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

I'm off to Chamonix for a full week of off piste instruction in Feb.....you guys have got me worried now!!!

I went to VT for new year.....didn't do a trip report: in summary, snow was awful, I drank a LOT, pulled a cute blonde from Glasgow and generally had an awesome time! 8)

Gatwick??

*shudders*

Just back from a week in Alpe D'Huez and for anyone heading out there later we had plenty of snow come down and it was still falling as we left with about 4/5 inches at Grenoble airport.
Unfortunately we also had high winds which meant a lot of lift/piste closures so only managed to get to the top of the resort on the final afternoon but it was grins all round at the bottom of Saurenne....
Tried the Neilson's mountain masters programme and really enjoyed our 2 sessions but it is still finding its feet with people not turning up and hence preventing others from going.
Looking forward to Flaine (the ugliest resort on the planet) in March now....

Point taken about older kit. However newer does not always = better . As SteveMcD points out £100 for probe and shovel is OKish.
I use a really old Ortovox and its nore accurate within the 1m - 2m range than my mates newer version which bottoms out.

If you were buried in an avalanche with 3mins of air, ask yourself this. ' I wish I had spnet that £100 on something that gives me a chance , rather than not spending anything at all, which gives me zero chance of being found'

We practise for an hour or so each holiday , use the test zones , and carry probes/ shovels and SOP cards.

For anyone that doesn't know there is a ton of good information on beacons at http://beaconreviews.com including good details about the theory as well as reviews and comparisons of beacons.

As SteveMcD points out £100 for probe and shovel is OKish.

No idea how it compares to that eBay kit, but SnowSafe have [url= http://www.snowsafe.co.uk/product_info.php?cPath=25&products_id=797 ]a package with a shovel, 240cm carbon probe and a first aid kit for £60[/url].

FWIW, I have the [url= http://www.snowsafe.co.uk/product_info.php?cPath=24&products_id=176 ]BD Deploy 7 shovel (£49)[/url] and the [url= http://www.snowsafe.co.uk/product_info.php?cPath=23&products_id=119 ]Ortovox 240 Carbon probe (£49)[/url].
Take away the 10% SCUK discount and that's a pretty good price.

DD, I've got airbrakes, love them, field of view great, no misting probs, lens swap system very quick and secure.

Turbo puking (thanks Flash) in Summit County right now. Should be an excellent day.

I wish I had spnet that £100 on something that gives me a chance , rather than not spending anything at all, which gives me zero chance of being found'

Not entirely sure I follow ...

Surely it isn't about the cost/perceived value of the kit, but rather whether it's fit for purpose ... i.e. a £100 beacon that works and tested ok is better than a £300 one that's been dropped in the car park repeatedly with corroded battery connectors.

I'm not sure I subscribe to having a potentially faulty beacon being better than no beacon at all if that's what you meant - or have I misunderstood? - Just having the kit itself is fairly pointless [and could lead to false sense of security when you are being relied on to find your mates] unless you:

1. know how to use it
2. know it's working correctly (having done a 'transceiver check' etc)

Like you say, practice is key as it doesn't always matter what make or model* you've got as long as you know how to use it.

*notwithstanding issues with older analogue beacons/frequency drift etc

What's a 'SOP Card'?

@GrahamS - great website. Thanks for the reminder as I'd forgotten about beaconreviews.com 🙂

jambalaya - the "new" telesiege at SJd'A is a replacement for the old one to Tetes I think. Handy, but Ive not been up La Grande Terche for years. Might head over there in feb though....

The more important news is that Brochaux has been upgraded with a new 6 man high speed TS with a new route from the bottom of Mosette up to the ridge along from Prolays for a fast (and high cap) return to Avoriaz for those coming back from Swiss, as well as for boarders to do a lift and drop to miss out the flat section from the bottom of Mossette back to Lindarets and the return to Ardent. Used to be a bit of a bottle neck at the end of the day. Havent tried it myself yet, but will be in a few weeks. Having watched it being built this summer, I cant wait.

Hey Sprootlet, Pic Blanc was a bit wild on Friday afternoon wasn't it? The pisteurs seemed to be still battling with the nets as we stomped past, they didn't seem overly pleased tbh. We also had a go on the Sarenne via Marmottes 3 on Wednesday - nicer conditions I think. Despite the dodgy visibility most of the time it was a good week, the snow dancing must've worked 🙂

Quick question.
I have some leather Oakley snowboarding gloves and after a trip to the snowdome the other day they arnt particularly waterproof anymore. Can anybody recommend a product that will reproof them without making them feel horrible?

