Ski season 2016/2017

Fattes

a148pro wrote: »

Only did one day in Mayrhofen but loved it, good steep slopes, lovely town, only pain seemed to be bus to lifts in the morning - any ski in to town there?

Off the Ahorn or down to Finkenberg if you know the way and are good enough are skiable. Other than that its the gondola.

As for the greatest ski movie ever, not sure but this is certainly up there and the trailer is the greatest ever

https://youtu.be/7sX4g950U6s

prunudo

That's a nice little video cormee ðŸ‘

cormee

jvan wrote: »

That's a nice little video cormee ðŸ‘

Yeah it's great, the part starting around 9:20 when he's going through the park is pretty spectacular (for me, anyway).

Check out the other Shred Bot videos on youtube, if you haven't already. They're are a loose group of some of the best snowboarders around, the group was started by Mark McMorris. Not sure what their purpose is, or why they exist, but their videos are great.

prunudo

Yep, that run through the park was fairly impressive, he makes it look so easy, now I want to go and spend a season learning to board properly.

Inconspicuous

Lads,

having done Soll for the last 6 or 7 years we were thinking of changing it up this year. Can't get a full week in unfortunately so going the DIY route. We were thinking of trying out Courmayeur. Has anyone been, what did you make of it?

Also...like others have said...I can't wait for winter even though it does make it a pain on the motorbike

khc

Inconspicuous wrote: »

Lads,

having done Soll for the last 6 or 7 years we were thinking of changing it up this year. Can't get a full week in unfortunately so going the DIY route. We were thinking of trying out Courmayeur. Has anyone been, what did you make of it?

Also...like others have said...I can't wait for winter even though it does make it a pain on the motorbike

Only been to Courmayer once but I've done Soll several times and I don't think they're that similar. What are you looking for in a resort?

Fattes

Inconspicuous wrote: »

Lads,
having done Soll for the last 6 or 7 years we were thinking of changing it up this year. Can't get a full week in unfortunately so going the DIY route. We were thinking of trying out Courmayeur. Has anyone been, what did you make of it?
Also...like others have said...I can't wait for winter even though it does make it a pain on the motorbike

Courmayeur is an epic resort! Some amazing skiing great atmosphere and a pretty scenery and snow sure to boot. Also you can take a bus to Chamonix for a day or Aosta.

Couple of things, you cant ski back to the village, Well you can but its challenging and not always sensible, it can be pricey for Italy, but still reasonable equivalent prices to some larger Austrian resorts.

I think you mentioned elsewhere you are beginners? So best skiing will be around Zerotta and Neyron lifts. Lots of cruisy blues. Stay away from Baby bowl (No idea what its real name is) But its basically a small lift tons of beginners and no real way out

Around Bertolini and Gabba there is some great easy red terrain especially through the trees and amazing views of Moutn Blanc! Really good if you can find the smurf route through the trees its around the Mason Vielle area you will see the little smurfs on the trees! Its short and great fun.

A day trip to Pila is really worth it to ski and Aosta village if you are taking a day off.

For apres Bar Roma on Roma street, free buffet food when you are drinking! Its a serious spread, friendly staff and a really chilled warm atmosphere.

Inconspicuous

khc wrote: »

Only been to Courmayer once but I've done Soll several times and I don't think they're that similar. What are you looking for in a resort?

Yeah I wasn't expecting them to be.

I've been a boarder for years but have recently switched to skiing, so to be honest, once there's decent snow all I'm looking for is a couple of decent slopes and a couple of bars where I'm not taking out a bank loan to buy a few beers I'm happy. I really don't need miles and miles of terrain as I'm really only getting to grips with the skis.

There is a group of 6 of us going of mixed abilities. 3 of us fall squarely into the beginner/improver skier category which means we don't need miles of terrain. The other 3 are advanced enough skiers (don't tend to bother with off piste but happy to take on blacks all day) who like to explore an area. The only other restriction we have is that 2 of the group live in Zurich and will be driving from there.

We're not sure how long we'll be able to get away for but it'll probably be only 3 or 4 nights. 4 of us have skied in various French resorts before and loved the skiing and snow surety you get high up in the Alps. So we thought since we're not going for a full week we could justify spending a little more in resort (beer etc) and started looking at resorts near Geneva Airport (cheapest airport for the week we're going). Somehow stumbled on Courmayeur.

To be honest, we're just looking for somewhere different to go as 2 of the group have only ever skied in Soll.

Inconspicuous

Fattes wrote: »

Courmayeur is an epic resort! Some amazing skiing great atmosphere and a pretty scenery and snow sure to boot. Also you can take a bus to Chamonix for a day or Aosta.

Couple of things, you cant ski back to the village, Well you can but its challenging and not always sensible, it can be pricey for Italy, but still reasonable equivalent prices to some larger Austrian resorts.

