[Closed] The STW Ski & Snowboard thread. The 2015-2016 season

stevomcd .. lol @

"Ah..... Non."

😉

mrs S has custom insoles, so I get the idea. Will make sure theyre on the list.

Will make sure theyre on the list.

Along with a sikk colorway, braw!

😉

Joking aside, fit is paramount. Ridiculously so. As before, get an idea of what you think you want to be doing in them, both now and in a couple of years time, and then talk to a good fitter. Colin at Solutions4Feet is very good indeed. I pulled some favours for mine, but if I hadn't, he'd have been one of the people on my list.

Ned, What is your itinerary for the Greenland trip? How long are you going for? Looks amazing.

I'm not going this year, I went a few years ago with a few friends, using Tangent Logistics. Stopover in Iceland. Landed at Constable Point in East Greenland, hour and a half skidoo with kit, camped, rode, got picked up, went home again.

Digby's going on April with Neil McNab, with broadly the same plan, I think.

Exup

Enough piste to keep an experienced boarder happy

Best description for Steamboat is rolling. There are steep sections but there are flat sections. It's more blues than anything else though.

enough mellow piste to accommodate inexperienced skiers?

The beginners greens are relatively good down at the base, however the greens up the hill are mainly cat track with a shit load of people banging down them. The blues at the top and mid mountain are pretty rolly with some sudden short steep sections. The blues descending to the base are steep, scratched off and a bit scary. The gondola drops of at the mid mountain area, and will take back to the base to avoid the ratrun cat tracks and steeper blues.

good pubs downtown? Eating out costs etc?

I didn't bother with the bars downtown just chilled in the hotel bar and bought six packs for the room. Resort prices on food, around $50 for two entrees and a couple of beers. There was a brewery type place on the main street (in the old town) which was cheap for burgers (better than Five Guys) and had alright micro brew beer (it's Colorado!)Make sure where you are staying is near the town or has a shuttle. The main section of Steamboat town is about 2 miles from the resort base and resort shit. There is a pretty good small pizza place in a strip mall near the resort base.

Lift tickets come in at £60 a pop, is that about right as far as you recall, if so it's a bit steep!

I think tickets when we were there were $115 per person per day. The exchange rate may work in your favor then or may not. You may be able to buy 5 pack or 3 pack tickets (3 or 5 days) which work out a bit cheaper. Nowhere in Colorado is all that cheap anymore. It may work out better to pony up for a season pass now while they're still a bit cheaper if you are going to be there for a week or two.

I'll put up a couple of photos in a bit.

Digby's going on April with Neil McNab, with broadly the same plan, I think

Pretty much yeah! 😀

Stoner, I've learned recently 3 years, 3 sets of hire boots that I've wanted to burn at the end of each day.

2 weekends ago I went to Solutions4Feet and got a fitting done, it really, really is the best thing you can do when on Ski's.

@I_Ache - I went with an Oakley jacket (from the now defunct outlet shop in Letchworth) with no padding, it's bloody great, has a magnetic storm flap, lift pass pocket, good venting and comes up good and high when you are on a cold lift!

Thanks Toby. I have seen a HH jacket I quite like but I'm being a tart as its green and so are my trousers.

toby - Ive just seen that theyre not too far away from me in Bicester.

Can you tell me how much you paid? Are the boot prices inclusive of fitting and in molds?

stevo - That's what I figured - never seen any Kesslers for even a gesture less than full price!

Just really fancy a fast charging board again - had a Duotone MTX 168 which was magic - loved that board, then killed it. 🙁

Currently got a venture split, a shorty Dupraz and a 176 swallowtail which is definitely quick, but so stiff that it's a bit of a handful on anything bumpy. Barely 5cm rise in the nose too - not something you want to straight-line into chop with! But in pow or on smooth piste, it's incredible.

The Ride looks perfect, but unjustifiable, given other things that need money spending on them.

