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We were out in Whistler last year visiting my brother when he was working a season!
Skiing wise it depends what kind of skiing your after as what to recommend.
When we were there we had 2m of fresh snow in 9 days so skied powder everyday! Favourite play areas were the frees underneath Crystal chair. It's a natural snow bowl and a bit quieter so got many a tree run in the deep stuff! The Crystal hut is great for a break and the waffles and Mac and cheeses are the business!
On the last day when the sun came out we really enjoyed skiing from the peak chair all the way down. Mrs Crispo isn't quite as keen on deep snow with no visibility but she loved the blue bowl up there.
If your more after cruisy runs then you have to ski all the way down to Creekside. It's a massive long run and the food at Dustys is unbelievable..... Literally anything you have is immense. The chicken wings, yam fries and a pint of Alexander Kieths IPA was the best ski lunch I've had!
Other good places for End of day beer and food is Merlins at Blackcomb day lodge. First night we ate there and the portion of nachos fed 5 of us!! At the end of the day has a great après feel to it with ski and board films on, big pitchers of beer and a dj in a gondola!
I'm so excited a wee bit of wee came out! Through contacts at work I've hopefully got us an upgrade on BA. Not telling the other half until we get to heathrow!
I'm really after improving my powder skiing. I've not really managed to get any done for the last couple of years, so the first day or 2 I'll stay outside of the treeline on unpisted runs to work on technique. Once I'm bored of practice I think by the looks of the guide book I'll go bowl hunting. Thankfully the other half still has friends in the area who are taking us out for 3 days so I hopefully won't have to spend ages studying the best routes and they'll just take us!
What's prices out there like for kit? Looking at skins, poles and transceivers?
Through contacts at work I've hopefully got us an upgrade on BA
Woo! To Premium or Club? If the latter, check out your new, massively larger baggage allowance! Then hit the lounge (If you get that with your upgrade) for a few pre-flight cheeky Vimtos.
🙂
Not telling the other half until we get to heathrow!
*swoons*
wallop - Member
Not telling the other half until we get to Heathrow!
My other half was similarly surprised when I led her straight in to the Concorde Room before a flight out to New York recently. She thought I'd booked us tickets in Premium. Pah! Up in the nose, thank you very much. (Airmiles upgrade, natch!)
Re flying, if you're a frequent flyer, well worth it on BA as it gets you a much better baggage allowance, both in weight and numbers of bags. Most useful for ski trips! Carry on Timbuk2, Bootbag and a 120l Animal wheelie bag in the hold and I'm still well under the allowance!
I've only ever turned left once. I boarded a flight to LA and was told that my seat was next to the door everyone was boarding through, therefore would I mind taking a seat in first for a few moments. I managed to squeeze in one glass of bubbly before I was asked to go back to my proper seat 😥
Sorry to say that I tend to turn left to business, if not all the way left to First, on a regular basis! I've had four or five upgrades to First and the one trip where I traded airmiles to sit there.
Upstairs is nice too. Last trip (Also LA, as it happens) saw me sitting upstairs with Susan Boyle. Nice enough lass, but definitely a few DIN settings short of a secure binding.
To be honest, even on really long haul schleps, I would't pay for First, even if I could afford it! On almost every (quality) airline these days, business is so good there's no need to. Nice when you get it free, but not worth the money!
Unfortunately I won't find out if I've got the upgrade until we check in so can't take advantage of my new baggage allowance.
Crispo. I spoke to my OH about the waffles at the crystal lodge. She has heard so much about them but in 2 seasons never managed to get them. She says it's her biggest regret!!!
All this talk about first and business class. I don't think I have ever been on a plane that had first or business. We tend to get the flights that are cheap because of the cattle that are on board and have zero luggage allowance due to the hold being full of straw!
Every time I flew Air Canada has been in 1st. Good to actually have proper knives and forks to eat the steak with, rather than the plastic disposables. On proper plates with a dinky personal table cloth. Glad company was paying.
Bog standard EU business or cattle class for every other flight though.
Aaah Whistler.
Sitting in the Longhorn with a jug of beer, wearily admiring the gorgeous barmaids, and discussing the best way to swim out of powder holes.
Happy days.
