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This is pretty awesome.
Oh, and 15:40. That's all. 🙂
When is the best time to go to the US / Canada for skiing? School holiday constrained, but toying with the four of us going for a couple of weeks at Easter the year after next. Is that getting a little late? Would a week at half term make more sense.
We'll have an 11 year old and 7 year old with us - the older one is already very competent the younger one can get himself down a blue but will have another two years under his belt by then. We board (badly, wheels on the ground style), the boys ski.
Thoughts? Suggested resorts?
Apres not a huge issue, bars on the slopes are good.
I think Stevomcd mentioned over on Snowheads that in the preceding months of one of the best snow years in a decade, there was not a drop to be seen up high on 30th November.
Or something like that.
A quarter of a century ago we were often out skiing in November over 2000m. In recent years it's been rare and this year it's very mild in France. The weather forecaster read out more broken records for temperature in November this evening.
2 years ago this tuesday just gone on Nevis Range:
It's sunny and mild here just now for sure. I am enjoying riding my bike for as long as possible and not thinking about snow yet.
As wallop says, 2011? (can't even remember, about then!) I was mountain biking at 2500m with not a flake in sight on the 30th November, then riding deep, deep powder a week later.
Last winter, I almost got the splitboard out in mid-November, then Christmas snow conditions were pretty much a disaster.
TL,DR: Conditions in early/mid-November are pretty much irrelevant.
I shot this in late November 2008, but it's far from the norm! :
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When is the best time to go to the US / Canada for skiing?...going for a couple of weeks at Easter the year after next
Year after next Easter is mid April. In that case I'd be inclined to look at a resort that was higher. Usually mid April is not too bad in CO but it is a slush and corn fest in CA. Last year Loveland and A-Basin in CO were open till May because of the heavy late season snowfalls. If you can I'd avoid the U.S. resorts in March as the school and college spring breaks tend to make everything busy for the month.
Mrs.10 has given the ok for a future ja-pow trip. Good times, I can't however ski like Sean Pettit.
Mrs.10 has given the ok for a future ja-pow trip.
It's great. We went last year and are heading back again this season because it was so good. And last year was crap by their standards apparently.
Stevomcd, I've just sent you an e-mail enquiry.
It won't be for a couple of years now unfortunately, but she has said more than once that she thinks i should go so that's it almost in stone as far as I'm concerned!
IT'S BOOKED!!!
Just finished getting the booking done for a two week trip to Banff over Christmas and new year. Happy, happy, happy.
It is quite pricey, but I've saved for it, so that's all right.
just noticed the temp drop here at the weekend so had a quick look at the Alps and see St Anton (for Example) is currently high of 11 degs and low of 2 degs.
By Sunday its a high of -6 and low of -15 degs and snowing! 😀
Looks like it's going to dump on the Alps this weekend! Yay! 😀
http://www.snow-forecast.com/maps/dynamic/alps?hr=84
And all week and into next according to weather crave / chaine metro.
Can I request all European based folk start a Euro snowatch for me?
Pics of the first flakes, lovely pristine white blankets - that sort of thing.
Not going till Easter, but I think I can stay excited from now until then.
[i]Not going till Easter, but I think I can stay excited from now until then.[/i]
Crikey...Easter!!!
You could go twice before then....if you really wanted to! 8)
You could go twice before then....if you [s]really wanted[/s] can afford to!
😀
Not when there's four of us, we're tied to school holidays and I don't have much spare holiday myself.
I think if I went without my older son my life wouldn't be worth living when I got back.
Fair enough, must be great skiing with a son who loves it as much as you.
worth waiting for even....
It is. Like I said I start getting excited about now.
Here's the image from my webcam on my balcony, Maria Alm, Austria. about 1000m.
It should keep updating every time you refresh the thread.
Hopefully be all white by Sunday!
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Can you remove the rose tinted filter?
That's just the way I view the world!
The camera auto adjusts it's light balance all of the time when the sun is over the mountains towards Zell/Leogang.
There you go, moved it right a bit.
Lots of snow in Scandi-land now too .
