I bet you've got all the gear...
Un peu du fartage! Getting ready...
[url= http://video.mpora.com/watch/bLWJiaFjz/hd/ ]Wax on, wax off...[/url]
Erm.... 😳
I have quite a lot of stuff as it happens, from several very friendly companies from a previous job..... (Big thanks to Eider, TNF, Salomon, Smith, Oakley, Hestra, FAIISE, Burton, Killy, Buff, Columbia, Schoffel, Helly Hansen, Odlo, Icebreaker and Smartwool!) 8)
oh dear, too easy
Guilty as charged, m'lud!
Couldn't persuade anyone to give me any skis, though. Still not sure about buying, as I only do one or two weeks a year.
S****.
My stuff is ancient, why buy all this new, bigger, wider, go faster, when my old school parabolics, do the job.
Oh and I have been off piste 'proper' with guides and everything. Spent most of that morning on my arse though.
pretty heavy and slushing in PDS today - cooled down through the afternoon though, and more snow forecast for the next couple of days...
mutzigs in robbos were appreciated afterwards.
Benn to glenshee and glencoe already last year, coe was awesome on the 17th dec.. will try and get up most weekends weather permitting. Off out to morzine start of march, cant wait!
Thought my Rossi S86s were excellent and a fair bit better than my older Bandits B2s.
86mm with slight rocker meant nice and floaty in the deeper stuff, but strong edges on the piste where the rocker made them feel shorter than their 178cm.
Friends on Sultans (85 and 94) with no rockers were complaining of catching edges with the tips, so rocker seems to be a worthwhile improvement (skills compensator).
Roll on St Anton in 4 weeks 🙂
Not as good as the season 3 or 4 years ago as that started in Late Oct but its bigger in Europe now. Everything filled in and everything will go once we get the stability.
Some videos for your pleasure:
I like Movement Skis...used the Logic model for last 2yrs easy to ski but still can hold edge when needed....very light too. Im mainly doing guided off piste ..i had 11days in Dec with Wayne Watson(superb!) .. can't wait till my next trip 🙂
Had a great week in Cervinia last week. First day we only had one tiny lift open as it was so windy (quite good to get the legs going on the same 2 runs over and over again), but that was followed by 4 days of bright sunshine, stillness and fantastic snow. Last day was windy, but all the lifts were open.
Now planning our Easter trip. Seen a really good deal to Sauze, but the OH isn't keen to book this early with their dodgy late snow record. Especially after last year and the ever decreasing snow at Les Arcs while we were there.
hammerite, if you go to Sauze, get to the Orso Bianco at Sportinia for pizza. 'Tis epic!
Cervinia must be fantastic in winter with the Matterhorn as a background.
I remember sitting on one of the chairs at Cervinia on the way up to Rosa and seeing a snow storm barrelling down the side of the Matterhorn and then coming straight towards us across the glacier. They stopped the lift, me and my mate turned away as best we could then got hit by this wall of wind and snow. Immediately the chair went out to what felt like degrees and it was howling. The thing was over in about a minute, blue skies and off we went again.
It is a cracking backdrop, plus you've got Zermatt to play in as well. I'm off to France in 3 weeks, then Sweden; I can't wait
Now then.....Ski hire shop has the following options for me to hire. Which to plump for....
Salomon Enduro LX750
Rossi Experience 78
Head iPeak 74
Dynastar outland 80
Fischer Progressor 700
Atomic Vario Scandium
So far, I'm erring towards either the Salomon or Dynastars. Used Enduros last year quite a lot and really liked them, but then have heard good things about Dynastar (Sultans, though). Anyone skied any of those? I think the Fischer and Atomic might be a bit too "racy" piste based for me, as I want to get a bit more beyond the ropes this year!
Thanks CF, epic pizza certainly get's my vote.
Skiing with the Matterhorn as a backdrop is very cool. Looks even better from the Zermatt side, as it's looks a lot more "pointy".
We were hit by wind and snow on one of the chairs, sat there for 25 mins absolutely frozen. That accelerated the lunch stop forward a bit!
