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

2 days left in Alpbach after a good first 4. 2nd time in Austria and I definitely prefer it to France, easier on the wallet too. Conditions have been good with some sun every day after 15cm the day we arrived. I've just about got back to the standard I was at 5 years ago when I last went skiing which is poor to average at best. Not that it matters as I'm with Mrs CD and her parents who are beginners.[url= https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7574/16147072448_a2f893d06c_b.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7574/16147072448_a2f893d06c_b.jp g"/> [/img][/url]
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I remember finding Austria quite a refreshing change after a few years in France too. Muuucccchhhhh easier on the wallet. Glad everyone's had a good time.

Well, this is new to me.

Looks great fun

Alpbach, blimey I went there 40 years ago, it was very popular with BAOR families. Is it still a pretty little town?

Sometimes they're meant to be wibbly, but that should be obvious!

Like these;
[img] [/img]

Every pair of Lib Tech skis I've seen have had me salivating! Hell, even their tea trays look lovely! Especially this one, named after a Rush track (Surely!)
[img] [/img]

Yes Alpbach is still pretty, it's very small but as we're with Mrs CD's family we're not here for the night life. The only problem is the lack of easy runs to keep them happy.

Out in samoens just now. Great conditions. Had 40cm on Saturday, then bluebird day on Sunday. Had snow most evenings then powder to ride in the mornings. Visibility wasn't the best on Tuesday.. better today (wed). Looking forward to another few good days of boarding ?

Did a season in Samoens a few years ago, lovely place. I'm very jealous, but only 3 weeks till i go to Andorra, getting excited now.

DD - unfortunately sold a load of toddler kit before christmas but i can deffo recommend the Columbia stuff if you can find any on ebay. Between mine and my sisters kids we've had 3 kids in a Columbia set of jacket and salopettes and it still looked like new when we sold them!!

Only 9.5 more sleeps to go and 30+ cm predicted over the next few days so conditions look OK.

I need to sort myself out with a jacket as I threw my old one out last year! 😯

Any ski jacket bargains? (Male, 50 and 6ft tall)

Any ski jacket bargains?

Westbeach have good offers on their site, though their stuff might be a bit youthful for you surfer. 😛

(I bought stuff last year for this year when they had loads of reductions. I had a pair of their trousers for years and they were great. I hope their quality is still the same.)

Youve cut me to quick DD 🙁

I'll take a look thanks!

When I was out in Austria I wandered into a Sports Direct (yes really!) and they had loads of ski jackets from Spyder and other top names. Have a gander at the web site, you never know.

PS I skied at Alpbach on the afternoon of 27th Dec...was great!

I swear Graham Bell was wearing [url= http://www.sportsdirect.com/nevica-vail-ski-jacket-mens-403825?colcode=40382571 ]THIS[/url] Jacket on Ski Sunday at the weekend!

#cheapskate! 8)

[quote=Rockape63 dijo]I swear Graham Bell was wearing THIS Jacket on Ski Sunday at the weekend!
#cheapskate!

WOuld that be Graham Bell the [url= http://www.nevica.co.uk/graham-bell.html ]Nevica skiwear "ambassador"[/url] who's paid to promote the brand (Nevica is owned by Sports Direct owner Mike Ashley)

DD, as others have already said, Columbia stuff is excellent value for money and comes in sizes small enough. Also, have a look at Helly.

And, obviously, good gloves are vital for mini DD. Cold hands on kids are a nightmare, totally ruins their fun.

And, obviously, good gloves are vital for mini DD. Cold hands on kids are a nightmare, totally ruins their fun.

To be fair, he's only just gone two, so won't be skiiing, but, yes, he'll be playing outdoors for some of the day.

If he can walk, he can ski!

Still debating whether to go this year. Little Miss CFH would rip it up, I'm sure. She's a speed demon on her balance bikes and loves adventures! Young Master CFH is only 8 months, though and it might be a bit of a waste of time for him.

[i]If he can walk, he can ski![/i]

Indeed....get him in the ski school!

If he can walk, he can ski!
Indeed....get him in the ski school!

[i]Just[/i] gone two is a bit young I reckon.

My little miss had her first skiing lessons aged 2 and ten months.

