UPDATE: CLASSIFIEDS section refreshed, redesigned, searchable: Go take a look
I got some new Flow Talon Focus boots for last week.
Incredibly stiff the first few days, had to really adapt my riding as they simply didn't flex forward at all.
End of the week they've softened up a bit and are fantastic. Totally waterproof, still plenty stiff for piste blasting, but worked great in the park too.
On the stance thing, I changed to +12 -12 last year to focus on riding switch more, it's been great, much better at switch (so I can do little 180s), no hip pain.
I've also bought a new Skate Banana 159W. Loads of edge grip in icy or hard packed stuff, only tried a little off piste but seemed good, combined with Flow NX2 bindings which have a couple of degrees tilt in towards your hips. Really comfy setup.
Back out to Austria for half term, can't wait.
Managed to get some freshies today in some nice powder at Montgenevre which I totally wasn't expecting. Good day to switch to the snowboard. Few nice little lips to jump off and some fun stuff through the trees. My impression of this area remains that they are a bit slack with their route marking, mapping and attempts to keep all the pistes open where possible though.
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Nice pic.
Only a few moments of blue in PDS today. But snapped mossettes catching some sun.
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And a mandatory no-mates selfie with regulation STW bobble hat. Looking over to Switzerland. It's a fine hat by the way.
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I'll keep an eye out for the hat when we are in Morzine in a few weeks 😆
Unfortunately for you, the lesser spotted super hat won't be in full plumage again until the end of March.
Booooooooo.
Anyone looking for some last minute half term action? Reasonably priced flights here... http://www.rocketski.com/flight-only
[i]How bad is it there these days? I'm off there in a couple of weeks. Been to 3V a few times before so know roughly what to expect, has been about 5 years since we last visited though.[/i]
Re1850...there are a few places around at normal prices. Even the s****y Cap Horn above the airport has a burger bar at the front that does a top burger and fries for 15 euros. My best meals were all at Bouc Blanc though . Great food and service at reasonable prices. (Loved the Tartiflet!
The omelettes at Bouc Blanc are enormous, must be 5 eggs in them, and only 14 Euros.
You can eat for 15 euro at the Fole Douce (sp?) at the buffet too if you're into that sort of thing, the show was pretty good the day we went.
If it's a nice day then lunch on the veranda at Chenus is fab but closer to 20 euro per head. The sun doesn't go of the balcony until nearly 3pm so a late one misses the crowds.
Only 14 euros for an omelette? Wow. 🙂
Nowhere in a French ski resort is reasonable IME.
Off to Zell am See tomorrow - yes a bit of a gentle place but my Partner's first attempt at Skiing...
Wish me luck... 😯
Bit shit here.
EDIT: not as shit as my photo posting attempts.
Anyone know why imgur images aren't posting?
Try their bb code link with the img tags already included. The direct link doesn't seem to work for me.
Another lovely peuf day today. We were reminded of Stevo earlier when we saw a golden eagle soaring above Peisey - Stevo reckons you know you've seen a golden eagle when you go "****!!! It's a golden eagle!" 😆
Yeh, if you ask yourself "is that an Eagle" its not.
Big old birds
Ooorsum day today.
Decided to retrace the route I took by MTB last summer. Châtel was fantastic, round into Switzerland, Morgins, Champoussin, Les Crosets and back over into Lindarets.
I'm knackered.
Chuffed with my board handling though, but heel lift getting to be a problem on the snappiness (and a 164 board needs all the snappiness you can muster, it's like steering a ship) . You won't believe how hard it is finding insoles in size 13 in France. Sheesh. But have managed to find some.
Last time I was over this bit in châtel 14yrs ago, we had to get a chopper to take a mate off the hill after a quality spill off piste.
Oddly they have since roped off "Rob's Folly". Can't imagine why...
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Stoner - these might help if you can find them.
[url= http://www.skiequipmentuk.co.uk/shop/products/Nordica_Ski_Boot_Heel_Retainers_and_Volume_Reducers.htm ]Nordica ski boot heel retainers[/url]
I got some from TSA for a fiver
Cheers, igm, they look exactly the solution. If the insoles don't work I'll track a pair down
Tongue in cheek there I hope DD. Or did you spend the day on Ours Bleu?
Absolutely LD! Had beautiful conditions today. A foot of new snow. Blue skies. No wind. Even managed a bit of off-the-side-of-the-piste to link up with Mrs DD on her blue runs. You'll have a blast here next week.
We were reminded of Stevo earlier when we saw a golden eagle soaring above Peisey - Stevo reckons you know you've seen a golden eagle when you go "****!!! It's a golden eagle!"