I love crystal hut, their juicy steak sandwiches are delicious - drooling now.
What's prices out there like for kit? Looking at skins, poles and transceivers?
Everything there is over priced imo! Better off buying before you go I would say.
Oh and def try the wings at Dusty's! Unbelievable!
On a "what we wore" tip, was thinking about this earlier.
When Little Miss CFH is really old enough to appreciate things, my boots, which are these;
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will look about as modern and technologically advanced as these;
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🙂
Nice CFH.
I seem to have bought some flights for Easter to Salzburg, so looks like I'll be spending some time eating strudel, germknoddel and grostl that week, oh and hopefully a bit of skiing.
For Whistler I second the Flute bowl for whenever everything else is tracked out. It's really only a 20-25 minute hike up
Whistler tomorrow for me, first trip up this season so very excited!
Whistler tomorrow for me, first trip up this season so very excited!
Be there Sunday bright and early!
Any tips/suggestions for St Gervais/Megeve/Chamonix area starting on Saturday?
1 sleep till trip #3 🙂 Anyone in Innsbruck/Zillertal?
I'm thinking I can squeeze 1 more weekend in in March 😈 (1st or 2nd weekend). Can't decide where to go though.
6 more sleeps until I head out to Wengen on my Stag. So excited about it now, looking at the forecast it's getting cold and the snow is on its way too!!
Andy - we did Chamonix for a weekend last March which was great. It's less than an hour from Geneva do easy to get to, which means fly out Friday evening and back on Sunday night and still get two full days skiing in! Plenty of reasonably high slopes too so good snow still too!
10 more sleeps for me!
10 more sleeps for me!
+1
I'm like a kid at christmas. Keep checking the weather report every half hour (snow later today, then very cold with snow showers for the rest of the week - hope this lasts). Last night I got my boots and helmet out the cupboard 'just to check them over'.
What am I going to be like next week?
Chamonix is certainly an option. Even kipping over in the Ibis in Sallanches or Thonon or somewhere, and making it up from there. Makes a change from driving down after work. Think Sunday evening flight back was at a bad time though (need to check again).
wish you lot would shut up....I'm really feeling the need to hit the slopes and I'm not going until March! 😥
[url= http://apexskiboots.com/the-system ]Intriguing. What do we reckon? I'm sure someone has tried the binding/boot separation before, but can't remember who it was! [/url]
They've tried that many a time already, they just can't get them stiff enough like that!
This time tomorrow I will be on the boat heading for France and Chamonix for a pootle, followed by a trip to Avoriaz 😀
Anyone want a last minute break on either 26th Jan or 2nd Feb?
I feel the need for more snow , and can risk waiting till next couple of weeks to get something cheaper.
Looking for something catered in Europe , not Bulgaria
On a budget but usualy find a bargain
CaptainFlashheart - Member
Intriguing. What do we reckon? I'm sure someone has tried the binding/boot separation before, but can't remember it was
Snowboard boots for skiers - no?
A snowboard binding for skiers, Flash, whatever next? It looks like they've managed to combine the (lack of) stiffness of a rando boot with the looks of a snowboard boot; it should be great for après ski or driving in but I'll need a lot of persuasion to ski in them.
More rain too high again 🙁 but the temperature drops next week and snow is forecast 🙂 You should have a good week Kevin, don't forget your pastille RECCO and ARVA if you nip under the hors-piste banners in Argentiere.
Binding looks odd.
Get boots fitted properly, and they're not painful. Pretty damn snug maybe, but not painful.
Looks like snow is on the way. Subzero here, just about, and I think snowing in Austria now? Exactly where I intend to be going tonight 🙂
Boosh, the PdS has had a much needed 20cm overnight and and its still snowing!
Dales_rider you are very lucky.
A lot of snow here in the French Alps for those of you heading over this weekend and still falling...
Where can I buy a Recco on its own?
Just googled and found a French forum. The replies got longer and longer and I stopped reading at: "on ne parle pas du fight club..." 🙂
I know an Arva is better.