She was too young for group lessons, but she was keen so we booked her one-on-one private lessons with a very lovely Italian girl who told us that our daughter was the youngest she had ever taught.
Just an hour a day on proper baby slopes with a couple of magic carpets and lots of toys to ski around and through. She did brilliantly. 😀

Did you get a resort sorted yet DublD?

I mentioned it before but we went to this place last year and we are going back there again this year (in two weeks) because it was really good for the kids:

http://www.neilson.co.uk/ski/france/les-deux-alpes/neilson-hotel-aalborg

They have a kids club and childcare on-site, it's ski to door, easy access to the village, and they have ski hire and lockers as part of the hotel.

Only downside is that it is Neilson-exclusive so it's all brits.

Just back from a week with Neilson in a 19 person chalet in Les Menuires that we booked out. In fifteen (plus) years of attending and booking ski holidays, this has been the best experience - the booking staff were great, the guys in resort were excellent, we had a fab time. I'll be looking at the Aalborg for the next trip, I think, I was looking at it for this year to be honest!

Just gone two is a bit young I reckon.

No reckoning about it tbh dude. Anyway, as for resort, we're going to chance last minute. 😕 Deals for beginning March aren't quite appearing yet, but I might chance phoning them today to see if I can strike something up.

That Neilson place looks nice but it's a bit bigger than we were hoping for. We just fancy a smaller chalet type thing. And the prices for that aren't a lot different from skifamille if we can get something late with them. As I may have mentioned before, it's kinda me who's pushing for this holiday so I need to make sure it's as nice as possible if I'm to have any hope of going again. 🙂

Deadly, just emailed you another possibility.

Yeah I know what you mean DD, I much prefer staying in little chalets to big hotels - but we've learnt that with young kids in tow hotels are a lot easier. We'll go back to nice little chalets when they are older.

the prices for that aren't a lot different from skifamille if we can get something late with them

You sure? Last year we went in March and it was significantly cheaper than SkiFamille even with the childcare/kids club costs.

Just tried an example. 2 adults and a 2 year old, 7 nights half board at Aalborg, flying 21st March from Gatwick is £1659. (And that's before I apply [url= http://www.snowboardclub.co.uk/module-htmlpages-display-pid-4.html ]the 10% SCUK discount[/url])

Ski Famille to a [url= http://www.skifamille.co.uk/accommodation/chalet-petit-mouflon ]small chalet (sleeps 9) in Les Gets[/url] is £2180.

Also [url= http://www.skifamille.co.uk/childcare ]6 days of Bebe Club (4 months to 4 years) with SkiFamille is £315[/url] - 6 days of the Snowman Club (2 to 4 years) with Neilson is £220.

I DON'T WANT TO GO TO THAT NEILSON PLACE!!

Have you tried Esprit?

DD - there is a Helly Hansen outlet at Gloucester Quays which is really good for ski wear - might be worth giving them a ring and seeing if they've got any little winter suits for the wee ones.

Ah...good plan wallop. Might be handy for base layers and socks'n'stuff too! I'd forgotten about that. Thanks.

DD - there is a Helly Hansen outlet at Gloucester Quays which is really good for ski wear - might be worth giving them a ring and seeing if they've got any little winter suits for [s]the wee ones[/s] you.

😉

Cheap gloves there too.

😆 Flashy

As it's an outlet, they'll probably stock some oversize stuff. I'll keep an eye out for you Flashy.

😀

We've just skied our last day in Morzine. Beautiful sunshine and we spent most of the day above Chatel and in Plaine Dranse. Topped it off with a fantatstic boozy lunch in the Valleé de Chèvre in the sunshine. Sad to go home.

Morzine is soooooo English, which is a shame, but it's so convenient - we have had 4.5 days skiing with only a four night stay. Cracking.

wallop what is the snow like, especially for cheeky off piste by the sides of the piste? Looks a bit rocky on the webcams. I still have an option for a morzine trip in a couple of weeks

Morzine is soooooo English, which is a shame, but it's so convenient

Off to see First Aid Kit next week, thanks for the intro !

Snow is fantastic in terms of cover. The odd icy patch here and there but the big dump that came last weekend has really sorted the pistes out.

