[Closed] The STW Ski & Snowboard thread. The 2014-2015 season

Travis Whatshisname apparently:

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Interesting indeed !

Snowboarders rule!

I heard someone on blades wearing a jesters hat did it first.

This probably means war. Being both a boarder and skier I'm going to adopt the Swiss position and sell wax to both sides.

#sprayskiers

#heeledgedownallthesteepstuffscrapingoffthesnow

Swix anyone?

Just kidding, it's like this really (pretend one is a snowboarder):

[IMG] [/IMG]

#heeledgedownallthesteepstuffscrapingoffthesnow

Yeah, Travis Rice is about edge slipping. 😀

That line is full-on gnar and anyone who rides it has got big nuts/ovaries, mad skillz or both. I don't know what the etiquette is about vid parts but it seems a bit off [b][i][u]if[/u][/i][/b] Cody Thingy knew Travis Dodah had ridden/filmed it first to then go and release his clip first and steal the glory.

True, but it doesn't really count if you do it on skis anyway 😉

Has anyone had any genuine beef with the 'other' discipline? I remember I had a slanging match with a French Ski Instructor, but that was mainly because he was French ... 🙂

EDIT I really like skiing and really don't see what the issue is. Apart from blades

Ski when you're young. Then once your knees are shot and you have children you need 360 vision to keep track of, get a board.

I'm a (poor quality) snowboarder these days. As is my wife. Our sons aren't allowed to ride a board until they can ski properly.

That video scares me. Even if I had the skill...

Edit: ah yes, blades. Something skiers and snowboarders agree on.

Having seen some very nasty crashes with skiers taken out by boarders I have to say I am very wary around them and make an effort to ski where they are not.

The main gripe most skiers have with "boarders" is the lack of piste etiquette: don't stop in the middle of the piste, don't stop just over a crest, please don't stand on my skis, if you must falling leaf the snow off this piste, please do it at the edge, don't cut up a ski school train, look up the hill before you set off, the person down the mountain has absolute and unquestionable priority...

I suspect this comes from a lack of training - when I was learning to ski we were taught all those things. Most people, myself included, self-teach boarding.

Skiers also need to learn that as a boarder you have limited visibility on your back side, so "normal" boarders can make better judgements at turning right than left.

Having seen some very nasty crashes with skiers taken out by boarders I have to say I am very wary around them and make an effort to ski where they are not.

The problem, IMO, is mostly confined to snowboarders who don't ski and skiers who don't snowboard (and idiots generally).

If you do both, it's easier to anticipate the likely movements of the other.

Too many times I've seen people riding and a skier try to pass on his blind side right as he's about to turn into it. Snowboarder doesn't look and turns right into skier. Snowboarder at fault, but the skier could have probably avoided it. You might not want to (or feel that you should have to), but a bit like driving, i'd rather give way to an idiot than stand my ground and get injured.

Also, depending on conditions, it's harder to have a "planned" turn on a snowboard, so turns can be more erratic. Again, a wider berth would be advisable.

My pet hate on skis is snowboarders changing direction without looking (it's not that hard is it??), especially when they decide to cut right across the piste.

My pet hate on a snowboard is skiers getting too damn close (particularly on narrow cat tracks when you're just sitting on an edge and need to get a turn in but there's some goon coasting alongside you inches away)

I've been taken out by a skier on my board.

I was heading across the slope towards the edge of the piste. He obviously calculated that I'd turn soon, so there would be room between me and the piste edge for him to continue his assault on the Super G record in his head. What he didn't realise was that I was actually heading off-piste and had no intention of turning...

Resulting collision knocked me a fair old distance down the slope. No real harm done though. We exchanged viewpoints via non-verbal means and continued on our bruised ways.

(In retrospect it was partly my fault. He hit me from behind, but I was making an unusual manoeuvre so I should have been more wary. A learning moment).

hot_fiat - Member
please don't stand on my skis,

please don't scratch my board with your goofy poles 😀

And with regard to peter's point, I don't ski but I regularly go on holidays with skiers and ride with them as a group.

your [s]goofy poles[/s] crutches

http://www.skiclub.co.uk/skiclub/infoandadvice/article.aspx?articleID=97#.VImmmTGDm-0

3. Choice of route
A ski­er or snow­board­er com­ing from be­hind must choose his or her route in such a way not to en­dan­ger skiers or snow­board­ers ahead

4. Overtaking
A ski­er or snow­board­er may over­take another ski­er or snow­board­er above or be­low and to the right or to the left pro­vid­ed that enough space is left for the over­tak­en ski­er or snow­board­er to make any vol­un­tary or in­vol­un­tary move­ment.

