You don't need to be an 'investor' to invest in Singletrack: 6 days left: 95% of target - Find out more
Sauze D'oulx still hasn't had the turbopuke but things are improving and quite a bit more snow forecast so fingers crossed we should be all good for the start of February.
Jealous of those going out now to the French Alps - enjoy the pow!
Think I'm about to wear out the Les Arcs webcams through overuse.
I love that seven ages of mountain man . I am a soldier
Footflaps, just checked my booking receipt (pinned up in my study on The Pinboard of Happy Memories from my Travels!)
I was on 180s, and am around 182cm tall, so that sounds about right.
Bought a pair of Nordica NRGY 90s with Salomon STH2 WTR bindings for £320 inc shipping!
Gone for 169cm which is all they had at that price, but only 1cm shorter than my current ones.
My thinking was the 90s will carve a little better than the 100s and be a bit less of a change and the shorter length (than the recommended 176) will make moguls a bit easier..
I'm 173cm tall and my skis are 184cm long - will I die? I'm pretty heavy though (105kg) and pretty awesome. 😛
Not owned a pair of skis since I was a nipper but these came up cheap in 184cm with skins/touring binding etc.
[img] 
[/img]
Having looked on this thread and grimaced many times due to not being able to go boarding finally I actually am!
A slightly wealthier friend of mine has bought an apartment and I'm reaping the benefits!
Will be the first proper boarding trip since Banff in Jan 2007! (excluding 3 days of slush in Chamonix a few years ago).
Week in Les Arc starting in 15.5 days time! And it looks like its fianlly started snowing!
Woo! Yay! Etc!
I'll keep my eyes peeled for chirpy looking hippies then as I'll still be out there!
[i]Think I'm about to wear out the Les Arcs webcams through overuse.[/i]
lol....yeah my work is being severely compromised by the views at Corchevel!
On the subject of ski length, last year the guy in the shop insisted I should have 175cm carvers, despite me suggesting I wanted longer. I am 193cm, but found those ski's very good. Not in powder I hasten to add tho..
On the subject of ski length, last year the guy in the shop insisted I should have 175cm carvers, despite me suggesting I wanted longer. I am 193cm, but found those ski's very good. Not in powder I hasten to add tho..
Crikey!
My mate who's an off-piste instructor reckons I'll be ok on the 184s - he recommended something in the high 170s for me but as I say these were going cheap with everything I needed. Oh well - I'll find out soon enough! Might have a quick nip up to Nevis Range if they open the uplift this week.
Ski length is an eternal debate... modern rockered skis can also mean that the effective length on hardpark is a bit shorter than when in powder.
I don't want to worry you Grum, but a Pal bought some all mountain skis last year for our boys trip and was all at sea on them. He swapped with a Guy for the day who had the same 175's as me and was transformed into a skier again!
Don't ruin your fun by struggling on the wrong ski's for a week!
I'll keep my eyes peeled for chirpy looking hippies then as I'll still be out there!
Ill be the one on my face as I won't remember how to board and Ive got my Lib Tech with magna traction edges which is not very forgiving for those 'which edge am I on moments'
Also I no longer look like a hippy. Apparently i've just realised I've turned in to my Dad. Only taller.
TallPaul
RocketSki for that bonus price. There was nothing near it for the 23rd. There are loads for this saturday for around that price , as people have probably cancelled and taken a hit on the deposit rather than travel as the snow was so poor.
Rocketski specialize in school trips and there are none booked that week , so I guess they discount the rooms to keep turnover up. Not expecting much but we go to ski not lounge around in a luxury apartmrn feeeling smug .
Captain .- Thanks for info , will save to phone for future use .Staying in Chantermerle in Hotel Olympic . Basic but looks OK . Not alacohol incuded buts that not a problem as we are not big drinkers , just a couple of beers after skiing , then 1/2 bottle red with dinner will do us.