20cm seems to be underestimating it a bit. More like 30 cm.
http://www.morznet.com/ski/dump/the-powder-is-back-in-the-portes-du-soleil-11th-january-2013.html
CFH. I think those bindings might be good for ski disability, especially for those with lower limb injuries. My mate has a fused ankle and I think these would be quite comfortable. Saying that, he's already bought boots and had them enlarged to fit a custom inner boot.
coming on weds night! keep some for us!A lot of snow here in the French Alps for those of you heading over this weekend and still falling..
News from Daughter in Cham loads of fresh snow, she's guiding in Les Houche off piste through the forest 🙂
Right packed and we are off 🙂 🙂
Just tried my new persimmon lenses in my googles. Then I checked the weather forecast - I shall be leaving the persimmons in. So much snow predicted on our first day!
Booked holiday #2
A week in 3 Vallees staying at Les Menuires , 26th Jan
Got a discount voucher with SkiFrance after our Monarch plane was delayed by 22 hours at chrimbo . So got a discount off the discount.
Sorry CFH !
Mont Vallon at Mach 1 , ossum
Alas no upgrade. What she doesn't know won't won't hurt.
Tell her you tried, though 😉
Menuires is ok. Nice ride back from the Follie Douce in the dark if you're not careful 🙂
May still get one inflight. I'll hold off for the now. 🙂
I know a few of you crossover to snowheads so is anybody from here going
On there 9th birthday bash to arabba?
Has anybody been on one of the previous bashes?
not going to s9bb but have bene on bashes before, always had a great time. Sure you'll enjoy it
STM - enjoy the trip. Combe de Vallon non-stop is a good leg burner and annual family challenge for us. Thighs are normally screaming by the bottom!!!! Annoying closed when we were there pre-Christmas - phew!!!!!
Take care everyone. If playing off piste make sure you are properly trained and equipped. Listen to the warnings. Coming from the heart of someone who has just lost a ski de rando friend in an avalanche.
You OK Mugsy?
Sorry to hear about your friend. Untimely deaths are always harsh and a reality / non imortality check for those left behind.
Have a bleeper and try to remember the rules . Its abit like driving though , you have to keep an eye on everyone else. Going to spend an hour in the practise zone i think.
Mugsys, very sorry to hear that too.
Sorry to hear that mugsy.
Was having holiday blues so we went to hemel hempstead last night, Wow was it busy, my first time there so not sure if always like that.
it was a lesson in how to avoid people! saw a few people crash into others and some with no helmets.
I never wore a helmet skiing in france but i defo wore one at hemel! i will be investing in a helmet.
was also suprised to find the terrain at hemel was really variable, was real fun but spent most of my time avoiding people putting me on some random path over lumpy snow with my limited skills.
great fun but stay safe people
Hmmm *goes to order a probe/shovel and transceiver*.
Stay safe people!
Just got back from Mayrhofen - great trip! Had a dump of around a foot of pow on the day we arrived, then another 10-15cm on Thursday night/Friday morning so a great last day. Got some pics and video I'll sort when I get a chance.
It was weird earlier in the week - very warm in the valley and completely bare of snow, but great conditions up the mountain.
Mayrhofen is a nice town though somewhat taken over by Russians this last week! Loved the amount of easily accessible off piste in Zell am Ziller, so much to go at.
Best snow of the year so far. I went out on my narrowest skis for that deep powder feeling in only 40cms of fresh. We stayed in the area made safe by Gazex and heard some mighty rumbles from nearby mountains.
Following on from Mugsy's advice the thing that would have saved some local victims (apart from not skiing the wrong slope at the wrong time) would have been separating for avalanche-prone slopes. Stop at a safe place, one skis to the next safe place then the others follow one by one. And if you set off an avalanche, ski down the debris rather than skiing into more fresh and setting off another avalanche.
Innsbruck next Saturday. Can't wait. Drawing up rota of resorts to visit.
Where would the STW cognisanti recommend for a first ski holiday? Obviously suitable for novices, and as importantly cheap
May have to be march (feb half term is looking silly money everywhere)
Just done New Years week in Val d'Isère and now got a cheeky week to sort out in late Feb,
Done St Anton for the last couple of years and feel like a change, iv not skied the three valleys since i was all new to this skiing lark (greens/blues only)so did not see much of the mountain
Is Three Valleys worth the trip for mostly on piste skiing with a little dabble off piste if conditions are good ??
