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(Not Europe but...) Breckenridge or Killington, end Jan?



 
 
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  #1  
Old October 17th 03, 11:33 AM
Steve Pardoe
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default (Not Europe but...) Breckenridge or Killington, end Jan?

Hi, all,

I realise this is not necessarily about Europe, but rec.s.a. seems a bit
silly this season, so perhaps someone here with experience of European and
N. American resorts can offer advice.

We're coming from England, last week of January '04, with a three-generation
party (two 50+ grandparents, 30+ vegetarian daughter, and 9yr grand-daughter
who's a complete beginner) and we'd prefer self-catering accommodation, but
catalogue choice seems a bit limited.

Breckenridge (Rockies) & Killington (New England) both have what we're
looking for, and apparently reliable snow (it's a bit early for most
European resorts). We've also read that the kids' tuition is particularly
good in USA, so it seems worth crossing the pond for. We'll be skiing
rather than boardriding, BTW.

Question is, does Breckenridge offer enough advantage over Killington to
offset the longer journey? What's the weather like, esp considering a 9yr
old? Or are there better alternatives anyway, even in Europe?

Thanks for any pros & cons,

Steve Pardoe
www.pardoes.com





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  #2  
Old October 17th 03, 12:27 PM
Paul Schofield
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default (Not Europe but...) Breckenridge or Killington, end Jan?


"Steve Pardoe" wrote in message
.. .
Hi, all,

I realise this is not necessarily about Europe, but rec.s.a. seems a bit
silly this season, so perhaps someone here with experience of European and
N. American resorts can offer advice.


Hi Steve try the moderated version - rec.skiing.alpine.moderated - found
this first and couldn't believe nonsense on unmoderated group when I looked
there later.

We're coming from England, last week of January '04, with a

three-generation
party (two 50+ grandparents, 30+ vegetarian daughter, and 9yr

grand-daughter
who's a complete beginner) and we'd prefer self-catering accommodation,

but
catalogue choice seems a bit limited.

Breckenridge (Rockies) & Killington (New England) both have what we're
looking for, and apparently reliable snow (it's a bit early for most
European resorts). We've also read that the kids' tuition is particularly
good in USA, so it seems worth crossing the pond for. We'll be skiing
rather than boardriding, BTW.


How long are you going for - if it's only a week stay as far east as
possible unless you have a cure for jetlag - some people recommend Melotonin
which can be bought over the counter in the USA, but it's never done me any
good.

Question is, does Breckenridge offer enough advantage over Killington to
offset the longer journey? What's the weather like, esp considering a 9yr
old? Or are there better alternatives anyway, even in Europe?


In Europe the ski-school in Soldeu Andorra is highly recommended, staffed
mainly by native English speakers and skied by huge number of English skiers
Not such a good place for expert skiers though and self catering choice is
limited

Thanks for any pros & cons,

Steve Pardoe
www.pardoes.com




--
Paul Schofield

Time flies like an arrow
Fruit flies like a banana


  #3  
Old October 17th 03, 01:02 PM
Steve Pardoe
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default (Not Europe but...) Breckenridge or Killington, end Jan?

Hi, Paul & all,

Paul Schofield wrote in message
...

"Steve Pardoe" wrote in message
.. .
....., but rec.s.a. seems a bit
silly this season,


snip
Hi Steve try the moderated version - rec.skiing.alpine.moderated - found
this first and couldn't believe nonsense on unmoderated group when I

looked
there later.


Indeed, thanks for the tip, I should have looked harder!

How long are you going for - if it's only a week


Yes, I take your point.

In Europe the ski-school in Soldeu Andorra is highly recommended, staffed
mainly by native English speakers and skied by huge number of English

skiers
Not such a good place for expert skiers though and self catering choice is
limited


And it seems from skiclub.co.uk that the early season (9th week) snow record
is not too brilliant.

Paul Schofield

Time flies like an arrow
Fruit flies like a banana


;-)

Thanks again,

Steve


  #4  
Old October 17th 03, 05:15 PM
Steve
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default (Not Europe but...) Breckenridge or Killington, end Jan?

Steve Pardoe wrote:

Hi, all,

I realise this is not necessarily about Europe, but rec.s.a. seems a bit
silly this season, so perhaps someone here with experience of European and
N. American resorts can offer advice.


Hi Steve,
r.s.a is not the place to go for anything these days. Even the flamming
and ranting isn't what it was. There is a r.s.r.north-america which is a
great place to post for info on these places. Have x-posted this to that
group.


We're coming from England, last week of January '04, with a three-generation
party (two 50+ grandparents, 30+ vegetarian daughter, and 9yr grand-daughter
who's a complete beginner) and we'd prefer self-catering accommodation, but
catalogue choice seems a bit limited.


