This week at work is going to be tough to focus, off to Niederau, Tyrol Austria on Saturday, only my second trip and so bloody excited!
Very lucky this year and getting a second trip in - back to Les Arcs to stay with a mate for 10 days on the 1st Feb. Woop!
Three year old loved it. Not much skiing done but plenty of falling over and laughing. He wants to go again.
So.....The Jump.
Amazingly, it was significantly more shit than I had been expecting. I'd been expecting it to be shit, but hoping it would be that sort of 'so bad it's enjoyable' flavour of shit. It wasn't, however, it had gone even further down the turd covered road of awfulness.
Sadly.
Was it crap? That's a shame I recorded it and was going to watch it tonight after Ski Sunday. Oh well.
In other news.. Glencoe has got some serious snow according to their facebook page.
Here are some pics from the rescue hut:
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Re. Offpisteskiing.com link on preceeding page.Simon Christy vas a very very good reputation. He, à long with others, coaches certain British Mountain Guides.
Hope everyone is having a good season. Some good conditions in the Vercors over the weekend.
Posting this here, in case anyone hadn't read the other thread - http://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/servicing-skis/page/2
TurnerGuy - Member
After all that a family death and funeral has meant that I can go on this trip, so the skis are back in the loftAs I had already paid for the short trip to Morzine I have put it on the classified rather than it go to waste - it will cost £50 to transfer our two names across to someone else.
http://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/ot-ski-weekends-break-for-2-in-morzine-6-10-feb
Sorry to hear that news, TG.
(Hope you don't mind me posting your link here as well, possible wider audience!)
Might be interesting for some: http://blog.jamesthacker.co.uk/2014/01/avalanche-rescue-and-safety-equipment.html
TurnerGuy - Sorry to hear your sad news.
Flashy - I haven't seen the 'Jump' yet, it's recorded but hope to catch up later, am now prepared for how bad it will be.
The Jump.
Wow.
Re. Offpisteskiing.com link on preceeding page.Simon Christy vas a very very good reputation
2nd that.
Early start to the NZ season yesterday (it being mid-summer and all)
http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/9654858/Summer-skiing-at-Mt-Hutt
I see the BBC are pushing the dangerous conditions in the Alps story again. Radio 4 last night had a repeat of the [i]"layer of ball bearings"[/i] warning and the news site has this on it:
[url= http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-25915242 ]Alps avalanche warning to skiers[/url]
[url= http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-25919169 ]On duty with avalanche dog patrol[/url]
Kind of odd that they didn't mention beepers or using local guides 🙁
Was listening to that on the train and thinking the same, Graham! Was also wondering where on the French/Italian border the dog piece was recorded.
Montgenèvre, according to the story on the BBC site.
Ta! Hadn't seen the link, as I had assumed it was just a link to the original article on PM.
I did think if might have been Monty, which is just about as much "on the border" as can be!
The Radio 4 piece on PM is available here (starts at 39:40):
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b03s6mm7
One detail I thought was interesting was that, according to the report, the rescue dogs can only work for 8 years and there are just 25 of them in the Alps and Pyrenees. For every 10 dogs they are offered they buy 1, and from every 100 dogs they buy only 4 or 5 make the grade!
The guy they interview is apparently one of only 13 people to ever have been rescued alive by the dogs and he was under a metre of snow for 30 minutes. 😯
It was certainly interesting re the dogs.
My grandfather was, for many years, heavily involved with RAF police dogs. They went through similar selection criteria, and had a similar working life. It's not an easy job, even if it may be just 'playing' for the dogs.
The description of being trapped was chilling.
On a lighter note, I'm loving this:
Gives me hope my 3 year old won't be stuck on skis for too long 😀
It would be interesting to know if the 13 people they are talking about rescuing were ones that only the dogs could find or if they have rescued more people who were wearing transceivers.
For what it's worth the powder in Meribel today was excellent. Nice and cold and light. The snow pack seems to have stabilised somewhat after a warm spell a couple of weeks ago and more snow packing down the weak layer from November. Anecdotally we've seen fewer slips caused by skiers this week than previously this season not that you can read much into that.
