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

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Why? Did the go pro make him crash?


 
Posted : 26/02/2015 8:47 pm
 grum
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Thanks nedrapier - not sure if I should reveal my secrets but it's really nothing clever/fancy!

colp - staying at the Salzburgerhof hotel in Dienten with my brother, my mum and her husband. My other brother and his kids are staying elsewhere in the resort. It's a great hotel - the desert buffet is astonishing. 🙂

I've not really skied in about 20 years - it's like riding a bike though (awaits dissing of my technique). 😛

[img] [/img]

I still maintain on normal hard-ish pistes skiing is more fun than snowboarding, but then I'm not that into doing loads of little tricks like butters and spins and stuff which I guess makes the piste more enjoyable.

I've had great fun here on skis just doing really big fast carving turns down wide, relatively empty pistes.

We did have a bit of powder too and I've been practising my off-piste ski technique which is getting a lot better. I still don't reckon that will ever be as good fun as snowboarding in powder though.


 
Posted : 26/02/2015 8:50 pm
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Grum - why do you feel it can't be as good off piste?

Skiing off piste is effortless once you get it right. I used to race and spend my life on hard packed pistes. After stopping ski racing I spent a long time skiing off piste, to the point that it is actually easier skiing off piste than on.

Do you feel that off piste is hard work?


 
Posted : 26/02/2015 9:01 pm
 grum
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Do you feel that off piste is hard work?

No, I used to though - still is occasionally but mainly on inconsistent snow. I enjoy skiing off piste now and am constantly seeking out bits of powder like I do on a snowboard. There just hasn't been masses of it to go around this week so I've been enjoying trying to carve fast on the piste.

I've got to the point where on nice powder it feels pretty effortless - it's still not as good as snowboarding on powder though!

Admittedly I've not tried it on those really big, fat skis - the skis I hired are pretty standard piste skis I think.


 
Posted : 26/02/2015 9:08 pm
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Why? Did the go pro make him crash?

Supposedly the mount went through the helmet.

I doubt this is actually correct, I could foresee a gopro mount making a helmet shell deform in an undesirable way during an impact though


 
Posted : 26/02/2015 9:25 pm
 colp
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There's a nice off piste route we call the "field of dreams" in Dienten.
You cut across the drag lift by Burglalm and head out across the fields, end up at the lower end of Dienten with a 10 minute walk back up to the 2-man lift base. It's awesome with fresh powder.
I'm back out there in 2 weeks, can't wait!


 
Posted : 26/02/2015 11:04 pm
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Does anyone know where I can get some new legs?

Boot packing in to untracked powder fields this afternoon after a morning smashing between the pistes in floaty pow. Don't want to leave this place.


 
Posted : 27/02/2015 3:50 am
 nbt
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A propos of nothing, does anyone else sometimes feel an intense hatred for someone they've never actually met? 😉


 
Posted : 27/02/2015 11:08 am
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FFS...heading out tomorrow for a three nighter Boys trip near Garmisch and forecast is shite!

😥


 
Posted : 27/02/2015 12:26 pm
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I'm off to Arc 2000 on Sunday. Forecast looks interesting... lots of snow without much let-up! Thankfully there are trees further down the mountain!


 
Posted : 27/02/2015 12:55 pm
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So the Canada roadtrip for the big 4-0 is over. That's not only my age, but also turned out to be a statistic: 4 resorts - 0 powder. The west of Canada is being hosed by the jetstream, so less snow than usual (which is now turning into a drought) and unseasonably warm temps to start the season. All the locals and season workers are walking around with a haunted look in their eyes. Tourists rolled out the 'well we could be in the office' cliches, while some Australians we spoke to were just glad it wasn't raining - they had four days of skiing in the rain in Fernie. Heli and Cat ski operations are cancelling trips, and smaller resorts have closed down.

