Go on you big tease, let's have some more details...
Arrived - it was snowing. 3 days of being guided around the local mountains skiing fresh lines every time. Then it dumped for 24 hours - chest deep powder skiing day (see the POW beard). Then 2 more days of skiing fresh tree lines - not tightly packed pines, nicely spaced leafless trees. Just astounding, absolutely got what we paid for.
Throw in the right level of "WTF is going off?" because there was no holiday rep to explain things, an angry shouty (but sound) guide, a language and alphabet completely alien to English, post-soviet standards of driving, decor, general life...
catskiinggeorgia.com - Recommended!
Hey I've come to pick the brains of the Singletrack mind. I love skiing. Haven't been for a few years as we've had a rough few years. I wanna get back on the snowhorse next winter. I was in the fortunate position of having access to accommodation in the PdS so have skied very few places elsewhere. I always used to drive out. That is no longer an option...
So Freester Jr is on his school trip this year. And I thought to myself last night bollox let's get something booked for half term 2027. I think Italy is ticking my boxes. Maybe Sestriere. Crystal looks nice and easy and convenient flights. Any reason why not?! Anyone ever taken their teenagers in Feb Half Term of GCSE year?
I'm sure I'll have loads more questions. Apologies in advance.
Junior spent much of the Winter skiing at 16 and 18, taking weeks out for ski training as well as the holidays. I'd say it was good for his morale and improved his exam results.
Can't think of a reason why not, though if he's doing a language GCSE I'd go to the country of that laguage if possible.
Just back from a week in Les Carroz/Flaine - booked at late notice when we saw the forecast. Got 1.5 days of clear sky & plenty fresh snow, 2.5 days of great condition pistes and quite well-skied side-piste (didn't have any guiding; stayed away from the bits that were harder to navigate) under bright but cloudy and 2 days of difficult conditions - either total whiteout (for my old eyes) or else rain falling on newish snow making it really heavy (shame as there was still some largely untracked snow above LC). Snowed like **** Thursday morning as we were leaving, even down to low levels.
Also had a week in early Jan in Ischgl. Booked well in advance as a black Friday special. Bloody cold temps and no recent snow but bright blue skies and pistes were in pretty good nick. Snowed overninght at the end of our week and left one great day of powder skiing on quite empty slopes, so even some pistes kept a foot of untracked snow for half the day
Overall, very happy with that
Just thought at f*** it and booked a week at Easter in Sestriere.
Foam on my years old Smiths is failing a bit and lenses pretty scratched. Made the mistake of clicking on a couple of goggles ads on Fb/Insta. Predictably, I’m bombarded with ads for every bloody goggles manufacturer in the world now. 🙄 😂
in the market for a set of photochromic ones - I get that in super bright/low, they might not do much, but fancy trying a pair. Anybody manage to grab a bargain? Budget £100ish.
Absolute Snow have some Scott photochromics at a reasonable price
https://www.absolute-snow.com/scott-faze-ii-ls-ski-snowboard-goggles?v=374285
https://www.absolute-snow.com/scott-factor-pro-ls-ski-snowboard-goggles?v=374556
SportPursuit have some Oakley's on sale, but I don't think any Photochromics
https://www.sportpursuit.com/shop/oakley?sp_nav=ct-4.pb-133.&type=Goggles&order=special_price&dir=desc&p=2
I picked up a set of Target Line L Ski & Snowboarding Goggles (Black) with spare low light lens included for £65
@Freester we did Sestriere wth Crystal at New Year a few years ago. It was a solid lowish cost option and there's a decent amount of terrain. Some of the old olympic accommodation was showing its age though.
Transfer from Turin IIRC was fine.
@Freester we did Sestriere wth Crystal at New Year a few years ago. It was a solid lowish cost option and there's a decent amount of terrain. Some of the old olympic accommodation was showing its age though.
Transfer from Turin IIRC was fine.
That's good to know. I had some friends who came back from there who said it was good and reasonably priced.
Decathlon do own brand (Wed'ze) photochromics for about £95.
