How to get the best of skiing and boarding
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PS - it's an old photo, I don't have that one-piece any more!
You and nbt both know the only man for me is Svindal 😀Bunnyhop, have I ever told you I love you?
Glencoe was amazing today, not sure if these pics will show.
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Great pic Greybeard! Almost good enough to forgive the abomination you're riding.
Amazing bigjim - I've been following their updates on Facebook and it sounds like conditions are pretty incredible.
(Crop out that thing bottom left on your second pic though!)
Jealous bigjim, was spying on the webcams all day and I missed out on a good one. Looks like there was a bit of a slide in Baillies judging from the SAIS blog. Hopefully after the weekends storms there might be some chance for things to stabilise a little. If it does the conditions should be good all over the west for a while.
yeah flypaper was shut, the sign said it had avalanched and would again. far too steep for me anyway!
Looks ace. Not done flypaper, Mrs NBT didn;t feel right. Got a couple of laps of Spring run in and that was ace. Flypaper's on the ticklist though...
Just watched the first two episodes of "The Jump".
It's really not very good is it? Only just watchable with some judicious use of the fast-forward button.
Why on earth did they bother with the horribly stilted live bit when most of the action is pre-recorded? Should have been all prerecorded and edited down to 30 minutes.
I am off to Val D'isere again on Sunday. Can't wait 🙂
Val d'Isere..?
You should head for Scotland. There's a LOT more snow!!!!
The resorts are busily digging out lifts, looking for buildings that they've lost and there is a lot more snow forecast over the next few days. When this finally settles down, the piste and backcountry will be simply epic.
Have a look at the public reports section on Winterhighland for a feel on how the resorts are working to cope with the truly exceptional conditions.
It's a tough call Bazzer 🙂
Got to get up in 3 hours to get to the airport. Leaving the house at 3am and will be on the ground in Geneva in 12 hours time. Should be in Morzine in around 14 hours. Can't wait!
Enjoy I_Ache! I'm off to Les Arcs in the morning. Looks like the next week or so is going to be pretty snowy. 😀
Yea it looks like a good week in the Alps.
Enjoy yourself grum.
Just been in that Aldi rifling through the cheapo Crane cycling gear and spotted they have Crane "ski" gear in too.
Full thermals for a fiver? Not exactly brilliant quality or quite up to Canadian temperatures, but probably a good shout for anyone looking for some cheap first-time or backup kit.
Just bought a burton process Flying V.....total impulse buy while killing time as the daughter was at a birthday party.
The 4 weeks till I go to st. Anton can't go quick enough.....
As this is a ski and snowboard thread here's one of each from the Chapelle Park in Avoriaz yesterday. Snowing again today, season is starting to pick up. 🙂
[url= http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7391/12265794593_7564ab54c1_c.jp g" target="_blank">
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/daneayres/12265794593/ ]2014_02_01_005_Chapelle_Park[/url]
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[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/daneayres/12266107724/ ]2014_02_01_002_Chapelle_Park[/url]
Arrived in courmayeur. View of Mont Blanc from bedroom window. Wifi in room. Beer next...
Enjoy Julian.
Nice pics schnullelieber - that's an interesting perspective, how did you get it?
Had a great day in Les Arcs today - loads of fresh snow and more to come.
grum - Member
Nice pics schnullelieber - that's an interesting perspective, how did you get it?
Nothing fancy, just stood on a ridge above the park, about 10 to 15 meters behind the start of the drop in to the first kicker. That gave a nice view over the jumps and used some zoom to compress the perspective. The skier picture was also cropped. Just a compact (Sony HX5). Will take a DSLR up some time.
Well that was probably the best fresh powder day we'll have this year. Elbows dipping in and out on Elan Alaska rando skis with about the same surface area as a typical slalom ski.
Some may remember me buying some Atomic Redster slalom skis for my son last year. Well they delaminated after a few days so he finished last season on my old Dynastar 64 Omeglass which he finds a bit soft. The replacements arrived in time for this season but before I even got to try them they delaminated. Atomic France having none left our ever helpful local shop came up with some Head FIS i.SL RD which he's trying to get used to.
Junior is currently leading the U16 Ski-cross coupe de France after winning the first round in Val Tho' (on Atomic GS skis) but is more motivated by his Telecaster. :-/ Kids eh.