Of the resorts we visited, conditions at Revelstoke were absolute dogshit, think late season Morzine slush and moguls, but frozen solid. Lake Louise and Sunshine OK, luckily a dusting of snow in Kicking Horse, so one good day's skiing there, then bulletproof with patches of sheet ice on the bottom of the mountain the next.

Anyway, still had a good time, lovely scenery and the guide managed to get me into some boot deep powder on the last day.

Blame Canada.

[url= https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8665/16029711924_4c1f0860ab_z.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8665/16029711924_4c1f0860ab_z.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/qqusTw ]DSCF0547[/url]

[url= https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8561/16444730347_afd1f08ce6_z.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8561/16444730347_afd1f08ce6_z.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/r4axpz ]DSCF0579[/url]

[url= https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8599/16464450888_3e01d9b344_z.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8599/16464450888_3e01d9b344_z.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/r5UBCU ]DSCF0598[/url]

[url= https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8641/16470205399_42b92d181f_z.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8641/16470205399_42b92d181f_z.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/r6q7fB ]S0080736[/url]


 
Posted : 27/02/2015 1:00 pm
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Big sale just kicked off at the Westbeach site. 🙂 Gee2DaEss, t-shirts are reduced. 🙂


 
Posted : 27/02/2015 1:14 pm
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A propos of nothing, does anyone else sometimes feel an intense hatred for someone they've never actually met?

Every time I open the thread


 
Posted : 27/02/2015 1:25 pm
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[b]torsoinalake[/b], that's a shame you didn't get better conditions.

Revelstoke and Kicking Horse are not places I'd want to ride when the conditions are bad. We spent a week in Kicking horse a few seasons back and conditions were terrible – an unusually dry season and bear size moguls everywhere. On the flip side we had a few days in Reve last season when it was dumping and the place was fantastic.

We had a couple of weeks in Japan (Niseko) at the start of Feb, like everywhere else it's not having it's best season, but even so it was great. If it's like that during a so-so season I can't wait to go back and experience conditions during a good one.


 
Posted : 27/02/2015 1:47 pm
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One week till Whistler. By the sounds of it we'll be spending most of the trip in the bar 🙁

whatnobeer: you still out there? What you doing with your days?


 
Posted : 27/02/2015 1:54 pm
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2.5 hours left at work for me, it can't go quickly enough! Snow cams at Alpe D'Huez look suitably inviting 8)


 
Posted : 27/02/2015 2:33 pm
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One week till Whistler. By the sounds of it we'll be spending most of the trip in the bar
whatnobeer: you still out there? What you doing with your days?
POSTED 49 MINUTES AGO # REPORT-POST

Take bikes? Mate of mine who lives in whistler appear to have been riding Squamish a bit recently.


 
Posted : 27/02/2015 2:44 pm
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they had four days of skiing in the rain in Fernie. Heli and Cat ski operations are cancelling trips, and smaller resorts have closed down

Yep ... 3 weeks in Fernie was supposed to be Part 1 of 'My Last Big Blow-Out on the Snow' as I'm not getting any younger. Has a great time but the conditions were not the 'All-time-epic' I was expecting (or become used to in B.C.!!)

Really felt for the locals and the independent retailers. A friend who normally works for one of the Cat-Ski operations has been fishing recently since there's no work and no ice in the rivers!!

Part 2 begins this weekend with 3 weeks in the [European] Alps ... fingers crossed for some good conditions - I'm a bit reluctant to look too closely at the forecast though! 😆


 
Posted : 27/02/2015 2:45 pm
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Take bikes?

Unfortunately the two guys I'm going with both have blown shoulders (too much climbing) so bikes are out. (Not really into big mountain or DH anyway).

I'd quite like to go snowmobiling as that is always fun but same issue. 🙁


 
Posted : 27/02/2015 3:08 pm
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Yep ... 3 weeks in Fernie was supposed to be Part 1 of 'My Last Big Blow-Out on the Snow' as I'm not getting any younger
Phew. I thought I was the one that had jinxed it.

bluebird, I thought both Reveljoke and KH had the potential to be fantastic, if only there was more/fresh snow.


