MegaSack DRAW - This year's winner is user - rgwb
We will be in touch
well in 17 years of riding I can confirm taht I have broken all sorts of kit including several pairs of flows. They are also a pain in teh arse to get off if you fall in powder admittedly this has been resolved with the addition of normal straps...
And as for the weight yes it matters... of course it matters.
I can strap in my conventional straps while moving, and 5 miinutes to do up binders? mind you I am sick and also gnarly.
@ grahamS K2 autos are different though, they are a conventional binder with an innovative strap mechanism and yes they're bloody good as they're not the cinch 😉
Whereabouts, Digby? I REALLY want to visit Lofoten and the Lyngen Alps
Off to Lyngen Alps ... and really looking forward to it as I've never been to Scandinavia before!
Need to crank up the exercise routine abit though over the next few months to try ensure I'm in ok condition ... I'm not getting any younger!
No trip booked yet but I will be going on at least one, probably Alps.
Got a K2 Slayblade year before last, which is amazing and has plenty of life left so no new stick for me.
Need a new helmet, probably a get a smith variant brim. And fancy some ski boots (Salomon) as I ventured back onto 2 planks last year and loved it - planning to split my time between skiing and snowboarding this year.
No other new gear for me.
Flows: quicker; yes (can clip in while moving)
No problem doing that with Autos.
The thing I never liked about Flows (apart from the fact that they used to be very heavy and didn't flexed like a brick) is that they may be great to slip into on a nice shallow bit of piste, but it always struck me that they'd really suck in deep powder when you can't even see your feet or on icy steep stuff when you can't put the board flat.
@ grahamS K2 autos are different though, they are a conventional binder with an innovative strap mechanism and yes they're bloody good as they're not the cinch
They really come into their own at the snowdomes or on the short UK pistes. Less time strapping in/out equals more time playing.
@Graham two posts before you dude... 😉
I bet there isn't much in it dude, i ride with a couple of teh UK K2 team, I can strap in pretty much as quick as them using unions and they have auto evers.
I bet there isn't much in it dude, i ride with a couple of teh UK K2 team
Maybe not for you, but I'm an old, creaky fat git that struggles to reach his toes without sitting down (and even then!) 😀
Obviously singletrackers will be far too awesome to be sitting in the crowds of snowboarders at the top of each lift straping in 😕
Obviously singletrackers will be far too awesome to be sitting in the crowds of snowboarders at the top of each lift straping in
I just tend to ski straight past them. 🙂
Obviously singletrackers will be far too awesome to be sitting in the crowds of snowboarders at the top of each lift straping in
Nothing wrong with sitting about. We do it all the time when boarding as our pace these days is a bit more "relaxed" and typically involves looking at the view, and frequent beer/cake stops. 🙂
But we usually ride with skiers, so I don't want to sit about holding them up at the top of the lift.
Anyone know if Alpine Elements are any good for holidays?
Looking at booking for eight and they have good offers in Tignes! 🙂
Nothing wrong with sitting about.
I'm normally doing such rad stuff a few minutes later, that I [i]need[/i] to have a moment of sitting about to consider my next sequence.
In reality, I have the same attitude as Gee-to-the-power-of-S though. 🙂
Y'knowzit doubleD 😀
Digby, Who are you staying with? What made you go with them? Self guided or guided? I'm assuming 100% touring? Breathtakingly expensive? 🙂
I really appreciate some pointers if you don't mind. I'm definitely going in the year or 3. email in profile if you'd prefer. Thanks!
SteezyDarcy. 8)
I will mostly be putting in the 45 min drive to Glenshee with Eldest, of maybe the 1.5hrs to Cairngorm 😀 . Lots of snow days would be handy again. I mostly boarded last year in Glenshee as my eldest was learning to ski, and the powder in Glenshee was as good as anything I had experienced in Italy or France. (Never thought I would say that)
I also tend to board with skiers hence why flows are an advantage, I can be strapped in and ready while they're still banging the snow off their bindings.
the powder in Glenshee was as good as anything I had experienced in Italy or France. (Never thought I would say that)
Glenshee can be amazing, particularly when Glas Maol is fully open and all the noobs are sticking to Sunnyside.
I also tend to board with skiers hence why flows are an advantage, I can be strapped in and ready while they're still banging the snow off their bindings.
So no problems in deep pow or on steep ice as me an rizla suggested?
It's been a few years since I looked at Flows seriously. I actually used to have Switch step-ins back in the day and I loved them - but I wouldn't go back now.
