 Poster: A snowHead
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This is the first time I have skied at Christmas as an adult. My parents did it one year when I was kid when we went to La Molina (at least that's where we stayed, there was no snow, so we were bused to Andora under the ski guarantee that came with holiday - don't think that's a "thing" anymore is it?).
I have always read it is quieter than New Year week. It has felt very busy to me, quite a good number of long scrum queues with pushing and shoving going on and certain runs very busy with out of control skiers. Got taken out once completely by a teen racing through a narrow blue.... realised after it was also a link between 2 parks - so presume that's why they were on it.
My question is - has this season been busier than previous years? Or is this just normal and New Year week is even worse?
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Where are you? I read on a les Arcs thread earlier today that is was significantly quieter than normal....
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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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@NickyJ, I take it you were at Flachauwinkl when you were taken out? So busy now when the kids are off school/days off work
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@NickyJ, beyond an occasional day trip I dont bother Christmas & New Year, partly down to doing other "stuff" but mostly as it is too busy. Around here folk generally start to head for the mountains from Christmas Day onwards. This year there has been many reports of great conditions, heavy snow prior to Christmas followed by "Kaiserwetter", blue skies and plentiful snow. This will attract a good many local day visitors adding to the crowds.
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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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| holidayloverxx wrote: |
| @NickyJ, I take it you were at Flachauwinkl when you were taken out? So busy now when the kids are off school/days off work |
Spot on.
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| Gaz_H wrote: |
| Where are you? I read on a les Arcs thread earlier today that is was significantly quieter than normal.... |
We are staying in Wagrain
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Yes it has been quieter than usual this Christmas in les arcs. In fact quieter than most Easter weeks. At times we would be the only ones visible on a piste and usually it was straight onto a lift.
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We don't tend to head up either as the last few years have been so very busy and we've had non-skiing chums staying but the reports are that it's not too bad, presumably as cover is quite low and most places doing ok?
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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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The fact that Christmas is quieter than New Years never meant that Christmas is quiet. Sorry, but of course not.....!
It still probably is one of the three busiest weeks of the season. (with Carnival)
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In les arcs it ranks after new year, the inner two weeks of half term and the outer 2 weeks. It seems to have been very quiet this week.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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| Langerzug wrote: |
The fact that Christmas is quieter than New Years never meant that Christmas is quiet. Sorry, but of course not.....!
It still probably is one of the three busiest weeks of the season. (with Carnival) |
This is really what I am trying to figure out. Is it just user bonkers next week or have Christmas been getting busier.
Got spoilt previous 2 years where school holiday dates allowed a pre-Christmas week which was brilliant.
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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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Les Saisies was quieter than last Christmas despite brilliant weather. No significant lift queues. I wasn't skiing but the other 9 family members were. No reports of any collisions or near misses. Three of my grandchildren were in "mini group"ski lessons, with max four kids. 2 of them had only 2, the third had lessons on her own all week!
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| Origen wrote: |
| Les Saisies was quieter than last Christmas despite brilliant weather. No significant lift queues. I wasn't skiing but the other 9 family members were. No reports of any collisions or near misses. Three of my grandchildren were in "mini group"ski lessons, with max four kids. 2 of them had only 2, the third had lessons on her own all week! |
That's lovely for your grandkids, although actually the one on their own, depending on their age and experience they may have preferred someone else along with them?
Is that unusually quiet for Les Saises?
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You know it makes sense.
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We ski over Christmas every year. We ski in Austria and see a big change between pre Christmas Day and post. The Germans will almost religiously stay home for Christmas so it’s just the strange people here.
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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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@NickyJ, In La Plagne last week it was lovely and quiet, then got busy as has become normal for the week with Christmas Day in it. This coming week looks silly busy judging by the car parks this evening. Christmas week was probably a bit quieter than last year.
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Poster: A snowHead
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From the 26th, its the busiest time of the season here. There was a noticeable difference even on our mountain. And Flachauwinkl is a hot-spot for those who love the parks.
Up until the 26th - lovely. 
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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There is always an influx of Germans and to a lesser extent Dutch here after Christmas Day. Depending how it falls in the week can make a significant difference. This year most countries have 2 full weeks holiday so you can guarantee that coupled with the good early season conditions everywhere is going to be busy.
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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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Oh, another thread on exactly the same topic?
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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@ster, she apologised for the duplicate thread
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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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@holidayloverxx, just an exclamation in surprise as I replied on the other thread, clicked onto this one but couldn’t see my reply, I thought I was getting even more forgetful (today’s been a really bad day for that, as managed to forget my boots driving to the lift, then did forget my phone, then my poles in a bubble!)
