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

What's happening to the snow this year? Seems pretty bleak from anecdotal evidence. What's news from the slopes?

Sorry if this has been done, I am being lazy and not reading back.

(Expert for many years, then hit a big round number and back to advanced. Responsibilities and less fitness have ruled out the crazy stuff these days but still love deep powder, trees and couloirs. Getting a little old for my old happy hunting ground of the mega bump fields. Young man's playground. Steeper the better in general though.)

What's happening to the snow this year? Seems pretty bleak from anecdotal evidence. What's news from the slopes?

My memory for ski weather only goes back as far as March.

But the forecast for my resort has temps dropping to -13c by Monday. How much snow will be involved by the time I get there is anyones guess.

That said, the 1m of snow I saw forecast a few days back actually arrived as rain.

I'll be taking my walking boots then.

Snow out here in Whistler isn't good at all. We had a decentish dump in the village last week then it rained solidly for 2 days and wiped it all out again. Freezing level is at the valley floor but there's no snow until later in the week when the freezing level has risen again 🙁

I was hoping to get out to Tignes next week but the Val Claret webcam shows a few sad bits of snow under the snow cannons and not much else so I won't bother. The forecast for the Alps looks a lot colder in the next week so they should be able to make plenty of artificial snow if that's your thing, otherwise it's all looking a bit grim.

The joys of the early ski season snow lottery.

It was looking a bit grim in BC (Big White) last week but then there was a decent half metre dump. Still very sketchy base, but should be okay by Christmas. Anyway not going out there until March so who cares?

The forecast for the Alps looks a lot colder in the next week so they should be able to make plenty of artificial snow if that's your thing

Not sure I have a choice about that 😀

The joys of the early ski season snow lottery.

I remember skiing at Christmas once. Got to the resort to see hardly any snow. First day was pretty shitty. Got talking to an old man of the mountains over beer that night. He said that it would snow from about ten that night.

He was right! Three straight days of massive phatttttttttt dumps of snow began at about 2205 that very night!

that happened to us one of the first times i went skiing, went to Folgarida. driving up to resort there wasnt a flake of snow anywhere, folk were grumbling it hadnt snowed in ages etc etc. ended up getting right on the lash that day and night coz there was nowt to get up for the next morning... yet the when we woke up it had seriously dumped! having to wade through waist high powder to just to get to the hire shop! mint

Got talking to an old man of the mountains over beer that night

Did he have a white beard, a red jacket and an unusually jolly countenance? 😉

Graham, he had a red jacket as it happens! No beard, though. His countenance may have been helped by the Birra Poretti! (No, not Moretti)

I went to a low resort on Austria over NY a few years ago and it was looking pretty grim until about 2 days before when it dumped. Dumped again while we were there and it was ace. Apparently the week before the main run down to the valley was completely green all the way from top to bottom.

We're in Bavaria over the holidays this year but treating it as a winter road trip with some skiing if it seems worth it. Won't be too gutted if we don't get to do any as I'm doing a week with the family in Dienten in Feb and possibly visiting a mate in Les Arcs again if I can afford it.

He [i]does[/i] exist. I knew it!

[img] [/img]

Got talking to an old man of the mountains over beer that night. He said that it would snow from about ten that night.

Silly hubby was on blades that year

He is a lucky man, that is grounds for divorce right there.

Divorce?

Decapitation at least!

Wonder if the weather predicting duffers is a Via Lattea thing, as mine was down the road in Sauze.

Wonder if the weather predicting duffers is a Via Lattea thing, as mine was down the road in Sauze.

Just out of interest what was the reasoning behind your Grading Scale stevomcd?

Chalet Guests, clients or folks being instructed?

doesn't rely on people self-describing their skidded turns as "carving"

I can see exactly where you are coming from but doesn't the inclusion of 'carving' (i.e. a pencil line(s) in the snow) give an indication of control and performance rather than just testosterone fueled speed?

What I don't like about early season skiing is the sketchy base depths. A big dump is always welcome, but if it's on a 10 cm base it can actually be pretty dangerous - obviously depends a lot on whether it's grass or rock underneath.

The more I speak to you lot the more "Intermediate" I feel 😀
I'm a "couple of weeks a year" rider, so despite the fact I've been snowboarding for 20 odd years I'm still a punter and I probably always will be. I guess I'm okay with that.

