[Closed] The STW Ski & Snowboard thread. The 2016-2017 season

Its amazing. It's normally quiet (never any lift queues) but we've been the only people on almost every piste.

Legolam
Try Newgeneration ski in Tignes
Way better than ESF IMO
Had 3 x 3hrs private lessons with them and learnt alot
Not cheap but better value than ESF

Beanum Villars wasn't the greatest choice tbh for this early. Verbier (Les Chables) is an hours drive.

Legolam - you just want piste skis. As for 80's style that will work but try and keep your feet a little further apart than you are used to and weight a bit more evenly balanced. Have fun, watched this today

Do you think there's a particular property of the skis that I should be looking for (width/camber/rocker/length/weight) or do you think it's mainly down to my 80s style of skiing?

Your height and weight should come in to it a bit. For cruising the groomers, and having some fun, I'd be asking for something along the lines of these as a women's ski;
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Salomon Astra. Wide enough to cope with some floaty fun in the slack country, but still a nice carver. Obviously, you're at the mercy of your hire shop, but if you've paid for a "premium" package (Well done!) you can try something, then head back in if it's not quite right.

FWIW, I hire skis, and also use the shiny shiny option. Means I can play around with all sorts of stuff. My ski highlight last year was from Nordica, their NRG skis. The women's version is called the Belle, and looks ACE! Nordica Spitfires are rocketship fast piste skis as well.

Oh, and BBRs? Erm....an acquired taste! I demoed them. They were rather fun, if a little compromised. Goodish on piste, and goodish off, but not really great at either. Also, I got bored of answering questions about them at every lift!

Thanks again everyone. I'm so excited, especially having watched that FB video! Hope the baby enjoys it too...

Oh, and BBRs? Erm....an acquired taste!

I think I'll just be a bit braver this year about going back to the shop and changing if I'm not getting on with the ski that they give me.

Also good if the weather changes!

Sorry about this colp

"I am the only tray in the village"

Just jealous

"I am the only tray in the village"

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I apologise. Really. But I couldn't resist the free shot at an open goal.

I have Nordica Wild Belles and they are lovely, responsive, easy to turn. Tend to chatter when you really try on piste but they are great in the fluffy stuff.
I prefer them to the K2 lotta luvs I had before which were probably more piste biased than the wild belles.

Just been looking as some webcams - where has all the snow gone? Grands Massif looks awful. I was planning a quick three days pre-Chrimbo

[url= https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/77/31517728696_700fc4e7d4_c.jp g" target="_blank">https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/77/31517728696_700fc4e7d4_c.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/Q27AFs ]Whistler[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/75523014@N08/ ]Jamie Carson[/url], on Flickr

[url= https://c5.staticflickr.com/1/181/31517728716_2cf58dc6d7_b.jp g" target="_blank">https://c5.staticflickr.com/1/181/31517728716_2cf58dc6d7_b.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/Q27AFN ]Piste[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/75523014@N08/ ]Jamie Carson[/url], on Flickr

Been very cold in whistler the last week or so. Some stunning days for skiing and very quiet slopes. Only problem is I didn't notice my toes freezing and I've given myself frostbite. No skiing for me for a good few days 🙁

I've given myself frostbite

😯 'kinel

Pics!

Frostbite or Frostnip (less severe)? Either way take care. Sweamrs got frost nip in some toes a few years ago and it still causes her problems. Having said that -33C in Canmore this morning 😯 and she still went for a hike.

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This view probably doesnt even show them at their worst. The full frontal shot you can see how much they've swollen up. No black or white spots though, so I guess thats a good thing.

Went to the clinic for them to have a look at, advice was just to keep em warm and watch for signs of infection and death 😯

Ugh cut your toenails and heal up fast! 😀

Ugh cut your toenails and heal up fast!

They've already been trimmed to a more appropriate size!

Ouch. That's a good one. From bitter experience the blackness doesn't show for a few while so you're going to have to be careful for the rest of the season I reckon. Toe warmers would be high on my agenda.

A thread full of wonderful alpine scenery and whatno's feet ... on a serious note tale it easy as above you can have long term consequences.

TMH plenty if good skiing about, friends in Val Tho right now. Some nice footage from Val and Tignes on resort facebook. It got warm after the early snowfall, Verbier re-opened the lower bike trails (1650 and down) but still skiing uptop

Toe warmers would be high on my agenda.

As they are on mine now.

on a serious note tale it easy as above you can have long term consequences.

Indeed. Easy to forget that the weather has the same effect in bounds as well as out 🙁

Whatno I recall you've been there before but in case no when I lived in NY and skied in NA I had to buy new kit as all my Alps stuff wasn't warm enough. Included a powder mask.

