Reply to: Skiing over Xmas?

[Bagpuss]

Last season was good in Europe, but previous seasons have been pretty bad.
I went to Andora a few years ago and you could see the grass under the piste in places.

[tenpin]

I went to Colorado earlier this year, which beats europe hands down. Better value for money, better snow (no ice), nicer people. Good exchange rate.

I lived in Colorado for a few years and as a CO resident, one could purchase the Buddy Pass, which for $250 gave you unlimited skiing at Vail, Breckenridge, Beaver Creek, A-Basin, Keystone and Winter Park. Awesome time, great snow. Worked in a great company that allowed you to have a ski day in the week and make up time at the weekend (when the slopes were packed with day trippers from Denver). Since moving back to the UK, the opportunities have not been so available, and having kids limits the freedom somewhat too.

Tempted by Meribel or La Plagne...depends on whether it snows!

[Bagpuss]

I went to Colorado earlier this year, which beats europe hands down. Better value for money, better snow (no ice), nicer people. Good exchange rate.

[gingerjedi]

Snowboarding is for tw@ts who can't ski.

I was taking the pi55 BTW.

[snaw]

As much as I love skiing, it sounds like you're doing it wrong.

Nope, sounds like your doing it wrong

[snaw]

Snowboarding is for tw@ts who can't ski.

Really, this old debate thing again?

Who cares, if yer having fun does it matter if it's ski's, a board or even gayblades?

Most older boarders skied at some point, switched and never looked back. These days the reverse is happening, ski technology has massively been influenced by snowboarding and now the kids are going to ski's cause you can do more sick stff on them than on a board.

Either way, if yer having fun wgas?

[TheFaQQer]

A great powder run is better than sex. IMO

As much as I love skiing, it sounds like you're doing it wrong.

[TheFaQQer]

What about snowboarding?

Snowboarding is for tw@ts who can't ski.

[dropcliffsnotbombs]

But for me nowhere beats Canada. Best mountains in the world imo, and some insanely good ski-ing, and facilities. Bit far to go for a week though ...http://www.skiclub.co.uk/skiclub/default.aspx

Could be worth the trip - more than 4 metres of snow in November for Whistler. Record breaking snowfall for November and there's still 10 days left

[OwlHoot]

I hate skiing. Did it once. Spent a fortune on dry slope lessons, had a stomach bug the first day out there which I spent vomitting, had one lesson, then tore my knee ligament on the nursery slopes afterwards, and spent the rest of the week hobbling around on crutches and having physio. And the other people on the trip wondered why I didn't have a good time. Tossers.

I also hate listening to skiing types banging on about the black runs they've conquered, and the wonderful powdery snow they found off piste. I wish they'd all ski at high speed into a tree.

Wimp!

I've skiied down the north face of the Eiger loads of times, although it's a bugger getting to the top again for each run.

[snaw]

Conquering? I just skis down 'em.

And I did once go off piste in fresh powder (with an expert guide). Quite an amazing experience, so I'm not surprised people bang on about it.

A great powder run is better than sex. IMO

[snaw]

Key for you is to get a resort that's got altititude, more chance of having snow (Xmas can be a bit hit and miss with Ski resorts), or at least cold enough to make snow.

Austria is great for families. Go higher up, like St Anton.

Best European resorts imo would be Val D'Isere, Meribel & Chamonix is always good. I loved Serre Chevalier, but it's more of a boarders place than skiers, terrain wise.

But for me nowhere beats Canada. Best mountains in the world imo, and some insanely good ski-ing, and facilities. Bit far to go for a week though ...

Great resource, for resort info, ski conditions etc is the uk ski club:

http://www.skiclub.co.uk/skiclub/default.aspx

[gingerjedi]

And I did once go off piste in fresh powder (with an expert guide). Quite an amazing experience, so I'm not surprised people bang on about it.

I did the same in Flaine, good fun but I quickly learnt to keep the ski's close together in powder to minimise sinking after disappearing down what must have been a 4ft hole.

Courchevel 1650 was good too, not so many scary looking Russians as 1850. Meribel looked like a fantastic place to stay but we only went there for lunch.

[Moscow Mule]

And I did once go off piste in fresh powder (with an expert guide). Quite an amazing experience, so I'm not surprised people bang on about it.

It's awesome. Like snowboarding on velvet, and it doesn't hurt when you land on your arse (again).

[NotAllThere]

...
I also hate listening to skiing types banging on about the black runs they've conquered, and the wonderful powdery snow they found off piste. ....

Conquering? I just skis down 'em.

And I did once go off piste in fresh powder (with an expert guide). Quite an amazing experience, so I'm not surprised people bang on about it.