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yes annoying, i am off the st anton on saturday - maybe a dusting tomorrow they say.. 😈
[url= http://www.pistetopowder.com/snow-report-stanton-stuben-zuers-lech.html ]St Anton snow report[/url]
P2P says 20cms tomorrow. we shall see....
anyway I have Graham, owner of P2P guiding us all week so if anyone he will find the goods... 😛
Glad to have been of assistance, TurnerGuy!
(On another note, when was the last time there was a thread this big on STW without any arguments? (Well, apart from the obvious board/ski banter, but that doesn't count!)
😀
Shame those wipeout cloths don't cover the Styria / Ski Amadé region (Austria).
But they have a much geekier solution there anyway: free wi-fi around the mountain and a [url= http://www.skiamade.com/en/winter/news/free-wlan/app ]free Ski Amadé Mobile App (for Android and iPhone)[/url] that shows your position on the piste map and also records all your runs.
Actually looks quite good (if you can pick through the German interface) but I think I'll be packing a paper map as well, just in case 😉
Graham, their range is expanding every year. Only did about 3 last year, more this. For example, there wasn't one for Serre Che last year, there is now.
Tidy idea, I reckon.
Free wifi on the hill? Not sure I approve! I like getting away from teh interwebz on holiday!
Tidy idea, I reckon.
yeah like it.
I can see a couple of drawbacks: ski maps change a lot year on year as new lifts are built and territory is opened or closed - so I'd probably want the latest one each year. And we rarely go back to the same place twice, though I see the maps cover fairly decent areas.
Still a good idea though.
Free wifi on the hill? Not sure I approve!
Yeah not sure I do either. No doubt all the folk updating twitter and facebook will make an excellent meat slalom.
I suppose it does have the advantage that we can iMessage/What's App/Skype each other on the hill without incurring the huge roaming costs.
Good point re messaging on the hill, but roaming charges are comign down all the time.
Am sure that the cost of Wipeout will come down as they grow. Good point re changes, but realistically, those changes only happen every few years, not each year. As to people not going to the same place, many people do and I suppose that's the best target market for them. (BTW, I have no affiliation with Wipeout)
I have a drawer full of old paper piste maps. No idea why I keep them as I can get it all online, but I like looking at them from time to time, especially when thinking about where to go next time 😀
As to people not going to the same place, many people do
Don't really understand why folk do that. Or (worse) go to the same place for a summer holiday every year either. The world is a BIG place - there's lots to see!
We [i]sometimes[/i] cycle back around to the same resorts, but usually only after a good few years break.
This year is the first year we've gone back to the same resort as last year - and that is purely because the beer was cheap and we needed something easy with a 22 month old.
I am booked on one of the P2P courses in St Anton for the week 30th Jan 🙂
And just bought a ContourROAM for £165 on ebay atm.
We sometimes cycle back around to the same resorts
how do you carry your skis and gear - panniers and some sort of trailer ?
that's good going up some of those hills - what sort of tyres for a compromise between road work and the possibility the resort roads are snow covered?
I have a drawer full of old paper piste maps. No idea why I keep them as I can get it all online, but I like looking at them from time to time, especially when thinking about where to go next time
Phew! not just me then 😉 All of mine are still folded to hide all the stupid adverts, with the useful piste map part most accessible.
Online ones are often wrong, or very wrong (especially the .jpgs on random sites), or seriously annoying, stupid flashturbation interactive maps.
As to people not going to the same place, many people do
Don't really understand why folk do that. Or (worse) go to the same place for a summer holiday every year either. The world is a BIG place - there's lots to see!
A bit concerned that I'm going back to the same place for 4th yr in a row this year. Last year I said I would go somewhere different this year. So I booked somewhere different [u]and[/u] the same place too 🙄 🙂 !
Was considering going MTBing there in summer, but looks more like we'll go to a ski resort I've not been to for 5-6 years (which is acceptable).
seriously annoying, stupid flashturbation interactive maps.
Have to say, I think [url= http://www.skiamade.com/en/winter/skiresorts/slopespanorama?zoom=114 ]the Ski Amadé flash map[/url] is actually really really good - but it is definitely the exception!
So I booked somewhere different and the same place too
I like that approach 😀
Graham, you need this
And yes, that Ski Amade map is great isn;t it? We were in Bad Gastein over Christmas, where are you off to?
And i too have a box full of maps from resorts visited. Missing a couple of the paper maps from last year's road trip to scotland, and missing some from the first few years' trips
Yeah I reached for instantrimshot first, but it's all adverts these days and the "classic" version doesn't work on my browser (probably because I block flash by default).