Got to try a few boards today at a snwobkard test weekend here in Åre .

I wanted to try both of these as I want tk add them to the quiver , plus maybe a skeleton key from Burton but they didnt have that.

Spring Break/ Capita slush slasher 147

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Bataleon Camel Toe 158

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Also saw this bold statement car

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Guess it is to tell you whose tyres to let down in the car park?

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The view from our bedroom window to Tignes Le Lac this morning 😀

Very cold all day today, with a mild breeze on the tops. Clear and sunny though, and forecast for similar weather all week. Pistes hard but in good condition, and virtually empty. Great day on the slopes!

Those toes look nasty! I'd be looking at heated insoles.

Had a morning starting at Leogang yesterday, went over to Saalbach and back, nice lunch in Mama T's chicken and fish restaurant at the top of Asitz.
Didn't take many pics but here's one looking down at the bottom of the bike park.
My lad wanted me to hit the cannon on my snowboard but I've pushed my luck a bit much this year already!

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@Howsyourdad1

If you are looking for a short, fun, powder board try and get a test ride on a Salomon Derby. I got a 150cm one last season and it's so much fun. Normally ride 155 - 158 boards but didn't miss the length. Performs amazingly well in the powder and just kept me smiling every minute I had it strapped to my feet.

Quick update on the snow conditions here. Had a blast around above Mottaret and Meribel yesterday. Higher up conditions are good, pistes grippy and fast, a bit like a January during a cold snap between storms. Lower down it's all narrow pistes with cannoned snow. Very surreal riding on a 10m wide strip of snow down the Saulire to Mottaret. Should have more open for Christmas I reckon, looks like they are holding some pistes back for next week. Definitely need more snow though!

Medium term weather forecast for French Alps suggested no significant new snowfall before the end of the year. Static high pressure 😐

Thanks meribelmtb, I hadn't seen that Salomon . There are a lot around at the moment , really fancy getting one .

In at number 5 this week pop pickers..

[url= http://edition.cnn.com/2016/03/18/travel/europes-best-hidden-ski-resorts/index.html ]Hochkoenig[/url]

I've been to three of those , go me!

@howsyourdad1 the base on the Derby is bombproof too if that helps. FWIW buying your missus the ladies equivalent (pillow talk) will get you serious brownie points

Colp - keep the photos coming, especially if you head over Saalbach way again. We're in Hinterglemm next week. Looking forward to sampling Mama T's renowned chicken!

Skiworld discounting xmas week heavily now. Big gamble on snow though as there is zero forcast for the next week +.
However £299 for a week in a CC incl flights and transfers is as cheap as very expensive french chips.

bloody hell that's tempting. Alpe d'huez, st anton, courchevel - all ensuite, all at £249. means travelling to Gatwick (manchester is still over £500 pp)

My best mate shattered one wrist and broke the other at the weekend in an over the bars moment, he reckons he'll still make the ski (board for him) trip on the 21st Jan, although he might not ride that much.

Stay safe out there people!

Just booked to go back to Serre Che on the 15th Jan.
Can't wait. All new gear. Except a board.

Hope it gets a decent dump of snow beforehand. Looking at the snow history early January is normally pretty good for snowfall.

Big gamble on snow though

Hit the park all morning, boozy lunch , more boozey dinner, repeat!

🙁

Mrs NBT doesn't want to go skiing over Christmas 🙁

Les Gets Are re opening Mt Chery bike park till snow arrives.

Yes, looking rather thin, we're off to Les deux alpes in 2 weeks, all the lower slopes are bare 🙁

At least at L2A the easier slopes are up high so lackmof snow just hits the better skiers.

Yes, looking rather thin, we're off to Les deux alpes in 2 weeks, all the lower slopes are bare

Mind all the drunk students - hope it snows for all your sakes!!

Yes, looking rather thin, we're off to Les deux alpes in 2 weeks, all the lower slopes are bare

At least at L2A the easier slopes are up high so lack of snow just hits the better skiers.

Note to Footflaps....its L2A (apparantly), not Les deux alpes! 😉

Its like Val Thoren....no one (in the know) calls it that....its VT! 🙂

Also, every time I open this thread I have to look at whatnobeers toes, so the sooner we move on a page the better!

Val Thorens used to be shortened to Valto.

If you can understand French I recommend watching Les Bronzes font du ski.

Also, every time I open this thread I have to look at whatnobeers toes, so the sooner we move on a page the better!

Sorry! You better hope I don't post an update on the next page 😛