Not taken kids at feb pre gcse but I am taking youngest pre a levels end of march. Feel a bit guilty but he’s doing v well on track for oredicted grades and 6 weeks before first exams so I think a weeks r&r will actually set him up nicely rather than continuous stress from Jan to June.
Anyone been out this week in the Cairngorms/East highlands? Considering a solo tour at the weekend. I imagine things are setting up pretty hard overnight with the current weather but looks like there's still good cover on the right aspects higher up. Id be interested if anyone had current info to share?
We were in Puy Saint Vincent last week. Small resort but lots of snow and sunshine.
Very good conditions, snow was excellent.
Finally. Found some good snow with good vid.,
Edit. I meant to say vis, but since it's a still from a vid we'll let it pass.
We're off on Thursday to Les Deux Alpes - gong to trundle down in the van stopping overnight somewhere. Weather looks good in a warm and sunny kind of way but snow conditions report as good. Really can't wait.
Our first time without the kids in lessons so it's going to be big days out.
If anyone else is there I'm in a redish jacket on a Lib Tech blue girl - say hi.
Can anything ne recommend me some skis....
Previously I had Line Prophet 98s, which I think were 178cm. I loved them.I've always been a punter, but a reasonably competent one and would always search out the relatively steep stuff, especially if it was narrow too. I happy got down the easier stuff on Schindlergratt, Easy Gully at Aonach Mor and other occasional Scottish snow plods. Those skis felt easy to use and turn.
Currently got Armada Declivity 102s in 180cm and just cannot get them to turn. Fine on piste ( if a little wide [ ok very wide for piste]) but as soon as it gets steep off piste I end up doing a sequence of pathetic J Turns down the mountain.
I've totally lost my ability to commit to a sequence of steep turns.
Clearly the main problem is me, and some lessons might be in order. As would strengthening up my legs*, but I also feel I should look to get something a tad narrower, perhaps 177/178 cm with a shorter radius....
Want a ski for linking shortish turns off piste.
Not interested in going fast
Whaddawethink?
* Context. My legs aren't that useless. We did just under 14km descent today. It's just that I couldn't get the power out of them on the steep.
Or maybe I just need to find a few short safe pitches and actually just fall over if it doesn't work rather than aborting the sequence. Commit more.......
But I don't want to break....
Snow out in the Alps is very good at the moment. Of course Spring conditions with the hard pack in the morning, becoming slightly porridge-like around lunch time. However the temperatures aren't too warm and pistes are lasting.
Just had a very good lesson with Edukator Junior.
thegeneralist - I can't help with ski purchases.
I'm
Can anything ne recommend me some skis.
In usual STW fashion i shall recommend what i use, Patrol 95 from Wed'ze aka decathlon. I paid €300 in 2023 but the new version with a Ti layer is now £500. Alternatively consider the Elan Ripstick which gets very good reviews
Goggle wise (from your comments on Strava) Mrs NBT and i both use Wed'ze G900i goggles over our specs, it comes with a removable sunny weather lens that clips over the poor weather lens using magnetic tags, comes with an elasticated case that protects the lens when not in just
Sooo I'm flying out on Sunday. Excited.
I'm hearing the horror stories about the queues at Geneva airport and got an email from my operator about possible delays at Turin where I'm flying to. Any real world experience?
Arrived in GVA on the Saturday morning as half term crowd were heading home in late February ie near peak, and steeled myself for a wait. In the end I was stood for no more than 15 minutes. Seems to be very hit and miss.
Proper excited now - nice bit of a refresh going on at the moment so should be top end of season conditions when we start skiing from Sunday.
Some excellent snow to be found on the lee slopes in Tignes/VD
And the horrendous Thursday wind at least created some lovely cornices to jump off:
possible delays at Turin where I'm flying to. Any real world experience?
I flew into turin in January, queues no longer than usual
Lyon is an utter shambles. I generally love pissy little airports but LYS sucks.
50 minutes wait in the passport queue until they finally decided to let us use one of the five EU only passport machines. 50 ****ing minutes and one out of five machines.