@ raymond are they flows? or are they cinch or something similar I only knew they were rear entry binders because of teh high back clip and the wire...
in the last few years flows have gone from strength to strength with materials and weight but they're still awkward for the riding i do.
But if that wire fails (which i have experienced in the past)you are screwed... If a strap fails you can still ride home.
Any opinions on Alpine Elements?
More than happy to share info.
You are right - it's absolutely eye-wateringly expensive! Staying at Lyngen Lodge, but doing the trip as part of a 'McNab Expedition' with Neil McNab ([url= http://www.mcnabsnowboarding.com ]http://www.mcnabsnowboarding.com[/url]
I've done quite a few backcountry trips with McNab in the past and can highly recommended them if snowboarding is your thing.
It's all guided touring either directly from the Lodge or using a boat to navigate the Fjords.
I doubt I'll get an opportunity to do anything like this again, so I'm looking at it as a 'once in a lifetime' trip.
Happy to provide more info if you want and let you know what it was like when I've been!
@ digby... that sounds unreal!
Digby: that looks awesome! What sort of boarding level and fitness do you need to do that kind of thing?
Awesome! Nearly went to Greenland with him last year, but found another way. Don't know if I would have had a better time on his trip or not, but the report looked amazing.
Just read the "once in a lifetime" bit. I'm finding that opportunities to go on once in a lifetime trips come up quite often! It's a slippery slope: once you've bought all the kit, it gets cheaper every time!
I would avoid Alpine Elements and Crystal/Thomson, they can be good, but they can also be absolutely woeful.
On step-ins for snowboarding, I've never liked them, it takes 10 or 15 seconds to strap in at the top of a lift, not a big deal really.
My advice would be don't skimp on the fitness. Do everything you can! loads of biking. You might be able to get by with less, but I reckon it's a totally open ended relationship: more fitness = more comfortable skinning, less sweat, more time at the top waiting for the last in the group, more scenery gazing and more photos, less deterioration of technique, more fun on the downs, more runs, less pain in the morning...
And from what I've heard and read, if someone's fit for another run, Neil will go! May as well be you!
And I want to see the photos!
Quoting from the McNab website:
"Technical ability levels are scored on a scale of 1 to 6 where 1 is a beginner with little or no experience (up to 3 days) and 6 is someone very experienced and able to perform at the highest level, anywhere on the mountain.
Fitness is also graded on a scale of 1 to 6 where 1 is a person with a very basic fitness level and 6 represents someone with a very high level of fitness"
The Norway trip is graded 5 in terms of both technical ability and fitness ... hence the need to do some work on my fitness particularly CV fitness!
I've only been riding for 9 years but I did learn to ride [properly] with Neil McNab as I had some shocking bad habits at first - then did a season four years ago and have spent a month riding in Canada every year for the past few years as well as a few backcountry trips in the Alps, so I'm really hoping I can make the most of the experience!
Yeah ... I know what you mean about the 'once in a lifetime' recurring theme - I said that when I was about to do a season a few years ago! just one more hit! 🙂
Thanks for the fitness tips. Greatly appreciated! 🙂
What was your Greenland trip like? Would like to hear about it. I know a couple of guys who went with Neil last year on his Greenland trip and they said it was an amazing experience!
Circuit training is pretty good for ski-touring type fitness. If you cycle a fair amount your endurance should be decent, circuits will increase your core strength and balance and get you used to breathing out of your rear end and recovering quickly.
Cheers Digby. I read the site, but I wondered how that compared to the actual courses.
I've been boarding since the late 90's ( 😯 ) but typically only a week or two a year. I've never had any lessons, so I probably have shocking technique, but I can get down most runs and like messing about on (not very far) off-piste pow.
I guess I'm probably a 4 on Technical Ability and a 2 on fitness 😀
Hmmmmm...
On step-ins for snowboarding, I've never liked them, it takes 10 or 15 seconds to strap in at the top of a lift, not a big deal really.
Back when I had Switch step-ins I'd click-in while still on the drag then just ride away when I got to the top.
Yeah didn't save much time, but it was just less faff and it was nice to breeze past everyone sat in the snow. Plus you always had the same tension/feel rather than starting a run and then realising your strap isn't quite as tight/loose as last time.
But yeah, now I've gone to softer boots and Autos I wouldn't go back.