That this years hols booked BTW:
1 week with the family, going back to Les Deux Alpes at half term. 🙂
2 weeks with the lads going to Whistler and cat-boarding 😀

And 49 weeks trying to pay for it all. 😕

I'm a "couple of weeks a year" rider, so despite the fact I've been snowboarding for 20 odd years I'm still a punter and I probably always will be. I guess I'm okay with that.

I find the age that people start skiing/boarding is probably the best indication of how good they are likely to be. Those that start in their 30's or 40's tend to struggle to get off the intermediate plateau unless they put in an awful lot of time and effort. So what age did you start? 🙂

Well I started at uni, so about 18-ish I guess (I'm 40 next April).
But way back then we were mostly just doing the odd day trip to the Scottish slopes on awful rental boards and crap kit. Regular holidays didn't start till the wages improved!

I'm self-taught, which has undoubtedly held me back a fair bit too, but I'm usually enjoying myself too much to "waste time" in formal lessons. And a lot of holidays have been spent just cruising about with a large mixed ability group rather than pushing myself to improve, which again is my choice.

A few lads holidays in recent years have pushed me much further and into more off-piste stuff which has improved my riding a lot, but I'll not be dropping any cliffs in this lifetime.

Well... not deliberately anyway!

I'm a "couple of weeks a year" rider

I guess the point I was trying to make in an earlier post was 'don't obsess too much about what level you are'

For sure, it's important to have a fair idea of your own capabilities before you throw yourself down a slope that might be out of your comfort zone but I don't think it's worth obsessing over - all too often I've seen holidays and trips spoiled by people trying to prove something when they probably would have had a better trip with some lessons to get them out of a 'progression dip'.

As others have mentioned it seems to be a very middle aged bloke affliction.

To be fair anyone that only manages a week or so per year on the ski hill is doing pretty darn tootin' to be intermediate and there's nothing wrong with that - it's a holiday and you are there to enjoy yourself!

Although if my maths is correct you've got three weeks scheduled for 2015 GrahamS! 8)

Seems to me that you've been well & truly bitten by the bug ... I look forward to hearing about your plans for a season & trips to far off lands! 🙂

Those that start in their 30's or 40's tend to struggle to get off the intermediate plateau unless they put in an awful lot of time and effort

lol ... well I've been 'pwned' - I didn't start snowboarding until I was 32 and my first winter holiday was in 2002! 😯

@tmh - its been a warm autumn and early winter, only snow at highest levels has settled. We are off with White Room Dec 13, happy to just chill out and/or drive to Tignes/Val if needed

After a while it doesn't matter how many years you've been skiing, there is a level determined by talent which can be hard to break out of. FWIW I started when I was 15 but made he most improvement when I was in my late 20's and I could ski 2 or 3 times a month when I was living in the UK. I've seen kids who started at 5 who are exceptional and others that have plateaued like everyone else.

Can I do a carved turn, yes. Do I bother most of the time, no !

Showing my inexperience - what is the difference between a carved and skidded turn?

i've never been snowboarding at all but seriously want to get into it. question is, where do i start?

the occasional lesson at the chill factor or save and go france for a week or so?

im 18 with a full time job so dont mind chucking a bit of money at it.

the occasional lesson at the chill factor or save and go france for a week or so?

IMO, do a course at an indoor snow slope, get a few hours under your belt before you go...it will be worth it when you get there.

If you can at least link turns before you go, you can jump on a lift when you arrive and just start snowboarding.

Otherwise you'll spend the first couple of days on holiday on your arse 🙂

[quote=toby1 dijo]Showing my inexperience - what is the difference between a carved and skidded turn?

http://www.nzsia.org/ski/careers/resources/carving-vs-skidding/

when you turn, you lean the ski over so it;s on the edge. A carved turn leaves a clean line. A skidded turn doesn;t

[img] [/img]

what is the difference between a carved and skidded turn?

Corduroy P*rn ... 8)

A well executed carved turn will leave a 'pencil line' in the snow from the edge of the snowboard or ski
A skidded turn will leave a large thick 'brush-stroke' since more of the base is in contact with the surface of the snow

i've never been snowboarding at all but seriously want to get into it. question is, where do i start?
the occasional lesson at the chill factor or save and go france for a week or so?

I'd say both if you can - but I wouldn't bother going to a large French resort for your first trip.
Consider somewhere cheaper like Austria, Slovenia, Andorra, or even Slovakia.