Top mountain-leadery advice that! Same applies to Crows vs Ravens.
That said, you do see vultures around Peisey way occasionally. Also ****ing enormous - bigger wingspan than the eagles, but not so chunky. And with a big vulturey neck / head /beak.
Heading out to Peisey on Sunday, can't wait. Snow looks like it's should be okay.
looked like a nice day out there today, should have been working but did have few cheeky looks on the webcams.
I'm sure Edumakator can confirm, but I'd imagine the Pyrenean resorts to be good for Vultures and Eagles.
At least I saw enough out there for them to become normal. That wasn't in resort mind you.
Saw quite a lot of eagles and vultures in Namibia. They are reasonably easy to tell apart IMO mainly because vultures usually look quite scratty. 🙂 The head/neck shape is distinctive too.
Cheers stm, bookmarked
Those foam things have been out for a while. They used to be called j bars.
All they will do is possbly make the heel more snug in the boot, heel lift is easily sorted with a few tweaks in technique.
You should be able to wiggle your toes on a toeside turn. If not your likely "standing up" and gripping with your toes which will give you heel lift.
Not necessarily Russ.
I'm good at keeping my toes relaxed, I never get shin or calf pain, but I find that my old boots have just got a little baggy over the last 15yrs or so, unsurprisingly, and I just want a bit more direct link between my boot the top of my ankle rather than have to wait for it. I'm also on an old board that doesn't leap from edge to edge. More of a lazy shuffle.
That's not to say my technique is perfect, but I did learn to stop clinging to the hill side with my toenails a while ago
Stoner, what's Morzine/Les Gets like? We fly out tomorrow and I will be spending all my time around Morzine and Les Gets as I'm not good enough to warrant a full PdS pass.
Well it appears I've managed to acquire a cracked rib on my ski holiday! 😆
So those heel cups...would they make me a few inches taller? 🙂
You need to carry a milk crate around with you like Tom Cruise.
I ache - I didn't go over to morzine /Les Gets this break. The temperature here is very warm this evening at 100cm, so lower slopes will deteriorate in the day, but it's OK hardpack higher up.
There's plenty of base, snow reservoirs and snow canons to keep the runs open even if there's no fresh for a while. Wear thin layers as you may well get warm on the hill.
Are you staying in Morzine or Les Gets?
Wallop - you'll get over that in time for your next trip won't you. What did you run into?
Five weeks til Morzine. Should be reet. Hilariously I didn't run into anything other than the ground when I was pelting down a blue. I landed on my bazookas and winded myself pretty badly at the time but the rib pain has got steadily worse as the week has gone on. Luckily it didn't happen til mid week so the worst of the pain hasn't arrived until today (home time).
5wks you'll be fine.
Just watch out for a Yeti and a Leprechaun in Morzine that week, ahem....
What!? Is DD out there that week too!?
Edit - who is the yeti? ❓
He is dat, indeed he is.
Staying in Morzine Stoner. About 5 mins walk from the Pleney.
Unfortunately it's a pity you can't just get an avoriaz pass as it won't get you up to super morzine. As you know you'd need a PdS pass.
... Unless... You take the free navette from town to ardent or prodains in which case you can.
Lots of buses to prodains, but go early.
If that something that interests you I'd hold off committing to a week long morzine pass, as you may wish to mix and match the two ski areas.
You can also add PdS to a morz pass at the ticket office on the side of the tourism office.
Nothing like a bit of Phil Spencer spotting at Geneva to liven up a check in queue 😆
Yetis?
Couldn't say, but...
... there was this one at the hockey match this evening.
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Hcmag vs Rouen. Last of the league I think. I love watching the games. We don't get much ice hockey in Malvern...
I know it's a bit of a silly question, but...
Considering joining some friends in Val Thorens for the first week of April - obviously it's altitude will help, but is it a pretty big risk of just riding slush all day? Snow history of last few years looks pretty mixed :/
Depends what you like. I enjoy late season sunshine skiing. Get up early, get up high and stay up high. Rip it until lunch (Time of lunch dependent on snow). Eat lunch. Make it a long one in the sun. Then, simply download on a lift to another bar as the sun fades.
Usually rubbish for tehpow (Not a tribute band!) but great for social skiing with friends.
Pretty much how it's playing now.
Will head up to the top of avoriaz tomorrow morning as early as I can make it, beery late lunch and a tumble down the hill around 3ish.
Cheers Stoner. I'll keep an eye out for the ST hat in the village. I'll probably be too busy telling off the kids to notice you tho.
First week of April in VT? You'll be grand.