Actually if I had to criticise Cervinia for anything it would be the feeling that I always had to clock watch. Was getting paranoid that we'd miss the last gondola up from the Zermatt side and end up stuck there the night (like the staff from our hotel did)!
That's never a good thing!
One thing I love about Serre Che is the awesome free ski bus running up and down the valley. Get caught out on the hill? Just head down to any of the villages and pick up a bus back.
Had a great week last week at Montgenèvre, loads of snow and lots of fresh powder. I'm still using my 4 year old Decathlon Wed'ze skis which I really like (not that I've tried any others, so wouldn't know the difference).
[url= http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7024/6630760681_079fb88682_b.jp g" target="_blank">
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/brf/6630760681/ ]Lots of fresh powder[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/brf/ ]brf[/url], on Flickr
People are going to die this week - and I mean that quite literally, not figuratively. They're not going to die from happiness, they're going to die under tons of snow. There's so much snow in the alps at the moment that entire communities are trapped. Zermatt is cut off - road and rail are shut due to avalanche risk, and air travel is not possible due to the heavy snow (well,as of 10pm uk time last night).
The main road up the Haute Tarentaise is closed from Bourg St Maurice onwards due to the snow. People are being told not to travel between the various villages in Tignes
There are road closures around Les Deux Alpes and Alpe d'Huez due to the snow
Despite all this the "hardcore" will be charging off the first lift, desperately seeking those elusive "first tracks". And sadly, some of them will trigger avalanches, and some of them will die.
Be careful out there folks.
From what I saw last month I think nbt is on the nail. I have never ever seen snowfall like it.
[url= http://www.phased.co.uk/index.php/blatherings/94-writing-the-book-week-fifty-two.html ]My trip report from December[/url]
NBT +many!
The Lautaret pass is shut, from what I gather. There's a ton of the stuff out there and it only takes one idiot.....
Safety first, folks.
I was talking to my friends in Val D'Isere last night and it sounds pretty grim. Massive winds and some windows blown in etc.
80cm in the day and another 80cm over night. The road from Bourg is closed and opening at 10am earliest.
People were genuinely scared last night.
La Plagne is more or less entirely shut - there are just two drag lifts open down at the very bottom end of Montalbert
[img] 
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They don't close entire resorts for no reason. Let me re-iterate, be careful out there folks...
And bear in mind that La Plagne is *down* the valley from the place where the road is shut from BSM onwards (please don't call it "Bourg", "Bourg" means "Town" and thus is meaningless on it's own - use BSM if you can't be bothered typing the full name)
La Plagne is more or less entirely shut - there are just two drag lifts open down at the very bottom end of Montalbert
Holy moly!
From the alps
The Mont Blanc massif, all of the Savoie and the Belledonne range in the Isere are all on extreme avalanche alert tonight with a risk of 5/5 (road closures and buildings liable to be damaged). In Val d'Isere where two vehicles were buried up to their windows on the road to la Daille earlier today people in buildings at risk have been told to keep shutters closed and a number of footpaths are out of bounds.
The road between les Menuires and Val Thorens has been cut by three avalanches. One of them is 4 meters high and has hit a number of cars without injuring anyone. People are being found emergency accomodation in les Menuires tonight. The road to les Arcs is closed. In the Maurienne Bonneval and Bessans are cut off, no road, no power. In the Isere an avalanche has blocked the road at Clavans near l'Alpe d'Huez and another slide had hit the main Grenoble Briancon road at Livet et Gavet.
High winds at Geneva airport this evening where a fallen try by the autoroute was causing traffic chaos at 6pm.
I drove across the whole of the Savoy tonight and it can only be said that driving conditions were appalling. High winds and rain. Given the avalanche forecast I think the police should have been more proactive at closing access to ski resorts. The Col du Lauteret and Vars in the south have both been closed until tomorrow morning (despite the Isere highway's dept website claiming the col is open).
St anton now has 4 metres at mid station!