On the ski/board debate I've given up boarding for good (till the next time). Rotor cuff and elbow injuries (DIY and falling off my roadie) mean putting a hand down is just too painful.
As for the avalanche risk hyperbole this year. If there's enough snow on a slope in the range of angles that avalanche then there's a risk which you can try to assess by digging holes and so on, but never be absolutely sure it won't go. If it's steeper the snow won't accumulate, if it isn't steep enough then it won't go. Get to know which slopes aren't quite steep enough to go and you can get out any day. The slope might not be steep enough for flouncy, bouncy riding but fine for swoopy giant curves.
An absolutely brilliant days skiing.
It's started snowing just before lunch. The pistes were almost empty so no queuing at the lifts. Delicious lunch of pizza in one of Courmyeur's many mountain restaurants.
A little foggy in the afternoon, so having to feel our way down the hill.
Mainly pisted reds today with some superb under ski conditions. May try a black tomorrow.
All this is extra special because I broke my arm back in August and my physio said I wasn't to go skiing. Luckily she got another 2 opinions from higher up, who agreed if I was cautious I could go. Poor nbt has turned into a camel having to carry gear. Also I'm finding it tricky getting on and off lifts.
The snow is getting heavy as night falls and the temps drop. Tomorrow should be as good.
Grum - hope you're having fun.
Can you stop posting about how much fun you're all having....i'm in the bloody office and have approx 18 days and 20 hrs before I shall hit the slopes! 🙁
Sorry Rockape but two days into my holiday and I am loving snowboarding. I'm not quite up to the same level that I am at skiing but I am having more fun and am not in pain from my ankle. Looking forward to getting better.
Sorry Rockape but had a bloody amazing day today, one of my best ever on a snowboard really. 😛
Lovely sunshine and still lots of fresh powder to go at. Did some amazing tree runs, and mustered up the balls to do a little cliff drop which felt great (even though I stacked it just after landing).
All this is extra special because I broke my arm back in August and my physio said I wasn't to go skiing.
Hooray!! Really glad you're having a great time. 😀
It's Shaky time!
or to translate for those of you with a less comprehensive knowledge of 80s christmas pop songs "snow is falling, all around us"
it's coming straight down as there's no wind, and the flakes are getting heavier and heavier. I cannot *wait* till tomorrow. Except for the four course meal downstairs. That comes first.
Nothing fancy, just stood on a ridge above the park, about 10 to 15 meters behind the start of the drop in to the first kicker. That gave a nice view over the jumps and used some zoom to compress the perspective. The skier picture was also cropped. Just a compact (Sony HX5). Will take a DSLR up some time.
Cheers - looks cool. I wondered if maybe you'd stuck a camera on a pole or something to get the high angle.
nbt, can you send some of that new snow over to Les Arcs, not that it's at all bad here but some fresh powder for tomorrow would be very nice.
You're only about 15 miles away as the crow flies crewlie. i can get a bus to La thuile and ski over to la rosiere - You can actually see people skiing down the aiguille rouge from Les Eucherts
Hey crewlie I'm in Les Arcs too. There's more fresh snow coming soon I think but not tomorrow.
@stevocmd posted on fb they've had 20cm fresh in Ste Foy, get the bus from Bourg.
Oh really? 🙂
Julian, if you do go to La Thuile the Lo Riondet refuge on the number 7 piste is well worth a visit.. Less than 2 weeks now until we go to Val Cenis. Bags already half packed!!!!! (Only cos we have builders in and the house is a tip), ski carriers on the car. Can't wait. Paul
@stevocmd posted on fb they've had 20cm fresh in Ste Foy, get the bus from Bourg.
Just had a look - the post is from yesterday morning. We had fresh snow then too but not as much as 20cm.
Still snowing. it's been falling all night. the snowploughs were out around 5am 😀 😀 😀
What's the score with cheap ski/snowboard gear ❓
The sort of stuff you'd wear if you are guaranteed to spend most of the week sliding down the hill on your face! Then, once you've got the hang of staying upright you get some decent kit.
Decathlon by any chance? Trespass?
"Still snowing. it's been falling all night"
nothing here, still always surprises me how localised mountain weather can be. Anyway maybe our turn tonight.
@grum I'll wave at any snowboarders I see dropping off cliffs 🙂
What's the score with cheap ski/snowboard gear
I'd certainly have a look at TKMaxx. Look for high numbers of both breathabilty and waterproofing.
