actually go?
That would be a start!
Get back to skiing with a bit of confidence, bust my ACL in Dec 2012 and last year's skiing was pretty tentative to say the least, delighted to have been on the snow but it was all very cautious.
My target is to get much better at riding in powder....full time lessons in Tignes hopefully in Feb so this should help!
Also really want to get my 180s and Tailslides nailed (snowboarderist aint I)
....and to get monumentally pissed on the Tuseday night UCPA blowout again, that'd be nice 🙂
Also really want to get my 180s and Tailslides nailed (snowboarderist aint I)
I think there are 64 different 180s , which ones do you want to get? Good target mind, 180s are crucial crucial crucial
Just off my heels, maybe with a grab in there 🙂
In about a zillion attempts I've landed 1 perfectly!
There's already plenty of snow on the peaks here in Montana! 🙂
Sadly, not sure there's enough to open yet, and besides I'm stuck in the office. 🙁
As I understand it Whistler and Blackcombe are ski areas (inbound), rather than piste and off piste. If you want to ski out of bounds it's better to find a guide and pay for a day out. Or even better if you can afford it, go heliskiing.
While in NZ we rarely ski groomed trails. Ella's a real good skier and I'll try and follow her down some stuff but she's quite interested to find out how much ungroomed stuff there will be accessible form the Whistler/BC lifts.
Most of the ski fields we ski round here are patrolled but ungroomed bowls/terrain see my pic on the previous page 🙂
Her current plan is for 3-4 days in Whislter/BC and then a day touring around Squamish. She has the backcountry skills - I tried to do some avalanche skills stuff this season but the snow wasn't good enough to run the courses while we were around in the early part of the season. So yeah - we may choose to do that guided so we get the most out of it and stay safe.
bluebird - cheers - that's the sort of stuff Ella's keen to find out 🙂
Re: Targets.
Pass the addiction to snow onto the next generation. My elder daughter is the same age as I was when I started, no pressure, just mucking about on and in snow. We will be on a big family ski trip with three generations, including, my Sister, my Nephews and Niece.
Can't wait.
there is TONS of ungroomed stuff which is lift accessible in Whistler, even more if you are prepared to hike foir a few minutes - try Spankys ladder for access to the Gemstone Bowls (Sapphire, DIamind, Ruby etc)
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It won't be untracked, but it won't be groomed
If you are serious about finding the best stashes, are happy looking after yourself in terms of terrain and related dangers and don't want to hire a guide, you could try this
My pal had the first edition when he was out there for a season and used it quite a bit. He took us on a 20 minutes hike round Flute Bowl for some of the loveliest fluffy powder I've ever ridden. They've now built a lift up there 🙁
edit - found a few of my pics showing the bootpack along the ridge at the top of spankys ladder and our descent through Ruby
[url= http://www.snowmediazone.com/the_zone/data/500/thumbs/IMG_2237.JP G" target="_blank">
Heading up on the bootpack
[url= http://www.snowmediazone.com/the_zone/data/500/thumbs/CRW_6556_JFR.JP G" target="_blank">
Looking back along the bootpack (at least one person said it was easier on skis)
[url= http://www.snowmediazone.com/the_zone/data/500/thumbs/CRW_6557_JFR.JP G" target="_blank">
One dropping into the chute, one waiting - the skiier in the photo has admitted it's the one time he was genuinely frightened, and this from a chap who broke his arm ina fall at Jackson Hole the previous season!
[url= http://www.snowmediazone.com/the_zone/data/500/thumbs/CRW_6558_JFR.JP G" target="_blank">
One clear, time for the next one to drop in
[url= http://www.snowmediazone.com/the_zone/data/500/thumbs/CRW_6559_JFR.JP G" target="_blank">
Wooo, steep!
