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Skiing in Europe
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Rick
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Posted: Nov 15, 2002 - 11:45 PM GMT

Has anyone here skied the Alps enough to compare it with US skiing? I have never been there but ever since seeing those picture postcard scenes on Wild World of Sports when I was a kid I wanted to get there. What I don't know about is what to expect. Are there things we take for granted here that are different there?

For instance, my impressions from casual reading are that European resorts aren't into making snow and grooming like we are and modern high speed lifts are not as common as they are here. Also, it's not a given that resorts and villages are car-friendly and public transportation may have to be used far more than here.[addsig]

the_hop
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Posted: Nov 16, 2002 - 12:19 AM GMT

I have skied the Alps in Switzerland, France and Austria and the Dolomites in Italy and Austria. It's not that modern ski lifts are not common, but more that they have many other conveyances and do not tend to remove a perfectly good rope tow to put in something that is unneccessary. They have high speed chairs that seat 8 for example. But, on a given day, depending on the snow line, you might ride a bus, a train, a tram, various lifts to get to the top of somewhere. While you might be able to ski down, you often choose to ride down part of the way. Often you might be riding off of a t bar or rope tow for some particularly good runs up high. You might choose to run top to bottom, stopping at 2 or 3 trail side restraunts or pubs on the way down. It might look like several ski areas, but they are all accessible from the same ticket. Did Grundelwald in Switzerland for a week for about $1500 TOTAL not long ago.

No, they do not do much snow making, they have higher altitude, and MOST of it is above tree line. They will groom a trail, but you can ski anywhere. Some of it easy, some of it hairy. You pick it. Some places have an altitude delta of 8,000 feet. The snow is much better than New England, but not as good as Utah. You can ski year round on some glaciers.

In short, the Europeans are blessed with great conditions, and they have not screwed it up. [addsig]

__________
Getting old is hell, but it is better than not getting old The older I get, the better I was!

MittersillManiac
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Posted: Nov 16, 2002 - 1:09 AM GMT

One gripe I had (and this why I think NE is the best skiing on earth) is that when below treeline there is nothing challenging to speak of. The marked runs are almost always groomed. I'm not a big powder skier, more of a mogul hound, and in most pleaces I went, I was miserable by comparison to NE. It wasnt worth it for me.

I've skied at:
Courmayer (Italien side of Mont Blanc)
Dimaro (Dolomites)
La Grave (very challenging but still no bumps, just double mount washington up and you have it)
Kitzbuehel (Had fun running "der Strief," the Hannenkahm course, but not much technical challenge, just steeps)
St. Anton (about the same as Kitzbuehel)
Borovets (Bulgaria, very good bumps, felt like Jay Peak but went well above treeline)
Pomporovo (Bulgaria, very similar to Borovets with the bumps and glades but bigger, probably the size of Winter Park)

Pomporovo and Borovets are the only ones I would return to of the ones I have seen. I like things better here in New England. I truly think that Cannon Mountain is the best skiing on earth. There are plenty of reasons that the French team used to train at Cannon and not in France.[addsig]

JoshuaB
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Posted: Nov 16, 2002 - 1:35 AM GMT

MM, we are learning more about you every day. Rubbing elbows with politicians, skiing in Europe, what's next?[addsig]

MittersillManiac
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Posted: Nov 16, 2002 - 1:46 AM GMT

I even know two rockstars. Hint: one of em is from Malden, MA, and is famous for an acoustic ballad that is way out of character for him, and doing one album with a verteran rock band that has an extremely over-rated guitarist. Any guesses? The other used to sing in a band in the 80's that wore bumblebee spandex onstage, was from CA, but now lives on the cape. Any guesses? This should be fun.[addsig]

JoshuaB
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Posted: Nov 16, 2002 - 1:57 AM GMT

Do you know the lead singer of Stryper, Michael Sweet?

And do you know Gary Cherone from Extreme and Van Halen?[addsig]

MittersillManiac
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Posted: Nov 16, 2002 - 5:06 AM GMT

hahahahaha I can't believe you got the Stryper question. Be careful where you repeat that. Unless, like myself, you have no shame.