More on avalanches on the BBC News:
[url= http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-25926998 ]Deadly avalanches sweep French Alps[/url]
Basically exactly the same story as the PM clip earlier, with some extra casualty figures 😕
Still, good to see them making the most of that dog rescue footage eh?
GrahamS - thanks for sharing that video.
IMO anything that gets children exercising, even better outdoors type sports is the bees knees.
Loving the girls in their party frocks 🙂
Yeah I really hope Burton bring the lessons to the UK - the website says "we plan to eventually expand to more school in North America, with a global expansion for 2015." 😀
http://news.burton.com/kid-n-play/burton-brings-snowboarding-to-gym-class/
The "Riglet Parks" look great too:
I know Tamworth have started doing Riglet Camps:
http://www.snowdome.co.uk/ski-snowboard/snowboard-lessons/riglet-camps/
IMO anything that gets children exercising, even better outdoors type sports is the bees knees.
Would be even better if it got them skiing! 😉
But otherwise, yes!
Absolutely 😉Would be even better if it got them skiing!
🙄
I like the little concave balance-boards and the grab Twister game,they look quite fun for kids.
Time to pacify the skierists with some Candide chasing through the trees
Well I survived my second trip [i]this year[/i] 😀
First time in Austria and it was great. Virtually no snow in Solden itself when we arrived, just a long strip of artificial back into town (it's a fun ride though with refreshment stops on the way). High up on the glaciers was fine plus the snow during the week meant plenty powder within easy distance of the lifts both there and Ubergurgl.
Fairer prices than the Frenchies - €8.50 for currywurst mit brot and a big wheat beer on the mountain or €11 for spag bol and a drink.
They really need to enter the 21st century and sort out their smoking laws though, dirty barstuds. I was expecting it but it was still a shock 😡
CaptainFlashheart - MemberWould be even better if it got them skiing!
But otherwise, yes!Bunnyhop - Member
Would be even better if it got them skiing!
Absolutely
And yet you ignore me when I proudly talk about my three year old on skis for the first time.
I just don't know you two, I'm just not feeling the love...
Mind you Bunnyhop told me it had found a great wife when I was talking about her putting up with my toys addiction, so can't be all bad.
Flashheart - what have you got to say for yourself?
Had a great week in st anton last week ... plenty off piste with minimal avalanche risk 🙂
http://www.flickr.com/photos/stuartmarshall/sets/72157640229153203
igm
Brilliant.And yet you ignore me when I proudly talk about my three year old on skis for the first time.
There were some winks in there 🙂
Sorry, IGM! Must have missed that post, please accept a thousand stuffed marmots in apology.
😉
They really need to enter the 21st century and sort out their smoking laws though, dirty barstuds. I was expecting it but it was still a shock
Yeah my thoughts too, much cheaper but stinking of smoke isn't nice, and I used to smoke.
On the smoking front, I will still hunt down and kill anyone who smokes on a lift. Have seen/smelt it in both France and Italy and it's just vile.
*Disclaimer - I do like a nice cigar at the end of the day on a sunny terrace with a beer.
They really need to enter the 21st century and sort out their smoking laws though, dirty barstuds.
We were in Schladming for 2011 and 2012. Great place, but the only real black mark was the smoking.
Folk happily lighting up next to us, indoors, as I sat trying to enjoy a meal with my pregnant wife and my two year old daughter. Yuk!
Had the same thing previously when she was still in a pram!
Had a great week in st anton last week ... plenty off piste with minimal avalanche risk
Nice photos - looks great. 😀
:|Just got 9 cats herded and dates sorted for 2 weeks in Norway and the place we wanted to stay is full. Not much else round those parts, so we have a crisortunity on our hands.
On the smoking front, I will still hunt down and kill anyone who smokes on a lift. Have seen/smelt it in both France and Italy and it's just vile.*Disclaimer - I do like a nice cigar at the end of the day on a sunny terrace with a beer.
Don't get this. Why is smoking on a lift so much worse than smoking on a terrace?
I do appreciate the irony, Ned, but for me, being at an open air bar is somewhere I might expect to come across smoke.