I_Ache - I had a Quiksilver Mission jacket for last season (from TKMaxx) and it was great. Had to take it back though as a seam split (in the UK, not on holiday) and they didn't have another. Fit great as a boarding jacket, and not too much insulation, so no sweaty days.

Anyone know of any operators who do reasonable deals for boarders travelling on their own? The family can't go this year, but I want to get away and try my Jones Aviator. Budget is a bit tight due to building an extension or two at home.
Help me STW, help me.....

Stoner - I'm not Toby, but I did get my boots from Solutions 4 Feet. Iirc I paid £370 for my boots, this was made up of £270 for the boots, £100 for custom made foot beds. I ended up with Lange RX100 LV because I have narrow feet. Think this was about 4 years ago.

Colin spent about 90 mins doing the fitting, generally he just does one person at a time so it is a personal service.

If Bicester is close to you, how close is Cambridge? If you don't fancy custom fitted foot beds the OH got her boots from Ski Exchange, again a really good service - they spend a lot of time with you making sure the boots are right. Foot beds are superfeet, but they have all the kit to shave bits off if needed. A bit cheaper than S4F.

Im the other direction, hammerite.

TBH Im not shy of spending a bit on boots. When I took up boarding nearly 15 years ago a spent a good wodge on some Northwave boots that I still use every year. Theyve held up well, and I dont getg hot spots in them.

I will see if I can book a midweek fitting with him and nip over on the motorbike.

Lots of Arcteryx on Sport Pursuit at the mo. 50% off so it's approaching "normal expensive" pricing.

Tempted by a pair of their gloves, but at £85, I might plump for another wrap of duct tape.

@Stoner - £425 for me all in, boots, beds and fitting cost. So the prices on site are not inclusive. Like hammerite said 90 minutes and a 1 to 1 session. Not cheap, but I'm really really hoping worthwhile in the long run.

You should be ok with a mid-week appointment, I think they said weekends were booked to the end of October when I was there the other day.

cheers toby

Stoner - Not sure what Colin's stock levels are like, but I think most shops are about to get their new season boots in any time soon. We were in EB in MK at the weekend and they had no boots suitable for Jnr (a not very Jnr size 30) as they're waiting to receive their new stock.

Cheers 10, much appreciated.

Stoner, more detailed email to follow (Odd connection probs in da hood today!) but as others have said, prices usually don't include footbeds, but you should probably get them. Also, not all boots can be moulded, some rely on their shell shape alone.

Timely reminder not to litter in the mountains or anywhere really

[video]

Hi guys, starting to plan this winter's trip to the Alps. Any tips on finding accommodation?

Looking for a chalet for around 13 people, roughly £500/person for a week, catered would be nice but not essential, not particularly set on any resort, as long as there's good snow!

Any suggestions would be great 🙂

Thanks,
Duane.

finally decided on Avoriaz .

@Thetallpaul check out action outdoors.

http://www.action-outdoors.co.uk/ they're the uk booking company for a French based sporting 'charity' called UCPA. The idea being that it provides cost effective winter sports. Action Outdoors specialise in solo travellers really. I've been on their solo travellers feb half term trip for the last two years. 2014 there was about 15 of us with me then aged 27 as one of the youngest. This year there were nearly 30 of us and at 28 more than 50% of the group were younger! Awesome trips though, great people, great food and most of all great snow 🙂

I'm going twice with them this year!

Duane, these guys are really nice, the chalet and food are great. It's a 5 minute walk to the gondola at Courchecal le Praz[url=http://]nhm-ski[/url]
Nick and Heather both know all 3 valleys like the back of their hand and will usually ski with guests to show them around if required. They can usually get you a bit of discount on ski hire too.

Duane . Try Chalets Direct for starters . Get as much detail in your requirements and let the owners contact you.