Thanks

Nikwax glove waterproofer works on my motorbike gloves. Never noticed a nasty feel about it.

Deadly, I also have airbrakes (a generous gift from a friend) only used for a season so far but found them to be very good.

If I was spending my own money is also consider smiths and the sungod pair that seem to haunt me on facebook daily.

Thanks Stoner, just ordered some. I got some cleaner too as they are a few years old now.

Cheap snowboard if anyone is up for it

[img] [/img]

Absolute week of a lifetime in Sainte Foy. Don't even care the sun only came out a couple of afternoons. The visibility was rarely poor but there was tons of snow and the slopes were empty.

New arrivals this weekend welcomed with snow on the ground at Chambery and it weighing down the tree branches as low as Bourg! The Bastards...

Lovely and cold in Les Arc 2000 today. Particularly enjoyed what can't have been far off the last car up Varet. Absolutely no on the blue we chose to cruise home on, ahead or behind.

1800 was mobbed in the morning, didn't hang around there for long. Even the run down to Bourg Funi station at (iirc) 1200 had decent cover, albeit a bit 'twiggy' in places. No rocks fortunately.

Hi Shifter
We missed Saurenne on Wed afternoon and you're right, it was a little wild off Pic Blanc and gorgeous of Marmotte 3.
Pic Blanc was not helped by a bunch of French folk who took out my other 1/2 on the traverse.
Other than that it was a fun week .....especially the live music in the underground bar

Keep the updates coming piemonster, already looking forward to the weekend!

Snowing nicely in Whistler at the moment and forecast to continue for the next few days. It's the Martin Luther King long weekend in the USA at the moment so the village and the slopes are totally packed. Went up a for a few laps yesterday but 15 minute + lift lines aren't my idea of fun. Back to normal on Tuesday though so hopefully we'll be back to quiet bowls and fresh powder 😀

Getting ready push the button on a Mammut Barryvox Element. Any reason not too?

@jaffe, nice ! shall I go back and find that post of yours where you where worried about not having a winter wonderland 😉

Lovely and cold in Les Arc 2000 today.

I'm at Gatwick. Work trip to Florida.

There's a lot of people in the lounge who are clearly off skiing.

Bastards. The lot of them!

[img] [/img]

🙂

I know the one Jamba, nearly went in this afternoon but looked like they was closing up by the time we got there.

On the cards for tomorrow, another cold one 😀

Getting ready push the button on a Mammut Barryvox Element. Any reason not too?

Mate has one. I've only had a brief play with it but it seemed pretty good.
Gets a decent write up on BeaconReviews too:
http://beaconreviews.com/transceivers/Specs_MammutElement.asp

Where you buying from?
They are £184 from http://www.bergfreunde.co.uk/avalanche-beacons/

Cheeky half day at Glenshee this PM. Decent weather and shorter queues than Cairngorm. Over the confidence hump with Miss J as she handled the blues and pomas with aplomb 9 months after breaking her leg - proud dad here.

Your name is also on the list, piemonster

Someone has landed. 🙂

[img] [/img]

A much needed chuckle, DD, thanks!

Orlando. It's like hell. With gift shops.

Oh crikey O'Reilly! Orlando?!? You have my sympathy. Hope you move lots of that new line of matching post-it'n'pen specials. Not long till snow time. No Montana this trip??

Saucisson au chanterelle, looks like a No. 2 on the Bristol stool chart but very firm, which is more than be said for the integrative consequences upon myself.

Where you buying from?

Probably from Absolute-snow, they're working out a price for me incl. new shovels and probes. Prefer to get one from the UK just in case I have a problem with it.

We've got Burton branded Barryvox's, which have been great (although never used in anger). Absolutely nothing wrong with them to be honest, but think it's probably time for an update.

Probably from Absolute-snow, they're working out a price for me incl. new shovels and probes.

Cool. [url= http://www.snowboardclub.co.uk/category/discount-type/shopping/shop ]You get a 10% discount on them from SCUK[/url] if you are a member.

how often do you guys get your boards rewaxed/serviced? Pretty sure I got mine done before the last holiday so it's it's only had 1 week of use on it, but about 5 years ago, dunno if this stuff dries out, looks a [i]little[/i] hazy/white and a few scratches. Edge seems ok.
Yeah for the price should probably have got it done but meh, I'm crap at getting stuff sorted out.
As an amateur will I even notice the difference?
I'm guessing buying some wax and DIY using our steam iron is probably not a good idea...

