[Closed] The STW Ski & Snowboard thread. The 2012-2013 season

Yeah Andy, I did highlight that one to the OH, but she doesn't like to go at half term either. Something about only having a week off and not wanting to spend all that time away when she'll have marking/lesson planning to do.

Means we usually go at Christmas and Easter. Not bad I suppose, but means we have a smaller chance of having the best mid season conditions.

VT on opening day

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Meribel Valley today. It's bloomin' cold today and snowing to 1100m. 😀

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Pretty sick in Tignes today! Lots of freshies up top and more still falling. Maybe some blue skies tomorrow. Woot! 😈

Firstly , Congrats to CFH + Mrs CFH , bloody good show.

Now , more importantly , given the choice for Chrimbo on the snow where would you go .. Mayrhofen or Sauze D'oux ? Found 2 deals at £500 plus LP . Have an option on a CC in VDI , but its a 1/2mile to the nearest lift ( walk) or for abit more Verbier in CC .

oh , more info to make the choice , Me skiing , good / advanced . 180's , ally oops , one footed carving , fakie riding , love powder and being out of my comfort zone ( need to drop in backwards to get past the point of no return ) Bleeper/ arva kit.

Thanks, STM! 🙂

We did Sauze at Christmas a couple of years ago and it was lovely. Really nice little village, lovely Christmassy feel to it all. However.....If you're at that level, you might find it a little limited to be honest. Lots to explore on the whole Milky Way, but not sure Sauze is the best option. Which is a shame!

Go to Serre Che. It's ace! 🙂

Mayrhofen, Never been but looked into it as I really fancy going, Zillertal is a huge area so should be plenty of options/terrain, also glacier skiing just in case snow is a bit dodgy (should be fine, but you never know).

Loving Portillo training it around Switzerland on BBC2 at the moment.

Loving Portillo training it around Switzerland on BBC2 at the moment.

Was watching that as well. Very absorbing TV, fascinating and lovely stuff.

Mayrhofen/Zillertal is my place of choice for a crafty weekend. These days I tend to go to Kaltenbach or Zell am Ziller, mainly because of the seriously extensive parking. Probably sneak in a weekend there in January.
Never been to or needed to go to Hintertux. If the weather's ace then may as well stay low and not suffer the bus crowds, and if the weather's bleak then stay low in amongst the trees. Nice to have the option though.

Oh and just watched that Portillo prog. Can't wait to go back to Wengen/Jungfrau region again.

Slightly off topic from the previous posts, but just stumbles upon this, a Tanner Hall sound board with some of his best quotes, he has nothing on Goethe or Plato though.

[url= http://tannerhall.com/soundboard/ ]T Hall Soundboard[/url]

Has anybody been to Zakopane in Poland? My brother has just booked a weekend there in Feb and I just wondered what peoples thoughts were.

Friday Blast from the Past: the intro to "Shadrack Meshack Abednigo" (1994) probably the first snowboard film I ever watched.

Anyone been to bansko or Kranskja Gora?

Sorry, can't mention Bulgaria without me posting this video.

Warning: deliberately not embedded because it contains some profanity. VERY funny though.

Loving Portillo training it around Switzerland on BBC2 at the moment.

Time for some Saturday Ski-Pron.
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Loads more here - http://www.skilogik.com/customlab2.php

Going for a week in Soll with my wife at the end of Jan for our first ski holiday. She's only been once before up north so she'll love it (she picked it up stupidly quickly).

Good food, cold weather. blue skies tree-lined runs and not too many Brits, bliss!

I love the look of Prior skis. My mate won a pair of these last year with a custom base. ****! 😡

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When does Ski Sunday start again?

View from the balcony this morning:

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Hands up all those who hate Stevo right now!
*Hand goes up*

Is anyone else getting spam from Cristalski after posting on this thread?

dbl post sorry

Just watching the womens downhill from Lake Louise. Some lookers in there! Hard to tell with all their gear on, just mainly going by the thumbnail pic you see of them at the start lol. Anna Fenninger isn't bad looking, Lara Gutt is probably the best but I don't see her in this race.

OMG Lindsay Vonn's recovery!!! INSANE!!! 😐

Would you kind folk be able to do me a favour and see if you can get onto the Dynastar website???
I can't seem to for some reason and I've tried two different laptops. I emailed the Dynastar UK rep and he said it's working fine for him ❓ . If other people can log on then it must be problem with one of the laptops I'm using.

[url= http://www.dynastar.com/IV/FR/ ]Here it is.[/url]

I just get this message I try going on to it.