A lift is a moment of calm, tranquility and clean air. A very different environment.
sounds like a lovely moment for a smoke! 😀
IANAS
👿
😉
Horses for courses, innit. I'd rather get the occasional waft on a chairlift than sit near someone smoking while I'm relaxing with a beer and maybe something to eat.
Not massively bothered either way, though
Going out to a bar in the evening and coming back with your clothes stinking of fags [i]is[/i] rank. I think a lot of smokers would agree with that, too.
I'll just steal the 1000th post if I may!
sounds like a lovely moment for a smoke!
Isn't that what "safety meetings" are for? 😉
Isn't that what "safety meetings" are for?
Is a "safety meeting" like those moment on a ride when you "Stop to check the map"*
*Almost always half way up a lungbusting climb!
In my experience Canadians will often ask if you mind if they light up on a chair lift and will usually offer to share their 'chair-lift-cigar'! 😉
Smoking in the 'lift-lines' isn't tolerated though ...
@nedrapier ... shame about the Norway situation - what's the backup plan?
Old Canadian woman barged through a smoking area up on whistler, complaining loudly "can't believe you smokers ruin this mountain air for us!" To which a local replied "well don't walk through a designated smoking area you clown!". I nearly choked!
I've since stopped but even when I smoked the Austrian thing annoyed me. I smoked outside regardless as my mates were non smokers.
[url= http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7452/12212327995_8272c00d8b.jp g" target="_blank">
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/86995884@N00/12212327995/ ]Solden[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/86995884@N00/ ]woldspinner[/url], on Flickr
That's not smoke 🙂
CFH, Bunnyhop,
You are hereby officially forgiven.
My 7 year old (now confident on reds, and probably anything else if I let him) swithers between trying to persuade me to ski (bad knees unlikely) and wanting to give up skiing and bet on a board (because skiing is for little boys).
You will, CFH, Bunnyhop, give up skiing when you body starts to get old and knackered like mine - and grab a board.
8) << CFH kitted out for a bit of snowsurf. 😉
Quite a few restaurants in Austria seemed to have banned smoking anyway when I was there last. I'm really not keen and a non-smoker but I don't remember it being an issue.
Les Arcs on Saturday - bit of snow forecast this week then 20cm on the day I get there - yeeehhaaaaa!
Nice St Anton pics back up there by the way - looks like great conditions.
You will, CFH, Bunnyhop, give up skiing when you body starts to get old and knackered like mine - and grab a board.
Oddly, in the summer, I wakeboard as my waterskiing is as graceful as a pig on stilts. On rolerskates. (In fact, I had a go in Barbados a couple of years ago when the bindings on the board broke and it was either ski back to the hotel or sit in the boat. I wasn't very good!)
[quote=igm ]
You will, CFH, Bunnyhop, give up skiing when you body starts to get old and knackered like mine - and grab a board.
I very much doubt it - many years ago Bunnyhop and I went to Serre Chevalier for a cheeky week prior to a two week roadtrip round the BC/ Alberta border. In preparation for this I decided I'd learn how to board rather than ski. I did a course at Rossendale to get the basics then when I arrivedf in Serre Chevalier I rented a board.
I lasted three days before I had to give up. I'd be cruising along fine, then *POW* I'd be down. No warning, it was either arse then head and staring at the sky, or knees and chest and staring at the snow. On a board, I was falling on runs that on skis I wouldn't even turn on. It got to the point where I couldn't even turn over in bed I was so sore. I went back to skis and have never looked back since. I'm not saying boarding is wrong, it's just different. And not as versatile or cool as skis.
I lasted three days before I had to give up because I was a novice and kept falling, but couldn't be bothered putting in the effort to get better, so just went back to skis [s]I'd be cruising along fine, then *POW* I'd be down. No warning, it was either arse then head and staring at the sky, or knees and chest and staring at the snow. On a board, I was falling on runs that on skis I wouldn't even turn on. It got to the point where I couldn't even turn over in bed I was so sore. I went back to skis and have never looked back since. I'm not saying boarding is wrong, it's just different. And not as versatile or cool as skis.[/s]
HTH
😉
Meh. I could ski, why bother hurting myself learning to board? it's never stopped me going out with mates on boards, if anything, we have to pick routes that *they* can do - it's cretainly much easier traversing on skis for instance
I lasted three days before I had to give up.
