Skiing at Troodos - Read Before You Go

Izzet



Joined: 01/12/2006
Posts: 920

Message Posted:
05/01/2009 01:28

I went to Troodos today (Sunday) but could not ski!



1. I was at the border around 12:00 and I reached the ski shop for ski rental around 14:30.



2. There was enormous traffic in the last 10km, just before the Troodos square. We had to spend an hour driving very slowly due to lots and lots of cars parked on the side of the road and due to limited parking at the Troodos square.



3. There is no way I will go there on weekends again!



4. I think during weekdays, without traffic, it will only take no longer than 90 minutes from the border to be near the ski shop. This can be even 70 minutes. The road directions are very clear.



5. I could not ski today because the ski shop refused to rent equipment at 14:30 to me, saying that it will take 30 minutes for me to get the equipment and 30 minutes to return it back by 4pm and I will not have time to ski.



6. At the ski shop, I tried to speak to 3 people and finally they called someone that speaks English. It's just weird because I never spoke to a person in south Cyprus that did not speak English until today.



7. Snowboard lessons are only offered on weekends by one person. Ski lessons everyday.



8. No chains required today. I called up the ski shop in the morning to confirm.



9. Make sure you read some good info here: http://www.skicyprus.com



10. It's hard to find the telephone number on the website, so here you go:

Ski Shop: 00357 25 420104



You can also read previous threads about skiing, on the skiing popular tag page:

http://www.cyprus44.com/forums/skiing.asp

Turbo


Joined: 24/12/2006
Posts: 833

Message Posted:
05/01/2009 02:15

Good info, but why didn't you leave earlier would be the simple question?

If you want a good day of skiing and try miss some of the traffic I would be at the border by 9-10 .

So at least I can get a few hours of fun without rushing.

brian24001


Joined: 23/03/2008
Posts: 606

Message Posted:
05/01/2009 08:47

Good info Izzet, but as Turbo says, you deff. need to get up earlier mate!!

susief


Joined: 06/11/2008
Posts: 529

Message Posted:
06/01/2009 16:33

Anyone know what the forcast in the Troodos for this weekend is?

simbas



Joined: 16/07/2007
Posts: 5943

Message Posted:
06/01/2009 16:41

Google Troodos weather forecast , it say's fair

susief


Joined: 06/11/2008
Posts: 529

Message Posted:
06/01/2009 17:53

Thanks Simbas - I was just being a tad lazy ;-)



Fingers crossed for good weather, getting there and then not breaking a leg!!

Marcos



Joined: 10/12/2008
Posts: 14

Message Posted:
06/01/2009 18:57

i went 3 years ago and it wad chaos with traffic so we came home and booked for the next week end and stayed friday in the hotel which was not cheap but ok, got up early had lessons and had a good day of it, so go very ealry coz by 11 its chaos with loads of rude bubbles about, get in early and its not so bad, and stay in the village half way up, it much cheaper and there is more happening at nite

Cypfan


Joined: 10/10/2008
Posts: 104

Message Posted:
06/01/2009 21:24

Good info and great avatar, Marcos! Your folks must have had a great SOH.



"Rude bubbles"??? Not rhyming slang I hope :(

daveb


Joined: 06/11/2008
Posts: 52

Message Posted:
06/01/2009 21:29

bubble and squeek greek

daveb


Joined: 06/11/2008
Posts: 52

Message Posted:
06/01/2009 21:34

jimmy jerks turks and tea bags the english

dont want to upset anyone





db

susief


Joined: 06/11/2008
Posts: 529

Message Posted:
09/01/2009 20:59

Anyone been this week? Reports if so please. Am venturing out early tomorrow morning so fingers crossed for a good day of skiing.

Izzet



Joined: 01/12/2006
Posts: 920

Message Posted:
09/01/2009 21:01

susie - definitely let us know how it goes please!

susief


Joined: 06/11/2008
Posts: 529

Message Posted:
09/01/2009 21:06

Certainly will. Any recommendations for which area/slopes to head for first (and don't say the open ones ha ha!!) Haven't skied in 15 yrs but remember the basics so hopefully wont take to long to pick it up again. Was a relatively good skier back then but will also have a novice in the group.

lovingcyprus


Joined: 02/03/2007
Posts: 1272

Message Posted:
09/01/2009 21:14

I went in 1965, no problems with traffic then

susief


Joined: 06/11/2008
Posts: 529

Message Posted:
09/01/2009 21:46

Continuing my last minute research I found this which makes it look great - hope it's still that good!



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-mcrkvL-Uos

bachelibelly


Joined: 04/09/2008
Posts: 275

Message Posted:
09/01/2009 22:57

OK Susief, bin there done that ,few tips...