This webpage has a redirect loop
The webpage at http://www.dynastar.com/IV/FR/ has resulted in too many redirects. Clearing your cookies for this site or allowing third-party cookies may fix the problem. If not, it is possibly a server configuration issue and not a problem with your computer.
Here are some suggestions:
Reload this webpage later.
Learn more about this problem.
Error 310 (net::ERR_TOO_MANY_REDIRECTS): There were too many redirects.

Works for me. 50% off sale for next 10 minutes too! 🙂

Goes to http://www.dynastar.com/GB/GB/ for me and it works fine.

And those Chams look lovely....

Sweet that link works a charm. Obv google was just throwing me the wrong one.

And ye the Chams look ace.

Just noticed a picture on the Dynastar website of four skiers skiing together with no helmets. Don't mean to open a can of worms, but sheesh! Shouldn't a ski manufacturer be setting an example?

Une sortie rando hier et fond ce matin. La descente en rando a commencé dans une poudreuse lourde à 2200m pour finir sur une neige croûtée piégeuse. Je redoubte toujours la première descente de l'hiver, une manque de condition et des appuis encore hésitants m'amênent souvent à la faute. Il ne fallait pas annoncé sur STW que j'avais passé la dernière saison sans chute, un ski a fait le sous marin sous la croûte pour me rappeler que la neige peut être à la fois trop dure et trop molle.

De retour à l'appart' il faisait -7°C au balcon et 5°C à l'interieur: pas besoin de brancher le frigo.

Shouldn't a ski manufacturer be setting an example?

Franchement, non.

Erm any chance of that in English for those of us whose French isn't quite upto that level.

Basically he is telling us it's a bit cold.

Snow snow snow. That's the weather in Tignes. Forecast is snow all week.
edit: was mostly grass this time last year.

Tested some skis today. free day tomorrow. skills clinic for the otherdays, but hoping to blag some Movement Jams for another go.

i'm off to chamonix again in february with my daughter, cant wait 🙂

Hmmm even more snow. Zero vis. No lifts running yet. Apparently. Hoping for knee deep powder on piste for lessons tomorrow.

Snow at 1000m in Morzine.

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Lots of clouds in the area looks promising.

Skierists: the website that shall not be named (but sounds a lot like "Port Hirsute") has up to 50% off Spyder jackets at the moment!

I know Spyder are normally horrifically expensive so thought it may be of interest.

Spyder? Oh my dear Lord above, no! Shocking stuff for doctors and army officers only! 🙂

Fair enough. I don't know owt about skiwear - just notice that a lot of reps and instructors seem to wear Spyder. And that it is mightily pricey stuff!

1000!

My name is hammerite and I own some Spyder gloves 😳

In my defence I got them at Easter from a shop in resort that had an end of season sale, so I didn't pay a huge amount for them.

Do people actually wear these? They look like lederhosen made from technical fabric http://www.sportpursuit.com/sales/spyder-mens-samples/mens-stretch-training-short-large-black

Spyder is typically worn by a doctor, dentist, army officer or City boy. Bought when flush, it's "Still fine, even after fifteen years, see?"

I are currently wearing Eider, Schoffel, TNF, Salomon and Hestra. Thanks to those nice companies.......

I'm still wearing 'Rodeo' care of C&A.

Seriously I still have Westbeach which is over 10 years old. Why change the stuff when it's fit for purpose?

Flashy are Hestra gloves worth the price? Even with a discount?

Yes

Agree Hestra gloves are really good.

Hestra next on my list when the current Levels die.

Or more Levels. They are pretty good.

nedrapier wears Trew Gear Trewth Bibs, and one or more of Rab VapourRise Lite Tour, Norrona Falketind, ME Changabang.

michaelmcc: Hestra definitely worth it (at least at instructor price!).

I got a set of Heli-ski gloves last year, plus some merino liners for really cold days (I get cold hands). Wore them almost every day last season. Been great and still look brand new.

Snow getting silly in Sainte Foy too:

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http://hestragloves.com/en-us/gloves/alpine-pro/heli-glove/

I have the three finger version, in black.

Worth every penny! If you have to pay for them, that is! 😀

My season's looking even better now as a supplier has just invited me to a 3 day freebie in Morzine at the beginning of Feb, tagged on to the back of our annual Amsterdam trade fare!

Don't mind if I do...

Digby wears a combination of Howies merino base layers, Arc'teryx jackets, TNF & Sweet Protection trousers, Dakine & Arc'teryx gloves. (worn under the sleeve cuffs).

Used to really like Westbeach stuff, but I'm a bit clumsy so they don't tend to last very long. Once had a pair of Westbeach trousers that ripped open at the crotch - realised this when it was about minus 20 and when i picked up speed on the board, I could feel 'Stephen & the twins' shrinking! 😳

I'm outfitted by Columbia Outdoors jacket, Quicksilver or Killtec trousers, Spyder gloves, baselayers from Helly and Odlo, Teklo socks, Lange boots and a Protec helmet. Then various random runny race t-shirts (technical fabric) and fleecey type things if it's really cold.

