Any skiers out there?

hehe yeah like a snowboard on each foot...I had a gap of about 16 years from 1981 to 1997 without skiing. It's like riding a bike, it all came flooding back once those skis were on.

I've spent the last 10 years "unlearning" what had been standard for the previous 30!

Damn you CnoEvil, I was just starting to accept that we're unlikely to be able to afford to go skiing this season and you start this thread |( 

We did learn to scuba dive in sept in malaysia, which was fantastic! so cant really complain. Diving has introduced some tough competion to skiing for me - if I were a rich man...and all that...

I really started the thread to get vicarious enjoyment from others, in case my back stopped me going for the 2nd year in a row.

your back, my knees...must be getting old. still i pushed through the pain in march...knees were fine by summer after finding some excellent shoe inserts and special exercises, although my right knee has started to pinch occasionally again now the colds setting in again

Things are looking better and better, with a further 83cm forecast over next 9 days! You should be looking at a wonderful weeks skiing.

Since your trip is just around the corner, and in case it's of interest, the 9 day forecast shows the Sun mostly shining over the next 9 days, but with a couple of light snow showers on the mornings of the 24th and 29th. Winds should be mostly light, but there is a high avalanche risk, due the quantity of snow that's fallen (nearly 1.5m in the last 7 days).

In case you want an off piste guide to explore the area, there are 2 British Ski Schools - Alpine Masters and B.A.S.S

When you get back, I'd be interested in how it all went (with photos if poss), what skis you tried and your thoughts on them. It may be the closest I get this year...but fingers crossed.

Go and enjoy yourself, and Happy Christmas to you.

Cno

Thanks a lot, Cno!

Last time I was in Meribel it was two weeks and in the whole of the two weeks there was not a single cloud or snowflake!!! the first week was perfect but then the lack of fresh snow and lots of sun developed into deteriorated slopes and we had to look hard for slopes that were skiable/enjoyable. zero powder! these were unusual two weeks!

Hopefully will not be that extreme this time! We are off tomorrow

First thing I will do is check what I can rent - I have a long list of what I want to try and hope at least 1-2 models from these will be available. It is not possible to see online what models are for rent or book a specific model, unfortunately.

the forecast you give is good indeed, thank you, so - offski!!!!!

Merry Christmas!!!

Although it looks like you all are over in Europe, I must say I am very excited to get back on the slopes here at home for the first time in 2 years! I'm from Canada, and I'm hitting up Lake Louise in Banff Alberta for two days, and am going to be enjoying my Rossignol Experience 83's! Some day I will make it to the Alps!

Hi there Inter 83 and welcome. I see it took a skiing thread to draw you out!

I've skied in the American Rockies, but never in Canada (which is on my Bucket List!). I prefer the snow in the Rockies, but the atmosphere in the Alps....a combination of both would be perfect.

Well I'll be sure to take a couple pictures and post them up afterwards... heighten the "want vs. need" factor! However, this will be the first time on the Banff slopes for me, so I may be too busy enjoying it and could forget to dig out the camera! I have however skiied at Whistler-Blackcomb, so I'm eager to see if there will be a difference in snow quality (Whistler being fairly close to the Pacific and all). In what way is the snow better here though, as compared to the Alps?

The powder in the Rockies is lighter, deeper and drier due to the colder temperatures and moisture bring removed as it goes over the desert.

Resorts like Alta and Snowbird have no idea what proper icy conditions are like. They complain if there isn't 6" of powder on the piste. Scotland can have the worst ice I've come across!

Hi, Cno and all! Happy New Year!

Just back from skiing! What a great time!

We had 4 days of sun followed by one day of fog, then two days of endless snowfall (50 cm?) and powder skiing followed by a cloudy/sunny day. Overall - fantastic combination of conditions!

I managed to try 4 different ski models and will do a post on these + some pics a bit later.

My legs and knees are stiff but, luckily, all are back in one piece.

Did you ski Combe Vallon? This is my favourite run in the world. Will be staying in Reberty (Les Menuires) at half term, so glad to see the snow is looking good now.

No, didn't make it to it this time! But I remember the run from the last time - great one!