here y'go peeps, easy squeezy cut and paste :

get scribbling!

RESORT:
TRAVELLED WITH:
FLIGHT:
COST APPROX (ALL UP):
CONDITIONS
COMMENT/LESSONS IDENTIFIED:

Anyone ski Banff/Whistler as part of the BATUS R&R package ? Magic or a pile of poo?

I have skied in:

Andorra - Soldeu/El Tarta
Great for beginners as its quite flat at the top and has a really long green run for when you want a lazy ski.

Switzerland - Crans Montana
Great for intermediates and expirienced skiers. The town it self is quite quiet compared to most, but there are plenty of places to eat and drink off piste (and on). The runs tended to be full of dags when I was there, so some carfull skiing was needed. But the main groomed runs were wide and not to busy.
Warning: watch out for the snowboarders here, as piste etiquette is something they seem to have forgotten.

Bulgaria - Borovets
Great for beginers at the top and intermediates elswhere. Expert would probably get bored as there is only 1 decent black run.
When I was there it hadn't snowed enough to open all the lifts, but the runs were well kept and very nice to ski. The ski scchools were great and a weeks skiing was very cheap (pass, equipment and school all included in the price).
Off piste there is a lively party scene with plenty of good food and beer to be drank. Those that have been to Bosnia, will be able to speak the local language, but most speak english.

(Is a dag like a Barney but with a poorer dress sense ?)

X59 - here y'go...this was the B&B - E25 a night and all the coffee you can drink.....white stuff in foreground may be unfamiliar....more to follow as required once I get all technical.




Niederau Drache - winter plumage


here y 'go...this is alongside the Franciskusweg outskirts of Oberau


....and the top of the Markbachjoch gondola....3,500 feet

Originally Posted by Goatman

(Is a dag like a Barney but with a poorer dress sense ?)

A dag is the little bit of poo the hangs of the sheeps arrse. But in this instance, it's the lumps of ice you sometimes get on the runs.

RESORT: Les Contamines
TRAVELLED WITH: Ski4Less
FLIGHT: N/a Restricted minibus... (NEVER again)
COST APPROX (ALL UP): £50 (with various funding) to go 200ish Euros on beer!
CONDITIONS: Skiied Monday - Friday, had to leave off the slopes early on Weds cause it rained and made the snow slushy
COMMENT/LESSONS IDENTIFIED: The majority of the group had never skiied before. However since our instuctors had never skiied Les Contamines before, we were taken straight up The Signal and put on a pretty steep blue slope, which knocked alot of our confidence.
The next day we were on a green to build up our confidence and by the end of the week the majority of the novices were skiing red slopes, which were pretty challenging.
The company we skiied with was our ex QMSI, and fair play our appartment was lovely, the guys didn't get that much of a good deal though, their accom was pretty bad even though we were all paying the same.
We spent most of our nights in the Tetras bar, overpriced but hey all French bars are. Got some really good banter and had some brilliant nights out!
If your not on too much of a budget i would definatly reccomend it!

Originally Posted by AlphaRomeo184

RESORT: Les Contamines
TRAVELLED WITH: Ski4Less
FLIGHT: N/a Restricted minibus... (NEVER again)
COST APPROX (ALL UP): £50 (with various funding) to go 200ish Euros on beer

Cheers AR,


a week's skiing for fifty quid......when you leave the Service you may have a slight shock ....couldn't do that in Scotland let alone French Alps.

Been wondering about driving out .....a possible option is fly/Drive ....UK to e.g Munchen then hire a jalopy there. We'll see.

In other news:

SOURCE

The top honours at the 1 (UK) Armoured Division's annual military skiing contest, Exercise Pipedown, have once again gone to 1 Logistic Support Regiment (1 LSR), who have dominated the competition over previous years.


A disabled competitor taking part in Exercise Pipedown
[Picture: Sergeant Mark Nesbit RLC, Crown Copyright/MOD 2011]

The ten-day competition saw the North Germany-based unit declared the overall divisional combined ski champion unit as well as the best team in the men's Alpine and Nordic disciplines.

The men's 1 LSR team also won the military patrol race - an event designed to test soldiers in all the essential military skills expected of them on operations, including marksmanship, map reading and physical endurance.

It is the 17th year that Germany-based 1 (UK) Armoured Division held its championships at Alpine ski resort Les Contamines-Montjoie near Mont Blanc, with more than 70 per cent of the 320 competing soldiers and officers being novice skiers.

Exercise Pipedown is part of the British Army's programme of Adventurous Training and provides an opportunity to hone important skills, enhancing individuals' abilities to withstand the rigours of operations and rapid deployments.

It also offers the opportunity for novices and experts alike to ski under international competition rules.

And this year's event, which also included soldiers based in Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK, was one of the most eventful - providing a variety of twists and turns during both the Alpine events (downhill) and the Nordic (cross country), despite the unseasonably warm conditions which resulted in icy, fast ski runs.

Sergeant Grant Douglas MacPherson, of the Joint Services Parachute Centre, finished as the best individual men's Alpine skier, winning the individual Alpine combination competition along with victories in the Giant Slalom, Super Giant Slalom and the Downhill.

The Germany-based soldier, who hails from Inverness, was only prevented from achieving a clean sweep in the Alpine discipline by Corporal White of 1 LSR who pushed him into second place in the Slalom.

