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Verbier has been open 2 weekends now. Snow report shows pretty good conditions although Lac de Vaux still isnt frozen
I was in Verbier two Sundays ago and the snow was very good. It was easily possible to ski down to the village, but I assume everyone who did was using their "spare" skis or board...
Having said that, there hasn't been much in the way of fresh snow since but it has been very cold..
Does anyone know anything about Bormio in Italy? Its been put forward as an option for our boys trip early March.
That is priceless!
Does anyone know anything about Bormio in Italy
Only been in summer. The town and area are really nice and the top station is at 3000m so should be reliable. It doesn't seem to be particularly extensive though.
If it's for a boys trip then consider Livigno (just over the hill). It is a tax free town so booze is mega cheap. From looking at it in summer Livigno didn't seem to have a great variety of terrain but I could be wrong.
Serre Che have just announced a delay in opening until the 21st!
I can see why! Not much cover there!
http://serrechevalier.livecam360.net/cucumelle
Wow, that 360deg cam goes beautifully with the violin music in my headphones!
Ho ho! Remember kids, you're not Didier Cuche.
Utterly brilliant! (Although, good job no-one was sat on the coach!)
Dez, they've done wonders with their webcams over recent years. There's even, somewhere, some sort of 'airship view' of the whole area that's awesome to zoom in /out on.
Last few times I've been, I've arranged to be at the top of the Cucumelle at a certain time of day and given a wave to the camera! Rather fun for people to be able to look it up!
Thanks for that Flash/not. I go a week later 🙁
<does snow dance>
Shifter, fingers crossed for you!
They've got good cannons set up around the mountain, http://plandespistes.serre-chevalier.com/ Click on Zone de Fabrication de neige on the control panel. Other than that, will be praying to the Snow Gods for you!
I've skied Serre Che in early, mid and late season and have never once had a bad time there! OK, so late season it can get too hot (Seriously!) and it's usually best to download at the end of the day rather than fight the slushfest the Alphand becomes, but other than that, it's always been great! Am sure you'll have fun...
Remember, be sure to try the sugar cubes at Le Bercail (At Aravet lift area) after lunch.....
Ho ho! Remember kids, you're not Didier Cuche.
Love it 😆
Serre Che have just announced a delay in opening until the 21st!
I can see why! Not much cover there!
Jasna (Slovakia) is open already with early snow. 😀
(glitchy) webcams here if anyone wants to take a peak:
http://www.jasna.sk/en/mountains-and-holiday/webcameras/
(Though they don't cover the freeride and tree-run areas, which are the real reason I go there :))
I see it's 10 degrees and sunny at Serre Chev tomorrow, might have to rent a bike!
As long as Piou Piou and a bar is open I'll be happy 🙂
Hello all.
Long time no visit, as a result of practically working 14 hour days for the past couple of months (trainee teacher). We usually go away Christmas and then Easter. The OH has recently had an op so we decided not to book Christmas this year, but might go New Year instead - the extra week recovery hopefully doing the OH a bit of good.
My question is for Graham as we're considering Jasna as a late choice, is snow usually pretty good so early in the season - especially given the slow start in most places? Checked the webcams, some areas look fine, others look patchy.
Will there be enough to keep us amused for a week? We don't really ski off piste, but we think we're capable if guided/instructed (OH has been skiing 20-odd years, Jnr and I about 5 years).
No mention yet that [b]Ski Sunday is back [i]TOMORROW[/i][/b] (Sunday 15th)?
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b006v8fc
PVR set to series record
Good reminder, tvm.
Went snowboarding on Thursday for the first time in about 8 years hoping it would hurt my ankle less than skiing. It seemed to work but now I need a new helmet, due to the increased chance of banging my head when catching an edge.
Can anybody recommend a well vented helmet that also looks good? I don't like the ski style helmets and prefer the look of piss pots. Ideally I don't want to spend any more than £50 and I want it to be black. The POC one in TK Maxx seems to fit well in xl but my local only has it in blue and I don't think that will go with my green trousers.
I like my Protec one...got it frim Subvert. Think that it was 50 quid.
Got a Burton Red Trace that fits my large head well and matches perfectly with my anon goggles.
Friends just back from Club Med Tignes, first full week of season - conditions decent
I have a Protec helmet for mtbing and I don't really find it comfortable which is a shame as they look great. I didn't realise Burton were behind red, I'll have a look. Thanks both of you.
Just back from trip 1 of 3.
Meribel was pretty good. Courchevel had better snow and better pistes for the coaching course, and had more sunshine, but freakin' heck it ain't half expensive! €8 for a coke and €6 for a coffee, and €9.90 for a beer.
Next up is somewhere in the Zillertal where beer costs 1/3rd of the price.
Given the amount of coke I drink that's not going to appear high up my list of possible destinations Andy!
I also have a Protec one, not sure how it compares to a MTBing one, I'd imagine there are some differences as mine has a furry/thermal skull cap type thing to help keep warm. Can't think an MTB one would have that. I paid about £50 too 3-4 seasons ago, but have seen them in TK Maxx this year for about £20!
Hammerite the places that graham recommends in jansa were all booked up over Easter when I looked.