Cheers
Andy, re 3V, defitnitely, great varied skiing but expensive. From what you have said, I reckon Courchevel would be best. Nice variety of pistes, runs with trees low down (La Tania), broad motorways (1650), great intermediate stuff (creux, combe de Saluire), more challenging pistes (M, Suisse, the couloirs) and lots of off-piste (easy access and the stuff where guides as advisable.) The higher resorts (V Thorens and L Menuires) are starker places, more open, colder but often the best snow. Meribel combines both and gives the best choice of where to ski across the whole area.
Is Three Valleys worth the trip?
Is Chäteau Latour worth drinking? Is Christmas cake worth eating? The woman/man of your dreams has just made a suggestion that would get this post deleted, is it worth accepting?
May have to be march
Go high.
Les Arcs is well worth a look if you can get a bargain. Not a pretty "village", but snowsure and good pistes/schools.
It's not as good as Serre Chevalier, though! 😉
Go high.
Not Val Thorens though. Completely charmless place and despite the altitude didn't even have much snow when we went there.
I'm going to have to vote for Austria again. Somewhere with a glacier if you want snow sure later in the season.
I wouldn't worry too much about resort height in Feb. Late March/April ok, but it would be a crap season if snow was short in Feb, IMO
cheers chaps , i better go rob a bank now to fund it !
Temp inversion affecting the visibility low down, Cham valley is clagged in sun high up with a few metres of snow and -22.
*Gets warm coat out*
Come back Dales - the snow's here 😀
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Mmmmm doesnt seem to be working 🙁
Yep - Been on a few sH bashes (4 of them in Arabba). And Yep going on the s9BB too 🙂 There are other sH/STWers going.
Can't wait only 2 and bit weeks I think.
Just had a(nother) quick 2 day pre-bash warmup in Austria (need to sort pics tonight).
Captain-Bstard - Alpe d'Huez for a first holiday. Loads of gentle green slopes in a bowl close to town. Perfect for most of the first week. There's a pretty big jump up to their blues though!
Cervinia is very high, lots of long gentle wide pistes, so again good for beginners.
Neither of these are particularly cheap, but shouldn't be too pricey.
Apologies for minor spammage, but we've just had 3 people cancel on us at the last minute for our Backcountry snowboard trip next week. 👿
If you can drop everything to come ride some freshies next week (loads of powder at the moment and more snow forecast in the next few days), give us a shout:
http://www.whiteroomchalet.com/win_backcountry_weeks.htm
Sounds good really looking forward to it.
I wasted a good ski week over new year in Nendaz so the BB can't come quick enough.
Chamonix excellent snow conditions, mind it can stop snowing now thank you 🙂
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I just have to post this. The best short movie ski clip Ive seen in a long time! Such creative urban stuff 🙂 .
[url= http://freeskier.com/videos/real-skifi-presents-episode-8-complete-with-creative-urban-skiing-to-blow-your-mind ]Here[/url]
That was effing superb, Michael! Thanks!
That bit with the tips in the bin (At least, I think it was a bin or something) Awsumz!
And the gap to trolley to grind was cool too!
Ok i'm about to purchase some piste skis!!! 😀
The main candidates are the Rossi Pursuit Elite 18, the Head i-titan, or the Nordica Doberman Spitfire XBI CT TI.
Never tried the Rossis, only the narrower little brother version of those. I tried the i-magnum and loved them, and really liked the Nordicas. Anyone got any input? Thanks!
stevo, sent you a quick one on fb. Thought instant messaging might be the way to go!
Just bought some new skis, Rossignol Experience 88s.
First days skiing on them today, excellent all mountain ski. Took to steep trees off piste and they handled everything well,bumps they were at home on. Back on piste they are very stable at speed. None of the chattering from the tips or wanting to go off in different directions on flat Schuss' so common in modern wide skis.
Michael, of those three, I'd have the Nordicas. Never liked a single Head ski I've tried always felt dull and lifeless to me, and Rossis are just too ugly, IMHO! 😉
Loved the Nordicas, though. Almost like a full on race GS ski, but a little more easy going. That said, not a ski to take lightly. They needed driving hard, not just lazy hangover turns. Get them going, though and WAHOOOOYAY! 🙂