Ski length is an eternal debate... modern rockered skis can also mean that the effective length on hardpark is a bit shorter than when in powder.
Indeed! These are traditional camber I think.
I don't want to worry you Grum, but a Pal bought some all mountain skis last year for our boys trip and was all at sea on them. He swapped with a Guy for the day who had the same 175's as me and was transformed into a skier again!Don't ruin your fun by struggling on the wrong ski's for a week!
Cheers - will hopefully get to have a test this week in Scotland. I am off to Italy at the end of the month too and will take snowboard and skis so not crucial just yet if they aren't right. The main thing I need them for is a ski touring course in March so I can always change them before then if they really aren't right.
I was just looking at this:
Reasons to size your skis longer, closer to the top of your head:You are skiing fast and aggressively.
You weigh more than average for your height.
You plan to do the majority of your skiing off the trail.
You plan to ski a twin-tip ski.
You want a ski that has a lot of rocker.
http://www.evo.com/how-to-choose-skis-size-chart-and-guide.aspx
All of those apply to me apart from the last one. So we'll see I guess.
just a couple of beers after skiing , then 1/2 bottle red with dinner will do us.
Finish the day at the bottom of the Alphand. There are two nice bars to the
Left as you ski down and THE Station to the right, which is a little rowdier.
For dinner, the Plein Sud is excellent value, and always good food too. It's the hotel we usually stay at and we've had some great meals there. Will try to remember the names of a couple of other places for you.
Ah - If you're touring I suggest you also try some kick-turns before making the final decision. My touring skis are pretty short for me at 175 (I'm 182) but one of the reasons for the choice is doing kick-turns is easier with shorter skis.
Blimey...talk about confusing, Rocker or Camber or Camber with Rocker or Rocker with Camber with Rocker...or maybe just flat!
I think this could get into a 'which tyres for' thread if we're not careful! 😕
Ah - If you're touring I suggest you also try some kick-turns before making the final decision. My touring skis are pretty short for me at 175 (I'm 182) but one of the reasons for the choice is doing kick-turns is easier with shorter skis.
Mainly bought them for touring but will also be used on piste at times. Will have a go at the kick-turns and see. No great loss if I have to sell them on and buy some new ones as I bought them second hand fairly cheaply. My mate gets very good discounts on Whitedot skis too. 🙂
Blimey...talk about confusing, Rocker or Camber or Camber with Rocker or Rocker with Camber with Rocker...or maybe just flat!I think this could get into a 'which tyres for' thread if we're not careful!
It's all come from snowboarding I believe - blame them! My gullwing hybrid camber snowboard is good fun though. 😀
Interesting conversation about ski length. We're wondering what to do with Jnr. He has 155cm Jnr SL skis which he uses for training, eventually racing and used them on our last holiday. He's away on the school ski trip for half term and we don't fancy him risking him taking chunks out of his SL skis. So we're looking at getting some second hand recreational skis to take with him.
He's 180cm tall with huge feet and a good strong skier, but he's still a child and not yet got full adult strength, so I'm not too sure what length and what type of skis to get. If I was as good as him I'd be getting some top end skis, but I just wonder if they'd be too stiff for him.
Edukator's your man for that sort of advice.
Thanks shifter
Hammerite, Pair of twin tip / park skis? If he won't be racing on them then something to play on would be a good option. They are usually quite soft in flex so his strength won't be an issue. Plus they will be OK in the POW.
Possibly TheDTs, it is something we have considered.
For those that like to fettle these; http://www.decathlon.co.uk/vola-hobby-vice-id_8112128.html
Are actually pretty good for what they are. It's been 15/16 years since I was a ski tech, and that workshop was a bit rough round the edges so can't really compare with you fancy dancy uber vices. They'll be reet for the garage tho!
*awaits someone pointing to an uber bargain somewhere obvious
What about womens skis (assuming they aren't obviously pink). Ladies are generally slimmer/lighter for a given height and so I think the skis are a bit softer for a given length.
