agility is no longer your friend that you will wish you had learnt more and for longer as it will be too late by then! Every single season I teach lots of people who fall into this camp but by the time they realise its too late!
4) Dont think 'speed' and colour of run you go on / at is anything other than a reflection of self confidence.... it is NOT a expression of skill. 99% of mountain users always seem to not know this!
5) Turn shape is King! A skier or boarder will always continue to improve and learn if try and round their turn off in all situations... in other words finish the turn off... this includes on green slopes etc. Yes you will go a lot slower but going slow on a green run (as an example) will stop you 'fudging' technique
6) Try and finish and start a turn at approximately the same speed - by doing so you are confirming to the brain that you have control of speed and line and therefore you are a much better skier than you think!
7) Colour of run doesnt mean much... it is basically only a reflection of how steep the steepest part is (or should be!) and there is no global standardisation of slope colouring - its a marketing thing and only that. Instead accept that how narrow / busy / icy / bumpy a slope is is likely to indicate how challenging it should be. e.g. The Face here in Val d'Isere is an EASY black run at 0900 in the morning usually (wide, no ice / moguls etc) but at the day end its still just as steep but can be a brute of a black!
8 ) Dont waste money on pointless rubbish / dont be 'sold' to. Ski manufacturers etc want you to buy several sets of skis, the poshest helmet etc. Instead use the money to actually get better at skiing / boarding rather than thinking a pair of off piste skis (for example) will 'allow' you to ski off piste... you dont need specialist stuff for all eventualities! Cant tell you how many people spend money needlessly in a vain attempt to shortcut their way to success on the slopes!
9) Dont keep up with 'expert'. I challenge anyone NOT to know an expert skier who knows more than everyone else around the chalet dining table. Talks the talk and knows everything... everyone must bow to their expertise! I BET you that person is actually nowhere near as good as the aurora floating around them. Trying to physically keep up with them on the slopes often makes you a worse skier and not a better one! FWIW I think an expert skier needs to have done over a hundred weeks of skiing absolute minimum before they could even contemplate having that title and as I have often said... 'a expert skier knows they are actually a beginner'. I personally having done this job for 25 years full time (something like 500 weeks+ of skiing - a rough guess) would call myself a beginner compared to the skills World Cup ski racers have or FreeRide World Tour riders etc!
10) Remember skiing / boarding etc is WHATEVER YOU want it to be.... cruising the greens, mogul bashing, racing or freestyle, on or off the piste. Make it whatever you want it to be but remember no-one is right and no-one is wrong! The last to the bottom shouldn't have to buy the beers! Testosterone and Bravado is not for everyone!
TTFN
The milky ski could lead to some weather tomorrow! MORE SNOW COMING!
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@Steve Angus, I always read but don't comment - but just to say thanks for your top ten tips! I try and abide by them but it can be difficult - especially trying to keep up with other people! So right and valuable!
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FAQ
