I'm off skiing on Saturday

[slowmotion]

As Becs and Red Light said, buy absolutely as little as possible in the resort. The prices for sunnies and goggles are quite unreal. As for clothing, it's all in very "stylish" boutiques and astronomically expensive. Buy or rent the stuff in the UK. BTW, I won't tell you what a half litre of beer costs "up the mountain".....

 

[Becs]

if you are driving then stock up on food and beer well away from the slopes! Fingers crosses where you're going won't be as expensive as the alps - looks like a good resort for beginners from the piste map, lots of green runs. We'll have to do a snow dance for you!

 

[BrumJim]

Skis have brakes. They stop the skis flying down the slopes when they come off your feet.

I've been a ski-er much longer than I've been a cyclist, so I can't translate cycle skills to ski-ability.

I'd say that you definitely need to have goggles. You can't guarantee good weather up in the mountains, and just one flurry of snow and you are stuck in misery land and unable to move without them.

Sadly ski-ing does need a lot of kit to be comfortable, and if you are learning, you need to be comfortable. Your technical stuff is good as a base layer, and a good couple of layers are needed on top. The better you get, the less standing around that you do, the less clothes that you need. When beginning, two pairs of gloves can be useful, letting one pair dry out as you wear the other pair. I used to rent, but prices at TKMaxx, etc, means that first season clothing is very affordable. If you enjoy it, upgrade to longer lasting stuff.

 

[fatblokish]

We will be borrowing our friend's people carrier to get to and from the resort; they live about a half hour north of Le Mont Dore so grocery shopping will not be an issue; in fact we have been promised home-made boeuf bourguignon on our arrival, crepes the following morning, truffade the next day etc etc (is that why salopettes have braces and not belts?). Bourguignon for a can of pringles seems a fair trade...

As for the goggles, I guess that we could pop into Decathlon in Clermont Ferrand...will the cheapest pair of goggles http://www.decathlon.fr/F-50645-masques/K-588-genre~adulte be ok? Alternatively some of the supermarkets around there sell ski stuff but how can I be sure that the goggles don't fog up?

ta

 

[Red Light]

We will be borrowing our friend's people carrier to get to and from the resort; they live about a half hour north of Le Mont Dore so grocery shopping will not be an issue; in fact we have been promised home-made boeuf bourguignon on our arrival, crepes the following morning, truffade the next day etc etc (is that why salopettes have braces and not belts?). Bourguignon for a can of pringles seems a fair trade...

As for the goggles, I guess that we could pop into Decathlon in Clermont Ferrand...will the cheapest pair of goggles http://www.decathlon.fr/F-50645-masques/K-588-genre~adulte be ok? Alternatively some of the supermarkets around there sell ski stuff but how can I be sure that the goggles don't fog up?

ta

Decathalon stuff is good. Just spit in them or rub a cut potato on the lens surfaces to stop them fogging if they are not already anti-fogged. Don't forget also a ruckie to carry lunch in if you are on a budget. Eating on the slopes can be very expensive but they usually have places where you can picnic inside. Save the money then for a nice coffee, beer or hot chocolate on the slopes.

Where you can use cycling gear is underneath your ski wear outers. These days if its cold I'll wear my winter cycling leggings underneath and I use my cycling base, middle and top layers to add warmth too with my Buff providing head warming duties. At a push you can use the better cycling winter gloves but ski gloves are better.

 

[fatblokish]

Thanks for all the advice, I feel as though I owe you some feedback.

Well, we are home. Safe and sound.

Salopettes useful but not essential, with the temperature never getting above -3 C there was no liquid water around so to avoid getting wet was achieved by brushing off any snow. However I did wear salopettes and never was cold.

Goggles; essential for us as the snow was falling on one day and sunglasses would just not cut the mustard.

Gloves; as debutantes we found oursleves doing a lot of walking whilst wearing skis, this warmed up the hands nicely, in fact I would have appreciated some thinnner gloves as my hands got mighty sweaty at times.

Parking; park as close to where you want to be as possible; walking in just ski boots is hard work and no fun.

ESF instructors are variable. We had three one-hour lessons commencing at 17:30 over three days (earlier lessons were not available). Day One Pierre was brilliant. Day Two another Pierre was atrocious (he managed to lose our friends 9 year old daughter half way up a drag lift when she fell off it. In the deepening gloom and growing fog he just sailed past her on his way up. When he reached the top he began skiing expecting us to follow him as he had not realised five had become four; till we shouted at him to go find her. He muttered a merde or two and reappeared 12 minutes later with her in tow. Day Three we demanded our favourite Pierre who quickly renegotiated his committments and then took us for the best lesson evah!

My missus is dangerous. Even more so when she's skiing towards me. Nuff said.

Finally, bend the knees, stick out the arse, and look forwards.

A bientot.

 

[Linford]

Good to see you enjoyed yourself and came back in one piece. The one thing I'd add is to rent a locker at the ski lift which means you can walk around in regular footwear in the resort, and only boot up and pick up the ski's when you head off up the mountain - well worth the money IMO

 

[fatblokish]

Locker: Noted.

ta