In the women's Alpine events Lieutenant Collins of 28 Engineer Regiment was declared best individual female, while Captain Fewster of 4th Regiment Royal Artillery won the women's Slalom and Giant Slalom, and Captain Kirkpatrick of 39 Regiment Royal Artillery was the fastest in the Super Giant Slalom and the Downhill.

Staff Sergeant Walker of 1 LSR achieved a clean sweep of prizes in the men's Nordic, winning the individual Nordic combination, the 15km classic and the 10km biathlon sprint, while Sergeant Fowler, also of 1 LSR, emulated that achievement in the women's Nordic with victories in the 10km classic and the 7.5km biathlon sprint, helping her to claim the women's individual Nordic combination title. 1 Medical Regiment won the overall women's team Nordic competition.

Corporal Ian Bishop, of 45 Commando Royal Marines, was presented with a special award for best competitor from the Navy. During his last tour in Afghanistan in February 2009, while on foot patrol near Sangin in Helmand province, he lost both his legs when he was hit by an improvised explosive device. But just a year later he joined the military's Battle Back programme which gives injured personnel the opportunity to take part in Adventurous Training and he is now aiming to compete in the 2014 Winter Paralympics in Russia.

Vice Chairman of the Army Winter Sports Association, Brigadier Richard Dennis, described Exercise Pipedown as 'physically and mentally demanding'.

He said:

"It showcases adventure training in its true sense, bringing out courage and determination in the competitors.


A Service skier taking part in Exercise Pipedown
[Picture: Sergeant Mark Nesbit RLC, Crown Copyright/MOD 2011]


"It is part of the wider winter programme of sports and adventure training the Army provides to give soldiers the chance to take part in all seven of the main winter sports, including Alpine and Nordic skiing, telemark, snowboarding, bobsleigh, luge and skeleton.

"The number of novice skiers here is extremely encouraging, and I would say to any military personnel thinking of having a go to ask their superiors to find out more about what the Army Winter Sports Association has to offer.

"You can go from novice to national level. In every Winter Olympics there has been someone who was introduced to the sport in the military."

Major General Adrian Bradshaw, General Officer Commanding 1 (UK) Armoured Division, who presented prizes to all the winners, said organising Adventurous Training opportunities such as Exercise Pipedown is part of the Army fulfilling its military covenant with soldiers.

He explained:

"In these days of intense operational commitments exercises like this give our people a change, which is important for the process of coming down after an operational tour.

"It is incredibly valuable and important, a chance for our people to put their hearts and souls into a different activity, a world away from Afghanistan, maintaining their health and well-being.

"This is a valid military activity which develops all the traits we expect soldiers to have on operations such as good marksmanship, fitness, co-ordination, teamwork, leadership and organisation, courage, boldness and co-operation - but Pipedown is also a chance for soldiers to enjoy themselves. The Army promises a life of adventure and opportunity. This is one of those opportunities."

Exercise Pipedown took place between Sunday 9 and Monday 17 January 2011

Anyone out there with an Instructors ticket who may be able to help out ?

SKI INSTRUCTOR REQUIREMENT

Leeds UOTC are undertaking a ski trip to Italy on 2 – 10 Apr 2011. There is a requirement for ski instructors with the minimum qualification of Joint Service Ski Instructor (Alpine). For further information contact WO1 (RSM) by email at LEEDOTC-RSM@MOD.UK or telephone 94771 8621.

RESORT: Seefeld

COMMENT/LESSONS IDENTIFIED: Hotel Tyrol - cheap, room OK, food indifferent, understaffed - has obviously seen better days. Hotel Helga - expensive but good in all respects, though only three stars as does not have stuff like a pool.

Skiing - we are old and fat and prefer not to fall over, so keen on blue runs. Lots of these including several accessible from the centre of the village. Lots of other winter stuff like skating and langlauf

Flights - most of the operators go to this place, it would seem. Great advantage is it's only about 30 mins from Innsbruck

Originally Posted by Vasco

RESORT: Seefeld

COMMENT/LESSONS IDENTIFIED: Hotel Tyrol - cheap, room OK, food indifferent, understaffed - has obviously seen better days. Hotel Helga - expensive but good in all respects, though only three stars as does not have stuff like a pool.

Skiing - we are old and fat and prefer not to fall over, so keen on blue runs. Lots of these including several accessible from the centre of the village. Lots of other winter stuff like skating and langlauf

Flights - most of the operators go to this place, it would seem. Great advantage is it's only about 30 mins from Innsbruck

Thanks Vasco ,

when I was booking my trip the travel agent kept sending me stuff about Seefeld, which I have to say made me think they had loads of spaces which they were keen to get shot of.....from your dit it sounds great for the less madcap skiier who wants something comfortable rather than challenging?

and I'm guessing the snow was okay if not actually higher than the car roof ? Any pics appreciated.

Goats

If you can afford both the time and the money, the best place to be at the moment must be Whistler:

Whistler Blackcomb - Official Ski Resort Website - Whistler, BC, Canada

In the last week, another 24 inches of snow has fallen which adds up to almost 600 inches of snow this season. The mountain is still at -8C and they have extended the season on Blackcombe until the end of May!

The mountains are suitable for powder buffs and head-bangers and the variety will keep a medium skier busy for two weeks or more. However, I would not recommend it for a complete beginner unless they are prepared to pay for instruction all day. However, the green pistes are smooth, wide and reasonably shallow.

Vancouver is 10hrs from LHR and the transfer time is 90-120 minutes.

Litotes