[url= http://www.snowmediazone.com/the_zone/data/500/thumbs/IMG_1460.JP G" target="_blank">
Did we really ski that? Yes we did. The "chute", as far as I can make out, is the wider openeing directly under the sun, although I'd be very happy to be corrected (my pics seem to show untouched snow in the narrower chute to the right). The line of trees in the centre of the photo pointing to the bottom right divides "Playland" from the bowl itself
Off to Lofoten for 10 days snowboard mountaineering in April 😛
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Thank moshimonster, I'm Cambridge based so was looking at MK EB
In that case, I would recommend driving a bit further to Solutions 4 Feet in Bicester. They are one of the best, if not THE best boot fitters in the UK. Different class to MK EB and not just for experts, all levels. Last time I was there Graham Bell was in there having a boot fit. So he obviously thinks it's worth the trip.
oooh, nick. oooooh.
Where are you staying?
I am tucked up in bed with a stinking cold so downloaded Higher, the third of the Jeremy Jones films.
It is abolutely mind blowing, the first two were good, but this is a whole new level of mental!
I can't recommend it enough
Lofoten looks amazing!!! Wow!
Cheers moshi, tip duly noted 🙂
nbt - looks v nice! That chute actually looks like something I could handle... so long as it's not as steep as it looks in that penultimate pic!
Ed, staying at Lofoten Ski Lodge
[url] http://www.lofotenskilodge.com/ [/url]
driving down from Tromso with a warm up day at Narvik resort then 9 days touring on Loften - should be amazing 8)
I want to go to Lofoten, how do I go to Lofoten , why can't I got to Lofoton? Man that looks good. Are you doing any splitting?
I love the video and I especially love the bit where the guy goes for a high five and is left hanging! Ha! At 07:32
Should be amazing
I think it should, yes! The best thing about touring in places like that is that the whole experience is so fantastic (properly fantastic, as in: like a fanstasy!), that it's going to be an incredible trip if the snow's not that great. Pow would be the cherry on top!
Had a spin through the site: £1,500 isn't too bad for a week's full board and 6 days guiding.
Love the sauna with stairs to the sea. That got me more excited than the snow! Loads of places to ski, but not many saunas with steps to the sea and a white sand beach...
You're flying from Gatwick with Norwegian I'm guessing?
I'm sure you are, but if not, check it out - cheap and quick.
Ed, yes looks like a great place. We are just using the lodge and taking out one of our regular guides (Si Christie) who has done several trips up there before.
Norwegian Gatwick - Tromso makes it very easy...
hmm maybe a hovercraft split needed for this trip 💡
How much is it accomm only? I couldn't find that on the site.
Looking at Lofoten or Lyngen in the 1st week of march. no midnight sun, but days aren't too short, and there's a full moon, high in the sky that week...
What's your current split?
Not sure on the accommodation only as Simon is sorting it all for us. They may only offer this to visiting guides (not sure) with groups. Probably worth emailing them
Got a Jones Flagship and voile mojo split -
mojo is rather old now and fancied a hover for ages.
http://www.dpsskis.com/en/lotus-120-spoon-386.html
Saw some skis from this lot in Montana earlier this week. Delicious!
Got to love a bit of "increased slarvability", eh?
hmm maybe a hovercraft split
I rode with a guy earlier this year who was rockin' an Ultracraft - the thing weighed absolutely nothing, but by his own admission was probably a bit too light and sketchy for him.
I tried a Hovercraft (non-split version) for a day last year and was really impressed by it - it was Sooooo much fun to ride!
I think the current Hovercraft split only goes up to 160 though so might be a tad small (even though it 'rides big') if you are a heavy-ish rider (or carrying a ton of backcountry kit) - I ride the 168W Solution and 164w Flagship (85Kg without kit)
Digby
yes got a 163w flagship, but only 75kg naked.. they say you can ride the hover quite short, thats kind of the point of it as surface area pretty big - i reckon could get away with the 156, same surface area as a 175 normal apparently.
i find the 163w a touch to slow edge to edge. I am size 10 feet so kind of borderline on having a wide board.
won't need glacier gear up in lofoten so pack should be fairly light..
oh and my mate has just offered me his nearly new one for 250 quid! 😛
Booked onto my uni ski trip to Tignes in January - stoked!