 
Posted : 27/02/2015 3:44 pm
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Phew. I thought I was the one that had jinxed it.

To be fair ... it probably was you! 😆


 
Posted : 27/02/2015 4:05 pm
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Was that aimed at me, nbt?

😉

If it's any consolation, I have a roaring hangover this morning.


 
Posted : 27/02/2015 4:25 pm
 nbt
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[quote=CaptainFlashheart dijo]Was that aimed at me, nbt?

If it's any consolation, I have a roaring hangover this morning.

gosh flashy, whatever gave you that impression? I adore reading your stories of skiing fun while I sit at my desk, know I won't get away again this season...

😈


 
Posted : 27/02/2015 4:32 pm
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😀

Sorry .

Not sorry.


 
Posted : 27/02/2015 4:52 pm
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To be fair ... it probably was you!

BURN HIM!

[img] [/img]

Just in case.


 
Posted : 27/02/2015 4:54 pm
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I remember being in Banff a few seasons ago when it was less than ideal, we took a day trip to Kicking Horse and it was horrid, not quite boiler plate but pretty bad. We were just glad to get back to Sunshine & Lake Louise.

We were up the Lech this afternoon and had a great time doing laps of the Falcon, I wish we could've stayed longer but had to get back for the kids, better than an afternoon at work though 😉

We've booked up to go to Val di Fassa in the Dolomites next year, anyone been?


 
Posted : 27/02/2015 5:50 pm
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We've booked up to go to Val di Fassa in the Dolomites next year, anyone been?

Yep was there two years ago. Cool place. Scenery in the Dolomites is stunning, though I did find the runs were mostly suited to people wanting to put a lot of miles in (or do the circuit) rather than being interesting runs in their own right.

Good holiday though. I'd go again. Great being able to drop into little villages for lunch.


 
Posted : 27/02/2015 6:04 pm
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I've just been catching up on snowheads. The Pyrenees have pinched all the snow.

Some of the lifts are completely submerged.


 
Posted : 27/02/2015 9:15 pm
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I've never seem as much snow in my life in the western Pyrenees. They managed to open six of the twenty nine pistes today. And the road at midday after a few days with the road closed due to avalanches. Fortunately we had some classic x-c skis in the cupboard and spent our time scooting around the only bits of the resort without steep slopes above.


 
Posted : 27/02/2015 9:31 pm
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50% off everything Trew Gear at the moment. Google the website. I'd post a link but (HELLO?!) I'm on the phone on a plane to Tromsø.

Trew Gear is really good kit. Nicely designed and built to last. Great value at 50% off. Not site what postage and tax will put on top, but if you're in the States, or know someone who is...

Ask Flashy nicely, he might bring some back


 
Posted : 27/02/2015 10:19 pm
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Too late, ned, am already at the airport. Staring wistfully at the mountain range that runs parallel to the runway.


 
Posted : 27/02/2015 10:24 pm
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BURN HIM!

Someone needs to burn.

The brochure:
[IMG] [/IMG]

The reality (or as one Australian resort worker on the bus put it "Most vertical ice in North America"):

[url= https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8638/16663387602_374729966d_z.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8638/16663387602_374729966d_z.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/roudAf ]DSC00250[/url]

[url= https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8570/16485258670_d7920ce503_z.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8570/16485258670_d7920ce503_z.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/r7Kg4L ]DSC00272[/url]

P.S. Grum, if you could let us in on a few of your secrets, that would be amazing. I have the exact same camera, and get variable results. Aperture not being able to process Fuji RAW and the weird way that it seems to flip between jpg or jpg and RAW depending on which mode you are in are a bit of a hinderance at the moment.


 
Posted : 28/02/2015 4:57 pm
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Anyone in Les Menuires / Val Thornes. This is going to take some moving;

[img] [/img]

[url= http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/france/11443072/Skiers-trapped-in-the-Alps-after-huge-boulder-blocks-mountain-road.html ]link[/url]


 
Posted : 02/03/2015 9:18 am
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That happened on Saturday didn't it? Transfer day and the road was closed to coaches. 😯

We'll be driving up there on Saturday. There is a route for cars avoiding the main road. Hopefully it'll be shifted by the weekend.