And join SnowboardClubUK before you do any of that - it'll save you money on snowdome lessons and trips abroad. (The 10% Neilson discount just saved me a few hundred on my Les Deux Alpes trip. Not bad for a £15 membership)

Seems to me that you've been well & truly bitten by the bug ... I look forward to hearing about your plans for a season & trips to far off lands!

The bug is certainly taking hold - but a season would involve me leaving the wife and kids for a few months. That boat has sailed. Should have done it when I was young single and carefree.

I love the "ohhhh, I'm good"

Im going to categorize myself as generally hazordous to other peoples safety.

I've got some expensive Goggles though, which is what really counts.

Just out of interest what was the reasoning behind your Grading Scale stevomcd?

Chalet Guests, clients or folks being instructed?

doesn't rely on people self-describing their skidded turns as "carving"

I can see exactly where you are coming from but doesn't the inclusion of 'carving' (i.e. a pencil line(s) in the snow) give an indication of control and performance rather than just testosterone fueled speed?

I was just trying to come up with something more-or-less objective. Comes a little bit from doing instructor courses. People always ask what you have to do on the top-level exam that's so hard and I think they're imagining that the answer is going to be triple-corks in the pipe or something. I always feel a bit lame saying it's just doing nice turns on a red run. Because everyone thinks they can do turns on a red run, but most people really can't. Watch most skiers and, especially, snowboarders on the mountain and they're just skidding sideways on alternate edges, going straight down hill. No turn shape at all, no performance coming from the skis/board. My scale is far from perfect, but at least it doesn't require people to actually assess their own ability, just make factual statements about what they can ski. People do massively over-state that as well, of course.

In winter, I don't get out on the mountain with my clients all that much (bloody French and their ski-hosting laws!), so it's more often in the ski-hire shop that you hear it.

What kind of skis do you want? No idea.
What level skier are you? Expert!

Carving is definitely a great demonstration of control and skill, but the problem is that most people think it's just another word for turning, so when you ask them if they can carve they say "of course!".

Someone mentioned mountain-biking a few posts back and I actually don't find it to be the same, or at least not to anywhere near the same extent. I think the difference is that most Brits don't really have much of a clue about what really good skiing or snowboarding is, so as far as they're aware, they really are experts because they can slither around the mountain at speed for a week every winter. On the other hand, most serious mountain-bikers ride regularly enough to have a better idea of what's possible. For sure, you still get self-proclaimed "experts" who have never been outside a trail-centre, but it's less common.

I actually changed our self-assessment scale recently because my original one kind-of boxed everyone who wasn't either a beginner or racing DH into being a 3 or a 4 (on a 1 to 5 scale) so it wasn't really of much use to us (because 99% of people ticked one of 2 boxes). I've changed the definition of a 5 now and it's helped a lot.

Our summer scale, for anyone who's interested:

1. I’m a new/nervous rider and don’t have much experience of steep, rocky terrain
2. I’ve done a fair bit of mountain biking, but often get off and walk on technical sections
3. I regularly ride red-grade Scottish/Welsh trail centres or moderately technical rides in the Lakes, Peak, Wales, etc.
4. I regularly ride black-grade Scottish/Welsh trail centres or rocky rides in the Lakes, Peak, etc.
5. I’m an Alpine / big-mountain veteran. Give me all the steeps, all the tech, all the switchbacks!

Again, I guess it's mostly terrain-based.

That boat has sailed. Should have done it when I was young single and carefree

Never say never GrahamS! 🙂

I did a season (well - 10 weeks) in 2008 - my partner was very accommodating & supportive and my daughter was a grown up teenager.

But yeah - I do take your point that it's easier when you are younger etc.

However for the past few years I've tried to make the lifestyle choices that enable me to spend as much time as I can on the snow!

If you really want it you will find a way of making it happen!

We rocked up in Les Gets last Christmas, valleys were totally green and pistes patchy with artificial snow. Cover was better up at Avoriaz but still plenty of rocks poking through. Christmas Day it pished it down with rain in the valleys (we stayed in, drank champagne and cooked Christmas dinner), then at some point between 10pm and 3am it turned to snow and 60cm fell down at velley level, much more on the tops. Woke up to a winter wonderland, more snow boxing day and the 27th was the best bluebird powder day I've ever had...

It's crap at the moment across most of the alps, but it's still early... Next week looking more promising.

As ever stevomcd ... nicely put! I see exactly what you are saying:

I think the difference is that most Brits don't really have much of a clue about what really good skiing or snowboarding is

... kindof hits the nail on the head! 😕

the problem is that most people think it's just another word for turning, so when you ask them if they can carve they say "of course!"