When you have your gear on by the cafe hit the gas and keep to the left to try and reach the lift . U tube picture looked okay but it takes only approx 30 seconds top to bottom(def green) and quite a walk back to lift.You can ski/cross country to the other two pistes which i believe are a bit more testing with t bar lifts .The Zeus run is lower down(t bar) and i believe you drive to it ,its better (would class as a blue/red )but as i have said before Val d' isere it aint ..but its tons better than nowt !!!!!



Apo;ogies if any info wrong as it has been 3 years since been there

Izzet



Joined: 01/12/2006
Posts: 920

Message Posted:
11/01/2009 02:57

susie - how did it go?

susief


Joined: 06/11/2008
Posts: 529

Message Posted:
11/01/2009 12:37

Great thanks Izzet - will give full update in a bit after I've uploaded some footage to youtube!!

susief


Joined: 06/11/2008
Posts: 529

Message Posted:
11/01/2009 18:44

Yesterday, for the first time, three friends and I went to ski in the Troodos mountains. Our group consisted of one complete novice, one beginner level, a good intermediate skier, and myself an intermediate skier who hadn't been skiing for 15 years. We set off from Lapta at 8am and arrived at the slopes at 9.30am, traveling via the Bostanci/Guzelyurt border crossing - a total round trip of 115 miles. No chains required and roads were really clear. We were able to park almost opposite the ski equipment hire "sheds" as there were only 15 to 20 cars there. We definitely arrived at the right time as soon after getting to the equipment hire counter it got quite busy. We hired our gear - not too shabby though typically I ended up with the oldest gear of the group and had old style slim skies... still it's what I learnt on and had last used! We all found the boots were in quite poor condition and mine were actually excrutiatingly painful by the end of the day.

susief


Joined: 06/11/2008
Posts: 529

Message Posted:
11/01/2009 18:44

We ventured off to find the slopes and walked down the hill to the bottom of Sun Valley 1. Navigated the T-bar lift and started with a go down the family run. Then down the main run which sadly took all of 30 seconds. After a couple of goes at this, we split into two groups and I headed off to find the Sun Valley 2 slope with the other intermediate skier. It was not easy to find!! From the top of the Sun Valley 1 run it was a good 5 mins of cross-country trekking with no signs except a few other ski tracks before we came to the top of the run. It was so much quieter with no queues for the t-bar lift and no other mad GCs who were bombing down the other slope at ridiculous speeds and no control. The run was also longer, a little more challenging, and the ability to venture off-piste. The snow levels weren't great on either slope and by the end of the day several large rocks were appearing right in the middle of the pistes so would hate to think what condition it's in today.

susief


Joined: 06/11/2008
Posts: 529

Message Posted:
11/01/2009 18:45

Sun Valley 2 stayed quiet all day but Sun Valley 1 had lots of people considering it's such a short run. Lots of little kids having fun tobogganing so great for families. Cafe looked a bit ropey but we'd taken a packed lunch anyway.

Zeus lift was closed and although we were told one of the other slopes was open, the lift wasn't operating apparently, so we stuck to Sun Valley. There's a severe lack of signage and piste maps and didn't want to waste precious ski time wandering about in the hope of other slopes.

Managed to get in at least 5 hours of great skiing and had brilliant fun. The total beginner and beginner enjoyed themselves too. Serious skiers would get bored quickly I think unless the other runs were open and there was much better snow but for an island with 300 plus days of sunshine it's not bad! No broken bones or major crashes so definitely a result - hope to go again!

Here is footage of me coming down the bottom half of Sun Valley 2 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E

susief


Joined: 06/11/2008
Posts: 529

Message Posted:
11/01/2009 20:05

oops



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EahBKfLNcI8



More footage when it finally uploads (such slow internet!)

susief


Joined: 06/11/2008
Posts: 529

Message Posted:
11/01/2009 21:31

Some photos of yesterday http://www.flickr.com/photos/cyprussusie



More video to come.....STILL uploading!

brian24001


Joined: 23/03/2008
Posts: 606

Message Posted:
11/01/2009 21:36

I'm surprised none of the jokers on this board haven't jumped on Izzet's post #1:

"I went to Troodos today (Sunday) but could not ski!"

And said they had tried it too and couldn't get the hang of it!!

susief


Joined: 06/11/2008
Posts: 529

Message Posted:
11/01/2009 22:39

Ha Ha, you're right Brian, I didn't read it like that till you pointed it out! Here's some more footage of me following my friend Chris down the Sun Valley 2 run - a little shakey but at least I didn't crash unlike....



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JcFaukmaE7c