First Timer Sking

keezer

Going sking for the 1st time in jan in samoens, anyone been and what was it like and wondering have you any tips etc.

Also what should we pack clothes wise.

Will columbia jackets do as i have 3-4 of them

We have most things covered well nearly as its all been done for us.

Flights-Booking ourselves.
Travel Insurance- Covered for winter sports.

The rest is been done for us like:

Accom
Transport
Ski Hire
Lessons
Lift pass

Anything else where missing

ShayK1

have a look through the FAQ sticky at the top of the page.
If anything isn't covered there then ask again.

Never been to samoens, don't even know where it is tbh but I'll guarantee that you'll enjoy it.

keezer

Thanks will take a look its somewhere in the french alps and we fly in to geneva and its an hour away.

Overflow

Hey

Theres a lot of posts about what clothes to bring, but i can recap for you.

Make sure that your columbia jackets are waterproof, are they insulated in any way?
Also most ski jackets have something called a snow skirt, its a kind of elasticated skirt inside the jacket that wraps around your waste, it helps prevent snow from going up your jacket and down your pants, if that happens which it probably will since its your first time, you could get wet, cold and uncomfortable. You can kind of see it in this picture, its inside the jacket at the bottom, you can see two buttons on it.



Also make sure you have a good pair of waterproof ski pants, they should be well insulated, the insulating also somewhat acts as padding for when you fall.

Get a few pairs of good thick socks, they help keep your feet warm and give you a snug fit in your ski boots. When your trying on Ski boots make sure you are 100% comfortable in them or your feet will pay. If your not sure just ask the guy in the shop for another pair before you leave.

You should also have Thermal underwear, this is all you should have to wear under your Ski jacket and pants. They are incredibley warm, but if its very cold you may also want a second thin fleece jacket under main jacket. There not very attractive looking but they do the job.

Thermal top:


Thermal bottoms:


I think big woolen scarfs are very annoying and clumsy.They only end up getting soaked and in your way. Your jacket should zip up to the chin and you should get a simple neck warmer.



Also a pair of Ski goggles, you can usually pick them up cheap at the ski resort when you get there. You can usually get a pair for about 30/40 Euros.
They help with the glare from the sun off the snow (if its sunny). Also if its snowing and windy you will definately need them!! You will be blind without them. I dont think sun glasses are very good for this, they tend to fall off when you fall, break, get wet on the inside lens, and are not very good in the windy/snowy conditions.



Hmm im not sure what else there is. Just one other thing, i recommend that you rent a helmet, theres plenty of things for you to whack your head off when you fall.

Other than that just be patient with your lessons and you will get the hang of it. Then maybe you will get hooked on ski/boarding like some of us in here

If your interested in the Ski resorts Piste map, here is a link i found:
http://www.igluski.com/resortMap.cfm?methd=pistemap&rid=276

Click on the 'Best' link on that page for interactive map. There seems to be quite a few Red runs (intermediates). I only see 1 Green run (easiest) and a few Blue runs (easy) in Samoens, but it also seems that it is interconnected with a few other towns/resorts that give you a much wider area to ski in. So i think it looks pretty good. It is at a lower altitude so snow conditions may be unreliable. Saying that it seems to have a pretty good snow record for Jan and Feb:

http://www.igluski.com/viewsnowhistory.cfm?rid=276&from=snowreport


Anyway the best of luck.

keezer

Wow, what a great help....Thanks so much and thanks for doing some research on the place....you have really helped me a lot.

Thanks again

Keith

Overflow

No problem at all, glad to help. You should always do a bit of research on the resort before you book it. Like is the food/drink cheap, good night life(Apres-Ski), best months for snow, what type of pistes they have etc etc.

De_man

i've skiied samoens...it's on the grand massif:D

connected to Flaine, Les Carroz, Morillon & Sixt

i've never stayed in the town (samoens) but have stayed in Flaine (don't - town no character whatsoever) Les carroz (ok ish - very very quiet at night) but the ski areas are vast and are an intermediates paradise:D


transfers are very easy www.a-t.s.net (last time 40yoyo per person
each way from geneva)


one word of caution, like chamonix valley, it is prone to the crap weather (rain) it all depends on when you intend to travel

De_man

i forgot, have a look at www.skiclub.co.uk that'll have all the links you need

keezer

Thanks for that, going around the 1st week jan so hopfully not to bad, already have transfers included but thanks anyway.

keezer

Just takin the plunge and bought some gear:)

But do you think im daft spending:

1. €199.99 On a ski jacket its billabong

2. €37.99 On ski gloves


Was looking at some thermals €55 for a top....seems quite dear, think i might buy some under armour cold gear stuff from the states, what would you recomend the zippy top or the long sleve one and would one do or would i be better getting 2.

