[Closed] The STW Ski & Snowboard thread. The 2015-2016 season

Booked a family week in February to Val di Fassa with our two boys who will be 5 & 3 by then. I'll be on a nice new Lib Tech Mark Landvik Phoenix, starting to get a little excited 😀

[img] [/img]

[img] [/img]

Soooooo - recommendations for a week at Christmas in the Alps for beginners/intermediates? I guess it needs to be high - Cervina?

Norway Norway and more Norway with a little bit of Sweden thrown in.

Spring Break tree hunter ( the lairy green one ) and I may get one of the Craig Kelly re-issue Burtons if I can get over their channel system.

Managed to get some turns in June so only 5 months to go

[img] [/img]

Week in portes du soleil going Easter, 25/3/16, staying in morzine. Got big Appartment and sharing with some friends. We are bringing our 2 boys age 12 and 14.

Oldest boy has new slash happy place, looking forward to trying it too.

Fingers crossed for a good late season.

Simone

Two weeks in Morzine, probably - Feb and March! Yey!

Bugger it, missed out on last years as the wife was pregnant. Have reluctantly conceeded that heading out boarding with a ~6 month old is slightly too young for the nursery. So am looking forward to 2016/2017

Christmas and NY at my sisters in the Pyrenees so will get a couple of days in then. Either Andorra/Ax/Mont D'olmes.

Then hoping to get to Samoens in Feb, but might end up in the Pyrenees again.

As for new kit, I want a new Helmet! Orange if I can find a tasteful one!!

Booked flights to Geneva for first week of Xmas holidays .

Havent decided on accomodation yet ?
Dont really want to go back to Les gets due to lack of snow last year .

thinking Morzine ?

any suggestions for a self catering flat ?

Les Gets, Easter.

9 year old has to master clean parallels on black and off piste this time to get his next ESI badge - and we've promised him a snowboard lesson.

4 year old (5 by then) gets to do his second proper week.

And I have some nice (well OK loud green) goretex Sweet Protection trousers that I got in the sales in April.

That buying club that's like a hole in your bank account have a lot of Dakine stuff in at the moment.

Might get some slushy ice combat Jedi skiing in just after Crimbo as I've booked into a holiday rental for New Years week in the highlands.

But for actual skiing that's likely to happen. Not sure, GF wants to go to Whistler. But I've seen chatter about a weather thing in the Pacific that's making me think twice. I can't stand that thought of a 7 month snow dance ffs.

So there's a desire to head over the pond for two weeks, but I've no idea where. The more I look, the more places I'd like to ski.

If that doesn't come together fairly soon. Åre for a week, and maybe Austria or Cervinia for another week.

Hopefully I'll still be in Whistler, if not I'll likely be living in Vancouver so still plenty opportunity for skiing. I progressed so much last season from being intimidated on even the easy blue runs to skiing down double blacks at the end of season I'm keen to get to the parts of the mountain that were still a little out of reach last year.

Bumper year for us this year - Courcheval twice (Jan & March) then a Obergurgl to finish.

So there's a desire to head over the pond for two weeks, but I've no idea where.

Montana.

I've fallen hopelessly in love with it as a state. 🙂

Not sure where to go this season I need a new lid too. Boards are ready to be waxed and edged and I'm eyeing up banf, just need to brainwash myself that 8 hours in a tin can with other people is a fun time.

Mini cobrakai will only be 10 months in February so very much doubt this season will happen. A couple from our NCT group did say they would consider a chalet and child care share though.

I've still got my Swiss wall, first run on a powder day memory from last season that should keep me going.

Montana.
I've fallen hopelessly in love with it as a state.

Can I be the first to ask, how would you describe yourself, farmboy or redneck?

Something different for us this year, after failing to secure tickets to the Rio Olympics I think we're going to spend our money heading south and do a few weeks in New Zealand's South Island. I'm thinking Wanaka and Queenstown. I'm a little bit excited.

i've booked an awesome chalet in tacconaz for mid january for two weeks baby!

Got a group going out to Les Arcs, some driving and some flying, going to arrange a Chalet. But given the differences in travel arrangements what would the hive mind do for booking, travel agents or flights and tenders billed separately? Group is about 10 people with about half flying. Also, any recommended sites to look at for Chalets?

Can I be the first to ask, how would you describe yourself, farmboy or redneck?

You've clearly not been to Montana recently! 🙂
It's got all the latest steezy stylings on the slopes!

