ski + snowboard

[odile]

any keen skiers/snowboarders out there. Would be nice to share tips on resorts, chalets, ski/snow schools, etc. Tell me/us about your fave resorts + reasons.

Learnt to ski as a young child, to snowboard at 49, and as we are moving to the Jura, will take up cross country next winter.

[Pierre ZFP]

I thought I was daft to take up skiing in my 50's but actually I love every minute. Why didn't I do it years ago?

My younger son and I went for 4 hours ski lessons in the Netherlands of all places (snowhall near Eindhoven) then we had about 8 hours practise at another snowhall at Amneville near Metz.  We reckoned we were ready for the slopes so went to Livigno in Italy in February this year.  Fabulous place, we were lucky with perfect snow and weather, very reasonably priced hardly any queuing for lifts and a good selection of runs  - mostly blue and red with some black.  We were doing the red runs by the third day.  We didn't have any more lessons as the ski schools seemed to consist of 25 people all waiting for their turn to do some elementry exercises.  I might splash out on some one-on-one lessons at Amneville in the summer.

I would be interested in any recommendations for French resorts, main criteria are not too expensive and not too crowded.

[odile]

Hi Pierre - are we really the only ones  enjoying snow? Of course if you don't want resorts to be busy, best to go outside school holidays if at all possible. From around 2nd week in Jan till beg. Feb, then March until Easter. Jan is best for snow sure, March better for best weather - but not always!

If you are driving, some resorts are not easy to reach and will add 2 to 3 hours on your journey. St Foy is a superb little resort, but a long journey! Best to keep to the Portes du Soleil area for driving to - NOT Avoriaz as it's horrible, Morzine at one end, Les Carroz in the middle and Chatel at east end. Sometimes Switzerland actually works out cheaper now, with euro so high. Torgon, the other (Swiss) side of Chatel is tiny, only 2 bars and a couple of shops - but it gives you access to a huge area for little money. the Ski Company based in Greenwich does mainly school trips, but also has individual flats for couples, small groups - you may have to share dining area with kids - but they are the BEST value all round. Best value is if you can go as a filler - eg. filling up spare capacity on a low week - just get in touch with them and ask Gerry or Ollie for dates beg of October, when they know which weeks are/not booked.  The Ski school is attached to the building and Andre, the Director will try to cater for your particular needs. They do their own good quality ski/boot hire at the chalet, and include your pass + breakfast, tea and dinner. Ski area next to the chalet- links to Chatel, super Chatel, Morgins, Champoussin, Les Crozets + Chambery (from there you can drop into Avoriaz for the day for a bit extra). Otherwise in France small resorts like Crest Volant/Col des Saisies, Notre Dame de Bellecombe, near Megeve. Or La Clusaz not far from Geneva- great little town, rather than purpose built resort, easy access too.

Well done for having the guts to take up skiing post 50... and yes, shame about the wasted years (these days I can ski wasted anymore...)

[Pierre ZFP]

Wow - lots of info there thanks. 

We had to go in school hols this year as youngest was in last year at 6th form college.  He's off to Uni in September so maybe the Uni hols may fall out of school hol period.  We will have quite a few more sessions down at Amneville on the (alledgedly) longest snowhall in Europe.  We find it  does wonders to have some practise and we don't spend half the holiday relearning how to ski.  The snowhall is remarkably good value and is never crowded.  It is a bit odd, turning up in the middle of summer in all our ski gear. +30C outside and -4C inside !

My starting point is Luxembourg so part way to the slopes anyway, even driving to Italy was not too bad.  I prefer to drive so we can take our own skis/boots etc.

As for taking it up post 50, why not?  I'm glad I did, biggest rush I've had for ages.  This weekend I'm going to see about scuba diving.  I'm begining to think I'm really odd, learning to ski in Holland and learning to dive in a land-locked country!  oh well.....[:D] 

[odile]

if a swiss team (Allinghi) can twice be sailing world champions... it's even further to the sea! I once went on a ski course in Tignes in July. I had to change train stations in Paris. It was about 30C and I carried my skis+boots through town. Did get funny looks-

Tried scuba in Gran Canaria 2 years ago - a real natural they said. Sadly years of ear infections when I was a child = burst an ear drum on last day of course= not allowed to ever try again Have to stick to snorkelling. Bonne chance.

Our favourite ski area in Switzerland is Haute Nendaz. Much cheaper and less snobby than Verbier- it is in the next valley. Allows you to ski Nendaz, Verbier, Veysonnaz and Thyon 2000. Discovered by Dutch and Luxembougeois first, now getting populaar with Brits. By the way if your son goes to Uni, the Ski company does a lot of trips for Uni groups. So if he joins ski club- or better, starts one up - and organises a trip for 2010- he would get 1 free place for 10 (eg every 11th).  Why not you organising a group of family/friends and same would apply. I am not doing advertising for The Ski Company - but I have used them for 10+ years. It much cheaper, and being small and friendly- the boss is always at hand in case of any problem. A great character a la John Cleese!

[Pierre ZFP]

Nendaz sounds interesting, only 600-odd Kms from me and my Swiss autoroute vignette is good untill end Jan 2009.  Good idea about the group booking thing, more fun going away with a group.  After a day's skiing, all I wanted to do was have a nice meal and fall into bed, small son was ready to dance the night away!

Last weekend I was at Merlimont on a windy afternoon looking whistfully at the kitesurfers.  OH must have seen the look in my eye and said 'Nah, don't do it, it's a young man's sport'  She's  probably right [:(]  Hmm, what about kite skiing.........

[odile]

nice hotel in Nendaz is Le Mont Fort - recently refurbished by Nicolas, a Parisian who fell in love with the place. Their prices were very reasonable, but I haven't been since refurb.