re: Flows - if you're a big bugger like me, then the older ones definitely aren't for you, unless you fancy vague response. I've not tried the newer ones since I've been on Burton toe cap and strap for 5+ years now.
I definitely want to try the step ins, but price is a bit too pricey for a once a year thing (£600 :O )
@bluebird yes but you cant adjust the angle of them in relation to the heel edge, i.e in the heel cup itself
Finally any tips for taking a 5 and 2 Yr old Skiing? 2 year old will be in a Creche for some of it, both will have contact details etc written down and put in a pocket should the worst happen
its a bit of a shock to the system if your used to being on the first & last lifts and just buggering off wherever you want! but definitely worthwhile to see them progress. be patient, they probably wont have your enthusiasm at first, make sure they eat and sleep well…
We take our time in the mornings, no early alarms, nice leisurely breakfast, then a morning on the nursery slopes, or just messing about on sledges, building snowmen etc.. then they both went into lessons (or crèche) after lunch - that way we could have the afternoon to ourselves.
Both girls are younger than the minimum age required for list passes but the eldest is having lessons, does anyone know how this works?
The turnstiles at the lifts have a little archway that the nippers without lift passes duck through.
Grown men on snowboards who’ve had a couple of pints definitely won’t fit.
@howsyourdad1 I thought I was the only person in the world who bothered to do that! 🙂 (I'm not sure if it actually makes any difference though.)
We're going to Austria in Feb and for the first time ever I'm going to buy some boots rather than rent dodgy sweaty ones that don't fit very well.
So what boot for the 95kg intermediate skier, 99% on pistes, wide feet, heavy and clumsy?
So what boot for the 95kg intermediate skier, 99% on pistes, wide feet, heavy and clumsy?
Ones that fit (typical STW smug answer but true) get yourself to your nearest shop and try a few on.
Where are you based? Then people can recommend potential bootfitters.
Both girls are younger than the minimum age required for list passes but the eldest is having lessons, does anyone know how this works?
The turnstiles at the lifts have a little archway that the nippers without lift passes duck through.
Grown men on snowboards who’ve had a couple of pints definitely won’t fit.
I'd check that, most places require young kids to go to the lift pass and obtain a pass, even though it's free.
Rotating highbacks to be parallel to the board edge makes &é"'-all difference. I think Burton are still the only brand who actually offer that feature? I've been off Burton bindings for about 5 years and can't say I've ever missed it or even thought about it. I did just receive a shiny new set of Burton bindings though and obviously I immediately rotated the highbacks…
Oh aye, I can confirm it's been pretty good in the western Alps over the past few days...
That video is not helping...
having to content myself with a bit of board demo at mk tomorrow and freestyle playtime on Sunday.
oh well it's still boarding even if it is in a fridge.
Hoping the yes pick your line lives up to the reviews
On airbags, for someone like me who rides 100+ days per year, probably about half of that lift-accessed or short hike off-piste, it's a no-brainer. However careful you are, the law of averages is a dangerous thing. Added to which, I'll almost always be first-in (on account of being the guide...).
I think for someone doing a week or two per year, especially if guided, then it's less clear. The cost and travel hassles are significant.
I'd somewhat disagree with DD though. Once I'm caught in a slide, I'm thinking of nothing else but pulling that handle. Once you're caught, there's no getting out of there. If I'm still on my feet, yeah, for sure, I'm going to try to get out to the side or break the sound barrier straight-lining down the hill, but if I'm off my feet and I'm on a slope of any significant size, I'm pulling that handle.
I was lifting my pack out the car last night and it was snagged on something. I started tugging and it didn't free up. I was about to start tugging harder in a grumpy I'm-carrying-all-the-rest-of-kit-in-the-other-hand-and-I-just-want-to-get-inside kind of way when I noticed it was snagged by the handle...
Recommend watching Snowman on Red Bull tv if you have an interest in avalanches and skiing
Elshalimo - I too am a 95Kg piste basheur.
I snowboarded for 15 yrs before trying skiing so slightly different route to boots, but I went here https://www.solutions4feet.com/ which is 1 1/2hrs away to get fitted properly. You end up paying RRP, but the fitting process took well over half an hour and now I'd be happier in that knowledge buying something discounted offline, but for a first boot, the conversation and information learnt was definitely worth it.
