 Poster: A snowHead
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This is a bit far fetched at the moment.
My work is reasonably flexible re working arrangements so I could be doing compressed hours (e.g. 5 days in 4 or 10 days in 9). But instead of taking say every Friday off (as in the case of 5 days in 4) I could “save” those days and take them in chucks (like 6 weeks in one go). This way I don’t have to use all my annual leave in one go.
So I’m thinking of doing a mini ski season (e.g. between 4 and 8 weeks). My aim is to improve on my technique. I can ski down any runs and off piste (though somewhat less elegantly). I can’t carve on one leg on both sides well and I can’t ride switch or jump well. I’m fairly sure I don’t want to become an instructor. I don’t have the calling or patience to be one and I’d rather be skiing rather than instructing. So instructor courses are out for me. My question is if there are other courses available for a short period of intensive training. If not I’m happy to partner with specific instructors for like 2 or 3 half day lessons every week (or more if necessary). I’m hoping to improve my telemarking so appreciate the choice is probably a lot more limited.
Logistically is there anything I need to watch out for? E.g. would I be able to find accommodation for say 6 weeks only? How early do I have to book? Realistically 2026/27 winter is the earliest I can do it.
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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 accomodation is a tricky one - depends where you want to be and how far e.g. you're prepared to drive/take bus every ski day. And when you want to go. I suspect 6 weeks from 1 March to mid April is way easier than 6 weeks including NY and Feb half terms. As for instruction there are places that run weekly seasonnaire groups but I suspect you might be better going somewhere with an established "coaching" course provider and doing an initial week or two with them then tapping up individuals on a few hours basis here or there thereafter.
Unless you've a boatload of cash and are willing to throw it at e.g. a Nonstop ski type operation.
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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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I did similar, albeit back in 2010 so not sure how relevant my experiences would be.
I booked an apartment in Tignes Val Claret for 4 weeks, early March to early April. I went through Tignes spirit, I’m pretty sure I paid £450 a week (got a bit of discount for multi week). The apartment was perfect. I think I booked it up around 2-3 months before going, so around Xmas time maybe. I structured my weeks out a bit:
Week 1: Just general exploration and get as many miles underfoot as possible, skied on my own mostly.
Week 2: 2 friends came out and stayed with me, cruised with them all week.
Week 3: I did a group lesson for the week, just with one of the popular schools. I originally booked it for the camaraderie during the day but it worked well as by halfway through we were down to 4 people so got a lot of individual instruction, and they were a nice bunch that we met up for beers a couple of times.
Week 4: Back to exploring parts of the piste map less reached.
I ended my trip by travelling from Tignes to La Thuille to meet my usual snow buddies for a 1 week trip we had booked earlier the previous year. In hindsight, and had I not have done that, I’d have driven down to Tignes instead of going by planes, trains and coaches, it gives much more flexibility to maybe ski a different area or two, get to the shops in the valley, get out of resort for a few hours etc etc.
I’d definitely say to do it if you can, and particularly if it can be done by flexi time so you’re effectively being paid whilst being there. After mine I worked a few months more, quit my job and worked two seasons for a TO. So maybe don’t do that bit……
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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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Thanks all.
Incidentally I also have Tignes in mind as it's quite high (the other one I have in mind is Val Thorens). I'm a bit worried to go between early March to April though as the snow condition isn't as good say Jan to mid Feb. I do want to get better at powder. Appreciate it's going to be more pricey and busier so there's a trade off.
A friend of mine did a course with Warren Smith and was raving about it. The problem is that they don't do telemark tuition (at least not from their website). I'm reasonably competent on alpine so not looking to spend my mini season doing alpine (of course one can always get better!)
I just remember there's Telemark Tracks at Tignes (another reason to go to Tignes!) so I could work with them to see if they could tailor something for me.
I'm also in a fortunate position that I don't think I need to take on a gig while I'm out there. In terms of accommodation ideally I'd like to stay in the mountain ideally either ski-in ski out or within say 5 mins walk. Obviously that will come at a cost...
