Gonna try to get there maybe in the summer on 2 wheels rather than 2 planks.
Anyway. Just booked another long weekend. Had 2 days spare that needed using up before christmas. So that makes:
T-17days - Austria (follow the snow)
T-25days - Tignes
T-88days - Sella Ronda
just need to book a weekend in January, then that'll be my lot for the season I think.
Just watched that video and a little bit of wee came out. Can't wait for February 😀
I like a nice happy here-we-are-having-a-laugh vid - much closer to what I do and enjoy, compared to the standard superslowmo-1080-Cab-over-a-1000ft-drop stuff (which is nice, but harder to relate to at my skill level).
Hell yeah! Always like to see a real larking about vid like that. Sums up why ski trips are so much fun!
I just got the new BASI manual, gawd it looks head wrecking lol, not my idea of bedtime reading!!
Just booked Tignes for a week on the 10th of March. Can't bloody wait!
Can't wait for February
Can't bloody wait!
I hate you all! 😉
However, if you do not [s]allow me to live your trips vicariously while looking after the soon to arrive Mini-Flash[/s] post lots of pictures on here from your trips, I may have to kill you. To death.
🙂
Ha ha, if we're all dead flashy, who'll keep your thread going? 😉
😆 Thanks, BH! A much needed giggle after today!
I loves this thread. Last year's was a delight. Full of banter, amusement and experiences. Sort of what STW should be, IMHO. I'm confident this year's edition will be the same! And then, next year, it'll be, "What skis for a one year old?" from me! 🙂
And then, next year, it'll be, "What skis for a one year old?" from me!
Careful now... 😉
😀 Starting them too early? 😉
Just pop it on the magic carpet and away it goes.
When is the babber due, Flashy?
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A week tomorrow, Wallop.
Fingers crossed and all that! 🙂
How exciting, another mini STW skier to join the fold.
Our next door (but one) neighbour gave birth last Saturday. Her husband delivered the baby at the top of the stairs after a 40 minute labour, they didn't have time to get the mum to hospital.
Eeeek! How exciting!
Best of luck flashy!
@Starrman82 If you haven't booked ski lessons in Meribel yet I'd recommend:
[url= http://www.parallel-lines.com/ ]Parallel Lines[/url] for group lesssons (British run school, brilliant tuition)
[url= http://www.skimarmalade.com/ ]Marmalade[/url] for privates (all Brits, best instructors in the valley IMHO but you pay a bit of a premium)
[url= http://cab9snowboarding.com/ ]CAB9[/url] for snowboarding lessons (Jono & Lee are top fellas, can ride "a bit" and will get you progressing in double quick time).
Hope that helps
Andy
Time to join the fray.......
New Scott Crusades have just been delivered and a week in Nendaz lined up for the 27th December 😀
No snow for me in the near future as I seem to be spending all of my holidays in Asia cycling or triathloning, however this was last Christmas 😀
Cheers, Rich
I just heard on Radio 2 that some insurance companies are insisting in compulsory helmet wearing on the slopes. This is new to me.
Edit: I'm seeing T.J this weekend, I'll ask him his thoughts, maybe not 😉
Just booked Morzine for March with 5 mates. I'm going to the Cairngorms in February and really hoping the snow gods are smiling on me for that.
Agree with the comment that videos like the one posted really get you in the mood. Why didn't I take up skiing earlier? All those years wasted, better late than never I suppose.
Here's part II:
Corduroy at 1.10ish....LUSH!
I said that too! Did you spot the onesie? 😆
Did you spot the onesie?
I have clever selecta-vision. My eyesight blanks out such things. 🙂
Me and my housemates made a video for our end of year ball when we were at Uni 4 years ago. No Go Pro footage unfortunately (we were all skint from skiing) but some funny crashes and the general banter from a year in Newcastle Uni ski club.
Teh OSSUMNEZZ!
Anyone ever used a luggage courier service?
With LyingAir charging £50 each way for 20kg ski/board carriage it starts to look economical.
The rival chalet company in Slovakia reckon they can do it for £65 return with a 30kg limit!
That's damn good but I can't use them obviously, so I'm searching for a company that'll do it for a similar price.
Have you tried looking at the likes of UPS/DHL etc?
(Or go somewhere served by a proper airline! 😉 )
There are a few, most of which just resell UPS/DHL etc. services. One used to do a full service of the skis/board to add some value to the service.
Never used any of these, but they are ones that were suggested elsewhere:
http://www.skicarriage.co.uk
http://www.deliveriestothealps.co.uk
http://www.fetchmyluggage.co.uk
I'd expect all cost more than stock DHL prices, and probably make more sense transporting skis/boards in group sizes.
edit: I guess it needs to have a hotel willing to accept deliveries days before arrival, and willing to expect a DHL guy to turn up at least 2 days after departure.
About to buy my first pair of boots. Can anyone recommend a good boot fitter in or near Manchester? I've been told Graeme at Rivington Alpine is good.
I've been told Graeme at Rivington Alpine is good
Have heard the same. Certainly seems well praised.
S&R had a great team of fitters up there a couple of years ago, but I'm not totally sure if they've kept up the quality for this year. (Haven't been oop Norf in a while!)
Re: the luggage shipping companies we've used Andy at Deliveries to the Alps to get stuff out to resort in the past. Lovely guy and very organised. When he was out in the Alps last season he we out on Friday nights and delivering on Saturday and Sunday.
Graham at Rivington is great and a really nice guy too. Very helpful and good service.
Re: the luggage shipping companies we've used Andy at Deliveries to the Alps to get stuff out to resort
Cheers. Slight issue is that I want it for Slovakia (the Tatras, not the Alps) - most of the only seem to do Alpine resorts, and then mainly France.
http://www.fetchmyluggage.co.uk cover Slovakia but its £102 return which is (just) more expensive that RyanAir.
Possibly still worth it to save hauling a bag around the airport and trains though.
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http://serrechevalier.livecam360.net/cucumelle
Fresh (animal!) tracks atop the Cucumelle today. The Serre Ratier cam looks like it was turbo-puke over the weekend!
Eeep!
What could those pud prints be from?
There are wolves in the Serre Che area, but I don't think that's what made those. Most likely to be rabbit, as it's a little small for marmotte or ibex, I reckon. I've seen similar on many a first lift day up at the tops.
Vicious little blighters are yer ackshewal marmottes. Vicious.
We saw a fair few marmottes in Les Arcs in the summer. Difficult one to add to my repertoire of animal noises.
On one of my first days skiing I saw a mouse trying to cross the busiest green run in Alpe d'Huez during the busiest week of the year. I got our instructor to stop and transport it off the piste. Had to get him to do it as I was barely capable of moving in a safe manor, let alone stop near the mouse bend over to pick it up (without falling over and crushing it). 😆
Chamois?
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I remember one of these stood watching us as we hiked up a ridge last year. You could almost hear it thinking "What [i]are[/i] they doing??" as we stumbled on deep snow pockets and icy rocks. 😀
We got the last laugh though - his brother is polishing my car.
Edit: just looked at the photo. Could be [url= http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mountain_hare ]Mountain Hare[/url]? Note the two big prints at the back and front feet together in front of it.
Just confirmed:
Feb - week on the Stubai Glacier, work trip
Mar - long weekend in Chamonix, staying with a mate who lives out there
Unfortunately no new gear this year, except maybe new speccy goggles...
We got the last laugh though - his brother is polishing my car.
😆
Bit of speed flying/skiing action from Glencoe:
Awfully quiet around here these days *see's tumble weed blowing across*.