I ended up with some perfectly comfortable, but taught salomon boots.
FFS
18 days out from arriving in Morzine and eldest pedlad boy has broken a collar bone. Absolutely gutted for him. He’s been flying at lessons on the dry slope, building on first week skiing 3 yrs ago. I was so looking forward to really exploring with him and his brother round the vastness of the Portes du Soleil.
So stw- What is there to do for a winter week in Morzine with a broken 13 yr old??
The swimming complex is excellent (search Parc Dereches for opening times)
He can hire snow shoes and walk a lot of the pistes/ski du fond with cheaper ski lift passes as a pedestrian
There's a good cinema in town
i skied the rest of the week after i broke my collar bone one day in chamonix - had one arm in a sling under my jacket! nothing too tech, just cruised the pistes - but it was a lot better than not skiing at all!
ed. sorry i just read he is still learning... yeah prob not a good idea!
Snow depth is building nicely in the PDS and more to come this weekend. Xmas should be good! I'm even looking forward to teaching Stoner Jr to board for the first time.
He's getting better quickly but this is only his second trip. Definitely needs his hands visible to keep balance so cruising with it in sling not an option. Might look into snow shoeing with him.
@stevomcd That makes sense, in the days when I was riding 60+ days it would've been a no brainer, but these days it's closer to 30 and a good chunk of that is in bounds.
I went here https://www.solutions4feet.com
Me too, have a great pair of boots as does my wife. Local fitter who knows Colin did suggest that you may end up with boots beyond your level, so future proofing in a way that may not be 100% necessary. Still, would go back there again if I needed new boots, online recommended boots need not apply, all feet require a decent fitter.
Looks like the Tarentaise is getting all the snow this weekend.
Nice big dump for the PDS tomorrow as per forecast please to establish that base.
So my boy is being v stoic but must be gutted about not being able to ski at new year. I didn’t mention above, we have the car with us in Morzine,so if there’s anything worthwhile within an hours driving I’d appreciate any suggestions.
Once I’m caught in a slide, I’m thinking of nothing else but pulling that handle. Once you’re caught, there’s no getting out of there. If I’m still on my feet, yeah, for sure, I’m going to try to get out to the side or break the sound barrier straight-lining down the hill, but if I’m off my feet and I’m on a slope of any significant size, I’m pulling that handle.
@stevomcd - yeah - I was referring to those few microseconds when you are aware of the sudden change in the snowpack but the slide hasn't quite gathered momentum, and you are still on your 'feet' (and thankfully/hopefully your toeside-edge!): My focus was on picking my nearest exit/island of safety!
I've also considered getting an 'avalung' but again I'm not sure how effective they are in the 'moment': - if you are on your feet you'd want to be trying to get to the side etc and if you were off your feet I'd be trying to 'swim' etc rather than trying to fit the mouth piece in.
Completely agree about 'law of averages being a dangerous thing' though ... I've lost too many friends & acquaintances over the years! 🙁
When doing a serious number of backcountry days a year though like you - for sure, you need to mitigate risk in every possible way!
[I managed 50 days this year - but over 30 of them were 'inbounds']
I’m wondering whether to replace my snowboard. I bought it in 2009 and my question is how much things have changed since then?
It’s a Ride DH so a fairly top end board from the time, but it predates all the rocker boards. I used to be a bit of a gear whore but I haven’t really read any mags/websites for ages so I don’t known what’s good. It’s got a couple of deep gouges and probably needs a base grind as well as some ptex.
I would guess I’m at the good end of the punter spectrum - I’ve been a lot over the years but not in the last 3 years due to new child. I’m going for a week in March.
My inclination is to fix up my Ride, but accepting this will probably cost at least £50, am I going to be better off putting that money into a new board?
Superficial, I’m not a boarder but probably worth getting the board you have into ok shape then hire a board if you fancy a change. Or just hire and not bother taking and paying carriage to for your own board. If you are interested in getting a new one, use the hire shop and demo a few.
@stoner - thanks
I went to a local ski shop today and they sorted me out. (BAC Elland, nice people, not pushy, good customer service).
Only took about an hour, given my weird feet that's pretty good.
I’m wondering whether to replace my snowboard. I bought it in 2009 and my question is how much things have changed since then?
How has it been stored/kept? Much damage to the base/core?