Off piste seems good (but already well tracked). I'm a bit of an off-piste noob but here is what we did today:

View this post on Instagram

Enjoy the gig, jambalaya!

10 days to go.

It's like a ****ing eternity

Anyone here get away for the odd weekend? How much should I be looking at for a long weekend, last minute. Only back home a couple of weeks and want to go again.
This time I'd like to not destroy the base of my board on rocks and ice. 😥

Only ever been to France, but would be willing to try other countries too.

Please help me, I need to feed the addiction......... 😛

[i]Please help me, I need to feed the addiction......... [/i]

the best route I know for short trips is the Ski welt [url= http://www.skiwelt.at/en/weather-report.html ]HERE[/url]via Munich. depending where you fly from you can be on the slopes by midday ish and stay on the last day til 3ish, meaning you get 3.5 ish days of skiing for three nights.

You just need to pick up a hire car which is quite cheap and then you can go to different areas every day.

I used to do more days as long weekends than holidays due to family commitments. 3 days skiing with a Friday off work I found worked best, leaving Thur night from office. The cost of a weekend done like that is usually pretty close to a full weeks skiing, 75%?, excluding skip pass and equipment hire. Generally you have to rent a car unless you pick a resort with good public transport links (Verbier was always a favourite of mine as you can get train from airport and catch bubble at La Chable plus I stay with friends for free 🙂 ). Your last minute comment will make it expensive as the flights will cost, best way to do long weekends is pick the weekends in advance and buy fligths, then look for deals on unsold accommodation. Clearly to maximise skiing time pick resorts near the airport.

I'm off to Cham for a long weekend, Thu am early flight to Gva , tx to Cham, be skiing by 1pm. Fri ski, Sat ski, fly back home lunchtime Sunday. Flights 170 quid, accom about the same pp so not too bad

Great food for thought guys, keep the suggestions coming.

@jambalaya - I'd have to pick weekends in advance anyway, what with family commitments, so buy the flights as soon as I know.
I'd be on my own, so is there a good way or reducing accom prices?

@NZCol - that is about the budget I'd be looking at excluding car hire, pass and food. Ta.

Cheers

For cheap accommodation for singles you can try and find unsold rooms in Chalets, also good for company, tricky part is finding ones with Sun/Sun changeovers to match weekend skiing. When I was doing that we where paying something like £50 a night for dinner, bed and breakfast. Perhaps one of the reasons my weekends would often cost 75% of a weeks price is due to taking 3 nights in a hotel which is generally more pricey than a chalet.

If you;re going to switzerland (maybe not a good idea given the exchange rate) you can get "all-in" tickets inlcuding rail transfer, hostel accomodation and lift tickets

http://www.sbb.ch/en/leisure-holidays/allgemeine-informationen/information-snownrail.html

thetallpaul - we can often accommodate last-minute, long-weekend bookings if we have space. We have chalets with both Saturday and Sunday changeovers, so can do, e.g. Thurs-Sun or Sat-Tues.

Price usually pro-rata off the weekly rate, no big penalty for short booking.

So I fell in love with my hire skis this week - they were made of graphene! Totally awesome. Unfortunately they are nearly £600 to buy 😥

When is the "end of season" sale for ski equipment?

Thanks stevomcd. I'll have a look.

Just need to convince the Boss now (and save some money).

Off to Jasna, Slovakia in a couple of weeks for my stag do. Staying at my mate's chalet business. Very excited as i've never boarded before, although it remains to be seen if we make it to the slopes....... 😆

Where are you Stevomcd? What do you do?

Wallop - if you're serious, I'm in Les Gets at Easter. Tell me what they were and where you hired them from and I could probably ask (if you remind me nearer the time).
We could probably get that ski delivery company (skis2u? It's on Steveomcd's website) to get them back to you.

Speaking of Stevomcd - I'm liking your chalets. Might need to talk next year if our youngest take to skiing like his big brother - duck to water springs to mind. Unlike his parents and snowboarding where penguin to long distance running is more apt - ie they can do it but it's not graceful.

