Re: Anyone off to the Alps...
Some things that stick in my mind... All IMHO of course
Obviously the runs are much, much longer than anything we have. When we 1st went abroad we needed a few rest breaks on the way down (lack of fitness contributing)Encounters with other skiers/boarders stopping in stupid places on the runs is more likely.
After the debate on sharing tows it was interesting last week to see big 4/6/8 people chairs with empty spaces even when it was busy.
Chairs which slow down when they are loading & unloading. (Even moving carpets on some of them, and heated seats!)
Learning here means any drag lifts you may encounter will not be a problem, I think I've seen more incidents of (mostly skiers) falling off them.
Crevasses on glacier runs! I'll dig out a picture of the Val thorens one thats been blatantly filled in with snow by a piste basher.
European queuing etiquette.. be prepared to have your planks skied over in the lift queue at speed!
Be amazed at how much a small plate of chips costs in france (dont know about alp'dheuz but generally the lower down I go the cheaper things get on the hill)
And my favourite one of all. You'll probably meet the infamous braying british skiers...