What skis is everyone on then?
Blackeye Tis, and some older carvers
[img] 
[/img]
Afrothunder - Were you at Jon's last weekend on the ski tuning course?
What skis is everyone on then?
I was undecided between Blackeye Ti and Crimson Ti.
Local shop cut me a good deal on Crimson, so that swung it.
Can't wait for half-term hols to give 'em a try
[img] 
[/img]
I'm this new toy with me on Sunday to Tignes, weather is looking very nice!
[img] 
[/img]
What skis is everyone on then?
[img] 
[/img]
[url= http://www.bataleon.com/boarddetails.aspx?t=14&tn=GOLIATH ]Bataleon Goliath[/url] with [url= http://k2snowboarding.com/bindings/ever ]K2 Autos[/url]:
didn't realise that - ****ers!! i try my hardest not to fly with them any more though - last time was a few years ago now when the decided to charge me £40 extra for a tripod on the return flight...which they'd happily let me take onboard for nothing on the outward journey.
Yep. Utter gits. My final flight price was triple the advertised price!
Sadly I don't seem to have much option as I can't find anyone else flying direct to Bratislava "cheaply".
Volkl Kendo 177 and Burton Custom Flying V 163 for me, back to Ste Foy for a weekend in a couple of weeks, then another weekend in Chatel in March to seem my daughter who is doing a season. Then back to Ste Foy for 10-12 days at the beginning of April.
[b]fogliettaz[/b] - How do you rate your Custom Flying V. I'm looking at new boards and wondering about making the move to a hybrid camber.
bluebird, My old board was a Salomon Burner which was very fast and carved long lazy arcs. The Custom is just as fast and far easier to turn, not sure if this is due to more sidecut or the rocker or a mixture of both? Yet to give it a good blast off piste yet. I know when I ski on my sons skis Volkl Gotamas 186 with rocker they also turn a lot easier than you would expect. The edge hold on steep slopes is also very good.
What skis is everyone on then?
for Powder & Piste:
Salomon Special Magnum 167 with Salomon Chief Bindings
For Splitboard Touring:
Jones Solution 168W with Spark R&D Blaze 'Franken-binding' (Blaze Binding with Salomon Caliber highbacks & Burton Mission straps)
What skis is everyone on then?
K2 Rictors
K2 Slayblade for me, 161 flavour. Ride SPI DFC edition bindings:
[img] 
[/img]
[img] 
[/img]
Gonna ski a bit this year too, but will be on standard rental piste skis.
[url= http://www.onthesnow.co.uk/gear/ski_reviews/2011/a/119/ ]Rossignol S86[/url]
I'm off to Morzine in the morning and as a first timer I have a choice between two jackets I cant decide between them. Neither are ideal one is old, my FIL has given it to me and the other one is way too big but has had a lot less wear. Am I being a bit of a girl by taking the two of them?
I am planning on getting a new one next year for what will hopefully become a annual trip.
I take two jackets for most trips, one down and one shell.
Afrothunder - Were you at Jon's last weekend on the ski tuning course?
Nope, wasn't me. Wish it was though! Probably gonna book on this summer though. Was it good? Everyone raves about it on Snowheads
Aside from learning to snowboard in New Zealand about 7 years ago and a couple of days out on hired gear in Scotland I'm pretty inexperienced.
Just booked to head out to Les Arc in March with my brother in law for my first trip to the Alps. 🙂
All set for gear aside from a jacket and would appreciate some advice. Options are...
[img] http://www.surfanic.co.uk/getimage.aspx?imageid=17236&size=large&dimensions=500 [/img]
[url= http://www.surfanic.co.uk/PRD_ProductDetail.aspx?cid=206&prodid=17384&Product=Moah-Morph-Selvedge-Mens-Ski-Jacket-Blue ]Moah Selvedge[/url] £50 in TK Maxx and seems better built than some of the other stuff in there.
[img] 
[/img]
[url= http://www.trespass.co.uk/mens-encore-01249 ]Trespass Encore DLX[/url] Again, £50 in my local TK Maxx. Just a shell, but with snowskirts, pass pocket and other snow niceties. Have a softshell and merino midlayers that would go underneath. I tend to overheat easily so I'm tempted by this option. Looks like a well made jacket for typically wet Scottish snawboarding/winter hillwalking too. Anyone else use shells and layers?