[i][b]Every[/b][/i] girl in our group that has learnt to snowboard (including my missus) has spent at least one day crying. The boys generally get grumpy or give up.
Look at any bunny slope and you'll see someone on a board having a tantrum, hiking up the hill because they can't use a drag lift, or hiking down because they hate it and they are going home.
And yet people still moan that snowboarding is "too easy" compared to skiing.
Like anything worthwhile it just needs a bit of determination and practise.
Padded shorts help too 😉
I went back to skis and have never looked back since. I'm not saying boarding is wrong, it's just different. And not as versatile or cool as skis.
I'll give you the fact that skis are more versatile - they are a better means of transport in the mountains, better for cruising hard-packed pistes (or doing moguls) and covering distance. Snowboards are more fun though.
Meh. I could ski, why bother hurting myself learning to board? it's never stopped me going out with mates on boards, if anything, we have to pick routes that *they* can do - it's cretainly much easier traversing on skis for instance
Because snowboards are more fun. 🙂
Snowboarding in deep powder is just effortless beautiful gliding and one of the best feelings in the world - skiing powder is nowhere near as good.
On a board, I was falling on runs that on skis I wouldn't even turn on
That's your problem. Boards need some gradient. It's the greens I hate. Particularly as a novice, keeping the board running flat without catching an edge on narrow, flat runs isn't fun. Catch an edge and then as you describe, bang your down without warning.
The solution? Find something steeper.
As for me, I skied a little when younger, but my knees are shot these days, so no more skiing.
Plus 1 for the feeling of a board in powder. Never done it on skis though.
This was back in 2003, *wayy* before wavy edge boards like Bataleon
I can see that boards in powder would be more fun than skis - and skis are *great* fun in powder, having tried it on the odd occasion. However, the opportunity to actually ski powder deep enough to warrant a board is so rare, I'll stick to skis thanks.
This was back in 2003, *wayy* before wavy edge boards like Bataleon
Pfffffft... no sympathy here... I first learnt to snowboard *wayy* back in 1993ish - by taking the odd day on the bulletproof slopes of Nevis Range. No helmet. No arse armour. No lessons. Drag lifts.
The few boards available then were basically stiff inflexible uncambered planks which we steered by throwing our shoulders around.
Kids these days have it easy 😉
It's this entitlement culture we have now Graham. People expect when they go on an expensive holiday that they're going to have lots of 'fun' and not spend all their time being incredibly frustrated and in pain.
They don't know they're born.
Exactly grum - if I had my way the reps would beat them with hammers at the airport while screaming "YOU ARE NOT HERE TO HAVE FUN BITCHES!!!!?!1" and anyone that cried would be put back on the plane 😀
People expect when they go on an expensive holiday that they're going to have lots of 'fun' and not spend all their time being incredibly frustrated and in pain
It's a wierd paradox really isn't it? Ostensibly skiing and snowboarding are 'hobbies' that require a certain amount of pain tolerance/self harming, before you can realise the huge rewards available. Seemingly most people never get that far ...
Apparently the 'snowsports' industries are acutely aware of this and are trying to remedy the situation.
Stats quotes to me by CASI stated that for every 10 people that try snowboarding, only one will stick with it past the first experience. (similar stats for skiing as well).
There's therefore a move to try and introduce the 'fun' element back into it, but sadly this isn't always the case;
When my sister had a skiing lesson in Austria she called into question the parentage of the instructor and when I asked if she would ever consider skiing again, she said she would rather have 'root canal' treatment or swallow her own tongue ...
She'd thought it 'looked easy' and would be cool to 'swish' about the slopes stopping for hot chocolate etc, but the reality was somewhat different for her ...
Last year in Slovakia we had a girl in our chalet learning to snowboard for the first time. The chalet host/owner, Dan, is an experienced seasonaire and very good, patient teacher.
He spent all week with her, doing one-on-one lessons. Usual tears etc but lots of encouragement from Dan, us, and her boyfriend. She persevered each day until she finally made it down a slope linking turns without falling over.