(Usually pretty clear on the label)
I wouldn't, however, skimp on your gloves. If you're a total noob, you're going to spend time in the snow, and your hands will be in there! Cold hands ruin many a first ski/board holiday. Keep your core warm, and your hands warm too. For a first trip, you can reuse quite a bit of your bike gear (Assuming you have it) such as;
Buffs - You will thank me for recommending you take them!
Base layers - Bike base layers work fine for skiing
Gloves - If you have a really good pair of winter cycling gloves, there's no reason you can't use them. I've skiied in my Sealskins on warmer trips, still love my super-toasty TNF gauntlets, though! (Thanks to the nice people at TNF!)
I've been fine with dare2b stuff which you can often pick up pretty cheap.
Still snowing. it's been falling all night. the snowploughs were out around 5am
Enjoy nbt (well as much as it's possible to on skis 😛 )
nothing here, still always surprises me how localised mountain weather can be. Anyway maybe our turn tonight.
Looks like we should get a bit tomorrow, sun thursday, then quite a lot friday, saturday, sunday. 77cm forecast over the next 9 days (which is how long I'm out for 😀 )
@grum I'll wave at any snowboarders I see dropping off cliffs
I think cliff may be exaggerating slightly - it was probably about 2-3 meters from take-off to landing but enough to scare me quite a bit! Nice powdery landing to stack it into though.
Nice powdery landing to stack it into though.
That awesome feeling when you land it right in to the deep stuff and ski out is almost as good as that awesome feeling when you land it wrong in to the deep stuff and come up like some giggling version of the abominable snowman!
CFH, good shout on TKmaxx, theres a decent one in town.
Ta Grum, will also have a look.
I've plenty of warm kit down/synthetic and big gloves from winter mountaineering.
I just dont want slide down a hill on new eVent kit
piemonster: yeah TinkyMax is always a good bet, and as mentioned earlier Lidl had some dirt cheap Crane stuff in too which would do the job.
SportPursuit is always worth a look, as are the Clearance Deals on Absolute Snow:
http://www.absolute-snow.co.uk/ProductList/Department/0?sort=3
There's a bit of snow in Scottishland...
Scottish Avalanche Information Service Blog, Southern Cairngorms, Monday.
Check eBay as well - I've been looking for some trousers (I know, everyone calls them pants, but I am not American). Can get proper decent ones for about £30.
highlandman - Member
There's a bit of snow in Scottishland...
Scottish Avalanche Information Service Blog, Southern Cairngorms, Monday.
Been quite a bit of wind too.
Three times now I've been near a shut ski area within the last month.
Twice Cairngorm, once Glencoe. Been a bit rough out.
Just back from a week in La Plagne. Epic conitions. Hired a guide for two days. First of the two had fresh pow the night before. Check it out:
While I was away I found out I get to go for a free work ski trip in Austria too! Get in...
today has mostly featured powder, trees and *win* with a light dusting of beer to top it off
Decathlon is great for skiing gear. I miss the good old C&A 'Rodeo' ski wear. Mine lasted many years of abuse such as sweating, falling over, beer spillage during apres ski 🙂
Right back to important stuff: it's still snowing!
On the subject of important stuff... we're off to Val d'Isere again this Easter (thanks for the encouragement and advice last year) and it transpires that I am giving Mrs Markie a new ski jacket for her birthday.
Things I know:
She thinks she'd like a black jacket (to go with bright trousers, apparently). She also quite likes the red of [url= 
]this Poc Helmet[/url].
She has in the past admired Sweet Protection gear (they don't currently make a black jacket).
She skis very well (apparently) and likes a sporty look.
Can anyone recommend a jacket? A brand? Where should I be looking for them? Am I best buying now, or are we going late enough in the season that even Val d'Isere might offer (relative) bargains?
I will be wearing a Buffalo jacket and some canvas trousers that can (through the strength of fabric not dirt) stand up on their own.
Markie, for good quality, plain jackets, Eider are always worth looking at.
I think you're just as likely to get a good deal in the UK than in VD. Good to get it bought before you go. Fancy spending your first morning traipsing round ski shops? "JUST GET THAT ONE!" "Which one?" "I DON'T CARE!" That would be me, anyway.