The main gripe most [b][i]snowboarders[/i][/b] have with [b][i]skiers[/i][/b] is the lack of piste etiquette: don't stop in the middle of the piste, don't stop just over a crest, please don't stand on my [b][i]board[/i][/b], if you must [b][i]follow each other in a big long line[/i][/b] on this piste, please do it at the edge, don't cut up a [b][i]snowboard lesson[/i][/b], look up the hill before you set off, the person down the mountain has absolute and unquestionable priority...

FTFY

There are idiots on both, I don't think either 'side' is any more to blame. I do both and get equally frustrated with the behaviour of both. It's not their board/skis that frustrate me, it's their lack of awareness of what's going on around them.

I Love sticking a pole between the skis of people trying to que skip. It's usually those ****s in lycra suits or little brats. Combined with a "f@#;ng try, I dare you" look, it gives me immense satisfaction.

I can snowboard and the wife is IMO an outstanding snowboarder, so we tend to discuss slope etiquette often. For example, until she explained the problems of cat trax, I was guilty of coasting alongside boarders. I then explained in great detail about how she needs to speed up putting her bindings on as it's cold waiting about for her while she readjusts them everytime we get off a chair.

I Love sticking a pole between the skis of people trying to que skip

My advice is never go to Austria 😀

Ha! That's where I learned the trick!

That must have kept you busy!

Personally I'm all for polite queuing but if I find myself in a resort full of [s]Germans[/s] [i]nationalities with differing social ideas about queues[/i], then instead of fighting the tide I just get stuck in (whilst affecting an 'Ello 'Ello style accent).

The best part about the Euro scrum is that while you are busy getting stomped on and tutting in a British way, the six man chairlift you are waiting for is going up the hill with TWO PEOPLE ON IT!!!! FOR. ****. SAKES!!!!

It was a proper old mountain goat of a local that did it to some young park rats. The look he gave silenced them and sent me into a fit of giggles! I've used it ever since.

I love queuing in Canada though. Entertaining lifties, polite locals and the singlies entrance. Germans don't get it but because they are very anti confrontational, give them a withering look and they stay in line. I'll probably get knocked out one of these days but so far I've had a good run. 😀

I must say it's great to see that the same old arguments/points are brought up. I've been boarding over 20 years (skiing 5 years before that) and exactly the same things were being said back then.
Plenty of asshats in both camps.

Both move around the slope in different ways, but surely we've been sharing the same slopes for long enough to work it out now.

Queue jumpers usually receive an 'unexpected' yawn stretch just as they are going past. Helps that I'm fairly big, and am great at the Paddington stare 😯
Same happens to RLJ's that I repeatedly pass on the commute 😈

Cheers IGM - I'll have a look for 360 too... out of holidays it's looking like few run classes.... hoping to improve their technique - the 6 year old was bashing down a red faster than me after a week last year.... I had more style though, which is obviously what matter 🙂

igm - Member
99%chimp
We've used 360 in Les Gets and our elder one loved it. Out all over the hill on blues in the first year, easy reds the second and any reds the third. Parallel turns coming but not quite neat enough for them to be happy yet (weight too far back, turning on the inside ski - if as a broader I got that right). Our younger one did a couple of private lessons last year (he's three) the second of which included disappearing off up a chair and coming down a (carefully chosen) blue - 1-2-1 close supervision by the instructor and daddy following at a discrete distance. He also loved it.

We also used ESF one year and that didn't go well. The instructors were probably great technically but didn't seem to be able to relate to the kids as well.

Not used LGS but they've been around for quite a bit.

I love queuing in Canada though.

I had to grab an Italian mate by the collar and pull her back when she insisted on pushing her way through the lift line in Whistler. Even after a week of being there she just couldn't get to grips with the lack of pushing in.

It's usually those **** in lycra suits or little brats. Combined with a "f@#;ng try, it gives me immense satisfaction

British boarder Gods bring etiquette and intimidation to foreign pistes. Immense satisfaction eh. 🙄

"cat trax" brings up results for boats so I'm none the wiser.

"cat trax" - generally a green run of very slight gradient. Wide enough for a pisten bully.

Most resorts around here (France) have a separate line for individuals to fill empty seats on chains. Look for those, the lines often look like they are reserved for clubs/racers because the lycra-clad kids are in there but anyone can use it.

edit: thanks, hot fiat.