That's something that we are likely to do when Jnr's SL skis need replacing sweaman2 - they pretty much have the same top sheets. I hadn't thought about it for some rec skis though, I'll have a look about. Like you say it'll have to be something not obviously girly though!
Lots of snow out there at the moment, but...
[url= http://france3-regions.francetvinfo.fr/alpes/savoie/video-theo-lange-pris-dans-une-avalanche-tignes-897565.html ]http://france3-regions.francetvinfo.fr/alpes/savoie/video-theo-lange-pris-dans-une-avalanche-tignes-897565.html[/url]
I think after that I'd have got to safety before bothering to clean my Gopro lens. Then I'd probably have had to go to change my trousers. 😯
Piece on French TV warning about avalanche risks tonight, already a few fatalities. Most resorts are still only 50% open at best
To be fair that fella in the video shouldn't be allowed out in the mountain on his own, a variety of avi indicators before he even started traversing along the cornice (wtf). Utter idiot, I have had to rescue t0ssers like him before and I really irritates me.
Yeah also can't really believe he dropped in when he's just seen it nearly go twice. What a tool. Very very lucky boy.
Time for my nearly annual rant......
Asshat gets caught in avalanche, luckily surviving. However, as he had a camera on, once he'd 'dropped a psikk edit' it gets picked up and broadcast widely. Lots of other asshats view said psikk edit and think, "cool, braw! Props and woops, innit!"
Second group of asshats, who almost certainly don't have the skillz of the original asshat assume that such stuff is not only normal, and easy, but also, if they do it themselves and drop their own psikk edit, they too will have instant YouFace fame! Cue lots of useless asshats in avalanches.
Asshats.
The videos of people doing "sik linez" and not causing an avalanche are more of a problem IMHO, they're more likely to be emulated by the unskilled/inexperienced/unequipped with possibly dire consequences. And in this case the report around the video is important in which he says he thought he was going to die - and wherever I've seen it posted it's accompanied by (justified) comments to the effect of "What a tosser, WTF did he think he was doing?" which ought to get some sort of message across.
When I first saw it I thought he was mad to go that close to the edge and it was going to be a classic cornice collapse. As NZCol says, he shouldn't really be allowed out on his own!
Anyone know where I can buy a pair of helmet speakers, over the counter human transaction style?? No time for online... Ta
Earphones ?
Skis, as said Grum you just have to give them a go. As someone who learnt to ski in 1978 old ha its die hard with me and it took quite a few years and lessons to get used to todays type of skis and to modify my style (eg I like lots of quick fast turns whereas the new AM skis work better at a slower cadence"). What sealed it for me was the new skis are SO much better off-piste that its worth the on-piste compromise. For me the older skis where (are) better on-piste and especially in big moguls but the joys of skiing better off piste are worth it.
This could be good educational material.
What should I be looking for as Avalanche indicators?
No, helmet speakers. Like these...
https://www.atbshop.co.uk/snowboard-helmets/smith-direct-connection-drop-in-helmet-audio?gclid=CISwssbVnMoCFQEFwwodi0wLEg
But I might just get some cheap headphones and snap the head band off..
Colp, (Feel free to correct me everyone). From what I see.
There has been fresh snowfall, he is above tree line, avalanche control on skiers right (Those big tubes sticking out of the snow)
Wind has been blowing from skiers right to left.
Cornice build up on ridge, UNSAFE
The snow is clearly looking to slide, there are signs of natural slides in the gullies he looks down.
The snow in those gullies has been wind blown / affected so is likely to be unstable as a result.
When he first drops in, the snow slides off, but only just stops.
Oh, and he is on his own has he told anyone where he is going?
What else have I missed?
I appreciate you are looking for speakers but why not just use in-ear headphones ? FWIW I very much think music when skiing is dangerous, you can't hear a shoit of say - look out.