I think you mentioned elsewhere you are beginners? So best skiing will be around Zerotta and Neyron lifts. Lots of cruisy blues. Stay away from Baby bowl (No idea what its real name is) But its basically a small lift tons of beginners and no real way out

Around Bertolini and Gabba there is some great easy red terrain especially through the trees and amazing views of Moutn Blanc! Really good if you can find the smurf route through the trees its around the Mason Vielle area you will see the little smurfs on the trees! Its short and great fun.

A day trip to Pila is really worth it to ski and Aosta village if you are taking a day off.

For apres Bar Roma on Roma street, free buffet food when you are drinking! Its a serious spread, friendly staff and a really chilled warm atmosphere.

Sounds great! By the end of the week in Soll last year I was comfortable enough doing the home red and most of the others in the area, so this sounds like there is a nice bit of variety and somewhere different to explore!

khc

Inconspicuous wrote: »

Yeah I wasn't expecting them to be.

I've been a boarder for years but have recently switched to skiing, so to be honest, once there's decent snow all I'm looking for is a couple of decent slopes and a couple of bars where I'm not taking out a bank loan to buy a few beers I'm happy. I really don't need miles and miles of terrain as I'm really only getting to grips with the skis.

There is a group of 6 of us going of mixed abilities. 3 of us fall squarely into the beginner/improver skier category which means we don't need miles of terrain. The other 3 are advanced enough skiers (don't tend to bother with off piste but happy to take on blacks all day) who like to explore an area. The only other restriction we have is that 2 of the group live in Zurich and will be driving from there.

We're not sure how long we'll be able to get away for but it'll probably be only 3 or 4 nights. 4 of us have skied in various French resorts before and loved the skiing and snow surety you get high up in the Alps. So we thought since we're not going for a full week we could justify spending a little more in resort (beer etc) and started looking at resorts near Geneva Airport (cheapest airport for the week we're going). Somehow stumbled on Courmayeur.

To be honest, we're just looking for somewhere different to go as 2 of the group have only ever skied in Soll.

Sounds perfect for you then. Only reservation I would have is if you were looking for the same sort of nightlife (Austrian apres) in Soll, because it's quite different.

Inconspicuous

khc wrote: »

Sounds perfect for you then. Only reservation I would have is if you were looking for the same sort of nightlife (Austrian apres) in Soll, because it's quite different.

Nightlife isn't massively important to be honest. The 6 of us generally have good craic together once there is a bar willing to serve us beers

This time around I reckon we'll be less inclined to be wanting to do the dog on it at the risk of loosing out on the precious little ski time we have.

Fattes

I have taught there for about 6 weeks over the years, mostly park and freestyle stuff, but really like it as a resort.

Good atmosphere and scenery and reasonably quiet slopes with lots of variety for everything. Has some older lift infastructure especially out of the base of where the skiing ends, and gondolas arrive from the village. But also has some ultra modern stuff too.

The Arp and Youla lifts are really old but so cool, even if you just ride them up its worth it, The red from the top of the Arp is blackish

Fattes

Inconspicuous wrote: »

Nightlife isn't massively important to be honest. The 6 of us generally have good craic together once there is a bar willing to serve us beers

This time around I reckon we'll be less inclined to be wanting to do the dog on it at the risk of loosing out on the precious little ski time we have.

Trust me on Bar Roma so! Check it out on trip advisor! It is amazing, beer is about 2.50 - 4 euro a beer but wine is dirt cheap in Courmayer.

Inconspicuous

Fattes wrote: »

I have taught there for about 6 weeks over the years, mostly park and freestyle stuff, but really like it as a resort.

Good atmosphere and scenery and reasonably quiet slopes with lots of variety for everything. Has some older lift infastructure especially out of the base of where the skiing ends, and gondolas arrive from the village. But also has some ultra modern stuff too.

The Arp and Youla lifts are really old but so cool, even if you just ride them up its worth it, The red from the top of the Arp is blackish

Good to know. Looks like this is going to be our destination this year so! Now all I have to do is find the patience to wait for the holiday to come round

Inconspicuous

Fattes wrote: »

Trust me on Bar Roma so! Check it out on trip advisor! It is amazing, beer is about 2.50 - 4 euro a beer but wine is dirt cheap in Courmayer.

Just had a look there, it sounds great!

Fattes

So first one of the season! Car packed up and off ski testing, retail training and skiing for a week in the UK snowdomes!

Winter is here and my season has started

a148pro

Get on it Fattes!

And as if on cue a channel I didn't even know i had (Sky Sport Mix) appears on my telly showing a programme described as the Cannes of ski movies

Timmaay

Just watched the film force majeure! Utterly ****e film ha, but still some epic shots of les arcs, busy annoying myself on skyscanner but must resist drunken booking of flights ha!

cormee

Timmaay wrote: »

Just watched the film force majeure! Utterly ****e film ha, but still some epic shots of les arcs, busy annoying myself on skyscanner but must resist drunken booking of flights ha!

