 Poster: A snowHead
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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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A big enough range of pistes and lifts that by the end of a two-week holiday it doesn't feel like I've got a "routine" of which pistes I'm going to ski. If I like a piste I will ski it several times quite happily, but I don't like the feeling that I'm doing a run because I can't think of anywhere else to go.
Ski in/out ain't essential - it's good if you're in a small resort for a week, but the downside is that you'll end up skiing the same pistes at the start and finish of every day.
Food - if I'm in a hotel the food needs to be to a good standard. I like a good range of wine, preferably by the glass/pichet as well as by the bottle as I frequently end up drinking red when my wife wants white. Can't manage a whole bottle every night of the holiday!
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Drive all the time in snowboard boots, no problem at all (except for one set of boots which had a strap which annoyingly caught on the underside of the dash). Drove about 10 feet in ski boots once. Was manageable.
Hiking boots? Seriously? Wouldn't bat an eyelid.
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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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| Valkyrie wrote: |
| If I like a piste I will ski it several times quite happily, but I don't like the feeling that I'm doing a run because I can't think of anywhere else to go. |
Ooh, yes, this too. I want a good amount of blues and reds that I'm not doing the same ones all day every day, but I will happily go back to favourites.
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| stevomcd wrote: |
| (Driving in) Hiking boots? Seriously? Wouldn't bat an eyelid. |
I've tried it, didn't consider it safe, won't do it even for a short drive. OK, possibly for 10 feet.
Done any climbing? In rock shoes versus big boots? Around 4 technical grades difference for me. Some of that is sticky soles but most of it is the better precision of footwork in shoes versus boots.
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dogwatch, what's the relevance of shoes that allow you to cram a tiny portion of your foot into a rock crevice to driving? Climbing shoes make ski boots seem comfortable, I certainly wouldn't want to drive in them, however 'precise' they might be in the right circumstances.
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Lively town/village
Good food
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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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| Gämsbock wrote: |
| dogwatch, what's the relevance of shoes that allow you to cram a tiny portion of your foot into a rock crevice to driving? |
Sensitivity of shoes versus boots. No I wasn't suggesting driving in rock shoes. Cramming foot into crevices hasn't been my mostly-limestone thing, more standing on teeny-weeny rugosities. Though I do like the Johnny Dawes gritstone suggestion "Think where you want a foothold. Now stand up on it."
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dogwatch - I'd prefer to drive in hiking boots than rock shoes! But I don't think that's a good comparison. I am quite happy driving in hiking boots. I would never to it in ski boots - I'd prefer to be barefoot but in the real world change footwear in the carpark. My passengers generally wear ski boots in the car for a ten minute drive. Problem with ski boots for driving is a) smooth soles - slip on the clutch b) lack of ankle flex when pointing toe - when driving you are suppose to plant the heel and extend the toe to depress the accelerator - neither of these is an issue with walking boots.
On the original topic I'm in the ski lifts/snow/decent bed camp. I did a lot of early skiing from ski in/ski out accommodation and did regard it as a bit of a must. I'd still like to avoid ski buses when accompanied by small children but these days I'm generally happy driving if the parking is OK. These days ski in ski out is a nice to have but I'd trade it for better accommodation. We had this debate quite seriously recently when deciding where to buy an apartment - went for one with a nicer rather than more convenient (i.e. across the road from a lift) location
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Having only had 4 week of skiing under my belt, having ski in/ski out is still a must for me - too much faffing involved with buses, walking etc. Convenience is essential when you're still convincing your newbie friends that we should be doing this skiing lark ever year. Maybe when they're fully sold, we can be a bit more open minded!
Apart from that - large ski area with fast lifts is good, and a few nice bars in the evening  Hence I'm a big fan of Val Thorens & the 3 Vallees...
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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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Went in a sauna for the first and probably last time in my life this year, not in the slightest bit enjoyable, each to their own.
Essentials
Good company to ski and socialise with, a small resort with good company would be better than 3v on my own
no lift queues
no Russians!
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| Quote: |
These days ski in ski out is a nice to have but I'd trade it for better accommodation.
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I am the opposite. Having skied with a young child for many years I regard ski out as vital. Sadly I am not at all sure what people mean by "better accommodation". I am happy in a climbing hut where there are 20+ of us sleeping together (not in the biblical sense) provided is close to the action the next morning (once again not in the biblical sense). To me proximity to good skiing is paramount, everything else is subsidiary. To be honest saunas, swimming pools and hot tubs are to be endued not enjoyed.