You know the answer to this DONK.

I normally get my skis waxed in the resort on my last day - they just put them through a machine, costs about E20 and takes 10 mins.

igm yeah but I've only got 5 days before I go and bringing my board in on the commuter train to drop off at EB always gets me funny looks.

Could look at getting it done in resort I guess, seem to recall the shops being absolutley hammered on saturdays tho, I have bad memories about the free for all when picking up hire gear.

how often do you guys get your boards rewaxed/serviced?

Mine gets waxed (and the edges deburred) as part of my ritual for going away.

Though to be fair I have that weird Bataleon base material (synthduded I think) that refuses to hold wax for more than a few days.

I'm guessing buying some wax and DIY using our steam iron is probably not a good idea...

That's what I do - it's not hard.

(don't use your best iron though!)

This should help:

not strictly related, but if you have a kid with a balance bike, these are the coolest thing i've ever bought...

don't use your best iron though

you have more than one!?

Buy one specially for waxing - it won't be any good for clothes once you are done with it. Cheapest you can find because you don't want fancy teflon bases etc.

Think I paid less than £5 for mine from Woolworths back in the day and it is still going strong.

This sort of thing: http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/3194669.htm

Of course if you want to be fancy and do the right thing then here is a "proper" wax iron:
https://www.absolute-snow.co.uk/V/Toko_T8_800W_SkiSnowboard_Wax_Iron_EU-%2853753%29

which will do exactly the same thing, though possibly with slightly better heat control!

jam bo: those are ace where did you get them?

As for will you notice, depends.

The snow was a little damp and sticky last year and a re-wax mid-week was noticeable.

Other years, not so much.

bought them from strider bike. about £15, fix with straps so would probably fit other balance bikes.

GrahamS - Member
jam bo: those are ace where did you get them?

I have an unused set in the garage. Bought (and fitted once to a Rothan) and the the snow didn't come round York. Meanwhile younger son grew up and is now on a pedally bike.

Open to offers.

Off to Villaroger on Sunday - getting very excited - daily snow report checks (unfortunately not looking as good at last few weeks)

Fingers crossed it changes and Pukes a bit !

Tempted igm, but it would probably cost more to ship them to me than they are worth 🙂

Youngest can't ride her balance bike yet and eldest is on a pedal bike, so it can probably wait till next year.

Well if your profile is accurate Graham (and it looks worryingly similar to the one I would write if I wasn't so lazy) I'm up to Newcastle reasonably often (our UK head office is on Grey Street) if that would avoid postage.

igm ygm 😀

Take care.

5 French army killed and a number injured in a back country avalanche in Savoie whilst they where on a training excersize

🙁

Follow this tweet for a video of a couple of big slides being set off (deliberately I assume) in Les Arcs today:
https://twitter.com/guidespacekilly/status/689111794162470913

/\/\ that vids from the 14th I think.

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=1203451973015458&id=323138794380118

I'm on a bike in a gym, so may easily be wrong.

Could be. I thought from [url=

y's FB post[/url] that it was from today, but I don't speakez le franglais so I wasn't sure.

Still an impressive (and slightly terrifying) sight though.

Well, I was in the Arc2000 bowl most of the day. Reckon I'd have noticed.

@Jamba, you mean this one?

http://en.lesarcs.com/stay/shopping-les-arcs/bulle-cafe.html

If so I had a lunchtime pint on the deckchairs today washing down half a pizza.

Not sure whether this has been posted yet...

And the write up .. [url= http://avalanchesurvival.tumblr.com ]http://avalanchesurvival.tumblr.com[/url]

This may also be of some interest, although a few years old..

[url= http://www.bmg.org.uk/index.php/eng/content/download/2484/18156/file/Shovel%20Test,%20Avalanche%20Journal%20Test.pdf ]Shovel test[/url]

[img] [/img]

Still not open, looking forward to it though.

[img] [/img]

vinneyh: that video is blooming terrifying and very instructive:
you can see all the time wasted in shock and headless panic with no plan and limited equipment.

That guy is incredibly lucky to be alive. If he hadn't been able to waggle a ski pole I'm pretty sure he'd be dead.

