Q : Who goes skiing and where are you from ?

charleville

If you go on regular skiing trips I would love to know where you are from in ireland ?

First time or regular skiers ?

cocker5

From Wicklow!

Skiing every year to Austria (usually Ischgl, st Anton, lech) usually a 10 day trip mid March! This year will be our 13th skiing holiday!

This year trying to sneak in an extra week at Christmas too (snow dependant)

khc

Cork but living in dublin which is great for flight options especially Geneva and Zurich

Skied mostly around middle Europe and a bit of Eastern Europe

irlirishkev

Wicklow originally but living in Dublin now.

First brought skiing (very reluctantly on my part) by my now wife, 12 years ago.
Got bitten by the bug and have been twice a year ever since (early Jan and mid spring)

We now stick to France mostly, but have been to Austria, Italy (taking the op to ski to Swizterland!) and the US.
Ski in/out, and Self Accommodation all the way for us now. Few quiet drinks in the evenings, then up early enough to make the most of the ski.

One of my favourite things in the world!

fmlarnapairce

irlirishkev wrote: »

Wicklow originally but living in Dublin now.

First brought skiing (very reluctantly on my part) by my now wife, 12 years ago.
Got bitten by the bug and have been twice a year ever since (early Jan and mid spring)

We now stick to France mostly, but have been to Austria, Italy (taking the op to ski to Swizterland!) and the US.
Ski in/out, and Self Accommodation all the way for us now. Few quiet drinks in the evenings, then up early enough to make the most of the ski.

One of my favourite things in the world![/QUOT7

Galway, usually Austria but have a soft spot for Switzerland.

Just as a matter of interest, where do you go in early jan, a friend looking for advice and am mulling over where to send him, he's between beginner and intermediate.

Diemos

From Louth

Snowboard every season, multiple times a season if I can

irlirishkev

fmlarnapairce wrote:

Galway, usually Austria but have a soft spot for Switzerland.

Just as a matter of interest, where do you go in early jan, a friend looking for advice and am mulling over where to send him, he's between beginner and intermediate.

Last few times, France. Les Arcs 1950, La Tania, and Montgenevre

First two both excellent locations, with HEAPS of skiing throughout the 3 Valleys, though they're tiny purpose built villages so they wouldn't be big party towns.

Montgenevre was fine, but snow wasn't great the time we were there, but wouldn't rule out going back. Also not a big party town, though a real town as opposed to being purpose built.

Road-Hog

I would say 99% of people who post on this thread go skiing or have done a few times in the past. As for where you are from...what relevance is this again 99% of contributors will be Irish. In saying that I've been on a ski trip almost every season since '99.....have pleateau'd ability wise but can get down any slope but my off piste skills would be limited......prefer to stay on the marked routes.....south east resident and have been to zermatt, st Anton, 3 valleys, Val disere, Morzine, saalbach a number of times

kal7

From dublin, live in Galway.

Skied approx 23 or 24 weeks.
After couple years of lessons, just free skied, then got lessons again and had technique taken apart and rebuilt, now far better skier

Usually big french resorts, but have been to small and big Italian, swiss and austrians one too.

heading to flaine this season.

Road-Hog

Road-Hog wrote: »

I would say 99% of people who post on this thread go skiing or have done a few times in the past. As for where you are from...what relevance is this again 99% of contributors will be Irish. In saying that I've been on a ski trip almost every season since '99.....have pleateau'd ability wise but can get down any slope but my off piste skills would be limited......prefer to stay on the marked routes.....south east resident and have been to zermatt, st Anton, 3 valleys, Val disere, Morzine, saalbach a number of times

I’m nearer the 1% types. Have been skiing twice with school many, many moons ago. One week in madesimo, Italy and another week in France but can’t remember where. Planning on taking my husband before the season ends. Dunno where yet, hence I’ve started browsing this forum.