[img] 
[/img]
It's either that or something a bit more expensive from my [url= http://www.boardwise.com/ ]LBS (Local board shop)[/url] when I'm in to buy a board bag. That one's a Westbeach Ridgerunner on sale for £135.
Yikes, I've typed a lot there. Any opinions on those options or advice for a beginnerish trip to Les Arc?
I Ache - it's absolutely puking down in morzine at the moment - tomorrow should be the same, and sunday morning too. sunday afternoon and monday are going to be epic...
Just watched All I Can - totally got me in the mood!
les Arcs eh 😀 As your a bit rusty take the gondola up from 1800 do a couple of runs back down to get your boarding head sorted and then fill your boots on any lift you care. Its will be brilliant and you will love the massive area you get to ride.Enjoy !!!
hungry monkey. We will be getting to the chalet at around 4 tomorrow I then have to go for a walk to ESF to book my lessons the first of which will be at 9.30 at the top of Pleney (if all goes to plan). I hope they don't cancel the lessons because of too much snow!
Looking at your profile you live in Morzine. You lucky git.
if you can get a lesson in avoriaz (or even better linderets), then i would - top of pleny gets rammed IME.
they should be good for the lessons - they're pretty good at prepping the pistes here. if the snow is 'bad' enough to cancel lessons, then i cannae wait 😉
there are worse places to live...
have a safe trip!
Thanks I'm really looking forward to it I'm like a kid at Christmas I have to be up in 6 hours and I cant sleep.
I am planning to head over to Avoriaz at some point in the week. I have had a day lesson at the local dry slope and can plough turn so hopefully I will progress at a decent rate.
I_Ache with the good snow you'll have a great time in Morzine as a beginner. Once you have your confidence head into Les Gets area and when in Avoriaz take the chair lift down to Champery and take a look at "The Wall" - something to aspire to (although if you're boarding it's a run you may never do).
Nice setups everyone.. especially the Volkl Kendos!!
I have a set of Line Prophet 98's and some Coreupt park skis for teaching. I'd love a set of powder skis so planning on getting something like the K2 Obsethed in the next few weeks.
I don't know anything about snowboards but they all look good.
Also, slightly old news but I'm so gutted about Sarah Burke passing away 🙁 🙁 🙁 .
Really sad news.
Also, slightly old news but I'm so gutted about Sarah Burke passing away 🙁 .Really sad news.
I don't ski, and I've never done a "trick" on a snowboard, but this is really sad, as it always is when an outdoors-person dies doing what they live for.
MMmmmm, should I pack another board for off piste? Tignes tomorrow and don't want to wreck my brand new one on the first day.
debaser - I'd always go for the layers and shell option, especially in March. I have a mesh lined shell that I layer up - been good from -20ish at Xmas to last week when it was slightly above freezing.
I carry a really slim pack and shed layers as needed, much more flexible.
Les Arcs is awesome, was there a week ago, perfect weather, great snow - good resort, bit of everything from long fast blues to hairy off piste.
You can also use the link to La Plagne - just make sure you AVOID the blue below the Bauches chair at all costs if you are heading back to Les Arcs. It looks temptingly direct. It's flat - expect a 2km long walk. Instead, catch the rickety Bauches chair back up, take the rope tow and ski Mont Blanc back to the Vanoise Express. Seriously, don't even think about it - even a good skier on well prepped skis will be poling most of it...
La Plagne is great too and often good for fresh tracks well after snowfall:
[img] 
[/img]
[url= http://photo.mpora.com/photo/rWmWUxQPeQ/allsizes/original/ ]Larger Image[/url]
Packing bags now....! 🙂
Afrothunder, I wasn't doing it unfortunately, just dropping some ski's off. There were two guys there on it though who seemed happy enough. I might do it next year though. Seems like a good deal and as you say it gets rave reviews. I just pickedthem up again today and Jon pointed out some changes he suggested to my bindings (he shifted them forwards quite a bit ) so I'm looking forward to trying them out. Really nice bloke, obviously knows his stuff and very helpful.
Debaser. My son had a Moah jacket and I was pretty impressed with it. As long as it's waterproof, breathable, can be vented (pit zips or similar) and will fit a base and a mid layer underneath it'll be fine.