Going on the alumni trip - same time and place as main uni trip, but with the option to upgrade to flights, and 4* accommodation.
Sorted!
Saalbach. Anyone been? Still lining up options for Christmas week and it seems like it's a resort with plenty of atmosphere. Apparently there is good snowmaking for when the dumps don't show.
Hello all.
Any suggestions on Ski holiday insurance?
It's for a student going on a Uni ski trip (Europe).
Thanks
Off to Lofoten for 10 days snowboard mountaineering in April
That place looks amazing. Please post a review after you've been.
MrsGrahamS has just suggested that I go off for a 2-week trip to Canada this season with the boys so I can do some cat-skiing (well "cat-boarding") for my 40th 😆
I've reluctantly agreed.
Now to waste the rest of the [s]day[/s]week browsing Canadian cat-skiing operations and drooling a lot...
oh and my mate has just offered me his nearly new one for 250 quid!
You clearly have nice mates! 😛
I'm determined to try and lighten my pack this coming season - and hopefully drop a few Kg myself.
I've watched that Lofoten video twice now ... Wow!
Now to waste the rest of the dayweek browsing Canadian cat-skiing operations and drooling a lot...
Fernie Wilderness Adventures & Island Lake Lodge are definitely both worth considering.
From memory I think you've been with FWA for a day haven't you Graham?
Baldface lodge in Nelson also gets good reviews.
Like many of these things tho' the secret seems to be having a group with similar abilities and tastes so you don't have to compromise.
Cheers Digby. I've been to Fernie, but we didn't do FWA. Should have, but we were less experienced then so wouldn't have got much from it.
We're side-country riders really, we're looking for our first proper backcountry experiences - that don't involve doing any splitboarding (because I can't ski) or hiking for miles (because I'm fat). Hence why we're looking at cat-based stuff. (Heli would be nice but waaaaaay too pricey)
Valhalla powder cats are very good. got onto some good terrain with them.
Digby, Hover is now mine 😛 just need some spark magnetos now..
FWA is easier on the pocket - Island Lake Lodge (setup/co-owned by Craig Kelly) is luxury accommodation/fine dining. (a friend of mine has driven the cat at both!)
Heli not so popular in the Rocky Mountains anyway as the weather system would probably mean too many down-days, whereas a cat-ski operation can run in any conditions - with loads of areas below the tree-line for low-vis/white-out conditions!
wallop - MemberSaalbach. Anyone been? Still lining up options for Christmas week and it seems like it's a resort with plenty of atmosphere. Apparently there is good snowmaking for when the dumps don't show.
I went last year, snow was awful. Very warm. I could see the resort had potential but i personally didnt like that you had to go down into town to swap sides. others loved it as you can take lunchj in town and head up again.
just need some spark magnetos now..
Be very interested to know how you get on with the Magnetos ... especially the 'clog-free' claims.
Be very interested to know how you get on with the Magnetos ... especially the 'clog-free' claims.
Me too, wondering wether to upgrade the baseplates on my Burners.
Graham S
+1 Valhalla and their sister operation Snowwater Heli.
Not far from Red Mountain and Nelson,
Do a day of heli it's worth every hard earned penny.
I will return, one day.
Had a good day with these guys – http://powdermountaincatskiing.com
And another vote for these – http://fwapowder.com
I'd also recommend Revelstoke, we only rode in bounds but the riding is incredible. I'd love to go cat skiing there. Baldface is on the want to do list. Bella Coola also gets a lot of rave reviews.
I've been heliskiing once in Whistler. For me although being in a helicopter was ace, the riding was no better that cat skiing. But then I like trees, if you prefer big open bowls then heli is for you.
Bella Coola does look ace!
I have to say that Snowwater Heli setup looks pretty darn sweet! Love the idea of a Snowcat backup so there's no 'down days'! 8)
approx £2,400 for a 3 day all inclusive heli looks pretty good value (when compared with similar Alaska/Russia type trips)