Stoner. 2nd Colin at S4Feet. I went for custom footbeds , @ £120 not cheap , but a great investment. He measured my feet and flexability and recomended Atomic Hawx for me. Did an Ebay notification thing and got a brand new , never used pair of Hawx for £80.

You cant beat good fitting boots.

Not sure of my winter hols this year yet , potential new job on the horizon might spanner things up. I do have a new to me set of Shoguns to try in the powder if I do get away.

Very timely post singletrackmind. If anyone is interested we're selling Jnr's Atomic Hawx size 28.5 if anyone is after a pair of boots in very good condition. They've only lasted two weeks away plus probably getting on for 50 sessions at Xscape MK (they're about 1 year old). We're after £65 (delivered) for them and will throw in an Atomic boot bag.

Another good report for Ski Exchange in Cambridge too. They fitted Jnr for new boots earlier in the week, usual excellent fit. But it turned out that the bindings on Jnr's skis needed re-fitting (funny that 155 SL skis being used with size 30 boots!). They wanted to check with Head that it would be ok to re-drill them but the office was shut so we left the skis with them. Went back yesterday, they'd checked with Head, drilled and re-fitted the bindings and while they were at it decided to edge and wax the skis for free. Ended up with boots, new bag, re-fitted binding and edge and wax for £190.

STMind - did colin mold footbeds for you and then you took them away and stuffed them in whatever boots you can find then? footbeds arent specific to the model of boot then I guess?

Yep. Although a little bit more scientific than that.

Colin had the Hawx . I have rectangular feet " These are what I would put you in , with a 100 flex " was his recomendation . I have the 80 flex model and they appear absolutely fine to me for my 75kg and 5ft11 body size.

So I went away and sourced my own at 1/4 of his price, although I think if you buy the boots the custom footbeds are reduced

stevo - That's what I figured - never seen any Kesslers for even a gesture less than full price!

Just really fancy a fast charging board again - had a Duotone MTX 168 which was magic - loved that board, then killed it.

You could do worse than an Amplid UNW8 or B 10/30. Did all my SBX races on my UNW8 last year.

Tom B - Ta, I'll have a look this evening. At 43 I may well be the oldest by far 😀 . Just have to show these young whippersnappers.....

Just firing off enquiry emails for prices for 3V again next year. ooooooh...exshiting. 😀

Nothing booked but prob a week in Andorra with the wife/daughter and her friend then sending them home and flying to Geneva for a week somewhere with the lads.

stevo:

In my experience the... blend of underfoot camber and an early-rise nose offers optimal all-mountain performance.

Yes!!

Me and Pete, we're on the same page. The B 10/30 looks great. Thanks!

Right, if anyone can get get 60-80% off Amplids, let me know! 😀

Any recommendations for good family resort, parents + 3 year old on first outing. Obviously access to slopes, other stuff to do and pool would be ideal. Short transfer and critically can fly from Edinburgh. Not mega worried about budget to be honest.

And to echo comments - buy good boots, get them properly fitted and use good quality footbeds. Shell shape is main thing then customisations once you are standing properly. (Ex instructor and boot fitter!)Nothing worse than teaching people who are rattling around in their boots.

my experience the... blend of underfoot camber and an early-rise nose offers optimal all-mountain performance.

Is that like a Jones then?

Dunno, possibly. They've probably got a bunch of different profiles for different boards and different uses.

Just looked. it's like Jones' Directional Rocker

Any recommendations for good family resort, parents + 3 year old on first outing. Obviously access to slopes, other stuff to do and pool would be ideal. Short transfer and critically can fly from Edinburgh. Not mega worried about budget to be honest.

Morzine has been good for us for the past 4 years. Our youngest was 2.5 when we first went, 90 mins transfer from Geneva and plenty to do in the town when not skiing.

Thanks - Morzine was one that came to mind.