Make sure you can move in it, lift pass pockets are handy, and make sure you can zip it all the way up and it doesn't throttle you.
I always ski in a shell and layer up accordingly. Bear in mind you don't need a skiing jacket, most outdoor gear will be fine if you already have it. Enjoy the trip!
Anyone been to La Rosierre / La Thuile? Anything a must do / must avoid?
If you go to La Rosiere, you will understand the true meaning of windchill! I think the best runs are in La Thuile.
Agreed on L.Ros . Bowling alley is a nice touch for an evening out .
V . Long drag over to L Thuile, boaders beware .. Schuss back best done at max attack to avoid poling .
Stay on the runs at / below resort level if its snowing as the trees give abit of shelter and help with vis and gradient observation.
Just back from Verbier . Snow day fri with abou 30 - 40cm of freash , went to Bruson as the wind was howling at altitude, and its tree lined . At times it was coming down so fast every run was like feash tracks .
Got wet and therefore cold after 4 hours and had a little scare on a black when the powder started to slide on the ice underneath as i stopped on it ( bleepers are great , but with no-one else about getting found might take time ) .
Was on 66cm underfoot so had to be very careful not to bury the spoons and go otb . Had a double eject and both were buried, found them quickly though . Rest of week was sunny so covered almost the entire area . Rather expensive place to stay though.
had a little scare on a black when the powder started to slide on the ice underneath as i stopped on it ( bleepers are great , but with no-one else about getting found might take time )
You were skiing off-piste, in avalanche conditions, alone???
You were skiing off-piste, in avalanche conditions, alone???
on a black
going here (La Molina) [img] 
[/img]
[img] 
[/img]
for a week this afternoon
😥
At least i'm getting paid for it...
Nope , Not alone .
2 of us , Transponders and shovels , both skiers so carrying poles .
Hockey stopped and the earth moved , so to speak. Not alot, just a couple of feet down the fall line . There was only about 2 - 2 1/2 feet of powder on a piste , it was on a steeper part of the run . A long zig-zag crack appeared so we bugged out in reverse with seperation .
The problem was that side of the mountain was pretty much deserted, maybe 1 in 30 chairs had people on it. There was a very high chance no-one would have seen a slide at all.
Well, the sun is shining, the skies are blue and looks like there's plenty of the white stuff!
Guys in the ski shop have persuaded me to start the wekek on some Movement Zips. Look really nice. Will see how they go! May try something else later, but all depends on what these are like.
Coach broke down en route, which was a bit of a pain. Luckily, I was able to let the rest of the coach know that a problem with the "freins" was not a good thing in the mountains!
Anyway, I think it may just be beer o'clock now! 🙂
Movement skis rock.
Yay! I can finally join in on the thread!
Heading to Chamonix on Feb 18th for a week-long UCPA off-piste course. Cannae wait 😀 😀 😀
Anyone thinking of skiing in the Pyrénées, go elsewhere. Rain on Thursday has made already old, hard snow harder. I hauled my way up more on the poles than the skins and picked my way down.
Rolling ankles to keep the skis flat for grip works with the boots undone on the way up, but I'm damned if I can roll my ankles once the boots are done up, and I did try, Col.
Ski Sunday was a disappointment, ending with some technical problems.
had a little scare on a black when the powder started to slide on the ice underneath as i stopped on it
Hockey stopped and the earth moved , so to speak. Not alot, just a couple of feet down the fall line
From what youi say that doesn't really sound like avalanche conditions to me. Of course it depends what and how much snow was above you and how hard the layer was under the pow. A mini slide like that happens to me quite often though. I have a lot to learn about deep snow though!
What skis were you using on that trip btw?
nbt - MemberMovement skis rock.
Yeah i like the look of movement skis, they're really over priced here in Canada though. Most people here use Rossignol, Line, Armada and K2.
Got round to getting boots sorted yesterday. Took the missions back to decathalon and 'did it properly' at snow and rock Chertsey.
I didnt realise my feet were quite that awkwardly wide! Ended up in tecnica dragon 100 (the widest) and then had custom footbeds and a bit of heatgun on the shell to widen them even more as they were squeezing me quite a bit. Really happy with them and can't wait to hit the slopes Sunday. 🙂
[url] http://www.snowandrock.com/tecnica-dragon-100/tecnica/ski-snowboard-outdoor-sports/fcp-product/21002 [/url]
Thanks all (and flashy) for the advice.