I wear about 5 layers and a fleece buff.
Thermal leggings under my fleece lined trousers.
The best socks I can afford and mittens not gloves.
Once had an out of body experience in Canada, minus 28 with wind chill, thought I was going to die. So always prepared now.

Snow above looks fantastic 🙂

Usually just westbeach trousers and depending on the weather that day some thermals. Eider jacket with TNF fleece and wicker top. Dakine gloves and a Bern helmet with a thin balaclava thingy under it.

Question for ski gurus. Currently have an old pair of rossi B2s which are seen as the best 50/50 ski. Going to whistler and japan this season so have been looking at a more 70/30 ski due to off piste and back country opportunities. The hard bit is, I'll be tellieing so the skis have to be light for touring but I still want some stiffness/support for the piste.

Its driving me up the wall because I just can't seem to find what I want. Thought of S7's or the new Salomon rocker, but dont think I'll get the piste support I'm after. K2's skis seem to be polarised too much between pow and piste with not much inbetween.

At the end of the day, I'm asking, whats the best allrounder?!

Glitchymogul

Avalanche today. Afaict 1 regained conciousness, 1 didn't. There's avy risk and barriers for a reason. 40 degree unpisted slope.

Arc'teryx gloves. (worn under the sleeve cuffs).

*Frown*... I HATE when kids in ski school insist on having the gloves tucked under the sleeve like that. Well, maybe not hate, but it can be slightly annoying when it looks like we're all ready to ski off with all our skis/kit on and then some kids want their gloves tucked in.

Is everyone saying their clothing/kit list I'll go!

Volcom jacket, some unknown make sallopets, helly thermal, ice breaker mid layer, TNF Down jacket to wear under my outer jacket (on really cold days), X-socks, reisch gloves, Oakley and Bolle goggles (both different lenses), Technica boots.

Question for ski gurus. Currently have an old pair of rossi B2s which are seen as the best 50/50 ski. Going to whistler and japan this season so have been looking at a more 70/30 ski due to off piste and back country opportunities. The hard bit is, I'll be tellieing so the skis have to be light for touring but I still want some stiffness/support for the piste.

Wouldn't exactly call myself a guru but I know a fair bit! I was in Whistler for a year, and I can say that the style of skiing there is a fair bit different to Europe! You RARELY see people just blasting on piste with their carver skis trying to get as much edge as possible, and hardly any mincers out there. Do the idea of what an all mountain is out there is a fair bit different to over here! If you're like me you'll pretty much never ski on piste in whis unless you're skiing to another off piste place, or just finished an off piste run, so the piste capabilities of a ski would be very low on my list for whis, and japan. .
Not sure about the touring possibilities of all mountain type skis these days. The rockers look like a sweet all mountain ski though. I own the line prophet 98's which i love.

I HATE when kids in ski school insist on having the gloves tucked under the sleeve like that

lol ... I know exactly what you mean michealmcc. I think winter sports/hobbies bring out the OCD in many people and there's nothing worse than a fiddler & faffer when everyone else is ready to roll!

... bit like Rafa Nadal constantly picking at his wedgie, rubbing his nose, sniffing his fingers and putting his hair behind his ears! 😆

I reckon the 'gloves under the sleeves' thing only works if you have low profile gloves and suitable sleeves in your jacket. Watching people trying to do it with a gauntlet/powder cuff style of glove is like watching someone trying to cram a sleeping bag into a stuff sack! 😕

The hard bit is, I'll be tellieing so the skis have to be light for touring but I still want some stiffness/support for the piste.

Edit: to add [url= http://snowheads.com/ski-forum/viewtopic.php?t=75382 ]Clicky[/url] for review of said ski

Never understood the whole "gloves under sleeves" thing.

Gauntlets work so much better. It's just a stupid fashion-over-common-sense thing. Nothing wrong with looking good - but even in a ski resort you are still "in the mountains" and function comes first!

Gloves under sleeves? What do you mean?

Like the opening end of your gloves under the end of your jacket sleeve? (technical terms coming to the fore).

I do that. Not for fashion wouldn't know if it's fashionable, just that it's easier to get a tight seal between sleeve and glove for me that way. Stops any draft getting up my arm. I think I've only managed to get snow up my sleeve in my first week skiing which probably means I don't try hard enough!

I'm a balding bloke in my forties so fashion isn't exactly high on my priorities! 🙄

Comes down to personal preference I reckon - I can definitely see the advantages of 'over' gloves/mittens if you have narrow(ish) sleeves on your jacket and you frequently ride/bail in deep powder.

