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#1
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Zermatt for the Sort-Of Beginner
Hello,
My wife and I will be skiing in Switzerland for a week in February of 2007 and have been considering staying in Zermatt. I have heard comments on Zermatt ranging from "Experts find it boring" to "Ski Zermatt only if you can ski a black diamond in the states" My wife has been skiing for years but I am fairly new to the sport. I spent a week in Monarch in Colorado last year and learned to ski. By the end of my stay I was able to ski greens without any real difficulty. Later that year I did some skiing in Utah and also had no difficulties. I plan on going back there for a couple days this winter sometime before our Swiss adventure. On American standards, I feel like, with some work, I would be ready to tackle intermediate runs in a place I was familiar with. Given my level of experience (a beginner but not really a novice), would I have difficulty handling the beginners runs? Also is it really difficult to get around as a beginner? I have heard that most of the beginners runs transition very quickly into intermediate. |
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#2
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Zermatt for the Sort-Of Beginner
"Experts find it boring" only if they don't know where to go the double
blacks or off-piste, in which case most likely not experts. And there is no shortage of skiers in Zermatt not yet ready for black diamond skiing. Zermatt is best for plucky intermediates and above. You may like to take a look at the following link which describes Zermatt's intermediate skiing and see if this is for you, or could be if you can pack in some confidence building tuition in Utah before you head out to Switzerland. http://www.ultimate-ski.com/uk/Ski_R...iate/index.htm The same website includes a section for beginners and you'll see that Zermatt is definitely not "ideal" for novices or early intermediates lacking in confidence, but as you're probably aware there is more to Zermatt than skiing. For mountain views and eating on the mountain there is no where better. Possibly spend a few days in each of Zermatt and neighbouring Saas Fee which has more forgiving beginner skiing, but if you can accelerate your transition from beginner to intermediate and are reasonably confident, even though there are many easier places to ski you and your wife cab have a great time in Zermatt. Good luck dh wrote: Hello, My wife and I will be skiing in Switzerland for a week in February of 2007 and have been considering staying in Zermatt. I have heard comments on Zermatt ranging from "Experts find it boring" to "Ski Zermatt only if you can ski a black diamond in the states" My wife has been skiing for years but I am fairly new to the sport. I spent a week in Monarch in Colorado last year and learned to ski. By the end of my stay I was able to ski greens without any real difficulty. Later that year I did some skiing in Utah and also had no difficulties. I plan on going back there for a couple days this winter sometime before our Swiss adventure. On American standards, I feel like, with some work, I would be ready to tackle intermediate runs in a place I was familiar with. Given my level of experience (a beginner but not really a novice), would I have difficulty handling the beginners runs? Also is it really difficult to get around as a beginner? I have heard that most of the beginners runs transition very quickly into intermediate. |
#3
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Zermatt for the Sort-Of Beginner
you can always go over the kline matterhorn
and ski cervina which is in italy.the terrain there is all intermediate at best. happy trails, dick |
#4
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Zermatt for the Sort-Of Beginner
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#5
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Zermatt for the Sort-Of Beginner
On Sun, 06 Aug 2006 19:47:19 +0100, Rod
wrote: I have to say I totally agree with Rod, a very to the point description. As he says, the easiest part to start is at Gornergrat. Pistes are wide, and you are going up by train, so never a need to take a piste you don't want. I only went to Cervinia once, I found to be honest I could make more of my time by skiing elsewhere, unless you 'need to have been there'. In my opinion, Zermatt has pistes for everyone. The only 'problem' is that you'll be gaping at the scenery and forget to go skiing Have you already been able to find lodging? |
#6
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Zermatt for the Sort-Of Beginner
Thanks to everyone for your replies on this.
As far as lodging goes, We have been looking at apartment rentals but any reccomendations you would make would be great. The discussion, and the website that dh suggested (best ski travel website I have seen by the way) leans me toward what was our other possible Alpine itinerary - the Jungfrau region (probably staying in lauterbrunnen and skiing wengen). It looks like It may be a situation where I could have a fair amount of runs I feel comfortable with and still have enough that would challenge me and not bore my wife. Would love to hear folks opinions about the pros/cons of either. Thanks for all this info! |
#8
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Zermatt for the Sort-Of Beginner
In article ,
h23 wrote: On Sun, 06 Aug 2006 19:47:19 +0100, Rod wrote: I have to say I totally agree with Rod, a very to the point description. I suspect that we are all largely in violent agreement. As he says, the easiest part to start is at Gornergrat. Pistes are wide, and you are going up by train, so never a need to take a piste you don't want. I only went to Cervinia once, I found to be honest I could make more of my time by skiing elsewhere, unless you 'need to have been there'. Skiing down the blue run from the Gornergrat involves a tunnel at one point. You want to be certain that you can snowplow this or keep your speed down with tight turns. In my opinion, Zermatt has pistes for everyone. The only 'problem' is that you'll be gaping at the scenery and forget to go skiing This is very true if you have clear days. Excepting the fact that if you use the whole vertical, this vertical can be almost twice that of 99% of US resorts (7.500 ft. note on signs the use of some periods and commas are reverse that of the USA). The tree line in the Alps is about 6K ft. where as in the USA it's 10K plus or minus a few K ft. This is not a problem unless you get developing weather. It's not the nicest skiing (examining my bases after a few rocks), but its pretty good for experienced skiers. Be mindful of the piste marking poles which weather develop. Ski over to Italy on a clear day. Faces South, different languages, different foods, etc. Stay the night if you can (you let them know on both sides that this is deliberate). -- |
#9
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Zermatt for the Sort-Of Beginner
In article ,
Ace wrote: On 6 Aug 2006 13:27:56 -0700, wrote: leans me toward what was our other possible Alpine itinerary - the Jungfrau region (probably staying in lauterbrunnen and skiing wengen). It looks like It may be a situation where I could have a fair amount of runs I feel comfortable with and still have enough that would challenge me and not bore my wife. You may be right. Staying there means you've got the whole of Wengen and Muerren open to you, plus most of the linked Grindelwald area, so lots of terrain, and a surprising amount of challengins skiing, as well as the more commonly-known intermediate cruisy runs. Do both. I did on my first, and briefly, second Alpine trips. I think I have spent enough money in Zermatt, so the next trip will likely have more time in the Berner Oberland. Would love to hear folks opinions about the pros/cons of either. Do both. Zermatt has some specific advantages for locals and die-hards, It's incredibly picturesque, but tends towards the expensive end of things, apres-ski Lauterbrunnen Zermatt If you want more non-skiing things to do, it is possible to get to the rest of the country for the day from the Oberland (like I took the afternoon off early in a low snow period to go X-mas shopping in Geneva). All dependent on weather. From what you say, I think it's likely that the Jungfrau region may be more suited, but I'm sure you'll also not regret it if you stick with Zermatt. Definitely on your stated conditions. -- |
#10
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Zermatt for the Sort-Of Beginner
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