Originally from London now live in Leitrim. I had a dry ski slope quite near me growing up and it was somewhere my mates and I went on weekends. Are there any dry ski slopes in Ireland?

davmol

From North Dublin.
Been skiing for the last 18 years.Have a core group we go with and have new additions /leavers each year.
Go to Austria too as it ticks all the boxes-Reasonably priced booze,good night life,snow cannons in the event there is little snow,good parks for free style,short enough transfer and atmosphere.

willah

davmol wrote: »

From North Dublin.
Been skiing for the last 18 years.Have a core group we go with and have new additions /leavers each year.
Go to Austria too as it ticks all the boxes-Reasonably priced booze,good night life,snow cannons in the event there is little snow,good parks for free style,short enough transfer and atmosphere.

Roll on January

davmol

willah wrote: »

davmol wrote: »

From North Dublin.
Been skiing for the last 18 years.Have a core group we go with and have new additions /leavers each year.
Go to Austria too as it ticks all the boxes-Reasonably priced booze,good night life,snow cannons in the event there is little snow,good parks for free style,short enough transfer and atmosphere.

Roll on January

cant come quick enough!!

lawred2

Haven't gone skiing since the kiddies came along. Would love to take them to the slopes some time but it'll be a while yet. Plus it'd probably be too expensive.

olaola

lawred2 wrote: »

Haven't gone skiing since the kiddies came along. Would love to take them to the slopes some time but it'll be a while yet. Plus it'd probably be too expensive.

Depending on age, they're mostly free in some places! The only thing we have to pay for our fella (he's nearly 4) is ski school & flights. His accommodation, HB food and gear rental are free and his ski pass is a nominal amount.

kal7

Had my little one, on skis 3rd birthday, small bursts of myself and wife teaching, then ski school on 5th birthday.

Lots of instructors have said local kids on skis at 3 but only start to teach at 5yr,
has worked well so far, we are making sure to keep it fun.

Beginner lifts often free, but it is expensive.

BarryNumber1

From Cork, now Limerick. Tried skiing, switched to snowboarding and have been riding on and off for 20 years. Lived in CA for a spell so plenty of trips to Tahoe region, big fan of Dodge and Kirkwood. Everyone was mellow, great snow and staff, CA lifties are great, loads of encouragement and banter. Bit of a hiatus and next up was the East Coast (NH Loon, MA multiple and VT Mount Snow)... truly brutal stuff when it's bad, had to completely review technique, better rider now but was painful there for a while.

Managed some time in Pamporova and Livigno as well, one could spend a week in Livigno, don't go near the slopes and come back and had a great time. Kids now bigger so trying to get them involved, but costs are prohibitive, this is not a cheap activity unfortunately but a far better holiday to look back on.

Cheers

DoraDelite

Strawberry Milkshake wrote: »

I’m nearer the 1% types. Have been skiing twice with school many, many moons ago. One week in madesimo, Italy and another week in France but can’t remember where. Planning on taking my husband before the season ends. Dunno where yet, hence I’ve started browsing this forum.

Originally from London now live in Leitrim. I had a dry ski slope quite near me growing up and it was somewhere my mates and I went on weekends. Are there any dry ski slopes in Ireland?

There's one in Dublin (Kilternan) and I think there's one up in Northern Ireland.

DoraDelite

Living in Dublin, tried skiing years ago in Australia of all places. Haven't looked back since! I try to get in 5+ weeks a year now as I don't bother with sun holidays. On my wish list this season is some ski touring in Northern Sweden apart from the usual spins to France and Austria.

lawred2

DoraDelite wrote: »

Living in Dublin, tried skiing years ago in Australia of all places. Haven't looked back since! I try to get in 5+ weeks a year now as I don't bother with sun holidays. On my wish list this season is some ski touring in Northern Sweden apart from the usual spins to France and Austria.