Cheers TheDTs
I'm sure there are more things, which I've missed. The main thing is he's on his own, if he'd been buried he would have been a goner.
Currently surrounded by a mound of ski gear, passes, insurance documents, and socks that will soon stink something awful.
Even if it's pissing it down with rain for 14 days straight shits and giggles will be had!
And whilst I'm packing.
Just for Flashy, Ive packed a sharp knife for slicing pork products and cheese.
My wishy washy am I or arent I fakey vegetarianism can go **** itself when Im on the continent.
Bring me that salted dead pig, and bring me beer! 😀
Huzzah!!!!
Ive packed a sharp knife for slicing pork products and cheese.My wishy washy am I or arent I fakey vegetarianism can go **** itself when Im on the continent.
Bring me that salted dead pig, and bring me beer!
Huzzah!!!!
Post of the year contender right there!
😆
Enjoy piemonster.
Remember that if faced with a choice between two types of local sausage, always choose the hairiest.
Piemonster, there's a chap on Allée des Boutiques, just up from Melquiond (ski porn shop!) who sells the best saucisson in Serre Che.
ppreciate you are looking for speakers but why not just use in-ear headphones ? FWIW I very much think music when skiing is dangerous, you can't hear a shoit of say - look out.
Because in ear headphones would cancel out all other noise which as you say wouldn't be very safe, sociable or as much fun. Helmet speakers allow to to still communicate and hear the snow crunch. Only really use em on the lifts anyway...
Sobering news coming in from the Alps ... 🙁
[url= http://www.planetski.eu/news/7573 ]http://www.planetski.eu/news/7573[/url]
Be safe out there folks!
PSA Ski Sunday starting at 1700 today. (Sunday)
Any local info on Les Gets?
Just found a deal on Airbnb for 2 weeks time but the snow report today is a bit pants although more is forecast soon
Bit worried that it isnt that high and todays price is low for a reason
Cheers
Any local info on Les Gets?Just found a deal on Airbnb for 2 weeks time but the snow report today is a bit pants although more is forecast soon
Bit worried that it isnt that high and todays price is low for a reason
Cheers
I'm in Morzine this season, snowboarding. Was in Les Gets last Wednesday and had great conditions, deep snow though maybe a little too much moisture to call it powder. We've had two days of rain up to around 1800m though so things have packed down a bit. Forecast for this week is for colder temperatures and more snow and the freezing level is dropping to below 1000m so even the lower slopes 'should' be covered by next weekend. On the Morzine side the Stade run down to the bottom of the Pleney is green from about half way down but again this should be OK by next weekend. Just need the temps to stay low for the rest of Jan.
Just been for my week in Tignes, was doing an off-piste week with the Ultimate Snow Sports guys. Couldn't have timed it much better! It really was waist deep pow in places, but Friday had a heavy layer from the warm conditions.
Interesting to see that skier cause the slip into Chardonnet bowl. We did ski a much more stable (gentle) line in to the Chardonnet Bowl on Wednesday morning.
[img] 
[/img]
Accommodation for Breuil-Cervinia booked. Had a trip into Edinburgh yesterday to buy the youngest some new skis. Friday is pencilled in for a day on Cairngorm if the weather and work planets can be aligned.
http://www.cairngormmountain.org/
Nice, Graham!
Ha Ha! GrahamS! Very good! I like that! 🙂
Indeed:
"Douchebag complaining that this would be a blue square in another region."
We've all probably listened to one of those during evening meal in a chalet haven't we? These days, they also helpfully point themselves out by showing you their SkiTracks stats for the day.
"First day snowboarder going down the entire trail sideways..."
I've [i]never[/i] done that. 😐 😳
EDIT: just checked forecast for Les Manures... 😀 😀 😀 😀
We've all probably listened to one of those during evening meal in a chalet haven't we? These days, they also helpfully point themselves out by showing you their SkiTracks stats for the day.