Personaly I have not skied any of these 3 resorts so I can't really
comment (but when has that stopped anyone on usenet:-). I have skied in
N America a fair bit so I'll offer my 2p worth anyway.

Breckenridge (Rockies) & Killington (New England) both have what we're
looking for, and apparently reliable snow (it's a bit early for most
European resorts). We've also read that the kids' tuition is particularly
good in USA, so it seems worth crossing the pond for. We'll be skiing
rather than boardriding, BTW.

Agree with the comment on tuition, I've had experience in the USA and
Canada and it's always been excellent. I wouldn't say that end of Jan is
early for Europe though, I've never found problems this late.

Question is, does Breckenridge offer enough advantage over Killington to
offset the longer journey? What's the weather like, esp considering a 9yr
old? Or are there better alternatives anyway, even in Europe?


The East coast is renowned for very cold conditions and not much fresh
snow, but with the cold conditions and snow canons they generaly do have
a fair amount open, especialy early in the season. Breckenridge being in
the Rockies will get a lot more snow, and I gather it's quite a lively
place and you should find suitable accomodation there too. For what it's
worth my choice would be to fly that bit further and go to the Rockies.
Once you've b*ggered about getting to the airport, getting checked in
and getting airborne the extra couple of hours to Denver is not a big deal.

Cheers,
Steve



~~ ~~

  #5  
Old October 17th 03, 06:07 PM
John Red-Horse
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default (Not Europe but...) Breckenridge or Killington, end Jan?

Hey Steve,

I've never skied in the Eastern US, but one thing to consider is that if
you do go to Breckenridge, you will have access to more than one ski
resort. Copper Mountain, Keystone, and Arapahoe Basin are all in Summit
County as well (and, if memory serves, are connected via free shuttles).

Vail is also relatively close by...

good luck,
john
  #6  
Old October 21st 03, 02:55 PM
Giles
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default (Not Europe but...) Breckenridge or Killington, end Jan?

"Steve Pardoe" wrote in message ...

Question is, does Breckenridge offer enough advantage over Killington to
offset the longer journey? What's the weather like, esp considering a 9yr
old? Or are there better alternatives anyway, even in Europe?


I wrote a long and reasoned response to this, which I lost to a
^%$#@!Google "Internal Server Error". The executive summary, based on
some knowledge of both places, is: Go to the Rockies. Breckenridge is
a great place and there are many others. Right now I haven't decided
whether to go to Breckenridge or Steamboat for this year's first trip.

Killington is, I'm sure, a fine place -- but it was a
once-in-a-lifetime experience for me, if you see what I mean.

Giles Morris
  #7  
Old October 21st 03, 03:08 PM
Chester Bullock
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default (Not Europe but...) Breckenridge or Killington, end Jan?

Giles wrote:


I wrote a long and reasoned response to this, which I lost to a
^%$#@!Google "Internal Server Error". The executive summary, based on
some knowledge of both places, is: Go to the Rockies. Breckenridge is
a great place and there are many others. Right now I haven't decided
whether to go to Breckenridge or Steamboat for this year's first trip.

Killington is, I'm sure, a fine place -- but it was a
once-in-a-lifetime experience for me, if you see what I mean.

Giles Morris



When is your trip going to be? If it is the early to mid part of
January, go to Steamboat. I have always had good luck getting
incredible conditions in Steamboat in mid-January. Hoping to get up
there this year at that time.

--
Chester Bullock,
Ethical, custom website hosting, design and programming
Tenxible Solutions,
http://www.tenxible.com
Web Based Autoresponder and DRIP system, http://www.toolsre.com
AIM: tenxible YahooIM: ccb247

  #8  
Old October 23rd 03, 05:14 PM
Steve Pardoe
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default (Not Europe but...) Breckenridge or Killington, end Jan?

Thanks for the extra input, all of you.

Steve

"Chester Bullock" wrote in message
...
Giles wrote:


I wrote a long and reasoned response to this, which I lost to a
^%$#@!Google "Internal Server Error". The executive summary, based on
some knowledge of both places, is: Go to the Rockies. Breckenridge is
a great place and there are many others. Right now I haven't decided
whether to go to Breckenridge or Steamboat for this year's first trip.

Killington is, I'm sure, a fine place -- but it was a
once-in-a-lifetime experience for me, if you see what I mean.

Giles Morris



When is your trip going to be? If it is the early to mid part of
January, go to Steamboat. I have always had good luck getting
incredible conditions in Steamboat in mid-January. Hoping to get up
there this year at that time.