It's the same on the way out, one solitary border officer and a humongous queue. Five unused EU machines lying idle.
They've now changed the gate for the fourth time.
And because it's not in a mountainous municipality you need to pay through the nose to get snow socks on the car, no winter tyres. No snowchains
Anyway
Lyon is an utter shambles. I generally love pissy little airports but LYS sucks.
50 minutes wait in the passport queue until they finally decided to let us use one of the five EU only passport machines. 50 ****ing minutes and one out of five machines.
It's the same on the way out, one solitary border officer and a humongous queue. Five unused EU machines lying idle.
They've now changed the gate for the fourth time.
And because it's not in a mountainous municipality you need to pay through the nose to get snow socks on the car, no winter tyres. No snowchains
Anyway
Apologies for posting such a pointless ramble twice!
Not posted in a while, been having a great time. Had a lesson with Edukator junior last week, as Bunnyhop said, and this week meet up with Edukator for a day out. Had a great time despite (we think) a poor service job on our skis. Hoping they’ll be fixed by the shop trying again. Conditions up here it Tignes are great, it will be excellent for anyone coming it in the next week or two
Only just read your posts just now. Was avoiding this thread until last week as I was sulking at not getting out!
Anyway, you seem to have the patience of a saint. No way I'd be putting up with that shit. I've only ever skied with family or a small group of mates every now and again I see a big group in a chalet/bar and think it looks great having that full on social element. But there is no way I could put up with the faff factor. Skiing with my boy last week was great. We did about 120km in the day with about 14,000m of descent. On the shorter pistes we were managing 3 runs in about 20 minutes. Was just like being 25 again and skiing with my best mates. Get the adrenaline levels up and then zero faff so you keep things bubbling away for hours and forget how tired you are.
Sounds like Richard knew a good day when he got one.
Give it a few years and you'll be enjoying the faff side of skiing, the generalist. I thoroughly enjoyed the hot chocolate, stops to look at the view and chat breaks with nbt and bunnyhop. 🙂 The skiing too of course; there aren't many days with bright sunshine, squeaky snow and not a breath of wind on the Grande Motte glacier. I even enjoyed getting up early, walking to BSM bus station for the 6h15 bus, watching the dawn break on the ride up the valley to 1800, seeing the saisonniers going to work and kids on their way to school at the shuttle bus stops up to Val Claret, then watching the resort come to life while I waited for the ticket office to open. When my 4h pass was nearly up we went over Tovière for a final fun fast descent into la Daille where there are more regular direct buses and waved goodbye. I stuck my thumb out and got a lift with a private chef who gave me the low down on the Val d'Isère chalets for the rich - 150 000e the week with chauffeur, butler, chef and maid included.
Give it a few years and you'll be enjoying the faff
NEVER! They can take our lives, but they'll never take our....fitness 🤔🥺😟
Yeah ok they already have.
Alas I'm already at that stage in some sports. About five years ago cycling with Continuity I took a while to work out why I wasn't having to open all the gates. Nowadays I'm 50:50 on gates even with the family, and sometimes even pause part way through to fiddle with some imaginary mechanical in order to get my breath back.
But, it's still nice to have a big day out every now and again where you manage to stay on the adrenalin wave all day.
Finished a week in Valloire today and first time to the resort or area. Must say that I’m impressed, a pretty modern and efficient lift system, very little in the way of crowds away from the obvious ESF group lessons and zero lift queues.
There’s a good variety of slopes to go at with some very long and confidence building blues and greens which were ideal for a couple of our group and still plenty of blue and reds for me to go at.
The town itself was very quiet though, don’t expect much if any apres bars at that time of the year, not that I minded. What was open was nice and the Galibier brewery bar on the other side of the river was excellent if you like your beers.
And I know it’s subjective to conditions but skiing back to 1400m in April isn’t a given but the slopes are generally well shielded from the sun lower down so held up very well.
One more trip to go in a couple of weeks time, not sure where yet but it’ll need to be high up.