I'd wait until March - sales will kick in by then (ish? anyone?) and take her round a few shops. Any good ones near you? Fit will be very important and the chances of you picking the right one are... I don't know! She might want to compromise on technicality/features/ fabric rating for something that looks really good. Or fancy a softshell, rather than a hardshell.
You can always make a birthday thing of it, write a card with "voucher for one afternoon ski jacket shopping + one ski jacket" And you could do a bit of ground work if you're near some good shops - useful if you might need to steer her away from the Norrona & Arcteryx!
Those 2 are great but big dorrar spendy. If you can find them art 40 or 50% off, sensible prices and quality kit.
She has in the past admired Sweet Protection gear (they don't currently make a black jacket).
Bunch of Sweet Protection stuff on SportPursuit at the moment.
Hi Markie
Glad you're off to Val again, we're just back from Tignes. The Face was in great shape (until my other 1/2 slid down most of the 1st steep section anyway).
I have an Arc'teryx jacket that I wear with a fleece underneath, it's years old and still looks great. Also flexible on spring days when I just wear it with base layers or vent the pit zips.
Always liked the look of POC helmets but they do not fit my head, weird pressure areas in seconds. Another premium helmet brand is sweet, they do trooper and rooster helmets which look great and seem really well put together. I'm not sure I'd like hard shell over the ears though unless I was racing.
Anyway, hope it helps
Linda
It's still bloody snowing. Was getting quite light when o went to bed but now it's coming down thick and fast. Weather forecast suggests tomorrow may be the best day to try La Rosiere, so will check bus times tonight
Sweet jackets are a bit nu skool gnar in their styling, which may not suit the lady folk as well as something a little more tailored.
Ended up playing bass for a band last night at an open mic night at La Vache bar - lots of fun. 🙂
That awesome feeling when you land it right in to the deep stuff and ski out is almost as good as that awesome feeling when you land it wrong in to the deep stuff and come up like some giggling version of the abominable snowman!
Yeah I love crashing in powder - great fun (unless you then have to spend ages digging yourself/wading out).
It's still bloody snowing.
How awful for you! We're meant to be getting some today but not much sign so far. Decent dump forecast for Friday though. 😀
It's still bloody snowing.
I read through the colossal* tome that is the [url= http://www.tetongravity.com/forums/showthread.php/109620-Best-Gaper-qoute-of-the-weekend ]"Best Gaper qoute of the weekend?" thread at TetonGravity[/url]
One of the recurring themes was gapers complaining that their holiday was ruined because it was snowing all the time. 😯
*(colossal as in : 181 pages, started in 2008 and still going!)
Bargains in Val??? I love the place but its always super expensive, even at the end of the season.
Should be able to find some UK shops with bargains by March, as they'll start to target the Easter trips to shift the end of line kit.
I'm so jealous of this thread. 2 kids under 3 have meant my trips are shelved for at least another year.
Not good.
"We're meant to be getting some today but not much sign so far. Decent dump forecast for Friday though. "
Coming down a bit now in 1950. Friday's no good, we go on Saturday 🙁
Paid £150 for a sweet protection goretex jacket from Sports Pursuit a couple of weeks back... Absolute bargain and great jacket.
Get in! Ski holiday number 2 booked! 😀
A week in Les Deux Alpes, mid-March, staying in this gaff:
http://www.neilson.co.uk/ski/france/les-deux-alpes/neilson-hotel-aalborg
Me, the missus, our kids (0 and 3), and grandma in tow to handle the babysitting 😀
Excited bean!
It seems I'm going to Norway to slide down hills on my face.
Repeatedly.
Will I die?
Probably will do if I forget my down kit.
Also, hurrah for [url= http://www.snowboardclub.co.uk/ ]SCUK discounts[/url], saved us £227 on the cost of that holiday alone.
Not bad for a £15 membership. 😀
It's [b]STILL[/b] bloody snowing!. It hasn't stopped all day
[quote=GrahamS ]It's still bloody snowing.
I read through the colossal* tome that is the "Best Gaper qoute of the weekend?" thread at TetonGravity
One of the recurring themes was gapers complaining that their holiday was ruined because it was snowing all the time.
*(colossal as in : 181 pages, started in 2008 and still going!)
I've dabbled in that thread and others, but fair play to you if you'v read the lot
I'm not *actually* complaining, more gently ribbing Grum and Crewlie for being on the wrong side of the mountain.
