Monthly Archives: May 2012

What to Expect On Your First Ski Lesson

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If you’ve never been skiing before, here are a few things everyone should expect on their first ski lesson:

  • Skiing is a rufty tufty sport, so expect to fall over a lot! This embarrasses some folk because, let’s face it, most adults don’t fall over much unless they are erm…under a certain influence! Don’t feel silly, your ski instructor sees it all the time and will take it as a sign you are trying.
  • All that falling over is exhausting, so you will need to work on your fitness in advance. We recommend ski lessons of maximum 3hrs duration for absolute beginners because it is so tiring.
  • Ski bindings need to be calibrated according to the wearer’s size and experience. Tell the ski hire shop you are an absolute beginner and they can set them accordingly and safely. This is not your ski instructor’s area of expertise.
  • A good ski lesson is about YOU, not your instructor. If he is busy showing what HE can do instead of helping you then find a different instructor!
  • That said, getting yourself up and putting your skis back on is all part of the learning curves so don’t expect help every time. A good ski instructor will show you the best ways and wait patiently and cheerfully while you sort yourself out.

We have experienced, English speaking instructors at our ski school to help beginners get the most from their ski lessons in Avoriaz, Les Gets and Morzine. Contact us for more info!

What equipment do I need to start skiing?

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Generally the British Ski Schools in Morzine & Les Gets do not provide equipment or passes as part of a package, you will be expected to organise these for yourself.

Here is an equipment check list for absolute skiing beginners:

  • Skis, boots & poles – standard rental package. Boots should be your normal shoe size and fit well, so snug but not pinching. Tell the ski hire place that you are a beginner so they set your bindings accordingly.
  • Skiing goggles AND sunglasses.
  • Beanie, waterproof gloves & scarf/neckfleece.
  • Waterproof outerwear, ideally salopettes and a roomy jacket, jeans are NOT  adequate for skiing!
  • Make sure you carry high factor sun cream & lippy – the sun’s harmful rays are twice as strong when reflected back off the snow.
  • Have thermal undies available, lots of layers are more practical than one chunky layer.
  • Invest in proper ski socks which will not wrinkle inside your boots and will provide padding in the right places. Don’t be tempted to wear two pairs to pad out ill-fitting boots. If your ski boots are too loose try and change them for a smaller size or a different make/style.

 

Les Gets 2011/12 Season – Our Thoughts

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Well if I could order the season’s conditions for next, can I have another like this one? Started with the usual fears of: When will the snow come? Will it come too early/late? Will there be enough? Will last year’s weak season put the clients off from coming to Les Gets/Morzine/Avoriaz and take the British press’ usual advice of going high to guarantee snow? In my opinion not always sure as you can get better snow following this advice but also get lots of closed days due to bad weather when the high resorts are battered by high winds etc. In the 11 seasons here in Les Gets I can’t remember a closed day.black found in the ‘Bowl’  which is serviced by 5 lifts to a variety of runs on and off-piste. So the snow did come and how, in the first few weeks we already have more than the whole of last season! And it just kept on coming – this area benefits from a micro climate due to the proximity of Mt Blanc – face shots early on in December on and around the Yeti Great morning’s skiing on Xmas day up on Chamossierre red and black before having lunch with lots of friends in Chez Nannon and getting very merry before skiing home.

After a pretty slow start the clients’ fear dissipates and work picks up as the resort becomes more and more busy. Lots of our regulars return for more punishment, sorry tuition, so a BIG THANK YOU to them for choosing us again, you know who you are! January proves to be my favourite month as not very busy but great snow and the chance to get some unpaid turns in on another favourite area Mt Chery. Last season was a great season for Telemarking, my un-secret passion and this season isn’t far behind it as I get to Tele my little legs off with some new and old clients, even a whole day off-piste on Mt Chery up to my waist in powder! Also a real treat, a team day off-piste tour up Pointe D’Angolon to ski the back bowl down to the Vallee de la Manche.

February, snow still awesome and half term ‘madness’ arrives. This always seems to be something that has a fear factor that is never really realised, as lots of lovely repeat clients and Babs’ brilliant organisation makes things go really smoothly. Cold as, lots of -16, -20 type days, so heartfelt thanks to technology and boot heaters keeping my toes warm and allowing me to get through these freezing days without too much discomfort.

Some old friends and my brother come out to visit in March so pretty  busy après ski and socially along with my other duty as ‘Joe the Strummer’ on Wednesdays. Great that they get to see the area at its best and I get to ski with them too. This month also sees me able to run a BASI Telemark L1 course in my backyard, in my other guise as a BASI trainer. It is really fantastic to do this as I get to Telemark all across the area including Mt Chery and Avoriaz. All these guys are second discipliners and all pass, so congrats to them all.

April normally heralds the END of the season, which can be a bit depressing, but not this season it just seems to keep going. After a warm spell more snow falls and my last day here in the PDS I’m skiing powder with a new client recommended by one of our regulars. So the season is coming to a close here in Les Gets but I’m not finished, I’m off to Hintertux in Austria for a week’s skiing on a L4 training course. After an eight hour drive to get there it’s snowing like you wouldn’t believe and although the visibility isn’t great the snow cannot be faulted. The second day is probably the best of the season, pristine, virginal powder for warm-up runs followed by and awesome day improving short and long turns on and off-piste. The rest of the week isn’t as good as the Tuesday as the visibility fades again but I’ll forgo sight to ski this quality of snow. Get to meet some nice folk on this course and plan to stay in touch with them, top week.

So what can I say about 2011-12? One of the best seasons in recent memory, great snow, great clients, mostly great weather, if only 2012-13 can be similar… or better.