"cat trax" brings up results for boats so I'm none the wiser.

Narrow and flat, not good for control on a board.

I'm neither a boarder or a god but I'm immature enough to get my satisfaction from these little victories. 😆

😀

"cat trax" brings up results for boats so I'm none the wiser

The access tracks that link the main pistes together. Often about as wide as the tracks of a snowcat.

Generally marked as Green, which makes sense on skis, but on a snowboard they are actually fairly nasty because they are often icy, there is little or no space to turn, and you often have to go flat out to avoid the Walk Of Shame at the end.

What torso said. Tussling and grumbling, skis on boards, boots on skis, evil staring then get to the front and it's "ooh no I must sit with my friends!". Some folk are dumbasses regardless of their nationality or sliding persuasion.

I find it quite enjoyable edging forward 10mm at a time to keep ze Germans behind me! Certainly passes the time nicely 8)

Any ski pole recommendations for lift queue assaults?

Skiing in the alps this week 😆

I'll quite often sit and chat to the folk on the chair lifts I'm sharing with and I've only met one grumpy anti-snowboarder guy out here so far. Seemed to think snowboarders had no respect for the mountain, didn't know the etiquette and generally had it too easy. Can't say I shared this attitude.

No more excuses, it's white enough. First turns shortly.

For my 40th the lovely lady in my life has organised me a days backcountry touring in Rodger's Pass as part of our trip next year.

Just a little bit excited.

backcountry touring in Rodger's Pass

That should be fantastic, we had a few days in Revelstoke last season and it was great. The back country opportunities around there look endless.

For my 40th the lovely lady in my life has organised me a days backcountry touring in Rodger's Pass as part of our trip next year

On a more serious note lucky you !

No more excuses, it's white enough. First turns shortly.

Transport, transfer, accommodation, ski hire, ski passes, lessons all booked.
£2700 at the moment.

Can't wait for next Saturday.

ski welt in the Tyrol opens tomoz...18 lifts out of 90, 20 km out of 280km. 20cm of snow on the mountain.

Not bad considering..... 😕

Here you go, Jambalaya. View from the balcony just after my last post:
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1500m looking back at the resort
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1800m good snow from here up.
[img] [/img]
2200m wild and woolly. My skin bag blew away 😥
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My mrs is going mad because she's quite tall and can't find any long or tall salopettes in small or size 10 (any reccos welcome) but I said she should get some leggings like those in the pics above, and tuck em into her boots... Those leggings things warm & waterproof?

Those leggings are warm with thermals underneath, they're the same Roubaix fabric as Winter cycling tights. Madame has another pair which have a windstopper front which are warmer. You'll find them in any X-C ski catalogue, for example Worden. They're not waterproof. We sometimes pull them over the boots on the way down to stop snow getting in. Salopettes don't need to be long over ski boots.

Well that's the Piemonsters packed and ready to go. 6.20am departure tomorrow should see us in the resort by lunchtime.

I'd have prererred better conditions (and forecast) but hey ho. There's still turns to be done. 😀

And the rapidly approaching second trip is authorised and inbound. Although I've yet to settle on where, I've a shortlist if 3 options though. So will see how things pan out with snowfall.

http://www.travisrice.com/line-of-the-year-the-crack-qa-with-cody-townsend/

Article about The Crack and that mad ski / snowboard line

Article about The Crack and that mad ski / snowboard line

Getting that much gnar should be illegal.

Anyone have much experience with Picture clothing? Tried on a jacket I like of theirs in Ellis Brigham.

Just back from a few days visting mates in Geneva and Chamonix.

Cham lifts were supposed to partially open on Saturday, but it was announced late on Friday that they wouldn't.

Headed to Verbier on Saturday and conditions were brilliant. It was the first day this season they'd opened Grand-Mont, so we rode freshies for most of the day. Oh, and it was a bluebird from about 10am onwards:)

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Good snow above 2000m for the Sauze D'Oulx opening weekend, much better than Val Thorens on Friday but only around 400m of vertical as the snow line is so high.

K2 in Les Gets is being sold. 😥

Best burger bar I ever went to.
Where will I get my buffalo burger with cheese of my choice now.

Mmmmm, Sauze....

Pizza at the Orso Bianco for lunch, steak at the Village for dinner. Happy days!

Getting stuck for twenty minutes or so on the lift to the top of red 11....less happy.