[url= http://serrechevalier.livecam360.net/cucumelle ]No one on the Cucumelle today. Looks like the Vallons lift isn't running to me. [/url]
Skied there only last week - weird to see it completely deserted!
Serre Che, Footflaps? How was it? Off in a couple of weeks!
SC website shows Vallons isn't running - you can get the bubble to the top at the Briancon end, but as you go up the valley the lifts stop lower than the ridge
PSA - 20% off hundreds snow pants, jackets etc. here -
http://www.surfdome.com/pages/hit_the_slopes
I know there is some distance (and probably height) between these sites but this really isn't comforting when I am going skiing for the first time in Morzine in two weeks.
nbt - Member
People are going to die this week - and I mean that quite literally, not figuratively. They're not going to die from happiness, they're going to die under tons of snow. There's so much snow in the alps at the moment that entire communities are trapped. Zermatt is cut off - road and rail are shut due to avalanche risk, and air travel is not possible due to the heavy snow (well,as of 10pm uk time last night).The main road up the Haute Tarentaise is closed from Bourg St Maurice onwards due to the snow. People are being told not to travel between the various villages in Tignes
There are road closures around Les Deux Alpes and Alpe d'Huez due to the snow
Despite all this the "hardcore" will be charging off the first lift, desperately seeking those elusive "first tracks". And sadly, some of them will trigger avalanches, and some of them will die.
Be careful out there folks.
Things will have calmed down immensely in two weeks.
In fact morzine is so low, all the snow will probably have melted in Morzine by the time you get there 😉 😆
The arlberg is affected too, much further east
Ok Folks, today is time to catch up with all that lost sleep. Everything is delayed in opening. Even the lower kinderlifts are closed !Bus connection from Flirsch & Strengen to St Anton is not possible due to Avalanche control.
AlbergPass, FlexenPass are not likely to be open today. Zurs Lech & Stuben not possible to access
We had an away day from Montgenèvre to SC, so were only there for a day and it was our one snowy day - about 20cm fell, so I didn't really get that much of a feel for it, we stayed quite low in the trees as the visibility was OK. On the higher runs it was about 5m visibility and quite unnerving as we didn't really know where we were going, so just followed our Reps when we could see them (Rachel from Crystal and John from Nielson).
Might try a day in Monty this year. Never been! Did you meet Caz from Neilson as well? Top lass!
In fact morzine is so low, all the snow will probably have melted in Morzine by the time you get there
Git
This is probably the best place to ask rather than starting a new thread but I have been looking at lessons while out there, I have already had a couple of full day dry slope ones here. ESF looks quite good particularly this deal. Anybody care to comment whether they are good or bad? The ski pass alone is 158€ so another 70€ for 6 lessons seems good.
http://www.esf-morzine.com/ski-school-morzine/adult-group-lessons/ski-adults/adult-beginner
I'm in Val d'Isere at the moment. 200kph winds on the Bellevarde last night, and the resort pretty much shut down. It must be bad as all the ESF instructors are in the pub getting pissed. It's been snowing and windy all week with the link to Tignes only open on one day.
Conditions will be awesome once the weather improves, but off to Morzine tomorrow.
I really liked Monty, not that hard - Blacks were quite easy. There's also a nice 'easy' off piste run from the top station at the Italian border down to Clavier.
Just turn left by the rocks or turn right and head down a Red into the Italian side:
[url= http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7144/6630682169_297e3e80b8_b.jp g" target="_blank">
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/brf/6630682169/ ]Route to the Italian Side[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/brf/ ]brf[/url], on Flickr
Actually if I had to criticise Cervinia for anything it would be the feeling that I always had to clock watch. Was getting paranoid that we'd miss the last gondola up from the Zermatt side and end up stuck there the night
We cut it very, very close two years ago. Just squeezed on to the last cable car up to Klein Matterhorn.