Laptop in the bar? Checking their stats or prepping to drop their psikk edit?
I believe that a when you see anyone doing these things, you're allowed to beat them to death with anything to hand.
Laptop in the bar?
Smartphone in your face as you eat the meal so lovingly prepared by your 20 year old chalet host. 🙂
"Isn't this app great? Only found out about it yesterday... We just use it for fun really... Wow, didn't realise we'd skied this much today... Isn't it clever?"
😀
Smartphone in your face as you eat the meal so lovingly prepared by your 20 year old chalet host."Isn't this app great? Only found out about it yesterday... We just use it for fun really... Wow, didn't realise we'd skied this much today... Isn't it clever?"
[img] 
[/img]
Going to St Gervais on Thursday for a weekend (which will probably be my only trip this year 🙁 ).
Have packed already.
The forecast for next week just keeps getting betterer and betterer! Not only is the rest of this week going to snow considerable amounts, but my first full day on Sunday is sun/cold followed by the same for the next few days....perhaps even the whole week! WAHEY! 8)
Anyone heading to Led Arcs, there's an app called Yuge. Has a piste map and friend tracker plus an emergency pick up button. May be useful to some.
I'd much rather do laptop stuff in my room, but sometimes the internet connection is so poor it has to be in the bar. Btw I tend to be doing normal Internet stuff while charging/transferring photos is going on in the background.
CaptainFlashheart, what length were the NRGY 100 you skied and what height are you?
I haven't skied anything with that much rocker so am not too sure which size would be best.
CaptainFlashheart - Member
Footflaps, just checked my booking receipt (pinned up in my study on The Pinboard of Happy Memories from my Travels!)I was on 180s, and am around 182cm tall, so that sounds about right.
HTH!
Cheers. Should have looked back.
No worries.
A surprisingly good ski. Nice and whippy on piste, but confidence inspiring in the powder and tree lines.
Off to St. Anton and Lech in next Thursday! Cheeky long weekend with a few mates.
I've wanted to ride in Lech since I saw it in the Day Tripper/Still Tripping films. ermm.. *COUGH*thjkdnin*AHERMM* years ago.
Forecast is snow every day between now and then. Time to dig out the bib pants and the low light lenses. And the avi kit, obvs.
Bit of an unfortunate translation fail in the swiss avalanche story Digby linked to:
It is highly recommended to take advantage of the good snow secure track conditions and not to leave the ski areas or use the skills of high-mountain guides.
If anyone's in tignes next week and needs an après drinking pal, let me know as going solo to get a sneaky week in ahead of a march group visit.
Facebook full of posts about the anount of snow, French TV predicting more snow down to 400m and for it to stay cold for a bit too.
Been dumping here in Tignes all week. Not many lifts open today and avalanche risk at 4/5. Bodes well for the rest of the season though, and there's great snow about if you can cope with the low vis, been skiing armpit deep most of this afternoon.
Ned, I'll be in StAnton next week as well, coincidentally meeting another group of 7 people on Wednesday / Thursday... Your not one of them are you? Going out with Rich B?
Anyone been speed flying?
Looks proper pant pissingly fun/stupid!
Half way through the week here in Sainte Foy. It has been snowing non stop since we arrived. Conditions out of this world. Not had any foggy white outs either. Only trouble is only a few lifts are open but so much virgin powder off piste to keep it interesting.
Ring the powder alarm here in Åre, Sweden
film has a tag of 'mad pow'
2 days to go to St Anton. Tis snowing at the moment and the cold air has come in with temps ranging from -5 to -24. Bit foggy, which hopefully will keep people of the slopes for when I get there as I want the virgin pow. Just packing kit ready now and forgot I've got to set the bindings up again 🙁
I've cleared my diary tomorrow, I'm taking what I would describe as an internal strategy day to plan my year - at Glenshee (I'm the boss).