Today has mostly featured deeper powder, steeper trees, almost constant hysterical laughter from Mrs NBT and a couple of unexpected drop offs. Some *may* have been landed succesfully, some may not.
Oh, and I got a [url= http://unofficialnetworks.com/gnar/ ]GNAR[/url] style pro-call out to some random who crashed off piste as we passed overhead on the lift then - as we applauded his crash - tried to claim he was "the best skiier on the mountain. This probably won't mean much unless you've seen the film but his mates thought it was hilarious. If you haven't seen the film, grab a beer and get watching.
In all seriousness, it really is still snowing, it's been bloody great out there today. Quite possibly the best day I've ever had on skis and I've had some amazing powder days in place like whistler, alta and solitude.
I've dabbled in that thread and others, but fair play to you if you'v read the lot
It took me about a week, reading it piecemeal during slow points at work 😀
I'm not *actually* complaining, more gently ribbing Grum and Crewlie
Yer I know. I'm just jealous.
Mind you - just been looking at [url= http://winter.les2alpes.com/webcams-2-alps.html ]the webcams for Les Deux Alpes[/url] and it is dumping hard there too:
[url= http://s10.postimg.org/tiow0icud/Firefox_Screenshot_2014_02_05_T15_52_07_373_Z.jp g" target="_blank">
(but anything could happen between now and March).
Snowing pretty heavily/steadily here now too. It's put a few cm's down this afternoon and no sign of it stopping any time soon. Blue skies forecast tomorrow.
And I can actually make proper use of it because I have a snowboard. 😉
Be a shame if this thread just turned into people boasting about their conditions though eh? 🙂
Apparently Arabba in Italy had 173cm over night a couple of days ago!
Be a shame if this thread just turned into people boasting about their conditions though eh?
Indeed....GRRRRR! 😀
I hate you all. In all fairness I did get one powder day in morzine 2 weeks ago.
Still hate you though.
After the last few skiing holidays I've spent being either ill or injured, I'm going to boast away. Just in case anyone has't read the above, it's still snowing.
Hopefully nbt will put up some photos, then you can all critise my appalling powder technique = Turn then laugh.
Nbt had some great tumbles, coming out looking like a snowman. Me, I had one of those embarrassing sit downs on the slippery balcony of a mountain restaurant 🙂
Dumping right now here in Morzine, and forecast is for a clearish day tomorrow followed by more snow all over the weekend. Early start in the morning I think.
Sorry cobrakai!
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Ooh that looks like fun grum 😀
(RE the earlier avi talk: I just ordered a BD Bandit Avalung pack, Ortovox 240 Carbon PFA probe and Deploy 7 shovel - all from http://www.snowsafe.co.uk - £190 all in with SCUK discount. Not bad. Borrowing a beeper for this year, but will probably buy one for next year. Hope that helps you all sleep a little better 😉 )
Here's a nice photo (from a point and shoot camera with a dust spot on the sensor!)
[url= http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3807/12327100233_07bfb188ce.jp g" target="_blank">
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/n_b_t/12327100233/ ]Courmayeur 2014[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/n_b_t/ ]Notoriously Bad Typist[/url], on Flickr
More from today: http://www.flickr.com/photos/n_b_t/archives/date-taken/2014/02/05/
and a couple of videos taken with said point and shoot. I hadn't realised my stance was quite so wide, nor that I shouldered quite so much, but to be frank I've had such a ****ing brilliant day I don't really care. They say a bad day on the slopes beats a good day in the office - and they're right - so what the hell does a day like today beat? Almost anything!
Visibilty in general has been better today, but it's still been overcast all day. we've at least been able to see the pistes, though, yesterday visibility was down to three or four yards at times.
It's stopped snowing.
Perfect depth for playing in and falling over .
Does look like you need your bike lights though .
La Ros is fun , not huge nad some cranky chair lifts , abit like Cormeyour in that respect . ONe side ( LA Thuille or La Ros ) always has more snow, depends on the wind direction .
The run back to La Ros from La Thuille has 2 long flats that need 100% commitment to avoid poling .
There is lowish black run that has some good slack country sections , it ends below the village and there is a lift up .
Off the newer 4 man cair on the RHS there is a small wooded area that can hold decent powder , near the bowling alley.
So apparently Glenshee has a bit of snow:
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Cool pic. They should get the grease gun out now, that one can be done without getting off the skidoo 🙂
For the lolz: