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GrahamS - 11th Feb is THE half-term week for most regions and for France.
Oh arse. That's odd though - the prices all peaked the following week (which is why we avoided it). Ah well, best order some sick bags off eBay.
best results with the machine wash in stuff?
Personally I prefer to use the spray on stuff as then I'm not trying to reproof bits that don't need proofing (e.g. liners, fleecy bits etc) and I can give extra attention to the bits that really need it (cuffs, knees).
If you are machine washing then do a Self Clean cycle on the machine first with no detergent in (or just an empty boil wash if it doesn't have self clean). You don't want normal washing detergent or fabric conditioner residue getting on them as it breaks down the DWR.
Also turn off the spin cycle when you wash them - as forcing water through goretex with a 1400rpm spin doesn't do it any good apparently.
(Note: these tips could be old wives tales)
@cat always cheaper to pre-book and pre-pay biggest savings from smaller out of the way shops. Ski passes usually cheaper too if bought in advance. Start with office de tourism website or try alpinresorts.com or sport2000 for example. My wife is French and always pre-books, being a Brit I used to just turn up and pay shop prices which horrfiied her ! Now I am now excluded from equipment rental responsibilities.
Reproofing, I use Nikiwax wash-in but many garment manufacturers these days say spary on. Worth reading little manuals or searching online, tumble drier part of the process is very important
Personally I prefer to use the spray on stuff as then I'm not trying to reproof bits that don't need proofing
+1 ... for some reason reproofing in the machine makes me think of combined shampoo & conditioner ... However a more practical perspective is that the 'DWR' coating you are hopefully creating needs to be on the outside of the garment where it 'repels' water - rather than on the inside etc where it *might* impact the fabric's 'breathability'.
tumble drier part of the process is very important
oh the mystery deepens!
reproofing - clean washing machine as said above, hot run then spin, clean kit with normal soap flakes (cheap and same as wots in bottles really), dry in tumble dryer, line dry and spray. usually works best.
NZCol: Grangers generally recommend applying spray proofer while the garment is still damp from the wash and then tumble drying it afterwards.
Just had a quick "scan the webcams while on a conference call". Admit it, we all do it!
Lots of places showing v poor snow. None of the cameras at Montgenèvre appear to be working, either. Something to hide? Or rather, an absence to hide?
Meanwhile, in Slovakia...
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?oh=553a431826950a3b5d3875d16e4ce8b9&oe=58D62F0D[/img]
(Source: [url=
Slovakia FB feed[/url])
Have faith Flash. It's snowing heavily in the Pyrenees and the front is due to start dropping snow in the northern Alps now. It's going to be a snowy week.
[url= http://www.viewsurf.com/univers/montagne/vue/7976-france-provence-alpes-cote-dazur-montgenevre-les-alberts-panoramique-hd ]Montgenèvre is grass though[/url]
It's nice to see red bits on the [url= http://meteociel.fr/observations-meteo/radar2.php?mode=1 ]rain/snow radar [/url] at last.
St Anton for us - heading out in a couple of weeks. Some reasonable snow fall in the last few days with more forecast at the weekend. A long way from perfect but can't complain. Trouble is lots of people are diverting from French resorts to ski in St Anton instead so it'll probably be pretty busy 😆
Thanks Jambalaya, booked Burton Custom or likewise for 66 euros for 5 days. It was 90 quid to take my own on EasyJet!
Just had a quick "scan the webcams while on a conference call". Admit it, we all do it!
Yep, all those Malaysian brothels who haven't changed the default root password....
To clarify, the person in Graham's Slovakia picture is actually me, not him 😯 😆
It was a cracking few days.....-30 for the last two though, which was less than pleasant!!!
fingers and toes crossed that the mighty 'shee gets a decent dumpola this week and I can 'work from home' a bit ....
To clarify, the person in Graham's Slovakia picture is actually me, not him
Yeah wondered if it might be - I just wished it was me. 🙂 Pics on FB looked great. -30 is a bit on the chilly side though. Was Dan's place as awesumz as ever? Is Ollie making his own boards now? I saw some bendy wooden one on the feed.
Yeah, place is still great. My first winter visit. I was there in August 2015, initially heard of them through your posts on here.
Ollie is indeed making his own boards now....that one on fb has all the stiffness of some overcooked spaghetti!!! Didn't get chance to ride it-Dan finally has a board with proper edges on too this season ha!
2 weeks till Les Arcs - fingers crossed for something fresh landing in advance of us.
It's been lightly snowing all morning at lake level here in Lausanne. There's a good couple of cm on the ground..
Looks like a fair coating in Champèry village so there should be plenty up in the PDS....:-)
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currently thumping it down in Les Arcs http://www.lesarcs.com/livecam-arc2000.html#ong333 anyone know if there are similar conditions over the road in Ste Foy??
initially heard of them through your posts on here.