I'm away in Meribel for the w/b 14th Dec. I will admit to checking out XC bike hire options! 😕

5/2. I’m an Alpine / big-mountain veteran. Give me all the steeps, all the tech, all the switchbacks! But I often get off and walk on technical sections.

Same with skiing. If messing up a turn is likely to hurt for months after (or result in death) then I don't hesitate to hack my way down backwards with crampons and an axe.

Rumple - do both if you can afford it. There's still a chance you may spend all your first week on your behind though. Or if you're some of my mates - the first six weeks 🙂

Never say never GrahamS!
I did a season (well - 10 weeks) in 2008 - my partner was very accommodating & supportive and my daughter was a grown up teenager.

My kids are only 1 and 4! 😕
Maybe once they are bundled off to uni and I've retired!

I remember having dinner with a ski bum couple in Fernie who were in their 70s and they rode Morning Glory every day.

So I guess there is still time...

This reminds me of an English chap I skied with in January.
He asked to ski with me on some blacks. I was fine to let hubby go off piste so I didn't hold him up.
I asked the chap what kind of skier he was, the reply was 'advanced'. So of course I let him go in front. The snow was really deep and the conditions were fantastic. He fell so much and was so slow I just had to pass him and wait at the bottom. Oh well.

Oooh I like The mtbing scale. I sort of work out at 3.5 if that makes sense.

I remember having dinner with a ski bum couple in Fernie who were in their 70s and they rode Morning Glory every day

Fnarr fnarr! 🙂

Morning Glory - one of my favourites. I'm back in Fernie for nearly a month in January. Can't wait! Then off to the Alps for 3 wks in March

My kids are only 1 and 4

Ahh ... didn't realise your family was quite so young. What made it easy for me was my daughter was off to Uni.

I had a chance to do a season (well 6-8 weeks) the Mrs was so resistant it was the final straw in getting a divorce !

I'm back in Fernie for nearly a month in January. Can't wait! Then off to the Alps for 3 wks in March

I could go off you!

I've probably said this before but if you or anyone else is ever looking for a place to stay in Fernie then go here:

http://www.canadianpowdertours.com/thechalet.html

Fantastic place, very chilled home-from-home atmosphere, amazing food. Probably the best chalet I've ever stayed in.

lol ... well I've been 'pwned' - I didn't start snowboarding until I was 32 and my first winter holiday was in 2002!

ah ah! Sounds like you're putting in the time and effort to push through though.

I remember a long time ago there was a guy in his 30's at the local ski club (seemed ancient back then) who was a pretty typical Brit holiday skier i.e. pretty crap. But then he decided to make it a mission to pass his BASI 3 (back when that was the entry level). He did a season in France plus a load of BASI training courses and ended up a pretty decent instructor. So can be done of course, just not by someone of that age who skis 1 or 2 weeks per year on a holiday basis.

It's a lot easier to progress if you start young, as with most things.

Grading? I'd classify myself as intermidiot.*

(Shamelessly stolen from SH!)

I can be only dream of achieving intermidiot standards.

I remember a long time ago there was a guy in his 30's at the local ski club (seemed ancient back then) who was a pretty typical Brit holiday skier i.e. pretty crap.

You mean this sort of thing?

😀

**** me, that was my ski class all over again

I know that video comes around every year, but still....

😀

And this one....

I think the difference is that most Brits don't really have much of a clue about what really good skiing or snowboarding is, so as far as they're aware, they really are experts because they can slither around the mountain at speed for a week every winter

This is partly becuase skiing is more subtle than mountainbiking with regards to technique.

There is also a lot more snobbery about technique in skiing. Most bikers are happy to ride something clean with no dabs. Lots of skiers on the other hand will obsess over how something was skied.

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😀

That slingshot lift video is great.

That slingshot lift is mental, i thought it was like a 4 person rope tow but, blimey. Brilliant commentary.

As an ex-instructor and patroller there is an inverse relationship between the vocalisation of skiing skill and actual skills.

This is partly becuase skiing is more subtle than mountainbiking with regards to technique.

Also, people are generally free to talk up their skiing as much as they like, given how unlikely it is that you'll ever bump into them in resort. I had a great conversation with a guy who described his last day in the Vallee Blanche in peak season. I asked if he felt nervous on the arête on the way down. He said that he found it tricky, but that he [i]skied[/i] it well. His wife then revealed that it was his 3rd week on snow, but he'd been to the snowdome loads 🙂 😆

It's more dangerous to do that with MTB since they person you're bullshitting might suggest a ride together! 🙂

Ok let's do this honestly then. I do the snowboarding thing, starting in my early 30s. Bust knees mean I can't ski any more, though I did a little as a kid.