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Quite simply the bestest snowboard ever..... Huge fan of YES.
Colp - as you know, I have a vested interest in the conditions, but an unlikely to be able to check your cam during the day. So if you're taking requests... any chance of night vision 😉
Night vision is a bit tricky, but here's one from a few years ago, sunset at the start of the season.
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This amused me! 🙂
One skier on an empty slope and the Boarder takes him out! 'kin Boarders eh?
That made me chuckle. He could drop a bomb down a chimney from space that bloke.
😆"You stopped in the middle!"
The more important question is why, when there appears to be a large amount of untracked powder all around, he's riding the piste at all?
Although if he rides with the same level of technical ability as his mate, that would answer that question...
Don't post much to this thread but it's been a fantastic start to the season in Canada. Revelstoke opens in a weeks time with over 3m fallen and a depth of 1.5m at 2000m. Meanwhile even Sunshine has had over 1m of snow in the last week. So sweamrs and I left sweajnr in day care and headed out for some skiing.
Only got a couple of fresh runs as heading off the groomers was scary (basically no base) and lots of people out but still not bad for mid-November....
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Don't post much to this thread
With photos like that I can see why 😉
Waves at michaelmcc!
🙂
any recomendations for a transfer from geneva airport to Avoriaz ?
7 of us , Christmas week .
I've used https://www.skiidygonzales.com/ for transfers for the last 4 or 5 years and they've been good.
Late night thread!
Stuck on the Newcastle York train at the moment - dreaming of snow.
CaptainFlashheart - Member
Waves at michaelmcc!
Now I understand.
1st day on the mountain at Whistler today. Opening day was yesterday, but we were all working. Much quieter today by all accounts. Some nice cold weather made sure the snow was hard packed and crispy in some places, but a solid 80cm base and only a short download from midstation required. Due to dump on Monday night so we'll see how next week shapes up.
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The high country in Colorado got hit last night. About 12" fell. Brings the ytd to 53" at Loveland. I'm in Texas though sadly so I'm missing it.
I'm headed up to Colorado in 3 weeks so hopefully it stays pretty cold and I can enjoy it! Go up every year for a few rides. Funny enough I have a brother in Texas who flies up each year with us to join.
I ordered a Voile DIY split kit over the weekend. I'd thought about it last year but didn't fancy knackering my only snowboard but now I have a nice new Lando Phoenix my Lib Tech TRS is going to meet with the bandsaw at work 😈
What's good in the glove world these days? I found out at Snozone yesterday (before I got there luckily) that my current gloves have somehow decided to fall apart in the three years since the last time I wore them, so I am now on the lookout for a replacement.
Browsing the shops after the session I saw some Hestra three finger gloves. Gore-tex (obviously), but with a weird semi-mitten design.
Are they any good? Anything else to consider?
I'd only consider AK burton gloves these days
last forever, toasty, usually 2 or 3 gloves per set so you can layer to the conditions
any recomendations for a transfer from geneva airport to Avoriaz ?
7 of us , Christmas week .
Try Ski Transfers - link on Ski Blue Ridge website. I've stayed with them for MTB and used transfers in the summer. Based in Les Gets.
What's good in the glove world these days?
Hestra but ones with leather front - something like these
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Cost a bit but I have had mine for yonks - well over ten years.
Every pair of goretex gloves I have had were a disappointment.
Hestra are very good, and the three finger mitts are warmer than normal gloves but with a bit more dexterity than a full mitt.
Whisper it quietly, but I use North Face gloves! (They were a freebie though. Will be replaced by Hestra when they eventually wear out. )
I was readyish to go for Hestras rather than another layer of tape on my old Levels. But I've been saying that for a few years. Then I saw some Arcteryx GreekLetter RX/whatever at half price on Sport Pursuit. So just standard pricey, rather than bafflingly, never-in-a-million-years, why-would-you-when-Hestras-are-60%-of-the-price expensive.
Got them a few weeks ago, they fit like correctly sized gloves. Smart, too.
The Hestra three finger ones are the ones I was looking at. Seem like good quality, good fit (in an 11) and quite light too.
