First times Feb 2008

Hello all!

Going to Pas on 3 Feb 2008. There is 5 of us going all first timers and just have a few questions

Will we all be able to be in the same class at Ski school, we have booked the ski school as part of our package??

How many hours a day does ski school usually last???

Any bars/restuarants that are well worth a visit???

Is there any essentials that I would need to bring apart from ski jacket, ski trousers, gloves, googles, sunblock, ski boots and sticks are provided?

Has anyone stayed at Manzano Appartments or do they know anything about them??

Thanks in advance

Conor

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Conor, Just back today from El Tarter so can answer some of your questions.

Ski school works like this. There are approx 40 people of all abilities in the first class on the first morning. The instructors split the class into four groups (Black, Red, Blue, Green) Black will be the most difficult group, and green the least.

You cannot really ask to be put into the same group as your friend/partner, as it all depends on ability. This ability is demo%26#39;d during the first class when each person is set a short skiing test. If two friends are of similar ability they can ask to be put together in the same group. However I feel it%26#39;s much more fun not to be with people you know, because you will get to meet up with them as soon the class is over.

Ski school is for 3 hours and is a fantastic experience if you have never skied before. There are two sessions, the first at 10am and the second at 11:30am, do your utmost to get to the 10am session by signing in as early as possible on your first morning. The sessions are allocated on a first come, first served basis.

I do not know of any restaurants in Pas. I ate all my lunches up on the mountain at one of the many bars/restaurants up there. Expensive enough but after all my effort, I was worth it !!

One important tip. Get your hire boots and skis the evening before ski school starts. The rental shop stays open until about 6pm and they are really helpful. I presume that you will have your ski lift pass already organised by your tour operator ??

You did not mention ski socks on your list above. These are very important as they come right up to the top of the boot and protect your shins which can get very sore and bruised over the first few days. My ski instructor suggested further padding inside the socks for the front of the shin. What she suggested was a sanitary towel !!!! I jest you not!! This type of padding will ensure that the shin pain is much reduced during those first few busy days on the piste!!

Dont forget a good lip protector too.

Here are other items I brought and found handy.

Pack of cards and another travel game if you have it.

Ipod and small speakers for some in room entertainment after ski.

A small ruck for the piste is very handy to carry all your extra bits and pieces.

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Thanks Bryno,

Will pack the shin guards!!!

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No problem conor, I hope there won%26#39;t be too much competition for the %26#39;guards%26#39; among the mixed sexes in your group.

I put up some more hints and tips on the Andorra forum this evening if you want to have a quick look there. It may be helpful.

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You can buy lip salve and sun block as one product, although I am having difficulty finding any in stock around London.

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Hello,

I was also wondering is there anything u would recommend to wear under your ski jacket do you need a couple of layers on???

Conor

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Hi

Sorry to hijack this thread. I%26#39;m off to El Tarter on the 27th Jan. Do you know whether it will be very cold? Heard mixed reviews, some say it%26#39;s raining alot and not very cold but some say it has been snowing.

Thanks

J

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Don%26#39;t forget a hat

Clothes should be a good wicking thermal base layer, thin fleece and good jacket. Although I wear, thermal base layer, cotton roll neck top, thick fleece lined jacket.

For legs, thermal base and trousers.

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Jelly, when I left El Tarter last Sunday at 4am it was raining. I don%26#39;t know what that does to the piste as it did not rain while we were skiing.

What I found amazing about Andorra is that even though the temperature is lower than Ireland, I was warmer there. In Ireland the damp really makes one cold rather than the cold itself.

I can honestly say I was rarely cold in El Tarter apart from one day when we went right to the highest peak and there was a blizzard.

6 or our 7 days in El tarter were bright sunshine an by midday it was very warm until about 3:30pm when it started to get a little chilly again.

I wore a short sleeved t-shirt, over that a long sleeved base layer (berghaus or lowe alpine) and over that my ski jacket.

Do not worry if you forget something the ski rental shop in El Tarter sells everything you could need and it%26#39;s cheaper than Ireland too.

I brought far too many clothes. I brought two good shirts and good jeans for evening wear and never wore them. I brought too many base layers. You will easily get two or three days out of a base layer. Ok they will smell a little but nobody cares. Just have something clean for evening time.

I found a good pair of gloves with inner gloves absolutely essential. We dried them every night on the radiator in our room. Also goggles are essential especially when there is snow falling, but otherwise good quality sunglasses are fine.

I had a balaclava which was very annoying as it kept shifting around my face. You are better off with a hat and a scarf or something similar to a scarf as your neck can get a little chilled.

At lunch time when the sun shone the hat and scarf came off as they were not required.

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This is the sort of thing you need for your neck

http://www.outdoorgear.co.uk/eshop.asp?wci=product%26amp;wce=47105800%26amp;desc=FLEECE+NECK+WARMER

If you need to dry you gloves on a radiator each night, they weren%26#39;t a good pair. I bought my gloves at M%26amp;S. Never seen them since, but they are better than any I have seen since. Removable fleece inner gloves, pocket on the back and nose wipe on the thumbs

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I should have clarified that i dried the inner glove, not the outer, and yes, they are an excellent pair of gloves.