 
Posted : 02/03/2015 9:34 am
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GrahamS - Member

Yep was there two years ago. Cool place. Scenery in the Dolomites is stunning, though I did find the runs were mostly suited to people wanting to put a lot of miles in (or do the circuit) rather than being interesting runs in their own right.

Good holiday though. I'd go again. Great being able to drop into little villages for lunch

We'll be there with the wee ones so that sounds perfect, thanks 😀


 
Posted : 02/03/2015 10:06 am
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Cool. They have some great facilities for kids. Our eldest had first ski lessons there when she was two.


 
Posted : 02/03/2015 10:33 am
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@dd, yes. The rock has gone now, they dynamited it and repaired the road I understand

[url= http://www.bfmtv.com/mediaplayer/video/savoie-d-enormes-rochers-bloquent-la-route-des-menuires-et-de-val-thorens-457459.html ]A few more photos here and a video[/url]


 
Posted : 02/03/2015 10:48 am
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Impressive. That would have taken six months in the UK (if it happened outside London).


 
Posted : 02/03/2015 10:52 am
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I've never seem as much snow in my life in the western Pyrenees.

Oh yes indeedy! Just back from a week in El Tarter - the middle few days were a pain as the lifts and pistes above mid-station were closed because of the weather, but by the end of the week, with so much undisturbed pow pow... Wow wow! IGMC...

There must have been well over a metre of fresh snow. Off-pisting 46 degree slopes in the trees, awsumz...


 
Posted : 02/03/2015 1:36 pm
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No apologies, but here's a few more pics from Montana!
[img] [/img]

You know what they say about the sky in Montana? Well, it's not a lie. The sky is MASSIVE!
[img] [/img]

Epic nu-skool clothing!
[img] [/img]

Epic old skool fartbags!
[img] [/img]
On an ordinary week day as well, not a retro day! Glorious!

[img] [/img]
This was at the top of Bradley Meadows, a little out of bounds, and a boothike up, and just over the lip was a glorious, untracked powder field which then led in to glorious untracked tree lines back down to the base station. Stunning.

20mins from Bozeman to Bridger Bowl. It is so choice. If you have the means, I highly recommend skiing there! 8)


 
Posted : 02/03/2015 8:31 pm
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Don't leaver it too late if you haven't skied yet:

[img] https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/IHuF7MxACyRR2LdEqf2Qs7njw6efY_jc4jREGsfiREU=s192-p-no [/img]


 
Posted : 03/03/2015 11:25 am
 igm
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Stop it. I go at Easter.


 
Posted : 03/03/2015 1:46 pm
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Two mates have just spent the day at Cairngorm. They got 6cm of fresh overnight. That's more than Whistler has managed in about three weeks.

I'm. Really. Happy. For. Them.

[i]*chews through lip*[/i]


 
Posted : 03/03/2015 3:48 pm
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Just back from a week in Gressoney and catching up on the thread and pics. Here's one from me, never a bad start to your morning 🙂

[URL= http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y190/jamescoulson/10003577_10152526711916706_4937939561784480432_o_zpstkpywwqn.jp g" target="_blank">http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y190/jamescoulson/10003577_10152526711916706_4937939561784480432_o_zpstkpywwqn.jp g"/> [/IMG][/URL]

Taken on a Lumix LF1 after I too got sick of hauling the DSLR around!


 
Posted : 03/03/2015 3:51 pm
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Ok, (reassuringly quality) bags nearly packed, fresh snow this week, temperatures low enough to keep snow in good nick forecasted next week, bad back sorting itself out. I'm going to allow myself to get a little bit excited. 🙂 Six bloody years...


 
Posted : 03/03/2015 5:29 pm
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