But yes, both correct.

Gary lives just down the street, and Michael is the worship director at my friend's church in Sandwich.[addsig]

LaurieP
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Posted: Nov 16, 2002 - 5:24 AM GMT

Quote:

I even know two rockstars.

...and I once watched a famous rocker (very famous) play tennis in North Brookfield, Ma in the early 80's while recording at the farm there. My friend and I later went back to the farm to watch a recording session....But what the...does this have to skiing in Europe?

I've never been skiing in Europe, I wanted to read what everyone thought of different places in Europe and the European ski experience.[addsig]

__________
Born to ski...forced to work!http://teachski.com

Jonni
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Posted: Nov 16, 2002 - 6:47 AM GMT

I probably will be going to Europe in March of 2003 with our schools French Exchange Trip but I don't think that I will do too much skiing because I have seen too many pictures of it looking really difficult, at least for me that is.[addsig]

__________
Fall Line n. Imaginary line following the most direct path down a slope that skiers continuously traverse on a run, often stopping at other invisible slope features along the way like the Tumble Lane, the Stagger Path and the Topple Zone.

PatrickSullivan
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Posted: Nov 16, 2002 - 9:23 AM GMT

Jonni! You lucky bast***! Send me back some wine.... errr ahm ahem stuff from Poma.

But if you ever get to germany............. just remember these phrases.......

"Ich bin ein amerikaner. Ich kann nicht spreche deutsch"
(ick-bin- eyn-amerikannerrr-Ick-kaaan-nickt-schprake-doyych) Phonetically speaking.[I am an american. I can't speak german.]

And this.... "Konnen sie englisch sprechen?"
(cawwnnin-zie-aanglishhh-shpraken)
Can you speak english? If you wanted to ask if he/she spoke french:

"Konnen sie Franzosich sprechen?
(cawwnnin-zie-franssozishh- shpraken)

Gondeln: Gondola (apply the number prefixes as needed)
Seilbahn/Luftseilbahn: Tram, Aerial Tram
Einpersonensessellifte: Single Chair (there is tons of them there)
Doppelmayr: what do you think.
Doppelsessellift: Double chair
Sessellift: Chairlift
Dreiersessellifte:Triple
Vierersessellifte: Quad
Sechssitze: Six Pack
Schleppelift: Surface Lift
T-Stab: T-Bar
Hall T-Stab: Hall T-Bar

Hows that for a mouthful?

Remember those and you'll be fine.

[addsig]

MittersillManiac
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Posted: Nov 16, 2002 - 10:02 AM GMT

Quote:

"Ich bin ein amerikaner. Ich kann nicht spreche deutsch"
I am an american. I can't speak german.

thats for sure. the proper way to do this is omit the "ein." It should have read either:

"Ich bin Amerikaner." or "Ich bin Auslander." (I am a foreigner.)

"Ich spreche kein Deutsch." (I speak no german)

Sorry to jump all over you like this but I did spend 5 months as an exchange student in München. That's how I did all the european skiing. My host family were hardcore skiers. This is also when I managed to determine that I didnt like shaped skis. (I rented or demo'd all the time) The funny thing is, I never skied in Germany. Odd eh?[addsig]

skietussey
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Posted: Nov 16, 2002 - 11:42 AM GMT

I am accually going to have the chance to ski Zermatt Switzerland, and Courchevel France. I know these seem odd places to ski, but my dad is teaching in europe and these areas just hapen to be where he is teaching at the time during the year. I am kinda aprehensive about sking at these places though. Only being fairly fluent in French, i dont know what will be spoken at these resorts. Oh well, looks like the good ol translator on the palm will have to come along. I will also try and take some pictures to bring back and show everyone. Although they may not be up till after winter.

[addsig]

__________
"School sucks, lets go skiing.."

the_hop
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Posted: Nov 18, 2002 - 7:09 PM GMT

Quote:

I probably will be going to Europe in March of 2003 with our schools French Exchange Trip but I don't think that I will do too much skiing because I have seen too many pictures of it looking really difficult, at least for me that is.