5+ weeks a year

good lord

BarryNumber1

"5+ weeks"... wouldn't mind 1 guaranteed week a year

masseyno9

From Dublin, now live in Calgary. 
Skied from aged 12-16, 1 week a year. Then changed and snowboarded the past 15 years (christ, never saw that written down before!) We used to go to Andorra a lot due to budget and options at the time. Think we did Pamporovo once, maybe twice. Then spent a season in Les Gets (near Morzine) about 6 years ago. Moved to Calgary 5 years ago and now it's day trips to Sunshine Village and Lake Louise a couple of times a month. Also, usually a couple of weekends further afield, too. Hoping to get on a cat trip this year, and maybe a heli-trip in the next couple of years. Have done some decent hike-in runs and dropped into some pretty cool terrain with some of the 'locals' I've gone riding with.

Spoilt for choice over here, really. First day of the season on Saturday, just going to a small resort (Mt. Norquay) near Banff but I got my hands on the office lift pass, so it's free. Tickets are usually about $100/day on average, so a free day here and there is nice! The season is quite long over here. Most places opened last week with a good percentage of terrain open and will go to mid-May.

keith_sixteen

Am Irish, but living in Switzerland. Only getting into it to the last season and really enjoyed it. Spent a fortune buying gear this month having previously just rented.

Living here, you are spoiled for choice. There are plenty of small places for kids to learn as well as plenty of big resorts.

However, not sure I would recommend it for visitors. It's pricey and the big resorts can get very crowded.

DoraDelite

lawred2 wrote: »

5+ weeks a year

good lord

I did say I don't do sun holidays , all my holidays are pretty much ski holidays!

andyd12

Snowboarder from Kildare, in college in sligo.

Learned to to board in Canada(BC) when I lived there 2013 -2015, I got 2 full seasons there.(whistler,cypress,apex etc)

Went to Austria with 7 guys last year, going to st. Anton,Austria again this year with 9guys for a week. Expensive trips when you are a student but it would kill me if a decided not to go. Going in late January, sooooo pumped!!!

Think Austria is pretty cool, I can just compare it to Canada but facilities ie lifts are much better, faster etc. Passes are way cheaper. Beer and food is much nicer and cheaper also. Apres is great craic too

Only small complaint is the Europeans don't have the same courtesy as the Canadians in the lift queue, which is just annoying but just a bit the way the cultures are in general

gingernut79

Myself and himself are off to Mayrhofen Austria for the 4th time in early Feb (5th time for him). We can only manage 4 nights away and going somewhere we know helps us make the most of our time.

Road-Hog

andyd12 wrote: »

Snowboarder from Kildare, in college in sligo.

Learned to to board in Canada(BC) when I lived there 2013 -2015, I got 2 full seasons there.(whistler,cypress,apex etc)

Went to Austria with 7 guys last year, going to st. Anton,Austria again this year with 9guys for a week. Expensive trips when you are a student but it would kill me if a decided not to go. Going in late January, sooooo pumped!!!

Think Austria is pretty cool, I can just compare it to Canada but facilities ie lifts are much better, faster etc. Passes are way cheaper. Beer and food is much nicer and cheaper also. Apres is great craic too

Only small complaint is the Europeans don't have the same courtesy as the Canadians in the lift queue, which is just annoying but just a bit the way the cultures are in general

Can you outline a bit more re the 'courtesy' shown by North Americans at the lift q's.....i can honestly say that after almost 20 ski trips in Europe I can't recall any incidents that I would regard as bad courtesy / etequitte at a lift q. Can you define the type of poor behaviour you are taking about??

andyd12

Road-Hog wrote: »

Can you outline a bit more re the 'courtesy' shown by North Americans at the lift q's.....i can honestly say that after almost 20 ski trips in Europe I can't recall any incidents that I would regard as bad courtesy / etequitte at a lift q. Can you define the type of poor behaviour you are taking about??

Ehhhh, cutting in front of you when clearly you are the next person in line. For example when 2 lines converge, it's the norm for left to go then right then left etc etc. But not in Europe, just my 2cents and MY experience. People in Canada are in it for the common goal but in Europe it's for personal gain basically

blue note

andyd12 wrote:

Ehhhh, cutting in front of you when clearly you are the next person in line. For example when 2 lines converge, it's the norm for left to go then right then left etc etc. But not in Europe, just my 2cents and MY experience. People in Canada are in it for the common goal but in Europe it's for personal gain basically

I've only been on the one trip, but I'd have to say that's fair. It's very much an all for themselves in the lift queues. The more you push your way to the front the faster you get on. Other than the first lift in the morning it wasn't a problem, you'll only miss a couple of chairs from people cutting in. But that first lift every day was 20 minutes of queuing if you make sure to never leave any space in front of you. 30 if you give people the opportunity to cut in front of you.