Rockape - http://www.whiteroomchalet.com Sainte Foy, Tarantaise. Near Val d'Isere & Tignes

mrs DD has decided she wants a helmet this year. Some good deals online from Amazon. Where is the measurement made? eg for a 52-56cm helmet, is it around temples across the forehead horizontally to back of head?

oooh.

don't get a helmet online! Loads of different shapes of heads and different shapes of heads.

I've got a long, narrow head, and I've still not found a helmet that fits well enough that I know I'd wear it by default. I try on every make I see whenever I'm in EB, S&R whatever.

Edit: Measurement is the biggest one you can find round your head, I think?

Its arrived - Board bag in the office and bobble hat on - Over-nighting on Eurostar arriving in Borg tomorrow 630 am for 8 days in St Foy

The stoke is High

Whats it looking like over there Stevomcd ?

I believe we have hired your old Chalet Base Tin Tin

^ one of those heads was supposed to be a helmets

dknwhy - Member
Off to Jasna, Slovakia in a couple of weeks for my stag do. Staying at my mate's chalet business.

Propaganda or Chalet Slovakia?

Nedrapier - my long narrow, but quite large, head fits the expensive end of the Giro range. Sadly the more expensive, the better it fits. Currently using a G10, which has never impacted anything while my head's been in it. Happy to keep it that way to be honest.

Failing that try a snow helmet from the same brand that fits you as a a MTB helmet as the brands seem to have standard head shapes.

Deadly - check the age of the helmet. You don't want a 2013 helmet that was actually made in 2012 and has slowly been going off ever since. Might be ok this year, but next year it's 4 years old and helmets tend to last 3-5 years before they need binning. More if you store them in a cool dark place and there's a fair variance.

Try taking a lump hammer to an old bike helmet or two to see why you should change them - quite an eye opener. Some resist several blows, some disintegrate like sawdust on the first blow. Cost doesn't seem to be an indicator - amount of use seems to have a minor effect. Over the years I've probably trashed a dozen or so of our family's helmets that way prior to disposal.

Don't know if that helps.

yeah, giro was closest. and the top of the range sweet! I had a giro mtb helmet for a bit, now spesh.

problem with snow helmets that isn't an issue with bike helments is that I want the earpads to be snug against the side of my head and doing what they're designed to do, i.e. keeping my ears warm, rather than scooping cold air past them! if I wore a buff, the nead would get even longer!

I did try on a Smith something or other last week. it was pretty good actually. It had sold by the time I'd gone back, but I'll track one down before I go away at the end of Feb. It could be The One!

Try taking a lump hammer to an old bike helmet or two to see why you should change them

"Ah yes, I should change this one now, because I've just destroyed it with my lump hammer." 🙂

igm - I never even thought to ask at the shop! I just googled them to see where they might be on sale in the UK (Edge & Wax only, by the looks of things). I've just checked the hire shop website and they don't retail them online, but I could drop them an email.

Wallop - ex-rentals ought to be available cheap at Easter and probably in OK nick.

Ned - cheeky. I had decided to bin them before I hit them. What surprised me was the difference in structural integrity and how little structural integrity some of them had. They all looked ok - they were just a bit too old for my liking. It was really to stop someone pulling them out of the recycling and deciding there was nothing wrong with them.
But yes they definitely needed changed afterwards.

What's the deal with ex-rentals? Won't they be totally trashed?

Edit - your edit answered my question, thanks!

@GrahamS Chalet Slovakia. You know it?

I wouldn't touch ex rental skis or boards but that's me . Of course there are exceptions but most will have been used every week for a full season, and therefore serviced every week . Much better to get last years board or skis or wait for sales IMHO

@GrahamS Chalet Slovakia. You know it?

Yep, me and a mate have been out there for trips for the last three years. Love it.
Dan runs it just how we like it, very relaxed and matey.

Only not going this year because we're heading out to Whistler instead (for 40ths) but we'll probably be back next year. Especially now the Poprad flights are back on.

GrahamS - Member
@GrahamS Chalet Slovakia. You know it?
Yep, me and a mate have been out there for trips for the last three years. Love it.
Dan runs it just how we like it, very relaxed and matey.

Yeah, Dan's pretty relaxed. Loves his bikes too. Try to go riding with him when he's back here. Took the family out there a couple of years ago for a summer trip. Sort of place I could live if I could get work.