Also thermal bottoms would you recomend the under armour stuff and do you need thermal boxers inside this

Ski pants aroud €160 or could i get cheaper

Gogels seen a pair online for €35

And do i need a fleece ting for inside the jacket if i have a thermal top

Overflow

I dont think your daft spending that kind of money if your sure your going to be going skiing again, you might hate it and be stuck with a load of expensive gear.

I think someone else already recommended that you should get cheapish gear the first time and if you like the skiing and decide its something you'd love to do again then fork out for the more expensive gear.

You should be able to get a Jacket for under €100, try TK Max, a mate of mine got a cheap one in Arnotts last year.

The gloves price sounds about right for a good pair, i would invest in these for that price, nothing worse than wet cold gloves.

You'd be paying way to much for a Thermal top at that price! You should be able to get a top and bottoms for that price, ive bough few pairs over here in Norway for less than that and Norway is notoriously expensive. I'd get the long sleeve top. This is all i ever wear under my Ski jacket and pants. If its really cold you might want an additional cheap fleece under your jacket. You dont really need thermal boxers, your normal ones will do fine.

Dont forget to get some good warm thick socks, a couple of pairs. You can get them cheap in Dunnes, Pennies or TK Max.

Again you should be able to get a pair of Ski pants for under €100, just make sure they are waterproof and insulated.

€35 is not bad for goggles, that what i bought mine for, they do the job. But you can easily get them when you get there for the same price.

keezer

Not sure if links are allowed but which would you recomend out of these

http://www.underarmour.com/shop/mens/sports/snow-sports/apparel/shop-by-layer/baselayer

Overflow

I dont really know, i guess the Armour Base 2.0 range, it says its for 'lower temperatures', i dont know if those garments are specifically designed for Skiig and extreme cold temperatures.

Here an example of Thermal underwear designed for Skiing and very cold temperatures:

Bottoms:
http://www.amazon.com/Expedition-Polypropylene-Thermal-Underwear-Bottoms/dp/B000KAAE56/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=apparel&qid=1221258258&sr=1-2

Top:
http://www.amazon.com/Expedition-Weight-Polypropylene-Thermal-Underwear/dp/B000KA7VAM/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=apparel&qid=1221258258&sr=1-1

robinph

I have very rarely needed to wear my thermal long johns and usually just have the sallopetts, and then a thermal top and jacket. I'd then just have either another t-shirt or maybe a fleece layer in my bag incase the weather turns really bad during the day.

De_man

robinph wrote: »

I have very rarely needed to wear my thermal long johns and usually just have the sallopetts,

in all my time, i've only needed thermal long johns once - that was in Banff Canada, OMG Cold, never in europe...

keezer

O right, so all ya need realy is your boxers under your ski pants

Overflow

Tis up to yourself and how cold it is where your going. I guess you'll find out when your there

keezer

Yerr ill bring some incase

olaola

You only need to bring two or three thermal/wicking tops. They wash out easily and dry in a few hours. I'd also invest in glove liners too - I bought mittens for this year, and I think they were a winner.

robinph

Might invest in a pair of mittens myself after having dropped my gloves in the antartic ocean the other week. Mittens will be much warmer than regular gloves anyway as your fingers are all together sharing the warmth, but the thin glove liners also make a big difference as you add an extra layer inside whatever glove. The lines are also easier to dry out over night it need be so you at least have a partially dry glove to put your hand into first thing the next morning.

olaola

BTW - Kildare Shopping Village is great for picking up skiing stuff. There is a Quiksilver and a Nike shop (The Nike place had some fantastic stuff last year - unbelieveably cheap) and you can get base layers in Tog 24 & Reebok shop.

keezer

Thanks for all you help,