We were in Bad Gastein over Christmas, where are you off to?
Staying in Schladming in the [url= http://www.ferienalm.at/ ]Aparthotel Ferienalm[/url] - we usually prefer chalets, but a hotel is just easier with a little un and they were very kind to us last year.
We'll probably try and get round the local hills, though probably not as far afield as Bad Gastein. I'm also booked in to do a [url= http://snowboardschule.blue-tomato.com/en/Schladming_-_Planai/Courses/Backcountry.html ]guided backcountry day with Blue Tomato[/url], though I'm not sure how much "backcountry" they have round there - it's not exactly known for it.
Don't really understand why folk do that. Or (worse) go to the same place for a summer holiday every year either. The world is a BIG place - there's lots to see!
GrahamS answered this himself, however...
This year is the first year we've gone back to the same resort as last year - and that is purely because the beer was cheap and we needed something easy with a 22 month old.
Factoring in other family (esp young kids) requirements. We went back to Club Med in Cervinia because the resort worked so well for the whole family.
Kids are (hopefully) now old enough that we can try out a few different formats.
Yeah I'm obviously not completely against it rkk01, since I'm doing it 😀
Having a child has opened my eyes to other considerations.
But it's folk that say [i]"Oh we've been going to the same town near X every July for 47 years now. We don't like going anywhere else."[/i] that perplex me.
I think they see comfort and familiarity, where I see a big rut and a closed horizon. Takes all sorts eh?
Speaking of geeky ski apps ( as I was) has anyone ever used Skiline?
Looks like you register your lift ticket number, then it monitors you for the day and gives you a nice diagram showing altitude covered, lifts ridden etc
http://www.skiline.cc/aboutSkiline
Very geeky - so may appeal to some on here 😉
Skiline.cc never worked for me (for Zillertal).
Dolomiti Superski one did (with a couple of lifts missing over the course of a week).
They're only an approximation, since they don't know which way you went after getting off the top of a lift, nor do they count any final runs back to town.
Finally booked something! Got a fully catered chalet in Les Menuires (3 Valleys) for Jan 28th, first time in a catered chalet and looking forward to not having to pay horrendously inflated resort prices for food and drink. Now just need to find decently priced flights and transfers. Original plan of flying into Lyon isn't going to work as transfers were £300+ per person!
Plan: await arrival of shiny new Dragon APX goggles eagerly, get ski's serviced, start obsessing over the weather forecasts and webcams for the next few weeks.
obsessing over the weather forecasts and webcams for the next few weeks.
Guess what I'm looking at right now? 🙂
Don't really understand why folk do that. Or (worse) go to the same place for a summer holiday every year either. The world is a BIG place - there's lots to see!
Maybe I'm a bit OCD but I'm constantly guilty of going back to the same locations - For example I've been to Chamonix about 7 times, Whistler twice, La Thuile 3 times and I'm off back to Fernie again for a month for the 5th time. I do enjoy trying new locations as well though! 🙂
Local knowledge counts for a lot I reckon - on a powder day you know where to go and what spots to [hopefully] miss the crowds; you know the terrain traps to avoid and where to find freshies days after a storm - i.e. a secret spot that you just would't find on a [unguided] 6 day trip.
If I find a run I like I'll keep doing laps on it until it's tracked out etc = 'knowledge of results' and all that! Avoids spending half the day on chairlifts 'ticking off' the runs.
Having said all that I'm also off to Norway this year - a place I've never been too before but always wanted to visit.
I've got a list of places I want to ride before I'm 50 including Chile & Japan! 😀
Can you still buy Goggles without a double lens?
yeah. MX and MTB versions
Tignes a week on Sunday and hoping this is accurate.
http://www.yr.no/place/France/Rh%C3%B4ne-Alpes/Tignes~6442912/long.html
Nice new Salomon Official and boots to test out too!
Guess what I'm looking at right now?
I'm going to go with the forecast open in one tab and webcams in a second!
Massively annoyed now as I ordered my goggles on Monday as the website listed them as in stock and available for next day delivery. Still no sign of them this morning so I emailed them to enquire as to why my order status was still "awaiting allocation". Just found out they are out of stock, don't have a live stock system on the website and that they "apparently" emailed me yesterday to tell me this yet I have received no emails from them, not even incorrectly labelled as junk.
Looks like I'll be ordered some Oakley Splice's in the not to distant future.
Finally booked something! Got a fully catered chalet in Les Menuires (3 Valleys) for Jan 28th, first time in a catered chalet and looking forward to not having to pay horrendously inflated resort prices for food and drink. Now just need to find decently priced flights and transfers. Original plan of flying into Lyon isn't going to work as transfers were £300+ per person!