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You know it makes sense.
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| pam w wrote: |
| ... well the question was asked by a tourist, of tourists. We're not all ski gods. |
Sorry, I didn't see that in the OP.
I like snow. I often have to travel half-way around the world to get it. When people say they are worried about how close their accommodation is to the slopes, that seems strange.
To me that's a tourist thing, I don't really get the point of it.
Take a look around and you'll see great skiers at all sorts of resorts.
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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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Poster: A snowHead
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nothing wrong with them IME
brits, french teenage boarders and ESF instructors have far less manners (edit: oh and that totally enebriated german guy that was so wasted that I got drunk on the alcohol breath on the chairlift with the wind cover UP - there was no way his legs were going to work when the chair arrived)
Last edited by Poster: A snowHead on Wed 9-07-14 23:57; edited 1 time in total
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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| philwig wrote: |
To me that's a tourist thing, I don't really get the point of it.
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Well for a family with small kids to marshall and one week on the snow you can see the point to reduce faff and tantrums ( at least from dad) but it's one of those things, the more skiing you do the less important it seems (and the more cash freed up for more skiing by not having it)
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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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| philwig wrote: |
| I like snow. I often have to travel half-way around the world to get it.....To me that's a tourist thing, I don't really get the point of it. |
So travelling around the world for snow isn't "tourism"?
It's one of those tricky irregular nouns. I am a traveller, she is a tourist, he is a day tripper.
Just say to yourself 100 time. "I am a tourist and I feel no guilt."
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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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Overrated my ar5e.
Enjoy your mini bus waiting for everyone else to get all their gear together or waiting for tubby to finish his breakfast.
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Filthyphil30k, agreed. I would rather be master of my own destiny.
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I find the 100m walk from the Portovescovo boot room round the side of the hotel to the Arabba chairlift really eats in to my skiing time, and certainly ruins the holiday. Especially after loitering for 20mins out the front of the hotel waiting for the day's group to assemble. At least you can often ski down the cat track to the piste basher shed, and slide down the road to the boot room. And down the steps in to the boot room.
Much prefer to pole 100m along a green path to a 15minute lift queue in Avoriaz.
(insert whichever smiley you fancy)
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| andy wrote: |
(insert whichever smiley you fancy) |
Certainly. Bend over.
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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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Essentials - Snow, large well linked resort with fast lift system and good quality English speaking ski school for kids - and for accomodation balcony, bath, wifi and ideally room to 'swing a cat' - and, of course, good friends
Luxuries - Ski in/out, swim pool for the kids
Can only dream of as out of my budget with school hols now and 3 children to pay for - all of the above in a luxury catered chalet with excellent staff, food and wine ( and maybe someone to drive my snow boots up the mountain at lunch time so i can take my ski boots off for an hour ? - apparently the really posh places will do that!).
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| Filthyphil30k wrote: |
Overrated my ar5e.
Enjoy your mini bus waiting for everyone else to get all their gear together or waiting for tubby to finish his breakfast. |
You could say the same about waiting for lazy to get his ski boots on whilst your outside waiting to ski off... why go on hols with mates and ski on your own? If you're a proper skier you'll be eating breakfast in your ski gear, not your pj's and be ready as soon as poss after - gear in the van ready to go just pop yourself in... and if your mates are that lazy when it comes to skiing, sounds like you need better ski mates!!
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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| andy wrote: |
nothing wrong with them IME
brits, french teenage boarders and ESF instructors have far less manners (edit: oh and that totally enebriated german guy that was so wasted that I got drunk on the alcohol breath on the chairlift with the wind cover UP - there was no way his legs were going to work when the chair arrived) |
Fair point, as the late, great Fred Dibna said, "There's nowt in this North South divide with people being more friendly in the North, there's awkward bu66ers wherever you go!"
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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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| Insiders wrote: |
| If you're a proper skier you'll be eating breakfast in your ski gear, not your pj's and be ready as soon as poss after!! |
This ...although I save time by not doing the breakfast thing - overrated/for wimps*
*delete as appropriate
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| dogwatch wrote: |
So travelling around the world for snow isn't "tourism"?
It's one of those tricky irregular nouns. I am a traveller, she is a tourist, he is a day tripper. |
I was using the word "tourist" to help differentiate between those of us whose sole interest in ski resorts is the snow, and those who have broader interests.
I would suggest that's pretty much the opposite of the pejorative you've assumed there - I'm the snow geek, they're the rounded people. But if you'd like to take offence then that's of course what the internet's for. Just don't tell my mates who work in the tourist information office that it's a bad word.
