The Skiing Thread (Redux)

[Bad English]

Not a hint of snow up in the Eastern Pyrenees yet. We usually have a dusting by now. Then again, although I do love skiing, I have retired from hurtling down slopes on bits of metal/carbon/plastic.

[Bad English]

Eastern Pyrenees skiing domaines are opening today.

[usav]

Just booked a week in the French Alps for March 23.

I opted out of our planned Jan 2023 trip. The price was way more than last time I went.
Poor value for money, so I’m putting the funds towards (hopefully) a longer trip to the USA that year.

Depending on where you were going, looking like a wise choice. Little to no snow in a lot of the resorts right now.

Jon - hopefully the weather cooperates before March.

[UK Redsox]

We normally go to La Plagne

Cover looks OK at the moment

I've certainly been there with a lot less snow

https://en.la-plagne.com/discover/ski-area/webcams/bergerie

[Jon Crofts]

Just had to buy a new helmet for this year (Uvex in case you were wondering) I can thoroughly recommend these people at hardloop.co.uk (fulfilled from France)
Great price, fast delivery and no import taxes.

[Jon Crofts]

Had a great time in Alp Huez so far, plenty of snow above 2000 metres still and a big dump expected tomorrow. Snowboarding lessons and progress has gone well, I did miss skiing for a few days but now hooked on the board. Definitely recommend giving it a try.

I’d also forgotten just how good ESF instruction is.

[Bad English]

That is how they get to be balls deep in their students.

[Jon Crofts]

That is how they get to be balls deep in their students.

My instructor Frederic was from a family of ESF instructors, lived his whole life in Huez a little down the mountain from Alp Huez, his dad is still an instructor at 74, broke his leg earlier this season but aims to be back on the slopes for next season teaching. It’s a 4 year apprenticeship to be an ESF instructor, I learned more in the first hour with Frederic than I got out of the 5 hours I had in the pre holiday lessons at Torbay Ski Club, complete waste of time and money.

[Bad English]

When I first went skiing (in Les Rousses in the Jura and Métabief over in Switzerland), I was at Dijon university in 1986 on my year in France. I signed up with a group of students and off we went with the university ski club skis and boots. I had a morning's lesson with the ESF instructor and that was it I was off down reds that afternoon. Took to it like an Arctic Fox to snow.
I've often watched them teaching people and they are fucking awesome.

[usav]

When I first went skiing (in Les Rousses in the Jura and Métabief over in Switzerland), I was at Dijon university in 1986 on my year in France. I signed up with a group of students and off we went with the university ski club skis and boots. I had a morning's lesson with the ESF instructor and that was it I was off down reds that afternoon. Took to it like an Arctic Fox to snow.
I've often watched them teaching people and they are fucking awesome.

100% agree with this.  Same for me on a school trip - one morning with ESF and then off down anything you want.  Now, I may not have been the most graceful, but I was competent to ski anything and at that point it is just miles under your legs that gets you the rest of the coaching you need.

[Duncan Shaw]

Booked my "lads" (we're all mid fifties!) trip for January '24 - early for me but got a good deal on some BA flights in the sale, so put a DIY trip together.  Off to Saalbach in Austria, which is a new one for us, usually France, often Val D'Isere, 1st time in Austria since Mayrhofen in 2017.

[UK Redsox]

Only time I've skied in Austria, we went by car. Never again, it's too far

[Duncan Shaw]

Only time I've skied in Austria, we went by car. Never again, it's too far

Yeah would never drive there.  Always drive to France (tunnel only 45mins for me early in the morning) and either Tour OP or DIY flights/transfer/hotels to Austria or Dolomites.

[usav]

Going to St. Anton in January with a large group mostly from work.

First time skiing in Austria, looking forward to it.

[Dave]

Currently out in Bulgaria. Good weather, good snow.