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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. 😉
We're purely about the [s] snow[/s] guns 'n boobies
Ftfy!
🙂
Early snow seems to have stopped now 🙁 but sunshine forecast all day tomorrow! 8)
Desperately needed snow forecast in SW France tomorrow. The turbine in the snow factory is broken so even though the cold has finally arrived the nights are silent.
For anyone who's heading to the Tarentaise, I'm now trying to put a daily English translation of the avalanche forecast on our site:
[url= http://www.whiteroomchalet.com/tarentaise_avalanche_forecast.htm ]Tarentaise Avalanche Forecast[/url]
Edukator, where are you based? THe pyrenees look starved of snow judging by the webcams shots I saw recently
I saw some pics of Vallnord in Andorra and they seemed to have a reasonable amount of snow.
Western Pyrenees. It hasn't snowed at resort level since the beginning of January. My favourite X-C pistes are shut and the snow higher up is very hard.
Mentally preparing a check list now....
1) Looking for good playlist selections. Someone ^ suggested She Sells Sanctuary - which having listened to for the first time in many yrs, sounds like a good call for skiing
2) Anyone skiied on Volkl Tigersharks? Quite fancy a go on a pair. Nordica spitfire also sounds tempting as an energetic quick, turny type ski...
Did anyone see this report on BBC news?
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-16715883
Snow at Val D'Isere looked lovely.
[i]Did anyone see this report on BBC news?
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-16715883 [/i]
Oh no, not a HELMET DEBATE!!
Fairly balanced report on helmet use that. It even mentions risk compensation. TJ would be proud.
I didn't wear a helmet for years. They weren't even available in the late 90's when I started (or wrist and bum guards!).
Got one a couple of years ago because they are compulsory at the snowdomes and I didn't want some sweaty rental jumping with teenager nits.
Don't mind wearing it at all. Gives me a bit more confidence amongst the trees.