If you lie it on say the kitchen floor does it still have it's 'camber' etc.
Do the four corners all touch the floor evenly? i.e. your snowboard isn't warped? (keeping your board in overly hot/damp storage can cause a board to warp or twist over time)
If you board is still fun to ride then stick with it.
Board shapes have seemingly remained pretty much unchanged for quite some time as the Snowboard industry matured and plateaued. There were a few 'quirky' ahem innovations like magna-traction but most boards fell into the slightly directional twin-tip design.
However in the past few years there has been some interesting innovation from smaller rider owned/led/focussed companies that are experimenting with shapes and designs again.
How relevant this is to you depends on the kind of riding you like to do and how often? i.e. we all might like the idea of riding bottomless powder in the backcountry everyday but the reality is not the case - therefore buying a Winterstick Swallowtail might be hard to justify! 🙂
If you are interested in getting a new one, use the hire shop and demo a few.
Unfortunately depending on the resort, snowboard hire often isn't as extensive as ski hire, so this might not be an option for you.
Shops like Zero G in Chamonix will be able to supply a different board to demo each day, but smaller resorts may only have limited brands/sizes to choose from - often because most snowboarders will buy their own board, bindings and boots
Just booked a week in Avoriaz at the start of February. A surprise xmas present for the missus who's only been snowboarding once at Glenshee years ago. She's booked into ski school every day which will give me plenty of time to charge about myself. Despite having been to Morzine every year in Summer for the past 8 years, I've never been in winter so looking forward to it very much.
Also have pencilled in plans for Cervinia in April
nice BB!
drop me a line if you want some ideas on where to go exploring when you're off the leash....
Also have pencilled in plans for Cervinia in April
Is jealous - we've been every April for the past 3 years, changes to kids activities means we are going for New Year instead - in fact, a week today to the hour, I'll probably be arguing with a Budget car hire chap at Malpensa T2 🙂
nice BB!
drop me a line if you want some ideas on where to go exploring when you’re off the leash….
Cheers, will do. I have a pretty good sense of the place given the amount of time I’ve spent there on the bike but some secret stuff would be good.
Looking forward to doing the megagravelanche run on the board to see how it compares to my bike time!
Greetings from the PDS, warm and sunny here. Snow conditions are 5-6/10 and deteriorating below 1600m. But the weather is lovely.
Quick recommendation for you while it's in the sale. Excellent helmet with integrated visor for 35gbp
https://www.decathlon.co.uk/feel-150-s2-ad-blue-id_8399921.html
50% off at Westbeach at the moment including sale stock. Picked up a jacket earlier in the year and it looks good. Just bought some troos to go with.
Flying out to PdS on Saturday for new year, doesn’t look like any fresh is forecast for the next week or so 😕
Time for board servicing, wax and edges this time. The freestyle boards as they have taken a kicking at mk all year and the mountain boards as only 4 weeks till we go. Please let it snow in pds compared to what there is now
You can rotate highbacks on Union bindings as well. It does seem to slightly improve heelside pressure.
As for replacing your Ride board I certainly wouldn’t get a rocker board without trying one first. Having tried a lot of profiles I think full camber with a tiny bit of early rise at the tip and tail is best. Unless you live for powder days.... and I have to say I don’t know much about the best profiles then.
EURODORK ALERT!
Few cm's of powder means sweajnr got his first fresh tracks. Bit more snow now in the rockies but still early season in general.
Few cm's of powder means sweajnr got his first fresh tracks. Bit more snow now in the rockies but still early season in general.
Thekingisdead hope you've got to your resort OK. Sorry to say you've missed the best of the early season snow. However Arare (avoriaz sector) is still skiing well as its well protected. Fornet is a little icy now though. Parts of haut châtel are still good but transit back into lindarets / avoriaz is nasty in poor snow.
I haven't been over to chamossiere /nyon or les gets this week.
My eurodork helmet has been ace so nyeeerrr.
As a bespectacled chap those integrated visor hats look spot on. Do they have interchangeable visors?
Currently sat on a crystal transfer coach from Lyon to tignes , stationary in traffic.
Flight was supposed to go to chambery,but crystal decided to divert to Lyon because of possible fog in chambery. Then the baggage handlers in lyon took 3 hours to get the bags off the plane.