--
Chester Bullock,
Ethical, custom website hosting, design and programming
Tenxible Solutions,
http://www.tenxible.com
Web Based Autoresponder and DRIP system, http://www.toolsre.com
AIM: tenxible YahooIM: ccb247



  #9  
Old December 20th 03, 08:56 PM
cindy
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default (Not Europe but...) Breckenridge or Killington, end Jan?


Colorado snowfall is 20% below normal this fall

"Steve" wrote in message
...
Steve Pardoe wrote:

Hi, all,

I realise this is not necessarily about Europe, but rec.s.a. seems a bit
silly this season, so perhaps someone here with experience of European

and
N. American resorts can offer advice.


Hi Steve,
r.s.a is not the place to go for anything these days. Even the flamming
and ranting isn't what it was. There is a r.s.r.north-america which is a
great place to post for info on these places. Have x-posted this to that
group.


We're coming from England, last week of January '04, with a

three-generation
party (two 50+ grandparents, 30+ vegetarian daughter, and 9yr

grand-daughter
who's a complete beginner) and we'd prefer self-catering accommodation,

but
catalogue choice seems a bit limited.


Personaly I have not skied any of these 3 resorts so I can't really
comment (but when has that stopped anyone on usenet:-). I have skied in
N America a fair bit so I'll offer my 2p worth anyway.

Breckenridge (Rockies) & Killington (New England) both have what we're
looking for, and apparently reliable snow (it's a bit early for most
European resorts). We've also read that the kids' tuition is

particularly
good in USA, so it seems worth crossing the pond for. We'll be skiing
rather than boardriding, BTW.

Agree with the comment on tuition, I've had experience in the USA and
Canada and it's always been excellent. I wouldn't say that end of Jan is
early for Europe though, I've never found problems this late.

Question is, does Breckenridge offer enough advantage over Killington to
offset the longer journey? What's the weather like, esp considering a

9yr
old? Or are there better alternatives anyway, even in Europe?


The East coast is renowned for very cold conditions and not much fresh
snow, but with the cold conditions and snow canons they generaly do have
a fair amount open, especialy early in the season. Breckenridge being in
the Rockies will get a lot more snow, and I gather it's quite a lively
place and you should find suitable accomodation there too. For what it's
worth my choice would be to fly that bit further and go to the Rockies.
Once you've b*ggered about getting to the airport, getting checked in
and getting airborne the extra couple of hours to Denver is not a big

deal.

Cheers,
Steve



~~ ~~



  #10  
Old December 23rd 03, 08:25 PM
Carl_M
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default (Not Europe but...) Breckenridge or Killington, end Jan?

We're coming from England, last week of January '04, with a
three-generation
party (two 50+ grandparents, 30+ vegetarian daughter, and 9yr

grand-daughter
who's a complete beginner) and we'd prefer self-catering accommodation,

but
Breckenridge (Rockies) & Killington (New England) both have what we're
looking for, and apparently reliable snow (it's a bit early for most
European resorts). We've also read that the kids' tuition is

particularly
good in USA, so it seems worth crossing the pond for. We'll be skiing
rather than boardriding, BTW.
Question is, does Breckenridge offer enough advantage over Killington to
offset the longer journey? What's the weather like, esp considering a

9yr
old? Or are there better alternatives anyway, even in Europe?


I have never skied Killington but in the East the weather varies from
mild to bitter, it also feels colder for a given temperature than the
Rockies or the Alps. There are days when the hardy stop for a hot
chocolate after a couple of runs and the rest don't ski. Killington
also does not have a resort as such so you have to travel to the
slopes each day. I personnally find this a bind and if you want to
back to the accomodation at different times it might be difficult (I'm
not sure what buses are like there but often it is very limited, a car
is a must and the half the group can't go back early.

Breckenridge has the advantage of real snow and skiing close to the
resort. You can ski the rest of Summit County but count on 45min to
1hr travel each way. If you stick to Breckenridge the experianced
skiers might get board after a few days (although they have opened a
new mountain since I was last there). The other disadvantage of
Breckenridge is it's altitude (the resort is nearly 3000m high!) Some
people are only affected by tiring a little quicker some get hit with
altitude sickness. If you do go take it easy the first day or two
and stay a night in Denver if you can.

My favorite North American Resort is Whistler. Another of the few
American resorts with a resort at the base of the lifts. Lots of
natural snow (though less powdery than the Rockies) and a large
variety of runs for all levels of skier.

With all the time spent at the airport and overland travel the
difference in total journey time between the east and west US is quite
small and the difference in the skiing is so great I would not
consider going to the East.

I would not disregard Europe. Late January is not really early season
and you would be very unlucky not to have good snow. Les Arcs would
probably suit your group nicely (especially 1800 which is more
beginner friendly and is more central to the ski area). The Arcs
Adventures ski school are very good. (Recommended over ESF)
 




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