Skiing! Advice needed

[Wintermute]

Ski passes are a kick in the teeth wherever you go, Val d'Isere is fairly expensive but that seems about right. £80 is quite a good deal for board and boots IIRC, although it's a while since I hired any. You really don't want to scrimp on those though - if you go for the cheap shit, you get the boards that spent all last season being ridden into trees, with fuck all edge on them and a base that can grate cheese. Get it serviced as soon as you pick it up if you feel any roughness. Again, if you go through the smaller chalet owners they often have deals with the local ski shops where someone will come round to your apartment to take measurements and discuss what you want when you arrive, and drop your equipment off the next morning; much more civilised than elbowing your way through the lime green ski suits and stick-waving four-year-olds at the gondola station, and it's usually a competitive price. The big operators charge you for the cheap shit, add their cut on top and pack you off to queue with the rest of them.

 

[rubbershoes]

you can get deals which give stuff like free lift passes 2 for 1 deals etc. different companies may have them at different times. depends if they feel they need a sales boost

in the past i've found iglu do some great deals

 

[jodal]

Here's my 2p's worth...

SKiing in Austria and Switzerland is f'kin expensive. Skiing is great and the resorts are really beautiful and cosy but essentially price is always a factor when I'm booking so I rarely end up going to these countries.
In france I can really reccomend Risoul. We went in a big group 2 years ago and because its a reasonably new resort and really popular with the french and italians you get great service and great skiing at a good price. I think we paid £200 per person all inclusive with self-catering. Risoul is also really good for beginners and has a few half pipes and a "freestyle" type course if you wanna do some tricks and stuff. The only downside is that the nightlife is a little ropey, but by no means shit.
Places like Val Torens and Val D'isere are comparatively expensive due to the fact that its the best skiing to be had in Europe but in my opinion its far too hectic and buildt up to really appeal to beginners. The nighlife is great though.

 

[jodal]

Oh and forgot to mention. For the last 3-4 years I've been going to Morzin-Avoriaz and its bloody brilliant, great for beginners and not too expensive either.

 

[Wintermute]

Good, I'm going there in January

 

[jodal]

Where? Morzine-avoriaz?

 

[rubbershoes]

risoul is REALLY good value. we were there a few years ago and were suprised by how cheap things are . also there were no queues. it's a little secret that even the french haven't really discovered.

the only gripe is that it would be shit for novice snowboarders.one of the joys of skiing/boarding is skiing over to the next town for lunch and tottering back in the afternoon fortified by a glass or two of red. the journey back was pretty hairy. iirc there were a couple of steep and fast draglifts which could not be avoided on the way back. they were real bastards with a sharp dogleg halfway through. they were geared (or whatever it's called) so when you grabbed the button, nothing happened and then after a few seconds there was an almighty tug which could easily pull the unprepared over.

this damn lift pulled you up this steep slope and you had to hang on and ride it out. it took me three goes on my board


apart from that risoul was

 

[Wintermute]

Where? Morzine-avoriaz?

Yeah, there's 12 of us and we've got a chalet with a hot tub Somewhere round the bottom of the Nyon lift. I've never been to Morzine before but I've heard good things. Any recommendations?


We need a general skiing thread, I think. Is there a general skiing thread? I might start one.

 

[jodal]

Yeah, there's 12 of us and we've got a chalet with a hot tub Somewhere round the bottom of the Nyon lift. I've never been to Morzine before but I've heard good things. Any recommendations?


We need a general skiing thread, I think. Is there a general skiing thread? I might start one.

When are you going? I'll be there over christmas and new year.

Whenever we go, we stay in a flat in Let Gets which is a tiny area close but not connected (yet) to Morzine-Avoriaz, so cant really reccomend too much nightlife stuff. However, in terms of skiing, the best thing is definitely skiing "The Wall". As the name suggests its pretty steep and very tricky but a whole load of fun and really rewarding.

 

[DG55]

I think we paid £200 per person all inclusive with self-catering. Risoul is also really good for beginners and has a few half pipes and a "freestyle" type course if you wanna do some tricks and stuff. The only downside is that the nightlife is a little ropey, but by no means shit.

Wow, all inclusive £200? Ski passes and equipment? Thats exactly what im looking for, but where can I get a deal like that. Everywhere is flights + accom.

 

[DG55]

Anyone? No?

Im sure there must be somwhere that does a package deal including flights+accom+liftpasses and maybe even equipment.

Cheers.

 

[Johnny Canuck3]

Wow, all inclusive £200? Ski passes and equipment? Thats exactly what im looking for, but where can I get a deal like that. Everywhere is flights + accom.

Try doing a little online searching.

 

[DG55]

An ongoing process... Cant seem to find anything yet, either that, or its unclear what the packages include.

Another thing, if going on a week skiing trip, would I want a 6/7 day lift pass? Might be a stupid question, but im not sure what other people usually do, perhaps a day or two discovering the area/partying?

 

[Johnny Canuck3]

An ongoing process... Cant seem to find anything yet, either that, or its unclear what the packages include.

Another thing, if going on a week skiing trip, would I want a 6/7 day lift pass? Might be a stupid question, but im not sure what other people usually do, perhaps a day or two discovering the area/partying?

You have to compare the cost of buying single day passes, with the cost of a week pass, then consider if you'll be skiing every day. You can then determine which is the best deal for you.

 

[DG55]

Yeh that sounds like a plan, cheers.

So i've gone through some sites like Airtours and First Choice (blugh) and they seem pretty much the same as buying seperate.

 

[rubbershoes]

it's always worth checking out the iglu special offers . they normally have some deals which give free or cheap lift passes

i'd get one that covers all the days you're there, rather than individual ones for each day. it's a hassle buying one each day.

and you can spend a day partying if you want but that always seems a a bit pointless when you're off skiing. if i want to go pub crawling i can do it at home