Who you staying with afrothunder88?? We went to Les Men last year, well just below in a hamlet called Bettex - stayed with [url= http://www.skipowderpigs.co.uk/ ]Ski Powder Pigs[/url] & was the first time I've ever been in a fully catered chalet. Loved it - the guys who ran it were ace & came out riding with us/guided us to some decent off-piste. Full on luxury as well, top class 3 course meals each night, cocktails on return to the chalet, open log fireplace, sauna & jacuzzi etc and we paid about £340 each.
Flew into Chambery with Jet2 and hired cars. Transfer companies are a bit non-existent unless your chalet can sort do it. It was about 2.5hrs drive up the hill.
Top location though, I was a bit worried we'd be 'out of the action' but it's dead easy to get up to Val Thorens and over to Meribel. And definitely check out Point de la Masse on the other side of the valley (there's a cracking back country route that you can use as a way of getting into VT!). Also some decent bars for apres at the bottom of the main piste that runs through the les mens (hint: the bar on the right after you go under the bridge gets the sun for longer).
I'm going to go with the forecast open in one tab and webcams in a second!
Have a gold star! 🙂
FWIW, I didn't get on with the Splice. Fit wasn't as good with my face/helmet, so went with Crowbars instead. Vital to try before you buy, IMO.
Now, the Airbrake, however.....That has me wanting!
as for the returning to the same resorts thing, i'm a bit torn. i do find it difficult to return somewhere to somewhere i've already been, but i find myself going to morzine & val d'isere again this year. i've probably done about 4 weeks in each resort now & did a season id VD. the main lure seems to be the availability of floors to crash on, which makes the holiday so much cheaper, but also as Digby says, there is a lot to be said for having local knowledge - i know both these resorts very well now & if i find myself there in decent condition i can pick out some good areas that are less likely to be busy. if it's crap conditions i know where the trees are and can head straight there - saves lots of time asking around or finding stuff.
but i do want to mix it up a bit. my list of the state, canada & japan needs fulfilling.
goggles - i'm using von zipper bushwicks at the moment. no issues with them fitting with my helmet, fairly BIG lens though (which is cool!).
pricewise: £40 including 2 (mirror & yellow) lenses. oakley are the best, but far too expensive!!
oakley are the best, but far too expensive!!
Mine weren't. 8)
Any Chamonix Experts in da house?
I'm booked for a 4 day trip and want to get the most out of it.**
Do you have to book the top lift at Grand Montets in advance and is it worth the extra cost?
Is there anywhere worth a look that's not tracked out within nanoseconds of the first flake falling?
Is it possible to rack up, assess the next day's weather forecast and book a guide or join guided groups?
Is Vallee Blanche worth it (on a snowboard for a proficient snowboarder)?
Best place to look to grab spare places on helis?
Whats the stuff like next to the town (Flegere-Brevant)?
** (possible risk of whiteout the whole time as there for only 4 days).
Okay - I'll try and answer as best I can:
Q.Do you have to book the top lift at Grand Montets in advance and is it worth the extra cost?
A. As far as I know it can't be booked in advance (you turn up and get allocated on one of the next cable cars - first come first served), but yes if the conditions are right it's worth it but skiers right off the top tickets is glacier so you should know your stuff
Q.Is there anywhere worth a look that's not tracked out within nanoseconds of the first flake falling?
A. Depends really - I've been up Grand Montets when its boiler-plate ice and super busy, but then I've been up there on a powder day with barely a soul and the bochard gondola queue free!
Q.Is it possible to rack up, assess the next day's weather forecast and book a guide or join guided groups?
A. Only if you are really lucky - but check with the likes of 'Evolution 2' they will have an idea on the weather over the next few days and should be able to advise on places.
Q.Is Vallee Blanche worth it (on a snowboard for a proficient snowboarder)?
A. Yes - but for the views and the experience rather than the terrain - although there are a number of variants and options to make it interesting, the bottom bit is pretty flat so can be challenging on a board if the snow is sticky - collapsing poles are an advantage.
Q.Best place to look to grab spare places on helis?
A.No heli skiing in Chamonix, but through the tunnel in Italy
Check with the likes of [url= http://www.chamonix-aventure.com/ ]http://www.chamonix-aventure.com/[/url] for details.
Q.Whats the stuff like next to the town (Flegere-Brevant)?