I skid most turns. I can carve (not well you understand), but I actually like the slidey feel of skidded turns. That said I don't just go edge to edge straight down the fall line as suggested some people do.

I'm comfortable on reds and steeper blues, but I don't like icy bits. I hate shallow / flat blues - there are times I'd rather walk these.

Edge of piste power is superb. The day after 8" of fresh snow fell after the pisties had finished was even better. I've never experienced waist deep power - I suspect I'd love it right up until my first fall that I couldn't get back up from.

My board is far higher end than I need but I like it and I can afford it. The same is true of my other board that I don't really need.

I like high end kit I probably don't need.

I am always aware that at the end of the day on the slopes there are two small boys who depend on my wife and I to look after them - note to self, go home in one piece Iain.

The older of those two boys is, at 8, probably already a better skier than I am boarder.

I will never be expert (the boys might).

Unless I move to the Alps for my retirement. Which isn't impossible.

ou mean this sort of thing?

Ah the all time classic Kevin 🙂 Love it.

He was actually the more stiff robotic type you often see on Warren Smith tutorial vids (not Warren, but the Brits he's typically teaching). Maybe they are typical Brit enthusiast skiers i.e. still a bit shit, but probably tell their mates how good they are 😉

FYI I will be riding powder (boarding) in Niseko, Japan for two weeks from end January. happy face

Nice one jamiep - Japan is definitely on my Bucket List, but it seems to be mighty expensive and a massive pain to get to. Would you mind revealing what you are paying and how you are travelling/staying?

In return [url= http://www.snowboardclub.co.uk/news-11063.html ]here is a nice little article about Dunx from SCUK riding in Niseko[/url].

New skins arrived last night, they are snowboard specific, but they may need a trim. If they do, are there any tips? Or is it just a case of sticking them on and running the pre supplied trim tool along the edge?

Thanks

[b]jamiep[/b] me too. We arrive the last Saturday in January. I am so excited!

That Kevin video reminds me of my first trip, as I was leaving the chair with some of the other learners from my group, one of the girls put her ski on top of mine, as the chair pushed away I had no control over that foot and went to ground.

The chirpy attendant stopped the lift, wandered over and helped me up with the comment: "Well done for coming skiing". What a guy!

Andorra Pas dela Casa for reference.

Last year I think I left every lift cleanly so no dramas luckily.

New skins arrived last night, they are snowboard specific

Which ones did you get? The G3 skins?

Trimmed my Black Diamond Glidelite skins with the supplied trim tool - was a bit apprehensive at first by was actually pretty straight forward

The Spark R&D tail-clip was a good investment - I think Spark's skins are re-branded G3

GrahamS - Member
Nice one jamiep - Japan is definitely on my Bucket List, but it seems to be mighty expensive and a massive pain to get to. Would you mind revealing what you are paying and how you are travelling/staying?

It is more spendy than a week in France, of course, but not crazily high once flights are bought. We have gone diy rather than a package. it is fairly trouble free to get to.

Flight was £560, which was a steal. Manchester-Hong Kong then Hong Kong-Sapporo.
Shuttle coach transfer £20-25 each way
We have an apartment rather than a bunkhouse. About £48 a night, which wasn't much more than a bunkhouse.
Lift pass is still to be bought but they are cheaper than Europe.
Food/drink is cheaper than France resorts

Cheers jamiep, that's actually [b]a lot[/b] more reasonable than the horror stories I'd heard. Maybe next year 😉

For comparison, our family half term trip to Les Deux Alpes for a week is costing us £3222 in total !!
(flights/accom for 3 adults and two kids + lift passes, kids club and lessons)

And my 2 week trip to Whistler comes in at: £2412 pp
(Flights/accom = £1362, 2 days catboarding = £650, 10 day pass = £400)

Ah well.. it's only money eh? 😯

Going back to the carving conversation. Here is Ryan Knapton ably demonstrating carving on a board:

And then ably demonstrating that it is the rider, not the board:

Which ones did you get? The G3 skins?

Yes, they're the Burton x G3 skins. Tails clips was the main reason for getting them. I did buy two sets of the Spark tail clips but could never fit them as our current skins are too short. In fact they talkies are in the loft – I really should chuck 'em in eBay.