The alternative option would be to go with a cheaper pair of Thinsulate gloves and an outer GoreTex shell, but the Hestras seem a better option.
Woohoo resort Webcam's looking fantastic today!!
Hestra three finger ones here.
They are great, as above no loss of dexterity, very warm.
The inner is just normal 5 finger inner glove so feels just like a regular glove when they are on. The inner comes out when you want them to, not when you don't.
had mine for three seasons and no real sign of wear.
Just been given a stupid amount of stick by my colleagues at work for even hinting that spending 100 quid on gloves is possible. I'm now wondering if I can get by with a pair of "Mittens, Extreme Cold Weather (Inner & Outer)".
They seem pretty warm, but then again, the house only has the heating off so is not liekly to be the same temperature as Alberta.
Just been given a stupid amount of stick by my colleagues at work for even hinting that spending 100 quid on gloves is possible. I'm now wondering if I can get by with a pair of "Mittens, Extreme Cold Weather (Inner & Outer)"
I started skiing again in 1993, I reckon I got through 4 pairs of gloves before buying my Hestras in I reckon 2000 or 2001.
Gloves, go for the kincos!
[url] http://www.kinco.com/product/901/ [/url]
Cheap and last forever with some TLC. Make you look like a patroller!
+1 for resort webcam woohooing
Hestras are great as well
The other plus with the hestra gloves or similar style is they are very easy to get on and off.
Skiing for the first time with the kids this year and always having to take gloves off for various things, wiping noses, zips, their gloves (again) tucking in , clipping helmets etc. Etc. It's dead easy I'd you can just slip them on and off without the fad of the Velcro on your sleeves having to be in done and back up..
TM maxx often have Level gloves heavily reduced.
Got my lad some Goretex ones for £20.
Just been given a stupid amount of stick by my colleagues at work for even hinting that spending 100 quid on gloves is possible.
Saturday morning in Banff is forecast to be -20C at the townsite which means the top of Sunshine could conceivably be -30C. For what it's worth (and I'm in Calgary right now) I'd recommend mittens for Banff at Christmas. My personal mitt of choice is the Black Diamond Mercury Mitt combined with a liner glove and some chemical hand warmers as back-up.
I also have some boot gaiters to attempt to stop the toes freezing.
Also neck gaiter or full neoprene face mask. Fashion takes a second place to warmth.
I'm the one on the left and sweamrs is on the right. Ryan (middle of shot) is a local and so clearly a bit tougher than the soft brits. 🙂
[url= https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8241/8576778162_857de2947f.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8241/8576778162_857de2947f.jp g"/> [/img][/url]
[url= https://flic.kr/p/e4Ueky ]Icefields parkway skiing March 2013[/url] by
[url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/40674021@N05/ ]Mark and Liz in Canada[/url], on Flickr
Edit: The eagle eyed among you will also note Sweamrs is using a pair of Canada goose Womens Arctic mitts which are also nice and warm.
The other plus with the hestra gloves or similar style is they are very easy to get on and off.
And have built in idiot strings, so no dropped gloves on the lifts! (That said, my TNF ones have those, too. Vital, IMO)
Those Hestra mittens are going on my Christmas list!
I'll be checking it. More than once.
I'm a Level mitt man myself.
I bought a pair of Hestras on my last trip. Seemed very good but I only skied a day with them. I've been to Xscape a couple of times, but considering I don't wear a coat in there I thought the Hestras were probably overkill! Less than 4 weeks until they get used in anger.
These are supposed to be good... http://shop.snowshepherd.co.uk/Ski-Gloves
Yep the Kinko 901's are the dogs danglies
I've got a 2 year old pair that have been battered
They only just look broke in
Best £30 I've spent on gloves
The leather on most gloves is just too thin / soft to survive snowboard edges
But the kinkos are tough & really well reinforced
Plus I like the utilitarian look of them
Ymmv
so no dropped gloves on the lifts!
when your gloves cost as much as Hestras there is no chance you will drop them.
hammerite, good link. Liking the look of the Ortovox gloves and mitts, but I'll have to look at the reviews before I have to decide between them and Hestras.
