Skiing In Canada

[Groundrush]

Going to Canada for two weeks at the end of this month

1 week Mont Tromblont & 1 week in Quebec

We've just learnt how to ski on dry slopes in the UK so we have a head start for our lessons when we arrive.

It's going to be very cold when we get there, the temperature at Tremblant today was -26°C in the morning & it should be about -16°C in the afternoon.

I've never experienced cold like that before so I want to make sure that we're prepared.

I have two sets of thermals (top & bottom)
a two in one ski jacket with a fleece lining that you can remove for apre skiing
a good warm hat and good gloves, ski goggles etc..

Will that be enough, if not what should we do?

I'm not sure whether or not people still wear normal underwear underneath the thermals or do you go Commando so to speak...

I also haer that you should not wear cotton but does that mean make sure your first layer is not cotton or do they recommend not to wear any cotton at all?

Thanks...

 

[Hayley Baxter]

Sounds like a fun trip Groundrush. I've never experienced ski-ing before but I am about to in the near future. Work are taking us away for a few days for an all paid ski-ing trip to Switzerland.......should be fun, I just hope I come back in one piece.... I imagine ski-ing is not the easiest to pick up, how did you find it? Prepare me for what I am about to go through!!!

Hope you have a good time although I'm sure you won't have too much trouble there

Hay

 

[Groundrush]

Sounds like a fun trip Groundrush. I've never experienced ski-ing before but I am about to in the near future. Work are taking us away for a few days for an all paid ski-ing trip to Switzerland.......should be fun, I just hope I come back in one piece.... I imagine ski-ing is not the easiest to pick up, how did you find it? Prepare me for what I am about to go through!!!

Hope you have a good time although I'm sure you won't have too much trouble there

Hay

We learnt on a dry ski slope first, it was easy to pick up & we allowed to ski on our own after about three lessons

I do recommend learning first so you don't use up all your days trying to learn when you could be on the slopes.

They do say that it's much easier to ski on snow than on a dry slope, I found it to be the opposite when we tried snow for the first time at the xscape snow dome in Castleford.

See my story...

Last Friday Mrs rush & I went to the snow dome in Castleford to ski on snow for the first time in preparation for our skiing holiday in Canada next year

Only having two lessons on a dry slope learning the basics, we were told that it's much easier on snow so off we went.

When we got there we hired our ski's put them on and went in, it was enormous, people everywhere going up and down, so off we both went to the ski lift that took us to the very top.

At the top we both gasped in horror as we found that the slope going down looked scarier than when we looked up, so being the man and hero that I am I decided to go first then come back up so I could go down with my wife.

I waited for the people in front to get a head start to avoid any collisions and made sure that there were no people behind me then off I went in my snow plow position waiting for the snow plow to take effect and maintain a slow steady controllable speed....... :|
Well that was bollocks, my training did not work.... :S
I went down like a rocket overtaking the people that left before me and even overtook the people before them, I was in total shock... :O
Trying to look cool and experienced I failed because my arms were waving about and I do recall a girlie scream... :-[

Anyway as I went down faster & faster I realised that sooner or later I was about to stop suddenly, either by crashing into the netting or the people waiting in line for the lift at the bottom so I decided to do the honorable thing and intentionally fall over which I did in a cloud of snow and water
I stood up brushed the snow & ice off my hair and face and trying to look like that's how it's normally done and immediately went over to one of the staff members to radio up and tell my wife to walk down as I was too scared to go up again.

anyway to cut a long story short, we found that you could go up half way and practice a little before going down the main hill which is what we did
after a few practice runs I was able to get back up to the top and go again and control my speed a bit better.
that was the day I almost died.... :

Maybe I was unlucky and got more ice than snow that day...

I'm sure you will have a great time, I wish my work would pay for us..

 

[Newman]

They announced +8C for wednesday, so be prepare for every weather possible. As for how to dress in cold weather, you got to forget cotton at all as it does not breath. You also have to wear multiple thin layers so you can take some away as you get warmer.

Welcome to my country, my friend, and have a nice stay.