She got to the bar, big smiles: [i]"Yaaay I finally did it. I made it. It was great."[/i]
We all cheer and congratulate her.
Then she says [i]"Right I'm done now. I'm never doing that again. I just didn't want to give up. I can see it would be great to do, and I can see why you love it, but I'm done."[/i]
And she didn't ride for the rest of the holiday. 😯
Meanwhile her boyfriend, also a complete beginner, got it straight away and by the end of the week was doing tail presses, little ollies and even came off-piste with us.
They are both coming back this year - but she isn't riding.
Considered tethering both feet to a board and going sideways once, just to try it out and see what the fuss was all about. Several friends did one day courses in a fridge, and another did a BASI instructor thingy to try out a different discipline. All of them spacked a wrist.
Put me off, skied another week, and that was when skiing properly clicked.
Got a n00b Telemark lesson lined up for next week though, so expect some video looking like a muppet.
All of them spacked a wrist.
That's just piss poor falling technique. 😀
Don't stick a hand out, tuck and roll instead, like going OTB on a bike.
(falling properly [i]should[/i] be the first thing they teach noobs)
What's going on here? A snowboarding v skiing debate?
Hey it's all sliding down snow on bits of wood eh?
Seriously though, they are both brilliant! I'd love to have the time to get better at skiing (or snowboarding, for that matter!). But you do need powder for proper boarding fun.
What's going on here? A snowboarding v skiing debate?
Hey it's all sliding down snow on bits of wood eh?
It was all going just fine until someone up there mentioned tele! 😉
DezB - Member
What's going on here? A snowboarding v skiing debate?
Hey it's all sliding down snow on bits of wood eh?
Sledging's great.
[quote=igm ]
Sledging's great.
Your wife, biscuits etc etc 😉
Out in Zinal Switzerland, fab area quiet loads of offpiste inbounds or out of bounds, to whatever level you desire including Heli ,
I use a split board which is great for the back country access or walk outs!!
Contact Backcountry adventures for a flavour or follow llnks on mountaintracks web site.
Nice catvet
Off out for a week soon to La Plagne. Looking at Scotland in February as the snow looks to be getting well good. Hoping for another Alps trip in March.
May sound like a dumb question ... How often do you wax your board when you're out for a full week session.
Depends on the board really rats.
The base on my current board (Bataleon Goliath) doesn't hold wax very well at all and can look pretty scratty and dry after a couple of days hard riding.
BUT... my previous boards have been absolutely fine on a two week holiday.
Wax it before you go. If you do find it gets bad then you can always just whack it into a shop or give your friendly chalet bum a few euros to do it.
Yeah thanks for that. I've waxed it to go.
Think I might take my iron with me though feel like I'm gonna make a mess stripping the excess wax off ... starting to sound a whole lot easier to take it into a shop. I've got a Rome board and it seems to get dry pretty quickly. Was looking at the Bataleon Anywhere as my next one.
cheers.
Depends on the snow too. A week of pow and you won't need to wax it 🙂
BUT... my previous boards have been absolutely fine on a two week holiday.
Some years ago I was on a borrowed board from a sponsored friend and got very drunk and tried (pretty successfully) to ride it home down a (gritted) road in Mayrhofen at 9pm after some enthusiastic apres action.
I was not in the good books to be honest, especially the manufacturers since they'd arranged for a photo shoot the next day.
igm - already there old chap, already there.(not flashy though, I'm guessing he's a fit, have a go, young thing). 🙂You will, CFH, Bunnyhop, give up skiing when you body starts to get old and knackered like mine - and grab a board.
I cried a lot when learning to ski, got bruised a lot, got cold and wet a lot but never, ever wanted to jack it in. Just love it too much.
40 years on skis. Only 15 on a board and back on ski's for the forseeable.
glenshee today - great snow and great vibes - Coire Fionn and Glas Maol were filled to the max.
kitzbuhel and the Austrian 6 week tour next weekend. Life's great 🙂
Bunnyhop, have I ever told you I love you?
😉
[quote=CaptainFlashheart ]Bunnyhop, have I ever told you I love you?
flashy old chap, calm down there. Don't want things to get out of hand now do we? Let's have a conciliatory drink, old bean
😀