I'm also debating whether it's worth doing more than say 6 weeks. I wonder how much I could improve in just say 6 weeks vs if I stay out for longer. Theoretically I can stay out for three months. Having said that as much as I love skiing I'm not sure I would enjoy skiing non-stop for three months...
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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@euanovsky, Why not split it in two. Go out the weekend after New Year until the start of French school holidays, back home for four weeks, then back out for the rest of your 90 days.
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| rjs wrote: |
| @euanovsky, Why not split it in two. Go out the weekend after New Year until the start of French school holidays, back home for four weeks, then back out for the rest of your 90 days. |
There it is.
As for conditions, I’m sure Tignes based folk will chime up with better experience than I have about typical conditions in March. But outside of my aforesaid 4 weeks there in 2010 I’d done 2 separate Easter weeks in years before that, and we had bountiful snow each time. So personally I wouldn’t say January is a must (I’ve also been there in late December / early January and it’s the coldest I can ever remember being on a chairlift).
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@Dav, We've been skiing powder in Tignes for the last few days, thats proper powder, not tourist office or ski school advert powder. Thats because it's been quite cold and crucially it's been quite still. Often up here its very windy in Jan and fresh snow is just that - not powder because of its speed of arrival. My views on snow are sometimes seen as controversial but thats generally because I'm not selling anything!
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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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| chocksaway wrote: |
| @Dav, We've been skiing powder in Tignes for the last few days, thats proper powder, not tourist office or ski school advert powder. Thats because it's been quite cold and crucially it's been quite still. Often up here its very windy in Jan and fresh snow is just that - not powder because of its speed of arrival. My views on snow are sometimes seen as controversial but thats generally because I'm not selling anything! |
This is getting away from the OPs advice... but this is exactly what happens in Andorra more often than not. The snow that falls in March tends to be light, fluffy and powder like. Any snowfall in January is usually joined by 100kph winds and doesn't land anywhere useful!
Back to the OPs questions... re: accommodation. Join a seasonnaire group on Facebook for wherever you plan to go. You might be able to pick up a spare room, particularly towards the end of the season.
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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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So you're not interested in improving your alpine skiing but want to focus on telemark? That probably reduces your number of places with decent coaching considerably although IME people get good at telemarking* through mileage (and maybe Allen & Mikes or Paul Parker's book) rather than intensive coaching.
* I never got good at the telemarketing as I was always trying to get back to my base level before I was receptive to coaching.
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@euanovsky,
Chalet Hattiers long stay room in Tignes? It's on chaletchardons.com
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You know it makes sense.
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| rjs wrote: |
| @euanovsky, Why not split it in two. Go out the weekend after New Year until the start of French school holidays, back home for four weeks, then back out for the rest of your 90 days. |
I'd do this. Go somewhere high between start of Dec and Xmas. Miss Xmas/New Year weeks ... then return.
I did the start of Dec 23 in Zermatt upto the 23rd ... unfortunately I then had to start work so didn't get to do so much more after.
I was focussed on improving so I took a half day coaching session every 4 days and spent the intervening three practising what I'd learnt. Made a huge difference to my skiing. I used the same instructor ... and pre-booked the schedule ... so that she could work on things a bit more 'long term'.
There was plenty of accomodation available for those periods .. from luxury to basic.
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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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I like to split it up a bit; I get bored easily. It costs more as you have extra transport costs, but that's what money's for.
As far as different gear, I like to fully commit to new stuff. The alternative is to be a "dabbler"; not for me.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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I don't know anything about Japan, but from a cost perspective if you split a trip in Europe into 2 trips, both in relatively low season (pre Christmas, January, after mid March), then the savings on accommodation would outweigh the extra travel costs. Splitting into 2 trips would also give time to recover/refresh physically and mentally in between trips
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FAQ
). Similarly with riding switch. It's like if I only spend 5% skiing backwards how can I expect it to progress as fast as skiing forwards 