Totally journey time from bham ( so far) 9 hours.at least 3 hours still to go. Could have driven from bham in less time.
I love package holidays.
Hope the snow is good when you make it. We're off to austria where it looks promising, possibly too much snow if the forecasts are right.
Anyone Skied in Kaltenbach & if so what's it like? I'm thinking of taking a trip down there from Munich.
Thanks
Skied there loads. Plenty of skiing for a few days there. The whole ziller valley is ace and you can get the train up and down to visit different towns. If its a blue sky the hintertux glacier is a pretty special day. Stacks of snow coming next week apparently.
Easy schlep down from Herefordshire to a cracking Airbnb place SE of Troyes. Roads both sides and the tunnel v quiet. Looking forward to trying to hunt out whatever decent snow there is left in PDS.
Any views on Kitzbuhel? I've been saving w/c 5th January for a last minute booking to Austria. Saalbach is getting booked up but Kitz or Schladming might be options. Would appreciate views on both. I'd say we are adventurous intermediates!
Csb
Looks like you can get a yellow tint
https://www.wedze.co.uk/search/content/Visor?type=model
The helmet has Google retainers so if you shag the visor you can then use it as basis standard helmet
Pedlad,
Once the xmas crowds have gone, aim for avoriaz sector until new snow. Some of haut châtel is still skiing well but the return can be a bit crap.
Ta stoner. I look forward to being uncool next time I go, this time I'm stuck with goggles.
P.S.A. Ski Sunday back on 6/1/19 5.15pm BBC 2
Looking forward to this.
Thanks.
Forecast for next couple of days Zillertal and East looks pretty good! 30cm-180cm the further east you go. I'm looking forward to starting the New Year right with a day riding pow on the 1st.
Will also get little JWjr on his first sledge ride 🙂
Any views on Kitzbuhel
Went there 2 years ago. Beautiful area. It was only my second week skiing, and I'd say it was graded a bit soft (certainly Val d'Isere last year was a chunk meatier). Other than the Hannenkamm*, all the pisted stuff got done with no big issues. A good confidence booster I'd say.
It is quite low and a lot of the pistes back into town were dissolving into slush by the end of our week (mid Feb!). The last day, pretty much every trip up on a lift, more rock was poking through.
The valley buses aren't quite as frequent as you'd like, but using them to get first lifts on some of the linked areas up the valley or off the Kitzhorn will get you fresh Cordruoy.
We were staying in a hotel a bit outside town, so I can't give much info about the nightlife, but it's definitely a proper town, not a resort
Would happily go back, but would want it to be a cold winter.
*my so called mates (who've been skiing all their lives) took me down the Hannenkamm on my 10th day EVER on sticks. Predictably, auditions for Jerry Of The Day took place...!
Thank you, Jon. I managed to get some good quality accommodation in Saalbach at the last minute when I booked last night but on the strength of your reply then Kitz will stay on the list for next year! I like the sound of the town and I don't mind easy runs throughout - it's a bit easier on the legs these days! (I did St Anton last year which was amazing but exhausting).
CSB above states ‘plenty of skiing for a few days there’.
Elsewhere in this thread skiers go on about measuring resort quality in a time : boredom ratio.
As a snowboarder I find this very odd. Do skiers not just find their favourite run and do it over and over again like wot boarders do? Is it the case that there is simply so much more one can do on a snowboard to have fun that we can repeat the same run ad nauseam without getting bored, and therefore never express resort quality on a time basis?
I don't know, but amongst our big annual boys trip it's definitely true to say that the skiers prefer to travel longer distances in a day than the boarders, who generally tend to stay in bed later, session in the morning and then meet us for lunch.
I think it varies by location as well. Very few North American resorts are as large as the European linked mega resorts so lapping of the favorite runs etc is much more common over here in Canada. I do occasionally miss the ability to have lunch in a completely different valley and make a day of skiing to / from it though.
We're off to Les Menuires on Saturday for 12 days with a couple of friends. Me boarding, rest of them on skis.
Looking at the snow and the forecast think we might be spending most of the time up in Val Thorens.
I'll be doing my snow dance all week though.
I didn't plan on it but I have just bought new skis - Nordica Santa Ana's 93 with Marker Squire bindings. Hope I don't come to regret buying skis I have not tried but it is difficult to find lots of choice when you are 2 standard deviations from the norm in terms of height!