Les Gets (you drive through it ten minutes before Morzine on the way from Geneva) is best characterised as a family resort for parents who ski / snowboard to an OK standard with kids who are learning. We've got on well with Ski Famille for accommodation / childcare and 360 for children's lessons. Esprit also do Les Gets but I think they use ESF - we didn't like Les Gets ESF. That said ESF do lessons from 3, while 360 is private lessons only at that age (our 3 year old, now 4, did a couple of private lessons in 2014 which he liked).

I think of Morzine as having more teenage / adult learners and Avoriaz even more so.

But others will have other views.

We use ESF at Morzine and find them pretty good, they have remembered our youngest every year we have gone back. I have had ski and snowboard lessons with them and found them pretty good. However I have nothing else to base this on apart from the snowdome in Tamworth.

In the past we have put them in for morning lessons then lunch and they get a proper feast at the resteraunt next door. This year I couldn't do anything due to an operation so we put then in for mornings and afternoons and I had them for 3 hours over lunch. It was cheaper, I got to spend a bit of time with them including letting them use the drag while I chilled with a beer, and they progressed loads. Our eldest can now parallel ski properly and is better than I ever was at skiing.

ESF varies a bit. They have a good reputation some places and not others. Also it wasn't the teaching we didn't like - our eldest (only at the time) just didn't get on with them.

we used ESF at les Gets last year . The lack of snow made it difficult but they were flexible . thy swapped the group lessons i booked for some private lessons . my boys , 11 and 8 , were skiing for the first time and by the end of the week they were able ski .

booked a flat in avoriaz this year .
youngest boy wants to learn snowboard , any recommendations ?

@NZCol if you're going for Morzine/Les Gets pick your week carefully, they are very low and can suffer really badly of snow is poor. Late Feb/Early March making sure to avoid French and UK kids half terms

It's been ok at Easter the last few years.

At least Les Gets has - Morzine less so but you can always go up the hill.

nedrapier, well yes. But then again no. Says a man with an extensive Amplid quiver... 😉

The splittys are great too.

if anyone on here has any connections i am looking for a job for the coming winter. spent the last two winters in austria as a ski technician and in a rental shop. happy to work anywhere in the world. confident in fixing all skis and boards and can fit fischer vaccum boots. please get in touch if you know of anything.

singletrackmind - Member

Stoner. 2nd Colin at S4Feet. I went for custom footbeds , @ £120 not cheap , but a great investment. He measured my feet and flexability and recomended Atomic Hawx for me. Did an Ebay notification thing and got a brand new , never used pair of Hawx for £80.

I have my appointment booked with Colin for next week. I asked whether it was possible just to get footbeds to take with me (we're fly without hold luggage, and I want the chance to get the boots from my LSS in Morzine) and was told that footbeds are specific to boots. Which suggests that one needs to be moulded into a pair of boots at Colins.

Did he mould your footbeds in a pair of bots and put them back on the shelf? I wouldn't want to offend by asking to do something like that. Does the retail margin on the boot keep the fitting cost down? It's further complicated that at 6'4" and 95Kg and size 12-13 plates of meat, finding an appropriate boot for a novice is going to be a challenge away from the largest equipment shops in the ski town.

I have my appointment booked with Colin for next week. I asked whether it was possible just to get footbeds to take with me (we're fly without hold luggage, and I want the chance to get the boots from my LSS in Morzine) and was told that footbeds are specific to boots. Which suggests that one needs to be moulded into a pair of boots at Colins.

I actually read that as the footbed shape would be cut specifically to the last of a specific boot. Therefore wouldn't fit into a different manufacturers boot as the last would be different. Possibly would fit, just not a perfect fit.

You'll find variations in shell and liner lengths which mean that getting footbeds into other boots is not always simple as they are either too long or too short. Its much better to make a set of footbeds, post them properly then put them into a boot which you shape (like the Fishers for example).

seems inevitable Im going to have to try and find a boot at colins around which he can do the moulds. If he hasnt the boots to work for me, we'll just have to call it quits unless there's a half way solution.