Les Crosets too - I've boarded there in pretty similar in-bounds slackcountry, with no equipment and no idea 😳

There is an account of that burial at http://avalanchesurvival.tumblr.com/

Apparently they heard the avalanche "whumps" and decided to push on regardless because they'd skied it before and got away with it.
Which goes to what we were talking about earlier regarding negative reinforcement.

Viney, shows how much snow you may need to shift dosn't it! 😯

That happened so quickly.

Viney, shows how much snow you may need to shift dosn't it!

Yep...everytime I thought..."yeah, there he is, just grab him and pull", they had to shovel more. And all the time I was waiting for the pile of snow they were "under-digging" to fall down on top of him again. Lucky escape, that.

Digging can be the most time consuming part of any rescue..

[url= http://beaconreviews.com/transceivers/pdfs/EdgerlyABCDiggingISSW2010v9.pdf ]Digging it[/url]

That's it @pie

Thought this was cool

Great/awe inspiring/terrifying Les Arcs video. The main couloir off the AR is well known avalanche chute that regularly comes down over the piste below (in a controlled manner). But I have never seen the other slope go like that.

Stay safe folks

Digging can be the most time consuming part of any rescue.

I'm sitting at a nice warm desk thinking "they should have come in more from the side as per training". I do wonder though if in the heat of the moment I'd remember...

On my last training course the drills started with someone yelling avalanche and doing everything from there - not just starting with following a beacon you already had out etc. Also splitting people up into teams and deploying kit. Make it as realistic as possible.

We did however get the police called... apparently repeatedly standing in a dark car park yelling avalanche and then running round randomly was enough to worry the local busy body. Took a bit of explaining 😀

French avalanche: news reports that they where hiking up when slip came, that may explain why they where closer together and so many causalties. Group size was 50

It's been twenty years since I've been near a snowboard, but I saw this on YouTube and figured that with the right conditions it might be good to hike up, take some pics and try to board back down to Luss.

Well done there, exu200 for the cracking vid, btw.

Obviously shot without any snow, but a noticeable lack of boulders etc and a fairly uniform gradient makes it look appealing.

Snow coming down again this morning. That fluffy floaty type that makes you smile like you was 8 years old and school had just finished for summer.
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First go on the splitboard at the weekend. Assent of Cairngorm on Sunday from the Ciste car park then back down to the daylodge for overpriced soup and coffee, brill 😀

[url= https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1556/24369273872_e9f981b9b0_c.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1556/24369273872_e9f981b9b0_c.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/D8qU7m ]First splitboard assent of Cairngorm[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/swavis/ ]Gavin Belton[/url], on Flickr

[url= https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1443/24369272612_846182f5b3_c.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1443/24369272612_846182f5b3_c.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/D8qTJC ]First splitboard assent of Cairngorm[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/swavis/ ]Gavin Belton[/url], on Flickr

[url= https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1638/24109800969_9bf1845091_c.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1638/24109800969_9bf1845091_c.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/CJv2RB ]First splitboard assent of Cairngorm[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/swavis/ ]Gavin Belton[/url], on Flickr

Too tight to pay for a lift pass eh swavis?

Just kidding. Looks fun. Might try splitboarding one day - but I should probably learn how to ski first!

Absolutely! Well at Cairngorm anyway 😉

I've often wondered, what is the deal when you are splitboarding:

Is it free? Do you have to let them know you are doing it?
Are you still allowed to come down on the pistes?

I certainly didn't tell them, not their hill after all, and other than the equipment it's free.
Not sure about coming down the pistes but part of the point is to get to places that the lifts can't.

Might try splitboarding one day - but I should probably learn how to ski first

Being able to ski isn't a prerequisite for splitboarding - ok it's handy to be able to snowplough and do your 'french-fries and pizza' if you are traversing undulating terrain by it's by no means necessary.

I've often wondered, what is the deal when you are splitboarding:

Depends where you are doing it - i.e. inbounds in North America - you apparently need a valid lift pass to be on the slopes going either up or down.

Europe - in resort - some places allow for a one way ticket up the lift (like they do for summer hikers/aiguille du midi) but to make the most of it and avoid potential long hike outs/hitch for the van you need a valid day ticket at least

Out of resort - obviously no lift ticket required, but bus/train/hitch/hike might be required to get back to your start point or wherever you left the van ...!

What is splitboarding - ski touring?

I've got a brand new set of Scarpa Touring Boots (size 44) & ski touring blades (inc skins) for sale if anyone is interested...

What is splitboarding - ski touring?

Snowboard touring with a board that splits using all the usual snowboard boots & bindings.