DD, more on helmets,

Needs to work with her goggles as well, so head to the shops and try before you buy. From the shop, obviously.

Have you been out in winter before? It's a hoot. Most of the punters can't ski for toffee and there is a ton of lift accessible off piste if you get the snow. Great place.

http://www.chaletslovakia.com for anyone that is interested.

No, the missus went in winter and loved it but this will be my first winter trip.
I'm not really a winter sports person but thought it would be a good place for a stag do.

Especially now the Poprad flights are back on.

Still keep trying to get to Slovakia on skis or bikes. Maybe this summer (have 5 days not yet allocated).

Yep, WizzAir from Luton to Poprad.

To be honest I quite enjoy the Bratislava train, especially if you get the one with the restaurant and bar, but this will definitely be easier.

We're flying with Wizz Air and Dan's getting us from the airport. Think it's a 20-30 min transfer. One of the guys got his flight for £49 return!

Properly cold out today. Off piste there still isn't enough to stop cutting down to the grass/stones/rocks on many slopes even when avoiding heavy turns and seeking out dips.

Celebrity A&E starts on Feb 1st, everyone!

Hoping to make it to the start line are Made In Chelsea star Louise Thompson, former model, TV presenter and bone fide dare devil Jodie Kidd, ex-England Rugby captain Mike Tindall, philanthropist Heather Mills, ex-Pussycat Doll Ashley Roberts, Jack Ass star Steve-O, socialite Lady Victoria Hervey, JLS singer JB Gill, pop star Stacey Solomon, paralympian Jon-Allan Butterworth, fitness expert and daughter of Richard and Judy Chloe Madeley, dancer Louie Spence, Gogglebox star Dom Parker, heptathlete Louise Hazel, TV and radio presenter and former England cricketer Phil Tufnell and TV personality Joey Essex.

I'm pretty sure the UK disability ski community will be cheering on Heather Mills...... (She's not popular at all!)

Pissing down in Whistler, from the valley all the way to the middle of the mountain 🙁 Snow at the top, and a fair bit, but the freezing level is well about the top over the next couple of day.

Back froma week in Tignes . Been a few times and as the snow simply hasnt arrived decided to go for altitude . Was very cold every day -10 to -18 or so.
Met a guy who recomended a TDC 3 x 1/2day lesssons / guiding at 210eu not cheep but a breakdown to hourly rates looked sensible. Only 3 of us in the group, all skiers of similar ability.
Arrived Sat after an 0600 appoitment at LGW and got in a few hours, It was actually snowing a few cm's and rather windy.

Sunday Busy so cruised around Tignes and had to retreat to cafes every so often for a coffee as it was bitter.

Monday am lesson . Off we charge at full speed out into the wilds for ARVA testing and recovery techniques, just incase like. Then a nice few hours of slack country lesson and follow the leader , analysis etc.

Tue Hiked up to Chaddonet bowl . Out of my comfort zone in te entrance gully and had a moment. Guide 200m below calls out ' Whats going through your mind' My response .- " WTF am I doing up here "

I have a very strong fight or flight mode and get very flighty if injury is potentially there ( only Jedi failure to date which ended in tears of fustration ) same here . Fittest and best skier in the lesson but stick me in a Couloir and Im a wobbly legged baby girraffe.

Lesson 3 booked for fri so rest of week mooched around in cold temps either on rock hard pistes or trying to find powder iin the slack

Skiworld Hotel Aigle , sauna and pool , was OK but very loud dining room so I retreated into myself rather than join in the shouting match

Thurs . Got dumped by text . Head screwed for lesson on Fri but still enjoyed it. I need to be braver and let the skis run through the turns on the steeper crud and not try to get them to a 90' traveres asap

Whole resort needs alot of snow , concrete pistes are no fun and dangerous. Everything seemed axpensive as well this year , even with the £ / Eu exchange rate gettting better .

Just checked the weather forecast for Morzine this weekend. Don't know what I was ever worried about............ 😯

Can anybody point me in the direction of a lens for my Oakley Crowbars for poor visibility/whiteout days please?

And while we're asking...Nevica ski helmets are El Cheapo at House of Astley. There won't be anything wrong with them will there?

I like Persimmon for that.