Thank God I wasn't the only one who disliked it. The moodiness, the pauses, the silence, punctuated by the distant sound of the avalanche cannon. It's like, ort-house.
Christ, I was fit to punch my TV by the end of it. The hotel looked lovely though. :mad:

hawkwind23

I heard good reviews of it , was it on terrestrial tv last night?

Fattes

Another week more snowdomes! A little Alpine, a little Telemark and am all Ireland hurling final!

a148pro

Ski films should be ski porn, ski drama no thanks

Although I do remember downhill racer was quite good, anyone remember that?

Also fattes, the thought of you skiing inside at the hottest time of the year is hillarious, total junkie. Does it not drive you nuts skiing something like that after a season in Engelberg though?

olaola

We're thinking Soll, have never been before. A bit worried about this 'schlep' to the buses/slopes. What's the story? We're usually spoiled by ski in/out villages like Saalbach. Also, what's the village like?

khc

olaola wrote: »

We're thinking Soll, have never been before. A bit worried about this 'schlep' to the buses/slopes. What's the story? We're usually spoiled by ski in/out villages like Saalbach. Also, what's the village like?

Village is brilliant! Great place

olaola

khc wrote: »

Village is brilliant! Great place

Ah cool! Looking at skiclub reviews, they say it's a bit small?? Would it be bigger than Westendorf?

Inconspicuous

olaola wrote: »

We're thinking Soll, have never been before. A bit worried about this 'schlep' to the buses/slopes. What's the story? We're usually spoiled by ski in/out villages like Saalbach. Also, what's the village like?

I honestly couldn't recommend it enough. I've skied in Meribel, Tignes, Andora, Livignio and places like that and Soll is the place I've spent the last 5 holidays in.

First thing first...yep its a trek to the gondola that takes you up to the slopes. We always walk it as its a nice way to get rid of the hangover. Takes about 10-15 minutes depending where you are staying. That said, there are plenty of ski buses stopping outside almost all of the hotels in the village, so you can just take one of these if you're not up to the walk.

There are ski lockers right under the main gondola which we use and are very handy.

The village is class. Great selection of pubs and restaurants and I can't recommend enough the Bella Vita. A family owned place with fabulous food! A little pricer than the rest but well worth trying for at least one of the evenings.

Up on the hills there are plenty of places to explore and if you're feeling particularly adventurous you can practically ski all the way to Kitzbuhel (did it once and it was a mammoth trek but well worth it). Towards the end of the day everyone starts to congregate towards the yellow and white tent bar (no idea what its actually called) beside the beginning of the home red to get the apres started.

Have to say, I really love the place and I'm only trying somewhere different this year as we're not doing the full week.

olaola

Inconspicuous wrote: »

I honestly couldn't recommend it enough. I've skied in Meribel, Tignes, Andora, Livignio and places like that and Soll is the place I've spent the last 5 holidays in.

First thing first...yep its a trek to the gondola that takes you up to the slopes. We always walk it as its a nice way to get rid of the hangover. Takes about 10-15 minutes depending where you are staying. That said, there are plenty of ski buses stopping outside almost all of the hotels in the village, so you can just take one of these if you're not up to the walk.

There are ski lockers right under the main gondola which we use and are very handy.

The village is class. Great selection of pubs and restaurants and I can't recommend enough the Bella Vita. A family owned place with fabulous food! A little pricer than the rest but well worth trying for at least one of the evenings.

Up on the hills there are plenty of places to explore and if you're feeling particularly adventurous you can practically ski all the way to Kitzbuhel (did it once and it was a mammoth trek but well worth it). Towards the end of the day everyone starts to congregate towards the yellow and white tent bar (no idea what its actually called) beside the beginning of the home red to get the apres started.

Have to say, I really love the place and I'm only trying somewhere different this year as we're not doing the full week.

Thanks a mill!! Appreciate the feedback It's sounding very tempting, and the prices are great.

Inconspicuous

olaola wrote: »

Ah cool! Looking at skiclub reviews, they say it's a bit small?? Would it be bigger than Westendorf?

I haven't been to Westendorf, but in general, Soll feels like a village to me as opposed to a town. For comparison, I found places like Meribel, Pas de la Casa and Tignes to be larger and more spread out. But to be honest, I prefer the village feel of the place and it makes it easier to get from place to place.

Not sure what sort of nightlife you're looking for, but there is usually good craic to be had in the SalvenStadl pub (especially apres ski) and the WhiskeyMhule night club. That said we're usually there in a group of between 6 and 16 of us so we tend to create our own fun

Inconspicuous

Actually...I just had a look at google maps - Westendorf doesn't look too much bigger than Soll from the air - maybe a little more spread out?

Fattes

a148pro wrote: »

Ski films should be ski porn, ski drama no thanks

Although I do remember downhill racer was quite good, anyone remember that?

Also fattes, the thought of you skiing inside at the hottest time of the year is hillarious, total junkie. Does it not drive you nuts skiing something like that after a season in Engelberg though?

Snowdomes pay the bills in summer they are an excellent resource for technique and training Hemel, Manchester and Milton Keynes are the best. Last 2 days was with sponsors