On a later post, I simply don't believe that people don't go to breakfast ready to ride. Next you'll be telling me that they don't actually make the first and last lifts of the day, or that they stop for lunch. I don't get that either.
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You know it makes sense.
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For skiing ? Just snow really.
For ski holidays ? As much as I can reasonably afford.
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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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| philwig wrote: |
So travelling around the world for snow isn't "tourism"?
I would suggest that's pretty much the opposite of the pejorative you've assumed there - I'm the snow geek, they're the rounded people. But if you'd like to take offence then that's of course what the internet's for. Just don't tell my mates who work in the tourist information office that it's a bad word. |
"Tourist" is widely used as a pejorative term and has been for a very long time. The famous 1948 photograph "Ugly American" of a semi-dressed drunk tourist in Havana cemented the image of a certain type of behaviour many enjoyed and others sneered at, and it coined a phrase that has entered the vocabulary. At age 13 I was told "you look like a tourist" and that was not praise (even though, alas, I was neither semi-dressed nor drunk). When the Gang of Four sang "At home he feels like a tourist" they were talking about disengagement from human relationships. See also the phrase "benefits tourism" to denote the mythical hordes who come the UK for benefits largesse and "spiritual tourism" to describe a trivial connection by air-heads to faiths of other cultures.
So apparently all of that has passed you by and in emphasising how you are not a tourist, no sir, not me, you meant something else. OK.
By the way, I'm hardly "offended". I'm amused.
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Poster: A snowHead
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| Quote: |
Ski lifts. Everything else is negotiable.
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+1
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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dogwatch, i am liking your post.
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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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dogwatch,
| Quote: |
When the Gang of Four sang "At home he feels like a tourist" they were talking about disengagement from human relationships.
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Thats a blast from the past long time since I heard it.
More generally on ski in ski out We've been skiing en famille and with another family for many years now with kids at various ages and found staying away from the slopes has worked very well.
You can generally get far better accommodation at a cheaper price, it is often a bit quieter. Having a deadline to get into the car can focus the mind of disorganised teens.
Disadvantages are that if you are the driver you don't want an after ski pint if you have to drive. You can't come down for a cheap lunch in the apartment.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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| capstone wrote: |
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Ski lifts. Everything else is negotiable.
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+1 |
Snow is negotiable ?
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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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Enough room to swing a cat.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Why do you need a cat?
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Good snow is the only real essential closely followed by ski lifts as I'm no where near fit enough to do a week of touring.
I hate really small rooms with paper thin walls so prefer to have a bit of privacy and need internet access though that is easily solved by buying a local sim.
Ski in ski out is nice but not bothered by buses at all, prefer not to have to walk a long way in ski boots so would rather have a bus journey than a 15 min walk.
Nice food is always appreciated as is not feeling like I've been robbed after buying 2 drinks.
But good snow really makes up about 80% of the enjoyment of the holiday so everything else is just an extra.
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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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| holidayloverxx wrote: |
| Insiders wrote: |
| If you're a proper skier you'll be eating breakfast in your ski gear, not your pj's and be ready as soon as poss after!! |
This ...although I save time by not doing the breakfast thing - overrated/for wimps*
*delete as appropriate |
My stomach normally has me up waiting in my pj's for brekkie to be served, skiing without breakfast is like skiing without skis!, a shame that breakfast is such a poor effort in most accommodation that I use/can afford
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| Insiders wrote: |
| Filthyphil30k wrote: |
Overrated my ar5e.
Enjoy your mini bus waiting for everyone else to get all their gear together or waiting for tubby to finish his breakfast. |
You could say the same about waiting for lazy to get his ski boots on whilst your outside waiting to ski off... why go on hols with mates and ski on your own? If you're a proper skier you'll be eating breakfast in your ski gear, not your pj's and be ready as soon as poss after - gear in the van ready to go just pop yourself in... and if your mates are that lazy when it comes to skiing, sounds like you need better ski mates!! |
I am not sure I understand your post.
My point was ski in/out allows you the choice of when you go skiing, not a third party who is in your chalet.
WTF is a proper skier?
How is getting in a van easier than skiing away from you front door?
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FAQ
imo ski in/out is over rated, i'm not planning on coming back for a nap during the day so why do i need ski in out! also, some of my mates have stay ski in out and actually got out skiing later in the morning because it's right on the doorstep some people don't feel the need to get on it immediately 