The McNab courses are pretty demanding for sure - I did the splitboard touring course last year and although I was riding & hiking in Fernie for a month before I went to Chamonix, the hikes at altitude still hurt as nothing can prepare you for altitude like altitude and Fernie is pretty low in comparison.
However this shouldn't be a problem in Norway! 🙂
I can definitely recommend the McNab tech-clinics if you fancy working on your off-piste technique etc.
Digby: sounds like I'm probably a step or two away from that. Especially in fitness 😳 I should probably take some intermediate lessons on holiday some time, but it always seems like such a waste of chill out time with my friends.
Digby: it was frickin ay-mayzing! Amazing snow, a few of the runs are collectively up there in my top 3 powder days ever. The trip had pretty much everything you'd want/expect from a polar trip: Terrible weather, delayed flights (great couple of days in Iceland!) skidoo rides, arctic hares, fox prints, polar bear approach (flares, rifle, track following to make sure it had gone), tent bound storm days, low viz gps tours, sunset whisky and powder turns at 11pm. First ascents, first descents, incredible pow, nadgery couloirs, windlip hucking, heart in mouth blind rolls, sluff (thankfully very stable generally, just 2" of slow moving corn over crust, on the very last run of the trip!)
Still haven't got round to whittling the photo's down to something manageable - we started at over 2000 bewtween the 4 of us!
Val d'Isere for a week in early January with a large group. Should be fun if I can get some work in to pay for it.
Wow ... that does indeed sound like a absolutely fantastic trip!
Loving the comma separated synopsis! Trips like that aren't just about the riding are they - it's the whole experience!
And whilst I'd love to see a Polar bear, I'd be soiling myself if one came anywhere near camp! 😳
Would be good to see some of the photos if you ever get round to sorting through them!
digby, how are you set for bindings? I've got a spare set of Spark Ignition IIs with Mr Chomp crampons if you're interested?
either way, ping me an email, I'll let you know [s]if[/s] when(!) I put a trip report up on splitboard.com Be good to hear about Fernie too, I've got few friends out there.
On the subject of Fernie, if anyone is looking for accommodation then I HIGHLY recommend giving Susan at http://www.canadianpowdertours.com/thechalet.html a go. Best catered chalet we've ever stayed in. Great atmosphere and amazing food.
I'm ok for [splitboard] bindings at the moment, but thanks anyway - greatly appreciated. I've got a pair of Spark Blaze & Mr Chomps, but I ended up cannabalising a pair of Salomon 'Code' bindings for the highback & ankle strap as I found the Spark Blaze highback far too soft & flexy.
I actually lent my Salomon Code highbacks to one of the guys who went to Greenland so my highbacks have seen first descents whereas I haven't! 😯
Look forward to reading your trip report!
Edit - btw, what splitboard did you use for Greenland and how did you get on with it?
I'm feeling slightly extravagant this winter.
Can anyone recommend some Heliboarding operators in the alps for 1 day.
Ive done seasons in NZ, weeks and weeks in europe and loads of scottish stuff, I'm getting old (I'm 41 ye know) so want to have a final 'big push' before my body gives up on me.
Oh yeah, needs to be cheap.......
Heli + Cheap = Bad Thing, I would say.
Not sure I'd trust a cheap outfit for heli stuff.
Where in the Alps would you be heading?
Depends where the Heli's are I guess. I've never been to Cham so quite fancy that, but thought that the French dont like doing helidrops.
Heli skiing is a no-no in France afaik. But from Cham you should be able to head through the tunnel to Courmayer in Italy to go heli boarding I think.
Started with straps back in the day, but went to K2 Clickers when I first saw them in California. Rue the demise, would go back tomorrow !
Have a couple of sets of Flows, but mostly sraps again. 8 boards.
Try Last Frontier for heliskiing (in BC) Excellent experience, but not cheap.
Got a place in the PdS, so go there a lot, but Tahoe still my favourite for sentimental reasons (OH is from Cali.)
CF - Squaw Valley and Alpine Meadows remain my favourites, although the Skyline Trail at Heavenly does offer those superb Mountain/Lake/Desert views over the full 10000ft as mentioned.
I can remember when they didn't allow snowboards at Alpine ! (I learned to board at Northstar, just along the road ...... )
If I get to hook up with my BiL this winter, we'll maybe head to Utah as he's got mates there.
G.