 

[Hayley Baxter]

Groundrush

Thank you for allowing me to read your story, I laughed so much reading that my sides hurt....... sorry!

I think I'll stick to my ski-ing game on the playstation after reading your first experience...I managed to tumble into the boards on that....I really don't like to think about the damage I will do in reality

Hay

 

[TessB]

Groundrush

Thank you for allowing me to read your story, I laughed so much reading that my sides hurt....... sorry!

I agree with Hay, that was hysterical.

 

[Groundrush]

They announced +8C for wednesday, so be prepare for every weather possible. As for how to dress in cold weather, you got to forget cotton at all as it does not breath. You also have to wear multiple thin layers so you can take some away as you get warmer.

Welcome to my country, my friend, and have a nice stay.

Thanks Newman,

What about when you're not skiing, are cotton shirts & stuff OK?
maybe it's a stupid question but I'm trying to avoid having to buy clothes that I don't really need.

It's cost us a fortune so far, I'm sure it will be worth it though.

Thanks

Groundrush

Thank you for allowing me to read your story, I laughed so much reading that my sides hurt....... sorry!

I think I'll stick to my ski-ing game on the playstation after reading your first experience...I managed to tumble into the boards on that....I really don't like to think about the damage I will do in reality

Hay

Don't let me put you off, I found snow to be much softer to fall on than the surface of the dry slope...

Do learn the basics first on a dry slope near you, you will benefit from it before going to Switzerland.

 

[Rich]

It's cost us a fortune so far, I'm sure it will be worth it though.

should have gone to the Rockies instead, much cheaper

 

[Groundrush]

should have gone to the Rockies instead, much cheaper

Would you say this is a bit over the top....

With the all gear we've bought you would think we're going to the North pole or something..

 

[Brianwarnock]

Great picture, the police should have no trouble tracking you down. :

The point about cotton is that it holds sweat and thus gets damp and uncomfortable as well as risking chilling you, of course its ok in a none exercise situation, and the main thing is not to have it next to the skin although it is preferable for all your layers to be of the modern breathable materials, but that can be expensive.

Did you buy a shirt in the shop after your Sydney bridge walk? they are great I wear mine when walking.

Brian

 

[___]

I think this is better

 

[Groundrush]

Did you buy a shirt in the shop after your Sydney bridge walk? they are great I wear mine when walking.Brian

No we didn't get any shirts just a couple of fridge magnets with our picture


This was our view of the Harbour bridge from our hotel rooftop

& the view of the Opera House

View from our roof top

 

[ColinEssex]

Hiya Ground - That view is from The Rocks area isn't it?

Col

 

[Groundrush]

Hiya Ground - That view is from The Rocks area isn't it?

Col

Yes it was

 

[Groundrush]

Slight improvement from a friend of mine....

 

[Rich]

Would you say this is a bit over the top....

For the warmer parts of Canada, yes

suprised you took up ski-ing though

 

[Groundrush]

For the warmer parts of Canada, yes

suprised you took up ski-ing though

Why are you surprised?

Iv'e always wanted to ski..

 

[Hayley Baxter]

Don't let me put you off, I found snow to be much softer to fall on than the surface of the dry slope...

Thanks, I feel so much better knowing that.......

Do learn the basics first on a dry slope near you, you will benefit from it before going to Switzerland.

Ahhh I may as well just take it as it comes, we need another funny story like yours after all.....still surely no other story could be quite as funny as yours! All my work colleagues were giving me strange looks wonderng what I was laughing at

I don't go away until end of March / beginning of April so still a little while yet, will let you know how I get on.

Hay

 

[Rich]

Why are you surprised?

Iv'e always wanted to ski..

My mates wanted me to take up ski-ing but I don't need sticks to walk anymore so I took up snowboarding instead, it's much cooler

 

[ColinEssex]

Iv'e always wanted to ski..

Not something I've ever had the urge to do - I'll cheer you on from here Ground

I went up a snowy mountain once in New Zealand, I have to say it was really clear and remarkably silent. We sat at the top, had a cup of tea then froze to death (I only had a denim jacket on ) It was an experience worth doing though but couldn't get over the absolute silence and solitude.

Col