If would have been nice if the queue was done properly and everyone queued for equally long.

arleitiss

My main problem for going regulary is - nobody to go with.

I generally just stall and look around for who's going but then end up not finding anyone and just going solo.
I would love to go twice a year (start of year and end of year) but going solo is a bit discouraging.

Living in Dublin.

BarryNumber1

@arleitiss LOL, doing that right now. It takes more determination but it sure beats no snowboarding. My current view... see attached.

Mind you a 3-4 hour drive to and from might cure me.

mixery

Eastern Europe and Italy for me, mostly small enough resorts. Looking to try Switzerland this season. The ultimate dream is Japan though that's likely to have to wait a few years.

lulut

From the south east. Started off skiing years ago but changed to snowboarding about 4 years ago and love it. I try and get two trips a year in but only one planned this year due to funds. Most of my friends and family now rearing young kids so they gave up the ski hols. started going on singles trips where you meet up with other solo skiers and boarders. Have made quiet a few friends from it and heading off with a bunch of them this February to austria on a trip we organised ourselves . Can't wait

blue note

arleitiss wrote: »

My main problem for going regulary is - nobody to go with.

I generally just stall and look around for who's going but then end up not finding anyone and just going solo.
I would love to go twice a year (start of year and end of year) but going solo is a bit discouraging.

Living in Dublin.

You should try and book the Top Flight trip or one with the ski club of Dublin or something. That way you'd have one in the diary at least every year anyway.

blue note

mixery wrote: »

Eastern Europe and Italy for me, mostly small enough resorts. Looking to try Switzerland this season. The ultimate dream is Japan though that's likely to have to wait a few years.

Used to Eastern Europe and going to Switzerland this season? From what I hear you're in for a shock!

DoraDelite

arleitiss wrote: »

My main problem for going regulary is - nobody to go with.

I generally just stall and look around for who's going but then end up not finding anyone and just going solo.
I would love to go twice a year (start of year and end of year) but going solo is a bit discouraging.

Living in Dublin.

This was my problem originally, the need for skiing won out. I originally went off with Cold Fusion to one of their chalets in Chamonix but I only did a couple of trips with them as I found it too expensive.

Since then when I can't get friends to go I now go to the UCPA instead. I have found that great and very good for solo skiers to make friends. In fact this year I'm heading back to the UPCA for Xmas/New year and some previous buddies I've made along the way are joining me for those two weeks. I've also given Snowheads a go as well and enjoyed that also to the point that I have booked another trip with them this winter.

There's so many options for solo skiers/boarders that you shouldn't let that hold you back.

mixery

blue note wrote: »

Used to Eastern Europe and going to Switzerland this season? From what I hear you're in for a shock!

We'll see, I'm just happy to get on the slopes at any opportunity! Eastern Europe has gotten surprisingly expensive so I've given it a miss recently. Also Northern Italian resorts in my experience are always full of polish/czech groups so I guess the trend is still going.

dzer2

Kilkenny

Family holiday every to Austria.

Mitch Buchannon

I’m based in Dublin.
I have been lucky enough to go boarding every year since 2001 , bar winter 2014/2015.

I normally head to Chamonix twice a year. Once in January and again in March.
Other than Cham, Ive been to Austria four times, Andorra twice, Morzine once.

I also have family who live Vermont (near Stowe) and they are always inviting us over for some skiing/boarding. If the chance comes up we may take sometime off and nip over in March for a few days.

SuperSean11

Used to go for a week every year some where in Europe for ten years.
Did two ski seasons in Canada.
Hopping the snow will come to me here in Dublin

arleitiss

DoraDelite wrote: »

This was my problem originally, the need for skiing won out. I originally went off with Cold Fusion to one of their chalets in Chamonix but I only did a couple of trips with them as I found it too expensive.