[img] [/img]

[img] [/img]

And some lovely cloth of the king!
[img] [/img]

Sometimes the pistes are really crowded.
[img] [/img]

Luckily, the back country's pretty sweet too!
[img] [/img]

Verbier, to hopefully get a bit more use out of these:

[img] [/img]

[img] [/img]

CFH - just jealous. I'm just back from Des Moines, Iowa. I didn't fall in love with the snowy mountains.

Strangely.

Looking at a cheeky short one with Mrs DTs and some friends in Jan and a week with the kids at half term.
Have put my ambitions for the Murren Inferno on the back burner for the moment due to lack of fitness and a poorly knee. Anyone have any Inferno Experience? For those that don't know, think Mega Avalanche on skis.

Having owned a property in Sainte Foy for the best part of 12 years, I have decided to do a season (while I still can!).

tragically1969, nice boots. I think they will be my next pair.

It's going to be hard not to go back to the Lyngen Alps again for more of this:

[img] [/img]

But Lofoten is calling too. And it would be good to do a non-touring trip as well: 10,000m of descent in 8 days last year. Not a huge total!

Anyone GPS their lift skiing and got weekly totals?

Not sure yet. Mrs NBT broke her hip last year so wasn't allowed to go on the trip we'd already booked for january just gone - as an understanding wife she insisted that I go ahead anyway as I'd done all the arranging (19 people in a ski in/out chalet in Reberty). We're hoping that the consultant will give her the okay to ski this year, but even if he does she doesn't yet feel ready to ski so it may be a barren year 🙁 😐

Niseko booked, Sauze D’Oulx on the cards. The new season's looking good so far 😀

Looking at a Feb trip with the family anyone ever been to the Altitude Apartments in Les Arc 2000 with Esprit?

tragically1969, nice boots. I think they will be my next pair

Yeah they are, I got them as a second stiffer pair as I have the normal Maestrale as a lighter setup but they surprised me as they are a lower volume fit when they are *meant* to be exactly the same shell as the normal Maestrale.

DT, haven't been to that chalet, but really enjoyed Les Arcs. 2000 is a bit of a faceless French resort like Flaine, but excellent skiing.

Bluebird, Sauze is a lot of fun. Be sure to have pizza at Orso Bianco at Sportinia. Was there at Christmas once and there was a bar in the village with a chalk board outside advertising "mince pies". Someone had doctored the c. 😀

Still count as skiing...

Elder son is doing ski club at Xscape tomorrow, 0830 to 1730.

Turns out he's grown and we don't have any gloves that fit him any more.

DT - having skied in Les Arcs a couple of times, if I was going with a family I would try and head for 1800 or Vallandry. 2000 is ok but it lacks atmosphere and the layout is confusing and awkward - possibly not great for little ones.

Thanks for the input guys. My dad was suggesting it was a bit high for the kids, I think he must remember me and my sister being a PITA at Thyon 2000! I like the look of Paisey but it looks a bit out on a limb.

Off to Japan in Feb for 3 week honeymoon. Nice 🙂

cchris2lou - Member
Booked flights to Geneva for first week of Xmas holidays .

Havent decided on accomodation yet ?
Dont really want to go back to Les gets due to lack of snow last year .

thinking Morzine ?

Morzine is lower than Les Gets. If you want to go high in PDS then you need to go to Avoriaz, but even that isn't that high.

@Flashy, not this year.

Slowly, painfully, edging towards Austria.

Arlberg, last two weeks in January. Would I regret it?

Because you're skiing over grass Les Gets works even with minimal snow. Higher places need more cover because they tend to be rockier. Late season that's not a problem because they will have accumulated all season and melt later than lower down, but early season? In the early season at least if Les Gets is not working then most of PdS will be similar. Go somewhere else.

Of course all generalisations are normally wrong.

Does anyone specialise in short break ski trips, the annual group holiday has finally died off with too many kids at school and other responsibilities but we reckon we could squeeze a long weekend together.

Challenge is getting 10-20 people (depending on who goes) together from all over the country into one place.

We stopped for ice cream in Peisey a couple of days ago - it's really beautiful - a proper French village. It's at the bottom of the lobster pots, which is right underneath the Vanoise - I don't know if you know the area but that's the cable car linking Les Arcs with La Plagne - I think it'd be a great base for a holiday.

[b]CaptainFlashheart[/b] thanks for the pizza tip. I'll check it out. We had a few days there late last season and I thought it had loads of potential if the snow was better. I was also 'taken' with the look of the mental drag lift that went through the cliffs in Sestriere, WTF were they thinking when the put that up?

