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I really get very weary of the seemingly 'Brit abroad' division between sking and snowboarding but I personally don't see using the term 'riding' as perpetuating this in anyway or trying to claim superiority in anyway.
+1
It really is only the 1 week a year brigade who seem to be so wound up by the skiing/snowboarding "divide". Presumably because most only do one or the other.
As a member of the [i]"1 week a year brigade"[/i] I'm really not arsed. 😀
We often [s]ride[/s] [s]board[/s] [s]ski[/s].. erm.. [i]"slide?"[/i] in a mixed group with skiers and snowboarderists.
Any [i]"us vs them"[/i] comments is purely banter.
Also I really don't think that "ride" is [i]"just snowboarders way of trying to be a bit superior over us?"[/i]. It's just a lot less clumsy to say.
I sometimes just say "ski", but that can lead to confusion.
e.g. Do you really say you are going out "mountain bicycling"? 😕
As a member of the "1 week a year brigade" I'm really not arsed.
*cough* said by the man who is counting down 9 days to his next trip to feed the monkey on his back! 🙂
Pleased to hear you had a good trip GrahamS!
I sometimes just say "ski", but that can lead to confusion
Yeah - I always refer to directions as 'skier's left' down the hill, even if I'm on a snowboard ...
Just been to S&R at lunchtime to pick up some bits and bobs, and spent some time lusting/dribbling over these...
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So light for a stiff boot, and beautifully made too.
Yum.
said by the man who is counting down 9 days to his next trip to feed the monkey on his back!
😀 Guilty as charged. Okay, 2 weeks a year brigade then 🙂
So light for a stiff boot, and beautifully made too.
Ooh carbonny.
(Possible uneducated snowboarder question) What's the little metal "port" near the toe for? Boot fitting? Or for attaching bindings/crampons?
What's the little metal "port" near the toe for?
For tech/Dynafit/touring bindings. Lets you release the rear of the boot and pivot vertically at the front for skinning uphill.
Guilty as charged. Okay, 2 weeks a year brigade then
That's how it starts ... one week becomes two ... two becomes three and then suddenly you're doing a season! 🙄
I'd love to do a season. Can't see the wife being too happy about being left with our two kids for 3+ months though 😀
Maybe in my next life.
Heading back home this afternoon and with skiing on the brain after a fairly successful week learning in Norway.
Went into a shop more or less en route to have a bit of mooch around looking for ski boots.
What's the score with these custom fit shells? An extra £40 on what I was planning on spending, so not much. Is it just marketing BS or worth while?
Us playing with the new arva gear near Chopok peak.
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Interesting stuff just trying to apply what I read in the books.
(I will be taking a [i]proper[/i] course in the future obviously)
What's the score with these custom fit shells? An extra £40 on what I was planning on spending, so not much. Is it just marketing BS or worth while?
I have a pair of Salomon custom shells. There was no extra cost* for the boot itself, but you may find you pay** to have a custom footbed fitted to yours as well.
Put simply, the footbed supports your arch, and 'fits' the way you're going to stand on the skis. Makes it super comfy, and stops any tiring in the feet. The shell of the boot is then moulded to fit your foot and calf better. If, like me, you have cycling calves, this can really help. My boots are super-comfy, often forget to undo them at the end of the day, which I think is the sign of a comfy boot. They also really help me control my skis better, as they're fitted properly to my shins, etc.
* I didn't pay for mine.
** See above.
8)
Oakley skiists doing silly things. Daaaaayum they be gooood!
Cheers Captain
Sorry, its not £40 to have the custom shell fitted.
Just that the boots cost £40 more than what I was looking at.
Ah I see. Well, if you can afford it, I would say that custom fitted shells are more comfortable in my experience. Comfortable boots = A Good Thing.
Better fitting boots also = A Good Thing.
It basically means you can hear the shells in the oven and then they mould to your fit. It is a marginal thing, and is no substitute for proper boot fitting but they should give a better, more comfortable fit. Traditionally it was only liners that could be heat moulded in this way...
Agreed, but would also agree that moulded shells should only be a part of a proper boot fitting.
With that advice in mind.
Just picked up a pair of second hand touring boots. I've not tried them on, but they're probably the right size.
It'll be fine.
For free btw.
Ok, someone point me in the direction of an idiot guide for touring skis and bindings?
Nothing like getting carried away, being able to see Glas Maol from my office window doesn't help.
I'd also be interested in an explanation of different touring bindings. I've just stuck with my 7tm tellie bindings with a touring attachment. I keep seeing loads if different set ups but never go up and ask how they work.
If be interested to know about the dyna fit above.
If be interested to know about the dyna fit above.
Apparently will work with pretty much any binding type, which sounds pretty cool!
I'd also be interested in an explanation of different touring bindings
This is slightly out of date but covers the basics - [url= http://mountaintracks.co.uk/blog/ski-touring-bindings-facts ]http://mountaintracks.co.uk/blog/ski-touring-bindings-facts[/url]. There's a new touring binding from Salomon this year which looks like a real competitor to Marker; in particular you can transfer from ski to walk without taking the ski off.