A. Pretty good with some amazing terrain, but gets the sun more so softens up if it's icy. If it's really warm, can be slushy by afternoon. Link between the two areas. Can be busy with long queues to get the gondola up the hill. Little chance of doing the 'home run' unless conditions are exceptional so catch the gondola back down
[b]peachos[/b]: We're staying in a independent chalet that's owned by one of my GF's colleagues, its in one of Les Menuires' feeder villages, Preyerand I think. The Powder Pigs chalet looks ace! Jacuzzi and steam rooms are one of the best ways to relax after skiing all day.
I did look at hiring a car but it would have to be the GF who drove as I've lost my license at the moment and there's no way I could get her to drive up the mountain, she gets car sick at the best of times. Plus by the time you've added the winter tyre and snow chain options its cheaper to fly to Geneva and get a shared transfer.
The chalet owner is apparently going to show me some decent off piste, I shall mention the route from Point de Le Masse! Cheers for the tip about that bar aswell.
I have tried the Splice and it did seem like a good fit. The company got back to me and they're expecting the stock in the next few days so I'm gonna hang fire and see if it turns up as I really like the APX's - they have a ridiculously large lens! The Airbrake looks sweet though. Wish I could afford those.
Might see if I can squeeze a pair of boots into the budget aswell, think my existing ones have packed down too much as I was getting a really weird juddering on my outside foot when carving at high speed last year.
Digby - Cheers for response, much appreciated.
afrothunder 88 - that off piste at La Masse is v good, bit steep at the top mind.
Just booked for Pila in Italy for second week in Feb. This will be my second snowboard holiday = utter beginner. Anyone been? Looking forward to a break from you lot for a week 😉
Pila is a nice little resort. Spent a few days there in 2009. Plenty of easy terrain for learners, plus plenty to progress onto.
Would certainly go back
I said this very thing to hubby last night after logging off.(On another note, when was the last time there was a thread this big on STW without any arguments? (Well, apart from the obvious board/ski banter, but that doesn't count!)
It's one of the reasons I'm staying with this thread.
The amount of information everyone is giving out is so helpful. Long may it continue (well at least until 1st May)
The amount of information everyone is giving out is so helpful. Long may it continue (well at least until 1st May)
*Makes diary note to start bikering and arguing on the 1st of May*
😉
Just booked for Pila in Italy for second week in Feb
I think one of the nice things about the Italian Alps/Valle D'aosta, especially when compared to nearby French resorts is that the quality of the coffee and the food on the Italian side of Mont Blanc (or Monte Bianco if you are looking at it from that perspective) is so much better and less criminally priced.
Plus the Italians seem to have a more relaxed approach to winter hobbies which often means less fractious queuing and quieter slopes especially at lunch time.
Enjoy - I'm sure you will have a terrific time! 😀
I'll join in 🙂
Booked a week in tignes on the 28th Jan over Christmas. My 3rd ever trip, deffo skiing. My ambition is proper euro carve turns by the end of the week and (maybe) a first black run.
staying in the val claret appartments (du pont?) with crystal so should be easy enough.
So far this thread has made me watch chalet girl (funny in a b movie chick flick kind of way) and buy these
[url] http://www.decathlon.co.uk/mission-id_8188819.html [/url]
Have I done ok for an intermediate skier boot? They feel comfy 🙂
Anyone got any tignes tips then?
titusrider - eurocarves on skis? ❓
Tignes tips - halfway sensibly-priced places to eat lunch are the Aspen Café and Bazoom burger stand in Val Claret or Tignes Cuisine and the Loop bar in Le Lac.
For a first black, Trolles above Le Lac is pretty straightforward. Steep, but mostly pretty wide and in a straight line. If you think it's steep on skis, try it on a bike! (One of the DH courses goes pretty-much straight down).
Don't be fooled into trying Sache by the easy appearance of the start. Steep with moguls-of-doom lower down.
If you've got transport, come down to Sainte Foy for a day. You'll never go back to an over-crowded concrete monstrosity like Tignes again! 😉
+1 for Tignes cuisine, it's the main reason I go to Val D'Isere, not the snow!
In Val in the run up to Christmas, snow was awesome and fell plenty.
Going to Saas Fee in a week for some more powder then hopefully get away back to Switzerland or Porte du Soleil if it has enough snow in February.
I love Winter 😀
Hummm must have got my terminology wrong somewhere then. I always saw it as very French the image i have in my head.
80s brightly colored jacket
Skiing with your legs really close together
Very stood up style
Really relaxed and non-plusses by everything
Stopping for a ciggie after each run
And carving everywhere at 1billion miles an hour
I aspire to that 🙂 😉