@ Yellow Belly - you are right in thinking that the French (Govt) aren't keen on Heliski etc however there's a few Organisations in the Chamonix area that organise Heli trips mainly in the Valle D'Aosta area:
try the likes of [url= http://www.chamonix-aventure.com ]http://www.chamonix-aventure.com[/url] or [url= http://www.chamex.com/ ]http://www.chamex.com/[/url]
btw ... you're never too old! I'm 44 next year and I've still got the hunger for progression!
Hopefully heading back to Red Mountain BC around March - small but awesome.
I'd like a change from a doing a week here and there at the big Alpine resorts - a couple of years ago I did a road trip in Norway taking in about 4 different hills and I'd like to do something similar again, off the beaten track a little (but still in Europe) - anyone got any bright ideas or recommendations?
unfortunately my office is based [url= http://www.valleedaulps.com/tourism_vallee_d_aulps_hiver_anglais.html ]here[/url], so i'll be on the slopes all winter...
any ideas on the best place to get some skins for my skis?
Digby, I took a Voile Mojo 166 (the old one, non rockered) I'm on the light side for it, 65-70kgs, so I need to be going some for it to start feeling fun.
Laurent had a Mojo RX 161
Rob had a rockered Prior Backcountry 165
Martin had a Jones 164 (hard boots, counting on there being some climbing, there wasn't)
We all had a bit of a winge about our boards, usually at the bottom of runs where we'd fallen! Except Rob. Possibly because he's stubborn, possibly because he falls less, possibly because he was dead chuffed with no complaints.
Obviously though, no-one was talking equipment at the bottom of the primo lines with perfect powder!
If I was living in north america with access to demos, I'd be really keen to try a whole bunch: Burton Freebird, Jones Hovercraft & Flagship, most of the Priors, Ventures, Never Summers...
If I was on a budget, Voile are hard to beat. Great warranty too. And the boards ride pretty well.
If money wasn't tight and I had to buy without testing, I'd probably go for a rockered Prior Backcountry. clear topcoat, green logo and black base, please!
And if I knew [i]exactly[/i] what I wanted from a splitboard, I'd definitely speak to Donek.
On the Fernie front, have you ever used nonstop?
Anyone had any good experiences of transfer companies from Turin airport? Might be in need of someone to get me from the aiport to Serre Che.
Am planning on using Neilson for everything apart from the flights, as they use Thomas Cook who are utterly, utterly, utterly sh1te. In fact, beyond that. Thomas Cook flights are some sort of punishment for bad behaviour in a past life. They're utterly awful. So, will be on BA instead. 🙂 This, of course, means that my flight is likley to land on time, which is never the case for Thomas Cook (3hrs late is a [i]good[/i] time for them!) and would mean we probably won't be able to use the Neilson coach transfer.
Quick summary - Neilson are ace, Thomas Cook flights are awful.
My snow plans are now officially over...
Last years trip to Alpe D'Huez ended suddenly (literally) with 5 broken vertebrae...
Looks like my days on the snow are over, however, if anyone wants a cheap set of Ride MIG bindings let me know 🙂
Steelsreal, I ruptured / snapped both Cruciate Ligaments on 2 separate occassions skiing and have skied a good few times since. Both times they happened I thought it was the end of my skiing for good only to find that with the right physio and strenghtening I have been able to go back.
I have needed to ease off a bit though 😯
@nedrapier - Thanks for the splitboard mini review. Like bikes I guess it's good to try as many as you can before you buy, but at some point you just have to bite the bullet, stop procrastinating and buy one!
Seems like there's more choice every year. Even in Zero G in a Cham they had about a half dozen different splitboards whereas previously there'd be only one stuck in a corner.
I'd only ridden a Voile Mojo before this year and found the nose a tad too soft and once the board I had was a bit short for me anyway (with backcounty kit I'm about 185Kg - more if I've drawn the short straw and carrying ropes)
Bought a Jones Solution 168W earlier this year from TSA (with 15% McNab discount). Really impressed with it across a real mix of conditions. As I previously mentioned I ended up modifying the bindings quite a bit but really appreciated the lower height of the Spark Bindings when compared to normal bindings sat ontop of a Voile slider rack etc.
One of the guys (a 6ft 6" Californian) I rode with in the Alps in March was using a Prior (a 176 I think). Looked like a lovely setup!
Re: Fernie & NONSTOP - yep small world eh? ... I did a NONSTOP course a couple of years ago and had an amazing time. The course included a Hut trip and that's where I got into splitboarding.
Have you done a NONSTOP course? You mentioned you had friends in Fernie.
Just had a phone call from MrsDezB -
She's booking us to Val d’Isère for Christmas! Woo!