@educator nice ! Verbier looks good too @peter, I heard from my friend there conditions where ok.

We are in Sainte Foy, went upto Tignes today to have a look, what snow there is is not bad but even from 2200 to 2600+ apart from pistes it's mostly grass. We'll go for a ski tomorrow and report back but I feel for those who'll be out Christmas and New Year as unless there is a big storm or two it's going to be dire.

Looking at webcam in les gets, most of the snow is gone.
Not good.

On Twitter they're claiming it'll be good by the weekend - I think

[img] [/img]

Finally getting to the point where there's a decent base on the upper slopes here in Whistler, but there's nothing in the village at all. The ski out is all man made snow and with the warmer temps recently it's pretty heavy and thin in places.

That said, they opened up the high alpine this weekend, so Peak chair Harmony and 7th Heaven are all now open, which is good.

went upto Tignes today to have a look, what snow there is is not bad

My in-resort spy described it at the weekend as skiable from the Grande Motte down to Val Claret but said that having a resort's worth of skiers on the same piste was giving the blood wagons plenty of early season practice.

Apparently the locals say they'll be 2m of snow on Christmas eve.

Rio there where a few ambulances on the way up today too. Frustration is that the forecast precipitation on Thursday is going to be rain, the isotherm for freezing point is forecast to be between 2800m and 3200m 🙁 sadly that's going to make a tough situation worse. We came for some general R& and I think Tue/Wed are going to be our only days skiing.

[url= http://france.lachainemeteo.com/meteo-france/ville/previsions-meteo-tignes-5507-0.php ]Almost no chance of snow in France on Christmas Eve.[/url]

Edukator that site is a bit more optimistic for this week, show Wed/Thur snow rather than rain.

Not looking good for Champagny and La Plagne over New Years!! **** all snow so far.

Whatnobeer that looks very bare!

C'mon Whistler - please don't pick this year to be crap!

(Not going out till March though so plenty of time yet. Maybe a slow start will mean more snow later in the season...? )

Tignes had 5-10 cm last night. Morning skiing above Val Claret wasn't bad with a bit of fresh powder to be found and the few pistes open had some good skiing, however by afternoon it was deteriorating. Resort thermometer showed +7 but felt colder. Pity it's so warm as precipitation falling as rain. Tignes Lac (at 2000m) was thawing today 🙁

Fingers crossed the weather gods can deliver over the next week.

[i](Not going out till March though so plenty of time yet. Maybe a slow start will mean more snow later in the season...? )[/i]

Yeah...it will be fine!

whats the point of worrying? Chill Dude! 8)

Returning to the earlier discussion around carving ...

C'mon Whistler - please don't pick this year to be crap!

(Not going out till March though so plenty of time yet. Maybe a slow start will mean more snow later in the season...? )

My feelings exactly. Though it's pretty much guaranteed to be fine by March. It has just started snowing in the village, just a flutter, but I'll take pretty much anything at the moment.

Any recommendations on where to look for a cheap week trip (websites, resorts etc)in January- mate spotted a few Crystal offers at around £400 inc lift pass but accommodation looks poor (Tigne/somewhere in Andorra)

Red/black skiing, lots of terrain, lots of snow please 😀

@Digby. That video is great , I think there is a nice move away from the Backside triple 1620 mutes in Snowboarding to tricks with style , fun and carving. It's great to see I think.

Also classical gas a s the soundtrack , managed to learn about half of that when I was at uny. Didn't quite get there ...

Love that carving vid. Last time I went boarding was a very snow free week in flaine and learning to carve was pretty much all there was to do all week...

Tommy Emmanuel brings Classical Gas to life:

I think there is a nice move away from the Backside triple 1620 mutes in Snowboarding to tricks with style , fun and carving. It's great to see I think.

I think you're right - although to be fair I think most of the big gymnastic inspired rotational spins & tricks have always been out of the realms of most mere mortal riders ...only more recently the media are acknowledging the fact!

learning to carve was pretty much all there was to do all week

That's what's great about carving I reckon - it allows you to mix things up when conditions are limited - I've has some great days trying to lay down some big old carves ... you know the ones where you realise you're not coming back up from it! 😀

C'mon Whistler - please don't pick this year to be crap!

You'll fine I reckon GrahamS ... plenty of time to offer sacrifices to the Snow Gods! 😉

Forecast turned out to be too pessimistic regarding warm temperatures. Its been snowing all afternoon and evening in Savoie all the way down to 1500m and its building