I also looked at the Volkl Kenja but my word the graphics of those skis are beyond dull.
Car is all prepped for the drive out on Saturday-winter wheels and tyres on, screenwash done, hoovered, washed and waxed. Off to the Grand Massif - back on 15th Feb, hope to see at least one lot of singletrackers whilst we are out there !
I’d be renting a pair for the moment if the conditions in Morzine and LG are representative. Skieed the chamossiere today and it should be shut as it’s a rock fest. Some nice chalk off the back though but whole are is scraped clean and relying on gun snow.
Anyone else off to Austria this weekend? 8)
I’m landing in Salzburg on Saturday evening. Just around the corner from you in Maria Alm (Hochkoenig region)
The snow forecast is bonkers!
150 skiers rescued from a broken down chairlift in Austria yesterday.
They were taken off by helicopter as it was thought to take too long to mend the chairlift.
I’m landing in Salzburg on Saturday evening
Me too. I’ve been reassured by people on Snowheads talking about how good the airport is at continuing operations in these weather conditions - apparently they can clear the runway in 10 minutes. Innsbruck can do it in 8! 😄
I don’t know, but amongst our big annual boys trip it’s definitely true to say that the skiers prefer to travel longer distances in a day than the boarders
This may well be true in many [large] European Resorts which have seemingly developed along the lines of 'getting the miles/km in' and 'ticking off the runs'.
in my experience (and as As sweaman2 mentioned) that is not often the case in Canada.
However, in general though, I think that [piste] skiing is much easier for getting the miles in (especially at a beginner/intermediate level) and doesn't suffer as much from long flat sections and heel-side traverses on off-camber pistes etc ... which is perhaps why many snowboarders tend towards doing laps off a run that's in good condition with features etc.
As for snowboarders hitting the piste later in the day this again may well be true in lower latitude European resorts where (unless it's a powder day) the snow may well need to transform a bit first (especially late in the season with freeze/thaw conditions) - since rock-hard groomers can be a bit wearing on a board after a while. Those are the days when I wish I could ski a bit better so I can use double the number of edges! 🙂
That all makes sense!
You’re not on the Manchester Jet2.com flight landing around 6pm are you?
Just a reminder to lock up your snowboards when you leave them outside bars etc .
A friend of mine just had his board (Burton custom X) stolen from outside a restaurant in tignes Val claret yesterday lunchtime.
Regretting buying new skis now! They were delayed being mounted and given to the courier, I leave tomorrow and the chances of them arriving in time are slim to none I think!
Anyone wanting to bring my new skis out to the grand massif with them 🙁
If you have skis consider splitting them with friends then locking them up.
Just finishing up a week in Les Gets, mainly here to finalise buying a house but sideline of a bit of skiing. Lovely weather , snow not great but v cold since Wed and guns hammering it. Decent drop due in the next 10 days. Will be pimping out a chalet on here for next year 😉 planning to spend 8 weeks over summer getting it all sorted out and drinking vin rouge to get over depthcharging my pension 😂 Life’s to short to not have your own hot tub.
@colp
Keep us updated and post some pics if you can! We're so excited now, we'll give you a wave at the Airport next week 😁
I spoke too soon. We’ve been diverted to Linz already!
We're on a coach to Menuires. Chambery airport baggage was running pretty smoothly, which was a nice surprise.
No fresh snow but height will be our friend.
It's going to be freezing though 😫
Just a reminder to lock up your snowboards when you leave them outside bars etc .
A friend of mine just had his board (Burton custom X) stolen from outside a restaurant in tignes Val claret yesterday lunchtime.
🙁
I always used to be good at licking stuff up after a mate got his board taken from the top of the red eggs in LDA.
I've slacked more recently but have got my lock with me, will make sure I use it.
IGluski offering B&B in Soll for £269 for 12/1/18. Soll forcast for approx 2m of fresh this coming week so there will be plenty of snow about
Typically I am off to a snowless Risoul , which has had next to nothing since xmas and zero forcast.
Not going to book in advance ever again . Done enough skiiing on stoney , icy pistes with mud patches showing through and clumps of artificial snow to trick into thinking its better than it is
I would actually rather pay £150 - £200 more and take the risk of gettting somewhere shonky by booking 5 days before going if there is significant snowfall in the area.