Did a few days in Val d’Isère earlier this year and loved it. With actual winter snow, it'll be... ohh
Staying Here - http://www.espritski.com/chalets/ducs-de-savoie/
Any experiences?
not that hotel (no kids so don't use Esprit) but I *love* val d'isere and the espace killy in general
185kg! Wow! I'm not surprised the nose felt soft! 🙂
It's a small world indeed, I spent the season in Fernie in 01/02 and been friends with Rupert Taylor from pretty much day one! That was his first year there and he set up nonstop the following year.
And I went back a couple of years ago and went that same hut in the Purcells! Roop had been running trips there for a few years, but hadn't been there himself. I think the continued rave reports got a bit too much for him so he got a bunch of us together for a jaunt over. We weren't too lucky with the snow, but it was an amazing time all the same. As you'd know!
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For people who like step-ins (I love my APO Expressos) the new Fastek bindings by SP are worth a look:
[url= http://www.sp-united.com/bindings/duo/ ]SP Duo bindings[/url]
My old Arbor (RIP) delaminated last winter but I have had it nearly 10 years.. I picked up a Jones Flagship in the sales so can't wait to get out on the slopes.. 😀
St Anton at end of jan for me, just hope there is more snow than there was last yr !
the new Fastek bindings by SP are worth a look
Is it me or do they look VERY similar to K2 Cinch:
Fastek:
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K2:
Word reaches me from Montgenevre today of about 30cm of fresh already.....could be a good year for the Alps!
I'm keeping fingers crossed for plenty of Scottish snow this year as I'll be staying local. Only managed once last year as swavis jnr was born in December.
I'm also hoping the local hill gets dumped on again to so I can go Hike-a-boarding again! 😀
Ben Rinnes
[url= http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2715/4401620673_e40cb07cf7.jp g" target="_blank">
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/swavis/4401620673/ ]IMG_0059[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/swavis/ ]GavinBelton[/url], on Flickr
If you join snowheads.com they send you a monthly snow report. There has indeed been a good few centimetres in place for October - the start of a good base I hope.
yeah GrahamS they look just as bad too 😉
Word reaches me from Montgenevre today of about 30cm of fresh already
Indeed, just look at the Vars webcam today
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[/IMG]and compare it with the same image from Sunday...[IMG]
[/IMG]Pity its going to warm up this weekend, rain forecast in southern resorts too below 3000m.
@nedrapier ... lol 185Kg 😆 ... I certainly need to do some exercise as I seem to have gained a bit of weight! not sure where that extra 100Kg came from - didn't think I'd had that many pies! 😳
Met Rupert (and his dad & sisters) a few times - top bloke and I really like what he's trying to do with NONSTOP Ski & Snowboard. Good to see a 'business' really pasionate about what they do! Quite fancy spending a summer on the bike in Fernie, but at the moment the winter trips come first!
Snow conditions were pretty much the opposite to yours when we were out at the Boulder Hut in the Purcells - almost too much snow and with a weak rain crust layer so the avalanche risk was quite high so we stayed mostly below the tree line. Fantastic experience though - Mark & Yancy are wonderful hosts aren't they?
That picture of the avalanche rescue dog is great! and I guess that's Rupert 'dropping in' and second from the left in the window picture?
@nedrapier - I'd be pretty interested in those Spark bindings you've got going spare, how much are you looking for ? What size? (I've got wee size 8 feet).
Using a NeverSummer Titan 169 split by the way. Don't get out on it as much as I would like due to the stresses of running my own chalet business so it mostly gets used for early/late season touring when the lifts aren't running!
Currently using the basic Voilé kit with some Burton Triad bindings, really keen to try the Spark system.
Actually bought a full backcountry ski setup last year (Movement Couloirs plus Marker Barons) with the plan of getting decent at skiing off-piste, but I ended up signing-up to do the next stage of my BASI snowboard exams so worked hard on my snowboarding all winter and barely did any skiing.
Did a couple of trips with Neil back in the day as well (including Mont Blanc summit!) but living out here full-time now, so do my own thing. Checked out going to Cham with Neil for a few days last year when I had some free time, but soooooooooo expensive these days!
Digby - I can't speak for McNab, but Lyngen looks to be phenomenal when conditions are right. Have a few friends in Tromsø/ Troms and have skiied overlooking there - never had the chance yet to get out in Lyngen proper. Get fit though, it might not be high but skinning from sea level up 1500m or so is easier with decent fitness and technique (just seen your edit - realise you're not carrying 180kg now though so that may be easier).
