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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!
probably been a bit guilty of just going up, looking for the best powder line and hooning it
Excellent work my friend ...
Pendantry corner though: It's a backside slash from a drop-in above his head in the photo.
I believe the correct Fernie colloquialism is:
Giv'er!!!!
😆
@nedrapier, cool, let me know on the bindings! Could always do you a part-exchange deal if you fancy a trip!
Sainte Foy would be definitely be up your street. It's quiet - you ride straight on to every lift, no hassles. There is great in-bounds freeriding after a dump and loads of hikeable backcountry stuff where the snow stays fresh & untracked for ages. North face of the Fogliettaz is about a 45-minute hike (enough to put most people off!) and is about 1700m vertical of epic steepness. It faces absolutely dead north, is sheltered from the wind and is huge, so there's always fresh tracks to be found.
On-piste, it's a small area but the pistes are all good (no flat bits/traverses/etc!) and very, very well groomed. Conditions are usually good due to the lack of crowds. A lot of mixed/family groups really like it as you get loads of space to yourself, no watching out for 3 other people every time you make a turn.
More info here:
[url] http://www.whiteroomchalet.com/winhill.htm [/url]
[url] http://www.whiteroomchalet.com/stfoybackcountry.htm [/url]
We also run this: 😉
[url= http://www.whiteroomchalet.com/win_backcountry_weeks.htm ]The White Room backcountry ski and snowboard week[/url]
Has everyone got their Avi protection gear ready?
Anyone interested in a Burton Custom 164.5 (about 2005) Drake Super S bindings (much newer) and a bag? £195 buyer collect?
I got a Rome jibber.
Looking forward to Aviemore in the new year and France/Swissland in March. Hoping for snow in the Peaks sooner rather than later.
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Can anyone help? Looking for a cheap deal (okay as cheap as it gets) to somewhere in Europe the week before Christmas for around 10 people - preferably chalet, half board, etc etc. Any recommendations of places/companies to try?
What sort of skiing do the group want?
Some of us are beginners, others have a fair bit of experience but don't think many of us are bothered about crazy off-piste stuff...
Les Arcs or Serre Che are both great for all day charging! For cheap, check out Italy. Sauze is pretty good, and te food......!
Andorra's supposed to be ace, but I hate transfers that long!
Companies? Crystal and Neilson are worth a look, IMO. Deals abound at the moment, trying to tempt some early punters.
newgal - do you want to include Christmas day or do you want to be home before that?
Need to be home for Christmas...lots of sentimental family types!
For that week then, I wouldn't go anywhere other than Tignes. Maybe one of the high Austrian resorts (e.g. Hintertux).
cool - ta muchly!
Flash, not sure if it's been answered but I have been using the scott Crusade for a season and think they're great. I'm sure you'd find the Venture to be a good all-mountain ski.
Thanks, 10. Going to be trying them at the Hemel Alp at some point, along withh the Atomics. I really should have bought some Enduros last season, as they were simply awesome.
All-mountain is what I'm after, so intrigued to see how the Ventures stack up. They're pimpy light, which is both good and bad. I'm not the lightest skier, and I like my kit to be burly. Will be interesed in how they stack up to my thighs driving them! 🙂
I know you pro tray boys will turn your nose up at it, but the Mountain Warehouse ski clothing seems pretty cheap and chearful. Is it cheap because it's horrific, or is not too bad?
Anybody been to Steamboat Springs in Colorado ?
After missing last winter due to our first child we are flying him out to meet up with some ozzy family that are staying on a ranch out there.
Home of champagne powder, but don't they all say that..