The reward was an absolutely fantastic, desserted run all the way back to Cervinia. Only the ski patrol and the piste bashers were out. 😀 Longest pisted run in Europe 8)
Ohh, and what's with the tagging???? 🙄
Don't know anything about skiing / boarding apart from my missus is good at the ski side of things and my bro-in-law likes boarding....
So thought I'd give it a go. Bought an O'Neil coat and some O'Neil gloves in the sales (happy to get £250's worth of kit for £70!) and going to do one of those 'learn to ski in a day' courses at the SnowDome or Chill FactorE, then go once or twice a month until next winter when I'll go for my first trip.
Does anyone have any advice about these courses?
Cheers all 🙂
Wow - wish I'd had those conditions the couple of time I've been to Montgenevre.
I feel sorry for people out there at the moment who must be incredibly frustrated at not being able to get out.
NBT - is that you on Snowheads SOPiB12 ? Really fancy that but going with a mate who apparently hasn't skied a black yet but has skied for a few weeks, so no idea how good/bad he is but almost certainly not up for off piste - shame 😕
going to do one of those 'learn to ski in a day' courses at the SnowDome or Chill FactorE, then go once or twice a month until next winter when I'll go for my first trip.
I predict you'll be bored crapless after two months of that. Even the biggest snow domes are still very limiting and small compared to an actual mountain.
(Unless of course you start getting jumps/rails and go along on freestyle nights - which is where snow domes are good).
Also it is worth joining something like http://www.snowboardclub.co.uk/ (or a skiing equivalent) as it soon pays for itself with discounts in shops, snow domes and courses.
Morgs, I know people who've done that course at Hemel, inside. It was great for them, as it's a fast, comprehensive way to learn. Then, get out to the mountains!
that's me on snowheads, yep
Cool. Watching Achilles video now. Doesn't look too 'extreme'. Is that fairly typical of the stuff you'd be doing?
I've not done the off piste bash before, but am looking forward to this year's. Am pretty happy with most of the videos I watched, Mrs NBT less so 🙂
Sounds good - trying to wade through the thread to find out the details.
I would LOVE to get some proper off-piste instruction/guidance.
Woody, still plenty of space on this off-piste course:
http://www.whiteroomchalet.com/win_backcountry_weeks.htm
short notice though!
and there will be others of us on the SOPiB... 🙂
Details really to come... admin has his own clock and calendar which is more relaxed... i'd pm Nick (achilles) if you have any questions...
Getting excited now, only another month to go 😀
Just persuaded my local shop to put a pair of Atomic Nomad Crimson TIs on one side for me. Now where's that credit card?
Atomic Nomad Crimson TIs
NICE! Very nice indeed. On my possible shopping list as well...!
Where are you buying 'em?
br - looks brilliant but I've got my mate to consider who is strapped for cash + I've just canx hols that very weeks so I can go in March.
Stoat - cheers, will do. Must admit I quite like the idea of a group holiday as it will be the first one for a while without 'the family' 😉
not the best video (iPhone) & some dodgy commentary, but this is from the last day of my recent trip to Morzine - dropping off the back of the Fornet lift into Vallee de la Manche.
wasn't the best snow for this run, a few days old so had received a good amount of freeze/thaw in that time - so a little heavy and crusty, but considering the week was predominantly about teaching the Mrs how to board i'm happy as larry to get into the backcountry, even though it was only 1 run and then a 45minute hike down to Nyon.
out again to val d'isere on feb 25th...this time 'sans female' and staying with my mate who's onto his 4th season there now, so expecting some big adventures.
Atomic Nomad Crimson TIs
NICE! Very nice indeed. On my possible shopping list as well...!Where are you buying 'em?
Sorry CFH, the last pair of last year's 178s in Outdoor Action at Blackburn have my name on 'em!
£360 with XTO12 bindings seemed too good to miss.
I've always found the guys there really keen to knock money off and do a good deal. Highly recommended.
Mrs nbt here.Mrs NBT less so
Yes I'm a little nervous, as all the off piste I've done in the past wasn't particularly in deep fresh powder.
I think my main worry is not being able to keep up with the chaps and so I need to really get my fitness sorted. Stil, looking forward to it though.