Heading to Chamonix on Feb 18th for a week-long UCPA off-piste course.
Could you post some details on what it was like when you get back please? Looking at going on one of these courses, hopefully this season if I can get a pass!
went to Bruson
When I was in Verbier in the week bofore Xmas some of the resort regulars we know decided to do a run down to there in the morning, as there had been tons of snow recently.
In the end I didn't go with them, which seems just as well as the route they took involved alternating between waiting for people to dig their skis out and clambering over fallen trees, as quite a few were coming down from the weight of the snow on them.
They were having to dig skis out so often as they choose to ski down to there over the local vineyards, which are obviously terraced so every so often they would come up to a 5ft drop into the next terrace, which they hadn't properly seen because of the flat light!
Heading to Chamonix on Feb 18th for a week-long UCPA off-piste course.Could you post some details on what it was like when you get back please? Looking at going on one of these courses, hopefully this season if I can get a pass!
Last year I went to exactly the same place for their "Snowboard full-time instruction" and had a fantastic time.
The accommodation is pretty basic, but clean and has everything you really need. I went with 2 friends (2 guys, one girl) and they put us in a shared room with a couple of Scottich guys. Every room has code locks, and lockers, but everything was very civil. Obviously, you will want to take ear plugs, or sleeping pills.
Food is plentiful and varied. It's a help-yourself buffet style thing for breakfast and dinner, and they give you the makings of packed lunches too.
Lift pass is included for 6.5 days (in this case for the whole Chamonix Valley, except the Aiguilles Rouge car, I think), as is board and boot hire. I took my own boots, but the board was decent enough, and they have a workshop on site.
The "instruction" varies a bit, I think. I thought I was sort of average, technique-wise so they stuck me a group with others at my perceived skill level, and the instructor took people through lots of exercizes and practices on the first day. I was way ahead of these people so they shifted me up a level. (I expect the instruction for that first group carried on in a similar vein all week). The new instructor was much less prescriptive, and acted more like a guide, but with some gentle tips here and there. We also spent some time filming each other, and playing it back in the bar in the evening.
Probably the best thing about the week was the fact that you are grouped up with a load of boarders you don't know, but who are at the same level as you, so you don't hold each other up too much, and it's a great environment to meet people. There was loads of cameraderie and encouragement in my group, with a mix of English, French and Swedes all having a great time.
Woooo hoooo... just booked my 2nd trip this year:
a boy's own adventure to [url= http://www.jasna.sk ]Jasna[/url] in Slovakia.
Just me and a mate for 7 days, second week of March.
Total pain in the harris to get there, but the journey is part of the fun and it will be nice to go somewhere a little bit different.
Price for flights, B&B in chalet and lift pass works out ~£520 each.
Staying in http://www.chaletslovakia.com
Excited!!! 😀
Great in the Arlberg last week. 😛
[url] http://www.flickr.com/photos/71958789@N00/sets/72157628994409709/show/ [/url]
Heli-skiing nick?
Wish I had the funds (and talent) to have a go at that - looks awesome!
Heading to Chamonix on Feb 18th for a week-long UCPA off-piste course.
+1 for UCPA. been a few times with them now and always had a great time.
Nick - this photo is amaaaazin...
[img] 
[/img]
Yep. Messed myself a little when I saw that. Looks sooooooo nice. The kind of boarding I dream about doing 😀
Thats me 😳
Yes I admit to one Heli drop. it only worked out at 90 quid each and well worth the 1500m run.... 8)
That's exactly why I'm doing this off-piste course. Not necessarily to become an instant freeride legend, but so I can start to move up. I have been boarding abroad 6 times, and I am bored of the pistes.
nbt - MemberMovement skis rock.
I am pleased to report that the above is a FACT!
In fact, it's a [b]FACT![/b]
Utterly ace first day. Pistes in superb condition, slack country is a bit tracked and crusty, but all good! 🙂
Titus, glad you got sorted! 🙂
16 - great stuff. will open up a superb new world....
15 years of riding and still as fun as my first ever turn... 😛
freeridenick - those photos are amazing.