[quote=bruk dijo]Does anyone specialise in short break ski trips, the annual group holiday has finally died off with too many kids at school and other responsibilities but we reckon we could squeeze a long weekend together.
Challenge is getting 10-20 people (depending on who goes) together from all over the country into one place.

if time is the issue not cost then there are quite a few people. However, ski weekends sometimes (often) cost more than a week as you are talking about scheduled flights and hotels. Try Momentum ski or Ski Weekends. If you are happy to sort your own transport then have a look at MountainSun who do bookings for short breaks and can sort transfers

Bruk,for short breaks we have used Ski Solutions a few times.
Never for a group only 2 or 4 people.
They are quite flexible for small groups so I would think you could call the shots for a larger group at a quiet time of year.
Not the cheapest way to ski though. The main thing is to get a short transfer and agreeable flight times.

Bluebird, I love a bit of loony tunes drag lift action some times! There's Pre du Bois in Serre Che which goes up steeply through the trees.

However, the one lift I really, really want to try is this one;

Roca Jack in Portillo, Chile.

SLINGSHOT!
[img] [/img]

Pre Du Bois, ahh the queues there could be dreadfull at the wrong time of year! Fond memories.

I usually just gun it back down to the valley, and up Casse du Boeuf. About the same time and more skiing!

That chair wasn't there then!

Well, I'm getting divorced so that means I can go on as many trips as I like.

Got Val Thorens booked for New Year, hoping to do a guided we of off piste in Chamonix in Feb, then me and a mate may do Snowbombing in April.

Gear wise, I may treat myself to a new jacket for the slopes....main priority is a new freestyle board though (I ride Chill Factore weds-fri every other week for freestyle)

Either a Burton Namedrop or a Salomon Villan I reckon. Roll on Boxing day, can't wait to get back on some real snow!!!!

That chair wasn't there then!

Before Casse du Beouf?

Is this you?

[img] [/img]

😉

No, I had the black and orange Salmon Equipe and K2 KVC's.
I did have that "move" though.

CFH - in my mind (and everyone else's here) that's roughly how I picture you.

But to misquote Fleetwood Mac "But don't ask you what you think of me
You might not give the answer that I want you to. Oh well"

A rare reappearance from me, been a busy couple of years. We started last year with a shocking week in Soll at Christmas due to lack of snow. Then finished off at Easter with a mega week in Saalbach.

We've not booked yet, but are likely to head back to the Ski Amade fro Christmas, beyond that who knows. Spent last week there and loved it, so want to go back (skied there a few years back too).

After hiring for a good few years I bought some Rossignol Experience 80s from Glissphop (bargain). Jnr has got some new Head World Cup Rebels, he's starting to take the p!ss every time we ski giving me tips and hints to improve and at 14 is already talking about doing his first season.

That's my steeze, IGM! 🙂

Ned - reply from your question last week. I stick my Garmin in my pocket and let it run all day. Our week in Serre Che last year we totalled approx 45,000m of descent. Saalbach was quite a bit less, but we went in to group lessons for 3 whole days, ended up with about 30,000m.

Dont really want to go back to Les gets due to lack of snow last year .

thinking Morzine ?

Wind up? They are right next to each other and at almost exactly the same height (Les Gets is marginally higher). Neither had any snow last Christmas!

[b]CaptainFlashheart[/b], Slingshot looks like it'd be lively on a snowboard

we go to Sainte Foy. went really late last year (this year) snow was fine higher up but i like it to be stacked up on the rooftops in resort to get the full effect, sitting on a cafe terrace surrounded by green and brown earth doesn't feel right... so its late January next year! last summer in the alps was minging, this year was perfect. last winter was warm so hopefully next will be snowmageddon!?

We may have done this last year, but it's worth repeating, I reckon!

Oh Christ, I'm still a bloody Euro

You may still be Euro, but I've sorted my goggle gap.

All it took was spending a sackload (even in the end of season sales) on a new pair of goggles that actually fit with the helmet.

Anyone want some decent, hardly worn Anon goggles?

I see Superheroes of Stoke has turned up on Redbull.tv

http://www.redbull.tv/videos/1398694555257-667442912/superheroes-of-stoke

But Lofoten is calling too.

Planning a trip to Greenland in April - not decided yet on the rest of the season yet ...

Just found this;

Some of the White Doctor range for 2015/16
[img] [/img]

Baseporn with the "danger", and topsheetporn as ever from Bob!