Sweaman2, the wife and I were there about five, six years ago when it was -40 for about a week. So cold that my nose hairs froze and I had to put my bear in the hot tub now and again to stop it freezing. It was a dry cold though, so I was still walking around in a t-shirt in town.
I'm older now, so will be looking for stuff to keep me warm.
another level mitt fan here.
Wrist guard and kevlar patches were a god send when I was learning. That was over 10years ago and they are still as good as the day I bought them. Cozy inner, nice broad secure wrist strap.
Are mitts OK to use when learning to ski?
Are mitts OK to use when learning to ski?
yes
£100 for a pair of gloves, pah! I raise you £175!
Wahoo i can join in the thread this season.
St Anton 16th Jan - avit..
My blessed 10 year run of getting to go away by myself (to stay with friends who live in la Plagne) comes to an end this winter.
Up til now, Mrs Tyred has figured that - all things considered - this was the best option for maintaining family harmony, which has suited me down to the ground TBH!
Now the Tyreds Jr are beyond the whiny-small-child age and have had enough days on snow at Glencoe over the past few years to have half an idea what they're doing, they've cottoned onto what they've been missing out on each winter, much to the amusement of their mother.
So now I've got to take all them too!
[b]HOLY MOTHER OF GOD[/b] that makes it a bit expensive, doesn't it! 😯
Took the eldest away a few times when he was a baby/toddler and that was easy enough but really I had no idea why parents with small children on ski holidays always look shellshocked, beyond the loss of the don't-have-to-do-anything hours between 6 and 8pm. Think I know now, yikes!
Yep. School holidays and 4 bodies to pay for. Welcome to serious expense - you'll have no cash left for drugs now.
Did the same maths. Worked out it was cheaper just to buy a f****** flat in the Alps!
Three good glove brands, Dakine, Level & Hestra.
The trigger mitt idea on the face of it is good for adjusting bindings and the like, but not as warm as true mitts.
Goretex Acid test for Gloves. Put your hand in a bucket of water, put it in the Glove, put hand in glove back in the bucket of water, move it around for the amount of time one would normally expected a hand to dry naturally, remove and hand should be dry.
You can tell I once worked for Gore. They insist on testing every glove company's product that uses their liner.
bh - you mean a wet hand goes in a dry glove, then you put the gloved (wet) hand in the water, move it around for the same amount of time it would take the hand to airdry if you were moving it round in air (humidity?), rather than in a glove in a bucket of water? and it should be dry in the same time?
All about the wicking of the liner, nothing about the membrane. Can't see what else it could be testing. Or even what the second go in the bucket does? 😕
+1 ned, i was thinking the same thing!
2tyred, AirBnB makes family holiday actually doable (just cant persuade the missus to go skiing with the kids). We had a nice apartment in Cham during half term last year for about £300 quid. We drove over and between the 3 blokes it worked out at about £400 holiday with food. I've just blown £700 on a trip to St Anton (missus doesn't know the amount yet, so you know keep schtum).
Anyway, back to the Gloves, i've got some Levels with the Biomex thing in, it is and they are very good. They've seen better days after a dozen or so weeks, the finger tips end up getting shredded due to dragging like an ape.
Have we done this Ski Scotland vid? Done by Cut media. I think it could breach the trade descriptions act 😉
Here's the link, couldn't get the video URL to work 🙄
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[url= ]My new gloves[/url]
A friend imports these which are very good quality and not cheap....even to me! But then they are goatskin palms and fingers. (whatever that involves)
16-30th Jan in chamonix cannot come quick enough
Lucky with the kids this year, our area have half term at a different time to most areas, so it's vaguely affordable.
Once thought about renting an apartment for a season, take a few cheeky ones, sub let to mates and family, take half term and Easter with kids. Overall it would be good value, if you could sub let enough weeks...
What's the Norwegian ski scene like? We're looking to tick off the northern lights, do some husky dog sledding, introduce the toddler to skiing, stay somewhere low key. So doesn't have to be challenging in terms of skiing, but interested in going somewhere different from France/Switzerland/Austria/Italy.