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You'll need to Register first of course.
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Lift queues are dead time, unavoidable bottlenecks a bore.
Luckily we’re now past our kids at school phase, so can swerve that entire period from Boxing Day up to the Friday after New Year.
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@ster, ooops...rough day
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We’re in Morillon in the Grand Massif. It feels very busy here in comparison to previous Christmas weeks but that could be due to other local factors pushing people here from Samoens.
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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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The worst crowds are 23rd and 31st... to be avoided.
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Currently the weather is lovely and sunny… I’m in Avoriaz… so even though yesterday was changeover Ardent parking was full by approx 9:30
Today I’m expecting to be heaving: people staying in resort plus locals enjoying the good conditions with more sunshine.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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| ster wrote: |
| @holidayloverxx, just an exclamation in surprise as I replied on the other thread, clicked onto this one but couldn’t see my reply, I thought I was getting even more forgetful (today’s been a really bad day for that, as managed to forget my boots driving to the lift, then did forget my phone, then my poles in a bubble!) |
My guess is the WiFi.... we notice its a bit stuttery in the apartment. Normally hamsters spot a double submit, but didn't save me in this instance.
I only noticed after somebody commented which prevented me deleting I think...
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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 @ousekjarr, for locking other thread!
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I usually take the kids at Easter but we have other plans this year so decided to squeeze in a short trip Fri 20th to Tue 24th (Xmas Eve). It was a short and sweet trip but I was pleasantly surprised how quiet it was (and not as pricey as I expected) - this may be as we were in Flaine which had only been open for a week beforehand and the lower resorts in Grand Massif (Samoens, Morillion, les Carroz, Sixt) only opened on 21st - I imagine it gets very busy from Sat 28th onwards - the prices certainly went up.
I know it can be a risk with the weather but I'd be very tempted to do the full Xmas again.
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You know it makes sense.
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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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I don’t think it felt more busy than usual in Les Arcs for Christmas week, less busy than usual in fact. Many French families seem to travel to Les Arcs on Boxing Day, so it gets busier on the slopes from the 27th and then in to New Year week. With Christmas Day falling on Wednesday this year, for most of the Christmas Week we saw very few lift queues at all (other than during the storm on Sunday and Monday, when there were limited operations) and pistes that didn’t seem at all busy for a holiday week, outside of the usual pinch points.
Coupled with excellent snow and several days of mild, blue sky days and it gave the best Christmas skiing that I can recall.
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Poster: A snowHead
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| AliAfro wrote: |
I usually take the kids at Easter but we have other plans this year so decided to squeeze in a short trip Fri 20th to Tue 24th (Xmas Eve). It was a short and sweet trip but I was pleasantly surprised how quiet it was (and not as pricey as I expected) - this may be as we were in Flaine which had only been open for a week beforehand and the lower resorts in Grand Massif (Samoens, Morillion, les Carroz, Sixt) only opened on 21st - I imagine it gets very busy from Sat 28th onwards - the prices certainly went up.
I know it can be a risk with the weather but I'd be very tempted to do the full Xmas again. |
Not this winter but the last two we skied Schladming the week up to Xmas Eve. Quiet slopes, never saw a lift queue. We know the mountains well … Xmas, New Year, February a totally different story of key lifts having sizeable queues.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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@Snow&skifan, yes previous 2 years, we managed pre-Christmas weeks due to nice school holiday dates..
That was lovely! Sadly not this year or until we are out of school system.... at least that end is vaguely in sight now. Eldest at Uni, youngest in year 10.
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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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Just returned yesterday from Les Menuires. Can’t compare with other Christmas weeks as I’ve not skied them before.
I thought it was busy but not enough to put me off. The 2 days of snow were more of an issue 22/23rd as a lot of the high up lifts were closed which meant silly queues for the low down runs. The rest of the week - not too bad. I really enjoyed it. Would consider coming again this week of the year.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Busier than usual here in the Jungfrau region, probably due to the great conditions and lovely mild weather. Here's a shot from the Männlichen webcam at lunchtime today. I don’t think I've ever seen it so busy.
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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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| telford_mike wrote: |
Busier than usual here in the Jungfrau region, probably due to the great conditions and lovely mild weather. Here's a shot from the Männlichen webcam at lunchtime today. I don’t think I've ever seen it so busy.
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Interesting how preferences differ. I’d far rather ski at below zero, than eg +5C, +8C. But I love sunshine of course. I prefer the way the piste surface holds up throughout the day and the aesthetics of a winter wonderland with snow covered trees.
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