However in my own experience with 'over gloves' I always ended up with more snow in the gauntlet/cuff, forming chunks of ice which would invariable make their way into the glove part (when removing the glove etc) and melt thus making it harder to dry - leading to 'funky glove' syndrome. Plus I never got on with the extra bulk & fasteners & tassles etc.

Bit like mountain bike gloves I guess - some people like the gel padded variety and some people like the low profile seamless ones.

Vive le difference! 😀

I do that. Not for fashion wouldn't know if it's fashionable

Over used to be fashionable, back in the day. Under is these days.
Those with sense do what works for them 😀

it's easier to get a tight seal between sleeve and glove for me that way. Stops any draft getting up my arm.

I used to wear Burton Gauntlets that come halfway up your forearm and have big thick liners. Super toasty and drafts were definitely not an issue.

These days proper gauntlets are harder to get, due to folk going for under-cuff gloves. I'm currently using Dakine Scouts which are not bad.

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I prefer over-the-cuff for two reasons: you don't get snow up your arm when you fall over and have to push yourself up in deep powder (something that happens a lot to me as I'm very much a slackcountry novice) and it makes it much easier to quickly whip the glove off while taking photos.

My sleeves have those lycra end bits attached, that go over your hand and thumb (very warm) so it's not possible to put my mitts under my sleeves.

I also use the mitt strings around my wrist (being a faffer) like a small child 🙂
What's all this fashion you talk off?

Mechmonkey, just checked out the DPS website and some reviews. Looks like exactly what I'm after but pricey.

Michealmcc, thinking the plan of attack will be find a good hire shop in Whistler and ask If they can get some skis in for me to demo. Cause they may need to get different bindings on I'll need to get in touch before I go. Know any good hire shops there?

Thumb loops? EVERYBODY loves a thumb loop!

Oh, and idiot strings around the wrists? No shame in that. Far better to be able to take gloves off on a lift for that scenic photo opp and [i]not[/i] lose your £100 or so gloves!

Hmm ye it depends what makes you're after. Summit sports (just beside the main gondi building) seem to have the best selection of skis to buy. I never rented or demo'd skis out there myself, there is a demo tent at the top of the Whistler gondi where you just need to leave your credit card and take out any skis they have for demo that you like, no booking required.
For shop's I'd also highly recommend Can Ski and Whistler Village Sports (slightly biased with that place cuz I worked there!). The staff in both those places are really cool and friendly though. Both of those are at the top of the village stroll just before you get to the gondolas.

Going to narrow it down to 5 and see if between the shops I can demo at least 3. Will prob just go ahead and buy out there. Thanks for the help!

Ps, the missus worked 2 seasons there but because she insists on being stuck in the nineties (boarder), she can't remember which shops will be best for ski demo's. 🙄

I like the look of thumb loops but never bought anything with them. Jnr decided it was cold so wore a base layer today with thumb loops under his school uniform, ended up getting a detention as a teacher thought he was wearing gloves in class!

Thanks for clearing up the sleeve/glove thing. Glad it's something not to worry about! I'm another proud idiot string user.

On the "what shall I wear topic", as I tend to go near the end of the season (warmer with small children) the answer is very little.

Surfanic trousers a base layer and North Face gloves last year. No jacket required.

Ah yes skiing at the end of season can be incredibly warm.

A chap we skied with was so warm he took off all his tops. Luckily he had a pierced nipple to which he hung his lift pass.
T'was very funny.

Can anybody recommend a transfer company to go from Geneva to Morzine? Aplybus is the cheapest I have come across at around £40 per head for the 6 of us (return trip too). That or does anybody live in the area that wants to make a couple of quid at the end of Feb?

Can anybody recommend a transfer company to go from Geneva to Morzine? Aplybus is the cheapest I have come across at around £40 per head for the 6 of us (return trip too). That or does anybody live in the area that wants to make a couple of quid at the end of Feb?

£40 sounds like a good deal. Our chalet's transfer service is charging £55 per head return.

Morz Express ? , as spin off of Cham Express .
Should be less than £40, more like £30 if pre booked.
Looking at booking tomorrow if my mate gets his ar$e in gear and says Yes , he is deffo up for a christmas bimble.

Oh and cobrakai, since you're going to Whistler I'd deffo take a look at Prior skis. Made there in Function junction just outside, sick graphics and basis, you choose the ski and then the graphics after.

My mate sent me a link for a company. You send them any graphics you want and the type of ski's, then they will make graphics for them. Quite cheap and all you have to do is heat treat them on. I'll try and dig it out.