La Thuille - 3rd week of Jan, bu**er xmas, I wish I'd have made it for 2 weeks instead!
Tom - we're looking for New Year first, hence the question about reliability of snow early season.
Haha sorry I read that as late season choice!
No worries, we'll think about a late season trip later in the season!
Courcheval has always been right at the top of the prices league, more expensive than most places in Switzeralnd (ex Zermatt)
My question is for Graham as we're considering Jasna as a late choice, is snow usually pretty good so early in the season - especially given the slow start in most places? Checked the webcams, some areas look fine, others look patchy.
Hi hammerite just saw your post.
I've been to Jasna twice (past two years) this year will be my third. Both previous were in Feb so no personal experience of the early season but it opens this week and the cover seems passable if patchy.
It's a lowish resort (943m to 2024m) and fairly isolated so the weather and snowfall is very difficult to predict. In our experience most of the well-known ski report sites were well off the mark.
Will there be enough to keep us amused for a week? We don't really ski off piste, but we think we're capable if guided/instructed (OH has been skiing 20-odd years, Jnr and I about 5 years).
My review on SCUK after my first visit:
http://www.snowboardclub.co.uk/index.php?name=PNphpBB2&file=viewtopic&t=50725
If you are reasonable skiers and you stick to the piste then you'll ski it out in a day easy. It's not a huge resort and most of the runs are red or blue.
BUT... go off-piste and you'll see why I keep going back 😀
See the piste map at http://www.jasna.sk/en/mountains-and-holiday/maps/ ?
See those nice big yellow bits marked "Freeride Zone"? When the snow is good those are great. 😀
If you can ski through trees then there are plenty of good tree runs too.
Plus the locals are generally terrible skiers so it is fairly quiet off-piste.
We stay at [url= http://www.chaletslovakia.com ]Chalet Slovakia[/url] which is awesome. But if you are skiing then you probably want to check out Propaganda. They are another British company that run a chalet out there as well as a snowboard company and ski school. They should see you right for equipment, guiding etc
http://www.propagandaski.co.uk/
Bear in mind that a lot of the appeal is that the freeride zones are most lift-accessible. For the easier ones (i.e. the south-side / right-hand side of the map) you don't need a guide as they are open "slackcountry" affairs, in view of the piste with little exposure.
The tougher ones are however.. erm.. [i]quite[/i] a bit tougher!
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Basically I would say go. But be prepared for it to be very different to a typical Alpine holiday. 😀
well, things are looking up, I see there's quite a bit of snow forecast in the Tyrol between 20-25th Dec....hopefully spot on for my trip on the 27th. 🙂
Starting to get excited now, even if I will be restricted by my daughter's beginner ability.
The tougher ones are however.. erm.. quite a bit tougher!
Guided only over there, I'd hope! Them's some steep couloirs!
Where the best place to check snow levels and the snow forecast?
Where the best place to check snow levels and the snow forecast?
Individual resort sites are usually pretty good.
http://www.snow-forecast.com/ is OK for piste/resort specific forecasts, but I really like this too - http://www.yr.no/place/France/Provence-Alpes-C%C3%B4te_d%E2%80%99Azur/Serre_Chevalier/ It's great for almost all weather in my experience. Sailing and kites, too, as the wind is usually pretty accurate.
Aaah yes, I'd forgotten about yr.no. Used to use it for a while then totally forgot about it and couldn't remember the domain name. Cheers.
Guided only over there, I'd hope!
Well I'd certainly [i]want[/i] a guide - but no, Slovakia has a slightly more [i]relaxed[/i] attitude to health and safety so no guide or beacons required 😯
Well I'd certainly want a guide - but no, Slovakia has a slightly more relaxed attitude to health and safety so no guide or beacons required
There are lots of places you legally could go without a shovel, probe and transceiver, that does not mean its wise to do so 🙂
There are lots of places you legally could go without a shovel, probe and transceiver, that does not mean its wise to do so
Indeed. Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit. Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
@ Lucian...I went to La Thuile a couple of years ago when we were disappointed with conditions at Cormayeur. I loved it as it was big rollercoaster blue/reds you could really fly down. You might want to try a few other places if you get the correct pass, as after a few days you might be in need of a change.
Guided only over there, I'd hope! Them's some steep couloirs!
If you've got the skills you don't need a guide. Although looking at the response below makes me think they might be better with one!
Slovakia has a slightly more relaxed attitude to health and safety so no guide or beacons required
Beacons are not [i]required[/i] anywhere that I know of. However, given the difference they can make to the outcome of a burial then you'd be daft not to carry the kit and know how to use it.
Beacons are not required anywhere that I know of.
I've certainly heard of places where they have access control gates and sometimes ski patrol guys stationed there checking transceivers etc. Canada and America seem to be more hot on this.
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There are lots of places you legally could go without a shovel, probe and transceiver, that does not mean its wise to do so
Agreed.
🙄 oooh scary!
looking at the response below makes me think they might be better with one!
I think you are misinterpreting me. Did you miss the bit where I said: "Well I'd certainly [i]want[/i] a guide"?
Not that I'd be tackling those couloirs anyway!
It was more the bit about tranceivers. Saying they weren't required made me think you were skiing that stuff without one. Which would be silly.