Since then when I can't get friends to go I now go to the UCPA instead. I have found that great and very good for solo skiers to make friends. In fact this year I'm heading back to the UPCA for Xmas/New year and some previous buddies I've made along the way are joining me for those two weeks. I've also given Snowheads a go as well and enjoyed that also to the point that I have booked another trip with them this winter.

There's so many options for solo skiers/boarders that you shouldn't let that hold you back.

I went with UCPA twice last year.

First time I got two awesome Australians with whom we ended up hanging out entire week and 2nd time I got 3 French teens who didn't speak any English and it was awkward as hell.

arleitiss

blue note wrote: »

You should try and book the Top Flight trip or one with the ski club of Dublin or something. That way you'd have one in the diary at least every year anyway.

Will look into it, thank you.

blue note

Meant to say topflight today fm trip btw. You pay a little premium, but it sounds great.

dzer2

blue note wrote: »

Meant to say topflight today fm trip btw. You pay a little premium, but it sounds great.

Sold out for months

SuperSean11

dzer2 wrote: »

Sold out for months

Coppers do one, might be available

stecleary

blue note wrote: »

You should try and book the Top Flight trip or one with the ski club of Dublin or something. That way you'd have one in the diary at least every year anyway.

Snowheads.com is great for solos, they do a few "bashes" through out the season and have a solo ski buddy list

Timmaay

arleitiss wrote: »

I went with UCPA twice last year.

First time I got two awesome Australians with whom we ended up hanging out entire week and 2nd time I got 3 French teens who didn't speak any English and it was awkward as hell.

Another big fan of the ucpa (or action outdoors for English speakers), the main trick to avoid experiences like your 2nd trip is always email the action outdoors crew just before you book, and ask them straight out how many English speakers are booked into that resort for that week. If you got lobbed in with 3 French teens are you sure you didn't book through the ucpa website?

Anyways this thread is meant to be posting about me ha, based in East Wicklow, gone skiing 3 separate times, always to the French alps, 2 of them times with the ucpa, got a group going of us going with the ucpa again in March, to val thorens this time. Gotta spread my wings after that trip and go to the Italian and Austrian alps for any future trips. Always skied, gotta rob one of the lads snowboards this year to try it out for half a day though.

arleitiss

Timmaay wrote: »

Another big fan of the ucpa (or action outdoors for English speakers), the main trick to avoid experiences like your 2nd trip is always email the action outdoors crew just before you book, and ask them straight out how many English speakers are booked into that resort for that week. If you got lobbed in with 3 French teens are you sure you didn't book through the ucpa website?

Anyways this thread is meant to be posting about me ha, based in East Wicklow, gone skiing 3 separate times, always to the French alps, 2 of them times with the ucpa, got a group going of us going with the ucpa again in March, to val thorens this time. Gotta spread my wings after that trip and go to the Italian and Austrian alps for any future trips. Always skied, gotta rob one of the lads snowboards this year to try it out for half a day though.

Yes first time I booked with Action Outdoors and 2nd time directly through UCPA.
Didn't think it made difference.


Boy was I wrong.

DoraDelite

arleitiss wrote: »

Yes first time I booked with Action Outdoors and 2nd time directly through UCPA.
Didn't think it made difference.


Boy was I wrong.

Stick with Action Outdoors for sure. They're great for emailing or ringing if you need to check that kind of thing, I've never been in a room with french speakers only. I find they generally will try and put you in a room with similar people if you're on your own. I've used them for 5 trips at this stage and had a great time on each.

arleitiss

DoraDelite wrote: »

Stick with Action Outdoors for sure. They're great for emailing or ringing if you need to check that kind of thing, I've never been in a room with french speakers only. I find they generally will try and put you in a room with similar people if you're on your own. I've used them for 5 trips at this stage and had a great time on each.

Gonna give it another try next October so

(I don't suppose there are summer places for skiing/snowboarding (Not just France but anywhere))?