Heli skiing is a no-no in France afaik. But from Cham you should be able to head through the tunnel to Courmayer in Italy to go heli boarding I think.
Heli-skiing is indeed banned in France, but as a lot of resorts are on/near the Swiss or Italian borders, it's still possible to do it. There are also a few places where you can do a kind of reverse-heliski thing - ride down from a lift-accessed summit (or a short hike), big descent into another valley, heli back up - Val d'Isere down to Bonneval and something similar at Alpe d'Huez are the obvious examples.
The usual French places for the cross-border heli option are Chamonix (either Switzerland or Italy) or La Rosiere / Sainte Foy (Italy). For the latter option, you usually use the lifts at La Ros to cross the border, then do 2 drops from there, the second one being on/near the Ruitor from where you ride back down to Sainte Foy.
@bajsyckel - thanks for the tips. really Looking forward to it as I'm hearing nothing but good things about the Lyngen area.
Working on the fitness already and I've dropped 100Kg just by learning to type properly! 🙄
Seriously though - currently riding 3 or 4 times a week, running once a week and then core, stretching & skating or bouldering if time allows, so fingers crossed I'll be able to hold my own.
@stevomcd, you're right. It's certainly not cheap riding with Neil these days, but I still reckon it's good value for money though; despite some very 'mixed' conditions in the Chamonix area in March earlier this year we managed to ride fresh lines every day - we just had to work for it!
Nice one on the Mnt Blanc descent!!!! How did you get on with your BASI exam? Good I hope!
@Digby, passed my level 2 - just! Properly scraped it, came down to pretty much the last run.
I felt slightly better that my major bad habit was apparently the same one as James Stentiford (who was doing the level 3 course at the same time). Too much weight on the front foot - a simple enough thing, but hard to change when it's so deeply ingrained.
@stevomcd, fantastic! Well done! Is the level 2 BASI more teaching/pedagogy or performance/practical based?
@Digby - both really. You're actually assessed separately on Teaching and on Technique - it's possible to fail on one and pass the other and thus only have to do a partial re-sit.
By level 2, they're looking for a pretty decent standard technically, but it's mostly still board-on-the-ground stuff. Pretty flawless carving, very controlled steeps, etc. Very easy to read the requirements and think "piece of p*ss!", but you really get your technique taken apart. Video sessions every day, analysis back at the hotel after, everyone pitching-in about what you're doing wrong. Hard on the ego! 😯
Freestyle-wise, it's pretty easy - get good air with a nice, clean grab over a mid-size park kicker and 50/50 a box. 180's on the flat.
@stevomcd - interesting stuff. thanks for the info. Did my CASI level one a few years ago (not sure, but I don't think the CASI level 1 is quite as demanding as the BASI level 1). Really wish I'd continued with it.
Will you consider doing your BASI level 3?
I reckon this might be another 'can't afford it' year
my snowboard is feeling neglected 🙁
Yeah, from what I understand, CASI1 is pretty basic, with CASI2 being somewhere between BASI 1 & 2.
I really want to do the 3 (I live in France, so the 2 isn't a whole lot of use on its own) but it's a big commitment and I'm really not certain I've got the talent for it! One of the top BASI snowboard guys lives just up the road and does "level 3 prep" courses, so I'm looking at doing a couple of those, working hard on my technique in between, then seeing where I get to.
Been living in the Alps for 4 years, but I've probably been a bit guilty of just going up, looking for the best powder line and hooning it, rather than any kind of focussed progression!
@stevomcd - well good luck with your level 3 as and when! Sounds like you're living the dream for sure!
This bit really made me smile! 😆
probably been a bit guilty of just going up, looking for the best powder line and hooning it
Aye, if that was what the exam was on, I'd be sorted! 
Stevo, not sure about pricing and sizing. I'll take some piccies and measurements when I get home and send them over.
Just clicked on your name link to see where you were based. Not sure if you read my post on the first page:
La Ros & St Foy are exactly what I had in mind when I wrote that! Never been, though. Would St Foy hit the mark?I'd planned on finding somewhere quiet, chilled, with a good mix of fun for all abilities and great touring.
Digby: correct on both counts! did you recognise the hat, the black or the steez? Pendantry corner though: It's a backside slash from a drop-in above his head in the photo.
erm... 😳I've probably been a bit guilty of just going up, looking for the best powder line and hooning it, rather than any kind of focussed progression!