My Auntie said she got stuck in Arlberg due to trees coming down everywhere fron weight of snow. She drove from Zurich and had to spend the night en route due to road closure.
I think flashy likes his Movements 😀
Looks like I may need fatter skies for our off-piste jolly.
Would you believe that in all those trips, I've only had fresh snow twice?
My last trip was my first real attempt at anything off-piste. We spent an entire day walking about 100m up a ridge from the top of the Les Arcs Transarc lift, dropping into a tiny bowl which deposited us onto a blue run back to the lift, and repeating. Best day ever, and that was just the same few hundred metres repeated over and over again.
FRN - those pics are 'king ace. Makes me want to get the board out again.
What skis were you using on that trip btw?
Salomon Streetracer 10's 170cm with 11.9 radius.
Pow was stacked on top of an ice sheet on a > 45' slope . Was probably OK , but at that point the risk V reward swingometer moved over to 'bug out whilst still breathing'
We spent an entire day walking about 100m up a ridge from the top of the Les Arcs Transarc lift, dropping into a tiny bowl which deposited us onto a blue run back to the lift, and repeating
[b]Word[/b]. in the right conditions, you don;t need hundreds of miles of piste, you just need one lift and the right friends. We spent New Year's Eve lapping the jungeralm chairlift in Bad Gastein, dropping into the powder between the pistes a little higher each time. Heaven.
Blimey Crystal have got some seriously cheap package deals going on if anyone is looking for a last minute trip.
http://www.crystalski.co.uk/wipeout/
Word
does anyone (apart from nbt) still say that?
Worddoes anyone (apart from nbt) still say that?
I do. But then I'm white and middle class, so it's ok. I seem to say it more on holiday too...
Weve booked one of those Crystal deals, cant wait to go
Where to, Tracy?
With Crystal out here now. Very impressed by in resort service, rep is a top girl! 🙂
V windy today, lots of lifts shut.
As a result, not much skking and am rather pished already..... 🙂
Sestriere, going on the 5th February
Nice! Only been the once, v briefly on a trip over from Sauze. Looked really good, and ace food too! 🙂
This thread seems like a reasonable place to ask this:
Does anyone have tight feeling calf muscles or Achilles tendons (i.e. from cycling) that then seem to limit how much they can BenZeKnees?
If so, any tips?
I have that problem Graham. I don't follow the advice as I'm rubbish about keeping to any stretching regime, but you could try.....
[url= http://www.solutions4feet.com/cp7.php ]this[/url]
[url= http://www.solutions4feet.com/files/ankle_flex_article.pdf ]and this both from the excellent Solutions 4 Feet[/url]
Cheers hammerite, I'll take a look at those. I've been trying to do stretches 2 and 9 from http://sportsmedicine.about.com/od/flexibilityandstretching/tp/Snowboard-Stretching.htm (dubious source alert!) which looks similar.
I've never been exactly flexible. I'm built for strength not suppleness. 😉
I've started stretching now after every ride for the very reason you mention GrahamS.
Custom footbeds and heel lifts from SFF for me .
Had a foot / Boot appraisal at Bicester and Colin sorted me out .
Still got tight calves after skiing tho, this was mostly due to stopping skiing and dropping into a comfy chair in the pub , rather than 10 min stretching whilst still warmed up.
More stretching required i think .
Don't think heel lifts are an option for snowboard boot. Certainly never seen them in shops, though I guess custom places may have them.
What an awesome day! Did an end to end of the whole valley, from Briancon to Monetier. Fast, fun!
Started snowing en haut later in the day, hoping it keeps going! 🙂
Beer calls!
Oh, and my Movements are still utterly awesome. My movements, however, are none of your business! 🙂
Blimey Crystal have got some seriously cheap package deals going on if anyone is looking for a last minute trip.
That's who I went with to St Johann - £350 half board in a hotel - we were very happy indeed.
Yep, my Slovakia trip isn't looking quite so economical now. 😕
Oh well, it'll still be an adventure and makes a change from traditional Y'orp.
At the risk of spoiling my impeccable Guardianista credentials on here - Slovakia is full of impossibly attractive women. Really. 😳
I have heard that grum, but I can assure you that it had absolutely no bearing whatsoever in my decision to go.
Likewise the 60p a pint beer and the chance to play with automatic weapons were not factors.
We're purely about the snow. Honest. 😉