This was Thursday. Not a soul in sight.
Why's nobody posting skiing pics?
C'mon people.
though I’ll never be as quick on skis as I am on a board.
That's new! I dont think I know anyone in that category except non skiers. Boarding in decent snow is still the best, but I find that getting around on a board is a PITA. When conditions are a bit pisch I deffo prefer skis for low faff mileage.
Just back from a fabulous week in Saas Fee. Very quiet slopes and cold conditions, not like spring conditions.
I had my hip resurfaced in October, so it was amazing to be able to get three weeks in this season. I picked up some Head slalom skis in the Glisshop sale and thoroughly enjoyed them.
I'm off to the airport this evening to pick up my 18 year old daughter who is on her way back from working with Crystal in Andorra this season. Not unsurprisingly, she wants to sack off her University place and carry on working in snow, favouring going to Canada next season. Sensible parent in me wants her to take her uni place, but I totally get it. She is 18, skis every day and is in love with being in resort. Nothing wrong with living your dream for a few years. Mrs S is the academic parent though, she is going to take some convincing!
thing is, I’ve been boarding for 30 years now with on average two weeks a year on snow and a full season pretty much every day with no work. Skiing only started about 12 years ago when I met my now wife who wanted to learn to ski so I switched to skis then and been dividing my time between the two ever since. I am actually finding skiing more rewarding now as still feel like I can make improvements to my technique whereas my boarding has definitely plateaued albeit at a decent level.though I’ll never be as quick on skis as I am on a board.
That's new! I dont think I know anyone in that category except non skiers. Boarding in decent snow is still the best, but I find that getting around on a board is a PITA. When conditions are a bit pisch I deffo prefer skis for low faff mileage.
I must stress that when we skied with Edukator I left the boys well before La Daille, as I was a little tired and they were fast. So lovely to meet Edukator and chat in between piste skiing about his life in and around the mountains. A very enjoyable morning with superb conditions.
There doesn't seem to be any snow fall forecast weatherwise (in Tignes/VD) next week, but there will be blue skies and plenty of natural stuff on and off piste. The cold weather over the last few weeks has kept pistes in beautiful condition.
Not sure if link will work but cotland still on good form! Nice of Mark to catch my line of the day.
'zatchew?
Looks great
Well I got back from a fantastic week in Sestriere on Sunday.
I feel for spring / Easter we really lucked out. It snowed the week before, light snow on the day we arrived. Cold but clear windy conditions the first 2 days (meaning the link to Sauze D'Oulx was shut). But perfect snow, it felt like we had the pistes pretty much to ourselves. Small queues when all of the ski schools were obviously trying to get back to their meeting points at the end of the lessons.
We explored most of the Sestriere / Borgata side for the first 2 days but was glad the link to the Sauze side opened on day 3. The pistes above Sensicario and Sauze are certainly longer than the Sestriere side. Some fantastic skiing.
Day 5 we opted to take a coach trip the Montgenevre as the link to French side was closed (late season / lack of snow on the lower link pistes). Again some fantastic skiing but the spring conditions had started particularly warm and porridgey on the last run back down to the coach.
Similar conditions on the last day in Sestriere / Sauze but no complaints. Could have had a week of that at Easter.
14 yr old Freester Jr skiing really well especially as he had skied at Half Term with school.
Can't wait to book for next year. Probably half term tho as Easter next year will be very close to GCSEs.
I'll post some pics this evening.
Can anything ne recommend me some skis....
These are worth a look
Got back from a a fantstic week in L2A last Sunday. A decent dump of snow the day before we got there and a sprinkle of the first couple of days with cold temps for the rest of the week in spite of the sun made for terrific snow conditions and some pretty big days on the board. Had a great time chasing the kids around though Mrs S is getting slow and more timid as time goes on so there was a quite a bit of waiting. I think we'll need to get acouple of days of lessons/a guide of some description for the kids next year as they're just going to get bored with us two. Especially as they're on skis and we're on boards.
I do bloody love it. It's a tremendous holiday even if it does hurt at 54.