I'll ask nbt to put up a little video of my 'cough' attemps at off piste last Saturday (new years eve). Then you'll all see why I'm worried 🙂
Edit, He's too busy now, so hopefully I've saved my blushes for at least another few hours.
That's a great price for this years nomads. I had some of the 2008s but swapped them on for some skis I trashed last week. So some Coombacks with barons and ready shaped skins are on their way from Germany as we speak. 🙂
Nice vid apart from the last word, Peachos. 😉
I learnt to snowboard about 7 years ago at Tamworth snowdome and really enjoyed it. Unfortunately I had no target like you do so soon got fed up with going there as it is quite expensive. A few monts ago it was announced that we are going on a family trip to Morzine for my FILs 60th with the other 5 adults having skied for about 20 years each and me with nearly no snowboarding experience I decided to learn how to ski so I would be able to get advice on what I was doing wrong from the others. I went to the local dry slope for a ski in a day course and it was ok. I have been a few times since and have improved somewhat but cant wait to get on the snow.
I have to say that getting the hang of boarding was definitely easier but in the medium term in improvement terms I have no idea. But I am going to get back on a board at Tamworth later in the year as I would like to be able to do both in the future.
Peachos, SBZ will be along shortly to slate your skillz...! 😉
Good price on those Nomads!
La Plagne is more or less entirely shut
Ay caramba! 😯
Not so long ago friends of mine who live out there were looking out at green and brown slopes scratching their heads. I'm heading out there in a couple of weeks' time!
Time to wax some skis. Rex violet with a "rainureuse" to finish I think.
SBZ will be along shortly to slate your skillz...!
happy to take advice from anyone who can tell my level of riding from that clip!!
thanks all! Now, stupid question (maybe...?) would (should...?) Switzerland be snowy in mid december?
from the clothing thread;
CF -
(Not me, BTW, although I have ridden those BBRs!)
how did you find them? seen a few out and about around here, and am intrigued... good for piste and powder?
if it weren't for the gopping colour (and the fact that they'd clash with my ski pants 😳 ) i'd almost be tempted...
Bit late to this thread; we're going for a short (thurs-mon) trip in Feb to Combloux, never been therefore before.
@hungrymonkey, I'd rate them as a good all rounder. Pretty much a 50/50 split ski. I liked them, a lot. But.....Not enough to buy them over a pair of the utterly magnificent Salomon Enduros.
They were pretty good in choppy stuff and crud, not too bad on the loose stuff, and great fun on piste, but overall, not enough to persuade me to buy a pair. Yet......They'll be even better next year!
Only other thing was....At the top of EVERY lift, having to explain to someone what they were! 🙂
ah, fair enough.
think my next pair will be a nice set of freeride skis - fat(ish) (110 waist) and twin tipped.
CFH - are you CarlosTheSlackal?
Either that or the mild mannered janitor......
😉
Spent a fantastic week in Zermatt enjoying mixed weather both on the Swiss and Italian side down to Cervinia. Lots of fun both on and off-piste, just finished editing a little video giving a taster of the trip. Unfortunately I had leant my GoPro to a friend as this was a rather impromptu organised affair, so the footage is all from a little hand-held HD camera. As such not much exciting fast first-person stuff as that was all too shaky.
Cheers, Rich
Wonderful. Looks like you had a lot of fun and fantastic snow.
Playing around under the Jungeralm lift, Bad Gastein, New years eve.
No music, just plenty of squeals.
Higgo = higs?
Higgo = higs?
nearly.....
higgo = Higs.
Pedant! 🙂
and while we're at it...
I think I've worked out who 'NBT' is.
Ski Sunday starts in a bit on BBC2.
My son finished third in his GS so Rex violet with a rainureuse must have been about right. Madame thought it icy and demostrated her thoughts with some impromptu rotations. I decided a good book was more enjoyable than persisting on verglas. Meanwhile NTV showed pictures of Austrian resorts closed due to heavy snow fall.