[b]jamiep[/b] That's a fantastic price for flights, our group paid between £800 - 1000.

[b]GrahamS[/b] You forgot the $1000 you're going to spend in the GLC 😉

10 day pass = £400

Wow ... that's pretty reasonable for BC - I thought Whistler would be about $100 CAN per day [with a discount for multi-days]

I think Fernie is over $80 CAN per day this season - hence why I bought my 'early bird' season pass in June!

You forgot the $1000 you're going to spend in the GLC

And that's just for a pitcher of beer & some nachos! 😉

Here is Ryan Knapton ably demonstrating carving on a board

Gotta love a bit of 'layback carving'! 8)

Wow ... that's pretty reasonable for BC - I thought Whistler would be about $100 CAN per day [with a discount for multi-days]

It's about $110 per day over Xmas/NY, but then dips a bit.

Reasonable discount for multi days, but I agree that £400 for 10 days seems a bit cheap, I didn't think you could even get 8 for that in peak season?

GrahamS You forgot the $1000 you're going to spend in the GLC

Excellent point! Our trip is self-catering so add in costs for large pitchers of beer and the odd burger. 😀

£400 for 10 days seems a bit cheap

We booked the [url= http://www.whistlerblackcomb.com/tickets-and-passes/lift-tickets/winter-tickets.aspx ]lift tickets direct through the Whistler website[/url] back in November for a trip that starts on March 7th. So Early Bird discount and not exactly peak season.

If you do a bit of searching it looks like a 10 day pass for around then is now $748 CAN, which is about £420 at current rates, so it hasn't changed much.

Gotta love a bit of 'layback carving'!

The man has undeniable steeeeeeeze!

If you do a bit of searching it looks like a 10 day pass for around then is now $748 CAN, which is about £420 at current rates

Nice! 🙂 Intrawest must be getting generous in their old age!

btw - if conditions are peachy or you just fancy being up the ski hill super early then have a look at the 'Fresh Tracks' breakfast up on Whistler!

Yeah tempted by that Digby. Is it worth doing?
Can you go where you like (within reason)?

I've seen "Fresh Tracks" at other resorts where you all end up coming down the same few runs of freshly groomed corduroy, which defeats the purpose for me (though the skiers love it).

Oooh that 'Kevin' video still has me howling with laughter. Those are very short skis they put him on, even for the days before parabolic.

My hairy tow moment was in Passo Tonale. The only way up to one of the black runs was a walk up hill, carrying skis. A bright spark started towing 8 people on ropes tied to the back of his ski-do. You were completely relying on the others being proficient, which of course some weren't, it was a case of hanging on and just watching others either enjoying the ride, or panicking and falling all over the show. There was a lot of swerving going on. Much fun.

Edit : I think health and safety banned this practise a few years ago and there is a tow lift up there now.

Intrawest must be getting generous in their old age!

Didn't Intrawest sell their stake in WB a few seasons back?

I'd agree, and recommend giving the Early Bird a miss. They don't open much up and you'll end up pigging out on bacon and waiting for the loo! If it does dump just get up early and join the lift line with a coffee, it will only get longer.

Yeah tempted by that Digby. Is it worth doing?

Depends entirely on the conditions, so there's always going to be an element of luck:

Too much snow fall and the patrollers won't have everything opened up and too little and you'll be cruising the groomers.

It was March '06 when I did it at Whistler - a good few inches of a freshies and whilst lots of folks were still stuffing breakfast I managed 3 laps off the Harmony chair before I saw another soul.

Either way I reckon it's a change of pace and a nice way to beat the morning crowds!

Didn't Intrawest sell their stake in WB a few seasons back?

I wasn't aware of that - A quick Google shows that yeah .. they sold the last of their shares in WB in 2012 ... probably explains the change in pricing!

a nice way to beat the morning crowds!

A Canadian "crowds" 😀

We were out with a board guide in Fernie one year (the rather fantastically named "Napoleon Champagne") and he took us to some runs above the pistes.

When we made it back down onto the pistes he was moaning that it was [i]"so busy"[/i] and [i]"way too crowded man"[/i].

I reckon there were about 20 folk there. Tops. 😆

I always wondered what he'd make of the Alps at half term!

I realise Whistler is quite a bit busier than Fernie by the way, but even then there is "Canada Busy":

[img] [/img]

And there is "Alps Busy":

[img] [/img]