 Poster: A snowHead
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I'm new to skiing and to this forum so thought I'd say a quick hello and share how excited I am to be going on my first ever ski holiday. Myself and 6 mates are going to La Rosiere in France over the easter hols, with the exception of one of the group we are all mountain virgins, so it should be quite entertaining.
I took my first lesson at CF in Manchester in January and got hooked. I did all of their day lessons and took advantage of the unlimited pass offer so have made a lot of progress in a short time. I'm now skiing parallel throughout the turn and have just learned how to carve turns. I can't wait to be able to ski for longer than 180m before getting to the bottom!
I've booked lessons with Evolution 2 so hopefully by the end of the holiday I'll be skiing some of the more challenging terrain, which is supposed to be not that difficult in La Rosiere by all accounts. Just hoping the weather will be ok and I don't break any bones.
If anyone has any experience of the resort or just some tips for a first timer, they'd be most welcome.
Last edited by Poster: A snowHead on Tue 27-03-12 15:46; 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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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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Cheers Lou, I'm sorted for suncream and I'm hoping to get away with a merino baselayer and gore-tex shell? I've got a feeling I'll be using the vents a lot!
I've got a hydration rucksack that I use for MTB and was wondering if people use these for skiing, or does the water freeze?
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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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justatheory, welcome to snow 
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Thank you slushy 
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Hydration packs will probably be ok if the daytime temp is respectably above 0c. Not goo din midwinter mind.
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Hydration packs are great for skiing/boarding - I always wear one now, either just a camelback, or the bladder in a bigger rucksack.
Freezing isn't so much a problem for the bladder itself, but if it's a few deg below zero or lower, then the pipe and mouthpiece is prone to freezing. I've got the camel back cold weather pipe and mouth piece which improves things - it's basically just an insulated pipe and mouthpiece.
http://www.camelbak.com/Sports-Recreation/Accessories/Thermalcontrolkit.aspx
I reckon it was between 0 to -8 when I was in courchevel in Jan and I had no problems, but my wife who had a cheaper bladder without pipe insulation did get some freezing on the colder days.
Before I had the insulation kit, I did used to get some problems with freezing which could often be overcome by clearing the pipe of water after drinking, to stop the pipe getting frozen. You can blow the water back in to the bladder (but don't blow too much and inflate it !), but then hold the mouth piecee in the air and pinch the end to allow the air back out. (otherwise when you ride a chair lift and put your weight back, it forces water back into pipe which then freezes.
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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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justatheory, you can put any cycling baselayers or shirts to good use too, I can't see you needing much more than a base layer and shell; if it's really hot a softshell or fleece works too, I'd stick in a pair of full finger lightweight mtb gloves in as well; you're likely to get warm.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Mosha Marc I've been quite fortunate in that a lot of gear I use for mtb and climbing I can use for the trip. If I get in to skiing - which I'm sure I will - then I will be treating myself to some boots. Can anyone recommend a good ski equipment shop near Manchester?
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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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justatheory, for boots, the lad at Rivington Alpine up near Bolton gets good reviews.
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justatheory, ski from 1st lift to late lunch as the slush may well be pretty mad by early. If you can ski the reds pretty reasonably then the best snow should be over the back in the Col region.
Where are you staying?
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You know it makes sense.
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What Frosty the Snowman said.
We're in La Rosiere at the moment and it's glorious spring weather. We're up early and normally waiting for the lifts to start, like utter saddos, and we ski La Ros until mid morning, then head over to La Thuile until late lunchtime. A leisurely Poole back through the better snow in the Col gets us back into the slush in La Ros mid afternoon. At which point it's G&T time so we head back to the chalet.
The pistes are practically empty at the moment - it's heavenly! It's also rather good fun being the first person down some of the runs.
Re clothing - I'm in ski trousers and jacket and a cycling vest and I'm boiling to death half the time - I tend to strip on the chairlifts to cool down, much to the OH's consternation. You'll be fine with cycling kit and a gore tex.
Enjoy yourself!
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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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justatheory, As Mosha Marc says Graham at Rivington Alpine is your man for bootfitting and I had my boots fitted there. It's a new shop on an industrial estate in Adlington, near Chorley.
When I had mine done, I went in at lunchtime on a Saturday and came out about 6 O'clock in the evening, so he's very thorough and there is also a good stock of other ski gear.
Website : http://www.rivingtonalpine.co.uk/index.php?page_id=newspage&id=10&name=NEW+STORE+NOW+OPEN!!
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Poster: A snowHead
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Cheers for the tip geepee, I'll check them out. Thanks for the heads up Frosty & Spannah . I'm staying in Les Balcons apartments in Les Eucherts. Really appreciate your help, forums aren't just for arguing on after all 
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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FAQ
never heard it mentioned