Jonni Not true, they have it all from VERY mild to stuff hairier than Cannon. You just need to keep an open mind and look around, and, if you ever get up to some place that is beyond your capabilities to get down, you just get back on the lift and ride down. The do it all the time over there. Some folks ride up and down and never ski. Enjoy the cultural differences, and see what you can learn.

And Skie Tussey, there is a GREAT ski area on the other side of Zermatt as well. And while I encourage the use of other languages, you will find English alone will suffice. They are quite used to Brits and rely heavily on British Ponds for revenue. [addsig]

__________
Getting old is hell, but it is better than not getting old The older I get, the better I was!

mapnut
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Posted: Nov 18, 2002 - 7:38 PM GMT

[quote]>>"the proper way to do this is omit the "ein." It should have read either:

"Ich bin Amerikaner." or "Ich bin Auslander." (I am a foreigner.)

Maybe you German-speakers can confirm a story I heard. It was said that when JFK made his famous speech in Berlin and said "Ich bin ein Berliner!" he drew some snickers there because "ein Berliner" is a jelly doughnut (in the same way as a Hamburger or a Frankfurter). He should have said "Ich bin Berliner." Yes?[addsig]

MittersillManiac
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Posted: Nov 19, 2002 - 12:08 AM GMT

Quote:

>>>>"the proper way to do this is omit the "ein." It should have read either:

"Ich bin Amerikaner." or "Ich bin Auslander." (I am a foreigner.)

Maybe you German-speakers can confirm a story I heard. It was said that when JFK made his famous speech in Berlin and said "Ich bin ein Berliner!" he drew some snickers there because "ein Berliner" is a jelly doughnut (in the same way as a Hamburger or a Frankfurter). He should have said "Ich bin Berliner." Yes?

Correct, mapnut. That story is true, and PatrickSullivan made the exact same mistake. "Ein Amerikaner" is another kind of pastrie, an Mincemeat Pie to be exact. Funny eh?[addsig]

PatrickSullivan
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Posted: Nov 19, 2002 - 4:56 AM GMT

AWW Sh**!!! I knew I forgot something. I forgot that in German, occupations and things that you say you are you don't use "Ein". But thats right!!!! JFK did say that. Actually, I had a "berliner" before. It's really good. It's sort of an APRICOT filled pastry. But it is like a jelly donut in the respect that it's fried in oil.

MM,
Didn't know you spoke German. I was still thinking in american when I wrote that.
I didn't know that that meant mincemeat pie. I love german food.....................!!?!!?
Oh well. Nobody's perfect.

[addsig]

rocket21
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Posted: Nov 19, 2002 - 5:01 AM GMT

What's all the German stuff about Patrick? Shouldn't you be talking about Irish stuff with that last name?[addsig]

__________
NewEnglandSkiHistory.com

MittersillManiac
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Posted: Nov 19, 2002 - 7:23 AM GMT

So what now Irish folk can't speak languages other than Gaelic? I'm Irish and Scottish through and through, yet I'm conversationally adept in German, my Franch is fair, Italien enough to get by and Latin fluent. Ah the benefits of a Waldorf based home education. My math sucks, my science is worse, and my ADD is out of control, but my language abilities are sharpened like a Japanese Katana. hehehehe.

What does ethnic background have to do with anything?[addsig]

rocket21
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Posted: Nov 19, 2002 - 7:33 AM GMT

En esse pintura es puella romanae[addsig]

__________
NewEnglandSkiHistory.com

PatrickSullivan
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Posted: Nov 19, 2002 - 8:41 AM GMT

Actually, if aristocracy still reigned in germany, I'd be a baron. My german name from my dads mother's side is Barry and her mother's maiden name was von Wolfe.
My accent is very good. I can speak it rather quickly just like the germans do. I maybe in German 1a but I should be in 2 but I wanted to go through the course like a normal person. Plus I speak German so I can either work for Doppelmayr, Garaventa etc...... And then there's the fact that I like their food, language, and austria. I love austria. It's beautiful! Switzerland is even better!!!!! And another thing, germany is a hotbed of willys jeeps.

BTW: rocket, what did you say?

Ich gehe zum bett,
Patrick

[addsig]

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