Apparently will work with pretty much any binding type, which sounds pretty cool
Probably not very well with an alpine binding though - touring/freeride boots that will work with an alpine binding usually have interchangeable toe and heel pieces, like for example the Scarpa Freedoms. I'm told that although the touring sole will often fit in an alpine binding it compromises the release. Haven't tried it myself though.
I started using the original Silvretta touring binding which were heavy but reliable and worked fine. The Dynafit Tech bindings came along and I couldn't resist the weight saving. They also proved to be reliable and place the hinge nearer the toe so they feel more like X-C kit. I had some (non)release issues but once I set the forward release lighter than my normal piste settings they were fine (this involved changing the spring at the time but is now the small screw).
I tried an original Fritschi but the movement felt odd because the hinge was so far from the toe, they also suffered breakages at the time so I opted for Tech.
There are lots of brands in the market now and recently I saw someone out on some Fritschi/Marker type bindings on which they've added a link in the front hinge to improve the motion. I've tried to find them with Google and failed.
Boots are a personal thing. When choosing bear in mind that the looser and more flexible the top part the faster you'll go up. Look for boots that allow a maximum of amplitude without too much heel lift that don't press on your toes when moving the ski forward with the boot open. Downhill I'm happy in any old flexible boot but you might not like minimalist race boots if you like carving on piste or jumping off things. I generally strip the boots of spoiler and superfluous velcro straps, and add elastics to buckles to stop them flapping when completely undone. Madame thermoforms her inners, I prefer not to.
Rio is right, release is lousy with rubber soles in alpine bindings, unless you have bindings with a sliding plate in the front binding, LOOK for example. Race GS skis with razor sharp edges and touring boots is an experience I won't be repeating.
End of Season Sales are starting. Snowsafe have got 50% off some of their avi gear.
Anyone fancy a Dakine Heli Pro backpack for £29?
http://www.snowsafe.co.uk/sale---clearance.html
in particular you can transfer from ski to walk without taking the ski off.
IMO this is one of the least useful features of a binding.
In that getting the skins back on without taking the skis off isn't going to happen.
IMO this is one of the least useful features of a binding.
This was highlighted to me after a long skate/pole along a cross-country ski track when I said I'd have put my Barons into climb mode if it wasn't such a PITA, but now that you mention it that's probably a pretty unusual scenario! But the method of switching is much easier than some others (like the aforementioned Barons).
Even after years of X-C skate racing I skate my rando skis locked down. If the boots aren't already unlocked I'll reach down and release the top buckle and boot lock but I find skating with heel-heavy rando skis worse than locked down. The old Silvrettas had an adjustable spring like an X-C binding but the Techs have nothing.
The big melt has started too, skiing in a T-shirt at over 2000m, don't leave your end of season skiing too late.
.In that getting the skins back on without taking the skis off isn't going to happen.
Yup. I can't think of many situations where you'd be switching from ski to walk and not putting skins on.
Such as ? If you're heading down you're locked down. If it's flat you're skating locked down. If it's easy uphill you're still skating locked down, and when it all gets to much it's time for skins.
Ignore my previous post, I read over "can't", Spin, this being STW and me being a troll I generally assume people are disagreeing with me.
Someone skating on rando skis
I've got those Salomon Guardians this year - really easy to use and a great compromise for a bit of side country. They'll only get used for an hour or two skin up to some freshies rather than full day touring and spend 90% of their time as a normal DH binding. Perfect for what I need.
St Anton this time tomorrow 🙂
Forecasts for the next week are looking a tad warm. I guess it will suit the kids more than us.
Yeah, blue skies and warmer temps with overnight freezes I guess. Avi risk is dropping though, so might hunt out some of the steeper stuff 🙂
I'm leaving st Anton tomorrow after a week here. The off piste is now a bit heavy and well tracked.
Still get up early and there is still some great skiing to be had! Hot today though. Went skiing in a compression top and at shirt all day
My friend is due any moment, then we're off tomorrow to Austria, Saalbach Hinterglem.
Whooppeeee.
Don't know if this has been PSA'd, but just in case you need a bit of epic splitboard rando stuff in your life, [url= http://www.tetongravity.com/films/jeremy-jones-further/watch/ ]Jeremy Jones Further[/url] is streaming FOC until Tuesday on the Teton Gravity website.
Very warm today,
Snow is disappearing fast and nothing is forecast to fall in the time we're out here.
Lovely resort with clean and well run hill restaurants, not too pricy either.
Hoping tomorrow won't be as busy as there is very little in the way of off piste.
Lots of people looking like lobsters at the end of today, it wasn't just warm it was hot. T-shirt and shorts at 1800m.
Right then, decent ski goggles. Sales inbound surely.
Any recommendations. Prefer interchangeable. Prefer less than £100.
Prefer, not set in stone.