Fly back Sunday so got to make the most of it 🙂
Pics are sadly lacking as I've only taken my phone but will try and get some decent shots tomorrow 🙂
Last trip of the season for me tomorrow, I've done pretty well this year - 2 Scotland trips, Morzine and now Val Thorens. This skiing lark is costing me an arm and a leg and I'm not even close to being a rich man. Wouldn't have it any other way though. Summer = mountain biking and winter = skiing from now on 😀
Snowing in Flaine? At this rate the 12/13 season is going to become the 12/14 season.
Could you please vote for Robert Poth (15 year old British Ski racer).
His mother Gillian says Robert has been given the opportunity to get £300,00 from marsmilk to help towards his ski racing.
http://www.marsmilk.com/fund/robert-poth
Thanks
Just a heads up, the 2014 Line, K2 and Atomic skis are online, looking pretty tasty to say the least! Loving the new Bent Chetler.
[url= http://aussieskier.com/equipment/2014-k2-ski-lineup-images/ ]New K2 skis.[/url]
I did another 2 hours of boarding at the Chill Factore tonight.....pretty lame compared to all the seriously cool holidays that people on here go on, but I enjoyed in nonetheless. I was pretty dire for the first hour-I'd forgotten lots of what I'd learned etc. By the end, I made it all the way down the main slope once without falling (would been 3 times but for people falling off in front of me) all started to get some linked turns too I'm really struggling going from my heal edge to toe edge though, I'm fine the other way round!
Tom B, that is completely normal. Keep going and your toes wil become your confident side. I presume it's fear of falling on our faces.. It's a long time since I learnt but I imagine you need to put a bit more weight in your front foot to make the turn.
I think that's it mugboo-I keep noticing that I'm leaning back when trying to do that turn-loving though.....bloomin sore this morning again!
2-3 feet overnight and the lifts have just opened after loads of blasting this morning. Woohoo 🙂
We haven't been out for a while due to high temperatures and avalanche risk. This morning it was -1°C in the resort so we headed up the Sanctus. It's an easy climb though picking a way up this bit takes patience and many conversions;
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Once above the steep bit it's easy going through the avalanceh
debris
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The up some gentle slopes that are fun on the way down
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Near the top you get an idea how much snow has fallen this year, all the features are buried
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Skis off for the trudge up to the top. The flat bit is the top of a huge cornice.
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Very nice pictures. My sister tried snowboarding for the first time on Friday: she now has a broken scaphoid 😆
Taken with a cheap Nokia phone. I've given up on the Panasonic Lumix which would have been unusable in that bright sun.
Roller blade wrist protectors are a must when new to boarding.
I'm about to buy some-I teach guitar for a living so could do with preserving the bones in my hands and wrists!
Looks like a nice day out Edukator.
Tom - have a look at the different types of guard available - some are better than others, and some will suit different people. There were a few early designs that were too stiff and saved your wrist at the cost of your forearm - not common but it happened. I'm sure they're all gone now, but...
Also if you've grown up with rugby or judo then you may well have learned to fall and be better without them. I learned to snowboard at a time when I'd been playing rugby for 25 years - I rapidly concluded that wrist guards were not for me as they actually hinder my natural (ingrained) falling response.
That said on balance and for most people, wrist guards are good when starting out.
Helmets on the other hand I regard as essential for all. I wouldn't go down those slopes on my bike at that speed without a helmet. Your choice though.
I wouldn't go down those slopes on my bike at that speed without a helmet.
<helmet_debate>
Ah... so you openly admit that wearing a helmet makes you take risks that you wouldn't otherwise take...?
</helmet_debate>
😉
Never bothered with wrist guards either. Just don't stick your hands out and roll with it - much like going over on a bike.
Anyone else hoping that conditions are good enough for a mayday skiing weekender in Scotland? It's almost a given that Cairngorm will open, the only question is how much snow there will be. Nevis range has already called an end to the season as the visitor numbers were so low during the week they could only justify running the uplift at weekends: the weekend's storms put paid to the rest of the season sadly. I'm hoping that Glencoe will open, if so then it'll be up to Glencoe for one day then over to Cairngorm. As The Lecht has also closed (storm again meaning there's not enough cover), I'm not hopeful that Glenshee will manage to stay open either
Just had a sneaky peaky at the Serre Che webcams, and it looks like there's been a fresh dusting atop the Cucumelle. Mental! Untracked snow all the way from the peak by the looks of it.
I'm still not kean on wristgaurds personally for pretty much the same reaons as igm but the general concensus is that they are very good and essential kit for beginners.
I rather stupidly (various reasons including running late/injured Mrs etc.) went out without my bum, knee protection or helmet last Saturday on a powder day and never thought about it until I nearly went over heelside on a heavy patch while going reasonably quickly - for me at least 😐 Shook me so much I went straight down and hired a pair of the Movement ? Turbos (bloody massive purple things anyway) and ........oh my........a whole new world opened up 😀
Upshot is that I've now decided to concentrate my limited abilities on skiing, rather than switching from one to the other over the past few years and am seriously tempted to buy a pair of 'proper' FAT ski's even if it's just for the odd day! Saw a pair of Storm twisted Sistas in Flaine(didn't realise what they were at the time) and they appealed as they looked so ridiculous. I didn't catch the guy as he went past the cafe but all I could say to The Mrs was WTF....want!! Not sure if Storm are going to be continuing (reports say probably not) but some real bargains on their ski's at the moment!
ps Thanks again to Grahams for leting me borrow his K2's, I'll be in touch to arrange dropping them back. Preferred my Flow's though 😉
No worries Woody - just give me a shout next time you are round my way.
Preferred my Flow's though
Yeah - but apparently you prefer skiing too, so there is no accounting for taste 😀
Not sure if Storm are going to be continuing (reports say probably not) but some real bargains on their ski's at the moment!
Apparently not.
Movement are pretty much at the top of my list of skis these days. Really like everything of theirs I've tried. Super Turbos are like waterskis, though!
Oh, and welcome to the good side of the force! You can now tell your parents, they'll be so proud. 😉
😆 I asked for that!
Board was brilliant though (Flow Solitude) and I was sold on the double rocker. Just seemed to do everything well on the mountain and I had very few 'moments' and didn't catch an edge once.
Oh, and welcome to the good side of the force! You can now tell your parents, they'll be so proud.
They were aghast when I said I was switched 10 years ago after years of slating boarders. I may just keep it in the closet 😉
The Movements look really nice but a bit pricey for an occassional use 'fatty'. [url= http://www.stormskis.com/shop/freeski/superforce-ti.html ]These Storm Superforce[/url] look wicked but I think I'd have to go shorter than normal as they are very very stiff and I've slowed in my old age. Plenty others similar on fleabay for around £100 which is ridiculous for that standard of ski. Even the Twisted is on there for £135!
Edit [url= http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/160725923266?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1438.l2649 ]And these!![/url]
I've been skiing movements for five or six years now. Movement skis *ROCK*
Didn't get many pics in Flaine (and these are rubbish) but to give you some idea of conditions....
This was last Thursday (pre-tumble and she couldn't ski for last 2 days 🙁
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and this was what I woke up to Saturday morning - 2ft + on the balcony and the sun came out not long after the pic was taken 😀
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mumblemumblemumblesomethingaboutlovelylookingpeaksmumblemumblemumble
😉
Looks ace!
This was last Thursday (pre-tumble and she couldn't ski for last 2 days
Blimey! That must have been some tumble you gave her... 😯
this was what I woke up to Saturday morning - 2ft + on the balcony
Glory be. Now why on earth would you be wanting to hit that beautiful pow on anything other than a snowboard?!?
woody - wouldn't you be better buying the 'Movements' and hiring fat boys on the odd days that justify them?
That would be an option but I have a virtually unused pair of Scott Aztec Pros and Head M75's for piste duties + there is no guarantee that any fatties will be available to rent if there is powder day..............and ......as I've resisted the urge to buy a fatbike, the opportunity to buy something fat, at a fraction of the cost, is becoming irresistable 😉
Mrs N in Courmayeur
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Morning play in the fresh with doggy at the Chardonnet hut in the Vallee Claree
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Skintrack of the other 4 before we turned off our own way.
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After 2 1/2 hours skinning with no sign of others we get to the ridge.
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And see 5 tracks coming in from the other side!
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They didn't get the blower pow on the north face, though! Mrs N in the White room, good girl!
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Mmmmmm beer.......................and the other pics look ok to 😉
Cheers Woody. That there is a tasty, tasty beer. If you see it, drink it!
I will and that looks fantastic.
Oddly enough I've been trying to persuade my mrs that Courneyuer might be a good bet for next year. She's only had 9 days on snow and I've promised her nice cruisy wide blues to make up for some of the 'interesting' grading in Flaine.
I'll not show her those pics 😀
I want to go skiing this week, any suggestions for a cheap couple of days away?
All those pics look great Edukator, Woody & Ned.
Greg - I'd just see where you can get cheap flights to (assuming you're flying) as that will take up the lion share of the cost and just pick a resort that's still open and high.
Christ I have got to get a winter holiday booked!!
Split board I assume Ned?
If anyone's happy going unguided, I just found out the Lyngen Alps is rather accessible. return flights to tromso from Gatwick from £200 full board bunk accom from £33 pppn. Quite tempted by a cheeky weekend!
Yes, Ed., Venture Zephyr for me, K2 Panoramic for her.
So, the lifts are all closing, the season is drawing to a close.....
Now would seem a good time to gather your;
Highlight
Lowlight
And what have you learned
For me, highlight was this thread, and the vicarious season it gave me!
Lowlight - first year in ages that I've not been skiing, and it was one of the best! Bah!
What have I learned? Done loads of research for taking Little Miss CFH out to Serre Che next year!
So, the lifts are all closing, the season is drawing to a close.....
Meanwhile the Scottish gully season is just getting under way...
And I might be off to the Lyngen Alps in 3 weeks!
Highlight? First red with my 6 year old - must convince him he doesn't have to ski 6" off the tail of my board though.
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Highlight - either (1) a 100km in a day or (2) a day on Stöckli FIS slalom skis.
Lowlight - knowing that an avalanche occurred within spitting distance of where we'd skied earlier, and that a life had been taken
What have you learned - that (1) slalom skis are way better on the Gran Risa Alta Badia WC GS run than K2 Rictors, and (2) I want a pair.
Highlight was fabulous hospitality of The White Room Chalet and the lovely early season snow
Lowlight was a stupid fall and a broken ACL
Fingers crossed I'll be back next season to do all the skiing I'd hoped to do this year
I meant to add that the photo above was taken in Scotland on Saturday so there's still plenty to go at if you don't mind carrying your skis.
Ned.
would love to get up to Lofoten/Lyngen but going to wait until next spring...
nice pics from Courmayeur.
Ta, nick. Only the first one's from Courmayeur, the others are from the Vallee de la Claree, near Briancon. Lovely spot!
Sure you need to wait? Wednesday afternoon 15th to Sat 18th. Direct flights from Gatwick to Tromso, £240 inc board carraige, £155 car hire which we could split, full board accomm about £43 a night. 2.5 days off work, 2 full days touring, midnight sun.
???
new baby on the way 2 weeks later so highly unlikely!!!
Season's not over yet. Still lift served skiing up in Scotland - hoping to go up this weekend, got to decide if it'll be Glencoe or Cairngorm, or maybe even one day at each
Highlight - perfect snow conditions in April in Austia. Skiing in the Dolomites for the first time. Watching Jnr change from skiddy turns to lovely carves in the space of about 2 hours (although he reverts to skiddy turns when being lazy).
Lowlight - Being moaned at all morning one day, because all that fog we were trying to ski through was my fault obviously.
And what have you learned - I ski like John Wayne about to have a duel, legs wide open (but am trying to do something about it).
Spin - looks like Tower Gully? Could be wrong though, one looks a lot like another once you're in it!
Me?
Highights:
Best powder season ever. More "best days ever" than I can count.
Still finding new lines in Sainte Foy after 6 seasons.
Massive progress up to and, especially, during my Level 3 Tech exam.
Lowlights:
Not seeing the sun for weeks on end.
Nearly, but not quite, passing my Level 3 Tech exam. Next year!
looks like Tower Gully? Could be wrong though, one looks a lot like another once you're in it!
It's Easy Gully on Creag Meagaidh.
The nice man from the SAIS took some photos of us from the other side of the corrie.
Spin - looks like Tower Gully
My money is on Meagaidh - easy gully?
[edit - too slow... anyway, what were conditions like? Was out solo in Cairngorms on sat (Loch Avon, Hells Lum, Macdui, Lairig Ghru, Coire an Lochan, Lurchers). Although cover was good everywhere, conditions pretty variable with the wind and new snow and I backed off a couple of things that just didn't feel right. Looks like Meagaidh could have been/will be good for a while yet]
Highlight: Going to Val D'Isere with some really good friends, with fantastic snow conditions.
Lowlight: only getting in 3 days skiing due to catching lurgy and being stuck in bed.
Not over yet, as may be skiing this weekend with nbt (fingers/toes crossed).
Brilliant thread as always flashy.
Highlight - Learning to snowboard and going on my first snowboarding holiday.
Lowlight - Wishing I hadn't learned years earlier.
Highlight; proposing to the other half at the top of Blackcomb glacier.
Low; being mildly disappointed with st Anton. Apre was brilliant but slope variety didn't match my expectations.
cobrakai - really? Did you ride Rendl, Stuben, Zurs, etc. or just St Anton? (in the latter case, I agree with you but think you missed all the best stuff!).
Looks like Meagaidh could have been/will be good for a while yet
It was actually a bit of a mixed bag too. The gully section of Easy Gully was good but we didn't go right to the top as it was clearly windslab. We also attempted Cinderella but again it was a wierd mix of wet snow, windslab and breakable crust, not to mention a massive cornice.
I think there is at least another month of quality skiing in the gorms if you don't mind a bit of a boot. Going to take a look at the gullies on Liathach this weekend.
I really enjoyed St Anton but mainly because we had lots of fresh snow. Zurs was possibly my favourite bit though. Lots of untracked pow everywhere on the ski routes, even two days after it had snowed - much less busy than St Anton itself.
Highlight - probably my missus getting miles better at boarding and finally being able to keep up with me 🙂
Lowlight - not getting round to editing the gopro video yet
Highlight(s):
- watching my two year old having a ball on skis for the first time.
- spending a day looping round the back freeride zones in Jasna blasting through untracked pow.
Lowlight:
- not making it up to Scotland despite an excellent season.
Spin - MemberGoing to take a look at the gullies on Liathach this weekend.
I'm jealous. Have ms bajsyckel's mam to deal with over the weekend so won't be out for over a week... Would love a shot at some of the stuff round the back in decent conditions. Was up around the same time last year and some of the potential lines on Beinn Eighe would have been incredible - if conditions are like that again then you'll be lucky. Slioch too is worth a look, but I don't think there will be much potential right now (and getting in is much more time consuming). Make sure to post some pics up whatever you find.
The word over on UKC is that most of the gullies are complete on Liathach. I know Scott Muir did some of them earlier in the season.
Most of the lines I've seen on Beinn Eighe would take a lot of filling in.
From over on Snowheads
[quote="moffatross"]Latest GFS modelled Thursday into Friday fresh snowfalls are -
40-45 cm @ Glencoe
20-25 cm @ Cairngorm
Followed by light winds and sunshine across Scotland from Saturday through to Monday.
Of course, detail could and will likely change a bit, but for the meantime all I'll say is ... you couldn't make it up. 8)
This weekend's fast blast to ski scotland is looking more and more likely 😀
I didn't make it over to zurs unfortunately. The week I was there (appx 9th March) was warm and in between some massive dumps. A lot was closed due avalanche risk so everyone was channelled through the same bottle necks. All off piste was tracked out so no fun there as we got no fresh.
Don't get me wrong, I'm not writing it off. I could see the potential of the place if the conditions were right. Especially back country and off piste. I don't think I saw it at its best so will definitely be back.
@cobraki - St Anton is world class - try a guiding company like Piste to Powder next time
I think I will invest in some guiding next time. As I said though, I think I was a victim of the conditions.
OK so plenty to choose from as have just come back from spending an incredible season in St. Anton 😆
[b]Highlight[/b]: Night hike at full moon, up from St. Christoph to Galzig, steaming down on fresh pistes, beautiful scenery and down by 12:30 to meet the rest of the gang in Picadilly. Or some of the awesome powder days experienced on Rendl or over at Stuben. Or perhaps the 'Taps Race' day, a small amount of skiing, great friends, food and apres.
[b]Lowlight[/b]: All the hungover 7:30 starts (hard life eh!)
Things learnt: How to ski powder well. How to snowboard (not so well). That I will be coming back for another season next year 😉
i had the best amount of skiing/boarding time this winter mainly due to me being able to resurect an old teaching qualification and doing a full season in glenshee...had 87 full days fo snow...didnt ski/board every day but most days i got out between or after lessons..
highlights
skiing down butcharts with a gin and tonic at night half cut 🙂
2 or 3 epic backcountry days which were mint...
mastering switch skiing and boarding
getting the hang of powder with both planks..
seeing some of the best powder in scotland ive ever seen(you know its good when you come back from chamonix and its just as good in the glen!)
making some great pals
lowlights
the boot saga continues...had 3 pairs of salomon boots and they just dont fit me...gonna look at something else
twisting my knee first week
new gf doing the same and not being able to ski this weekend
closing day at Obergurgl in Tirol yesterday. Thanks for a great season STW, I've enjoyed keeping up with this thread!
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this is what glenshee looks like now.....although the glas maol is almost complete.....we had some cracking t-shirt days...
nice pics whattyre. 87 days is pretty impressive, good work!
I've just booked flights to Tromso in May for a few days touring in the Lyngen Alps with a guy I met on the internet. 😕 Wish me luck, here's hoping the trip is one for the highlights, not the lowlights!
freeridenick - understood! All the best!
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Just bought these bad boys 🙂
Been getting up to the Chill Factore pretty regularly over the past few weeks totally hooked! Doing another lesson tomorrow-I got a deal of 90 quid for 3 2 hour group lessons on Tuesday nights....turns out that I am the group! So basically 3 2 hour private lessons at 30 quid a pop which includes a lift pass-good times!
We're looking at going to Scotland self catering for Xmas week-any recommendations? I've found an apartment in Invergarry for 350 quid for the week which seems pretty reasonable-how close will we be to the slopes?
Tom B - good work on the lessons. It's a cheap time to go snowboarding and buy kit! No idea about Scotland, sorry.
I just bought a £200 ski bag for £100 - still pricey and it's got a ridiculous name (Douchebag - in big letters on the side) but it's a very nicely thought-out bag.
And it's under my desk, packed with touring gear waiting to be taken to Gatwick and put on a plane to Tromso!
Cheers Ned-did another lesson last night....I'm doing reasonably well I think!
I have GOT to go on a snow holiday next season! Seen a good deal through crystal in Les Deux Alps....any idea what it's like there? Suitable for a noob?
look at action-outdoors/UCPA.
great if your travelling solo, plus all inclusive tuiton/food/lift pass etc.
Tom, are you on a board or skis?
Either way, look for somewhere with a good school and get some lessons. Given your progress in the fridge, you'll learn really well in the mountains!
At this point, I have to recommend these guys - http://www.ski-school-connections.co.uk/ They're awesome, and Serre Che is ace for almost all levels! If on a board, there are very few flats you can't carry speed across.
Plus, assuming Mrs B comes too, there's some great food on the hill and in the valleys, an a great thermal bath at Monetier if she feels like a change.
Flashy I think the clue is in the photo ^^ 😉Tom, are you on a board or skis?
Tom B - never been to Leux Alps, however you may consider somewhere such as Flaine for a first time jolly. Not the prettiest of places but lots of piste, with ski in ski out options and reasonably priced.