Also, looks as if K2 have brought in some different designers. Nice looking skis, these.
[img] [/img]

i know that Morzine is lower than les Gets , but there were a lot more slopes open in Morzine than les gets . and the Morzine ski pass gave access to Avoriaz , not the one from les Gets .

I'm going to start asking for a lot if advice this year. I've been skiing every season for 20 years but this will be the first with our 10 month old baby in tow!

We're flying to France or Austria. Other than that its a big unknown!

Any help with resorts, child care, packing lists etc would be great. I'm feert!

Can't comment on child care etc but we have been going to Austria for the last 10 years or so. Generally the resorts are far nicer than the purpose built French ones, and, being Germanic, everything works, is on time and is clean! Love going to Zell am See, it's a fantastic wee place and usually comes in quite reasonable too, heading back there in January for a week.

Anyone been to Steamboat Colerado? Thinking of heading there in March.

I'm going again this year, hopefully Val Thorens in late feb

Any experiences of val?

Also I've always just rented the cheapest skis, this will be my 4th week and I have my own boots should I bother looking at the 'better' rental skis?

I have my own boots should I bother looking at the 'better' rental skis?

YES! I like using the pimp rentals for a few reasons;
1 - They're always newer skis.
2 - They're less likely to have suffered a thousand hours of noobs.
3 - The ability to swap them as conditions dictate. On my last trip, I had a couple of days on some phattttt all mountain numbers for two powder days, then I awoke to see a bluebird sky overhead, and empty pistes. Swapped to a piste-rocket. Went back a couple of days later, and there was more fresh, so back on to da phatttnezz! It also meant that even on days with the same conditions, I could try different stuff, so I did.

@titusrider.

I went to val last year for the first time, it was excellent. It's a vast ski area and the elevation meant we had great conditions despite no fresh snow. If you've been lower in previous years you might need an extra later is pretty chilly on some of the chairs.

Also, speak to someone who knows the village before trying to get around, there's a short cut through the sports centre that saves you lots of walking.

cobrakai - drop me an email if you like (website in profile). We have lots of new parents come and stay with us and we can generally help out a lot in terms of equipment, childcare, etc.

val thorens - high, snowsure, massive access to all sorts of skiing

potentially the coldest place on earth - nothing to stop the wind since you're almost right at the top of the alps

should you tyr "beter" skis ? Probably, yes. Ask at the shop, see if you can demo a few varying types during your holiday, maybe starting with "ordinary/easy" ones for day 1 while you set your legs again

(you could also ask for a cap'nflash procabulary phrasebook ! 😀 )

cap'nflash procabulary phrasebook

In all good bookshops from Monday! 😀

HMSO surely

Digby - Member

Planning a trip to Greenland in April - not decided yet on the rest of the season yet ...

Very nice! You going with McNab?

Exupmonkey, I have been to Steamboat a few times so I may be able to answer your questions.

I'm planning on buying some new skis this year. I'm currently on a two ski plan with the [url= http://www.dynastar.com/US/US/powertrack-89_DAEH401_product_dynastar-skis-men-all-mountain.html ]Dynastar Powertrack 89[/url] as the frontside ski and the [url= http://www.volkl.com/skis/freeski/big-mountain/shiro.html ]Volkl Shiro[/url] as my backside ski. Does anyone have any experience of either?

If anyone can get me 60% - 80% off a Kessler [i]The Ride[/i], could they let me know, please? 164 or 168.

Email in profile. Many thanks.

Cheers 10, not looking for war and peace but a general overview would be great. Enough piste to keep an experienced boarder happy, and similarly, enough mellow piste to accommodate inexperienced skiers? Not looking for a banging nightlife as we are all far to old for all that but are there some good pubs downtown? Eating out costs etc? According to the crystal ski site lift tickets come in at £60 a pop, is that about right as far as you recall, if so it's a bit steep!

the Morzine ski pass gave access to Avoriaz , not the one from les Gets .

Only if you buy the PdS pass. And certain you can get that in Les Gets. The standard pass is just Morzine/Les Gets and you can't go up Super Morzine on that.

Can anybody recommend a shell only jacket preferably in black? I get way too hot in my insulated cheap Dare2b jacket. I'm thinking about just wearing my Gore-Tex TNF jacket but its a tad short and doesn't have a forearm pocket for the lift pass so would probably need new gloves too. It would probably be ok if I didn't spend half my time upside down in the powder.

[img] [/img]

i got one of these for my back country/powder adventures in chamonix

Very nice! You going with McNab?

Yep! 🙂 Getting rather excited already!