That's it, I'm claiming commission 😀
Ollie is indeed making his own boards now....that one on fb has all the stiffness of some overcooked spaghetti!!!
Yeah they like a mega-bendy board those two - more fun for doing butters down the groomer if there is no good snow.
Dan finally has a board with proper edges on too this season ha!
I remember trying to ride Dan's K2 Weapon down some sun-baked bulletproof icy snow at the side of one of the pistes one year. Absolutely no edges on it at all and as bendy as wet string. I fell a lot! We swapped back and he made it look easy. Apparently "edges are all in the mind". 😕
fingers and toes crossed that the mighty 'shee gets a decent dumpola this week and I can 'work from home' a bit ....
+1
Ryan Knapton maxing his steez as usual:
I do love a bit of Cloth of the King.
currently thumping it down in Les Arcs http://www.lesarcs.com/livecam-arc2000.html#ong333 anyone know if there are similar conditions over the road in Ste Foy??
Yup. Early start tomorrow! 🙂
like that GrahamS I've used his videos for butters practise alot in the past. He is so good but it i s almost too good.... like the style is almost robotic...
Yeah I found him when trying to learn how to butter too (I still can't 😳 )
He is [i]ridiculously[/i] smooth. Some of his videos are like watching a computer game.
In fact, if a computer game was like that the reviewers would complain it was unrealistic 😀
I wish I had 1/10th of that skill level - but then I suspect he has had at least 1000 times the slope time I've had!
On the phone with colleagues in Montana. Where they've got blizzard conditions! Am now trying to wrangle a trip instanter!
Yeah I found him when trying to learn how to butter too
I like Ryan a lot ... I wouldn't exactly say he's 'robotic' - he just rides with quite a wide stance and a quiet upper body - and he makes it look so smooth and effortless which is certainly part of the appeal for me! The 'carving with your hands in your pockets' was one of the 'carving exercises'/drills I was taught to stop you waving your hands about! 🙂
Whilst we're discussing butter ...
I can't believe it's not butter - [Fernie 2015]
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currently thumping it down in Les Arcs http://www.lesarcs.com/livecam-arc2000.html#ong333 anyone know if there are similar conditions over the road in Ste Foy??
Yup. Early start tomorrow!
how was it, much between the trees??
Tripods for days Digby ! although judging by the snow and bits of tree on your ass you've stacked it once or twice!
although judging by the snow and bits of tree on your ass you've stacked it once or twice!
Haha ... and the seat of those trousers needed re-proofing! I was trying to learn how to 180 'pop' out of it ... with ensuing comedy falls! 😆
Although its actually just snow stuck to my ass ... the shrubbery is on the side of the piste! 😉
how was it, much between the trees??
You've not been following conditions in the Alps this winter, have you? 😆
Ask me again on Monday!
I can't put my finger on what it is, but Ryan Knapton sets my teeth on edge. Watching his videos is like fingernails on a blackboard.
Nah you got to respect anyone who can ride a Super Mogul:
You've not been following conditions in the Alps this winter, have you?Ask me again on Monday!
Blummin have!! I'll see for myself on Monday!!
Enjoying watching these guys at the moment. SnowboardProCamp based in Whistler - here's them doing Ruby Bowl in Spankys.
Despite the name they aren't really [i]very[/i] "pro", but that makes them a lot more relatable and watchable for me. Plus they look like they are having a great time.
(wish they'd wear avi gear before going through the gates though!!)
You've not been following conditions in the Alps this winter, have you?Ask me again on Monday!
Blummin have!! I'll see for myself on Monday!!
Point was, there is no snow in the trees whatsoever. It would be easier to go mountain biking than snowboarding in them. The 10cm the other day was a good start, but go into the trees and you'll still be riding directly on rocks and roots.
It is forecast to snow A LOT over the weekend, so Monday should be completely different.
Despite the name they aren't really very "pro"
'pro' is definitely 'self-titled' but then North Americans seemingly use this to prepend almost anything in a vain attempt to make it seem more authentic.
I thought 'Spanky's' was inbound and patrolled ... but then I've not been to Whistler for over 10 years.
One of the 'dudes' has got an 'Edge of the World' Fernie snowboard shop sticker on his helmet! ... not sure which is sadder - me noticing it or his 'steeze' with massive goggle lenses the size of double glazing advertised by Ted Moult! 😉
edit - can't link a Facebook Video but have a look at Zero G Chamonix's FB page for a video of a BD Jetforce Avvy Bag in action
[url=
G Facebook Page[/url]
Advice please for a retired skier... used to ski 3 weeks a year but havn't been for 20 yrs or so when skis used to be 2 meters +.... was a reasonable intermediate at that point.
I've a few free days in Brekenridge next month so hire skis boots etc whats the bare minimum kit that i need?
I thought 'Spanky's' was inbound and patrolled ... but then I've not been to Whistler for over 10 years.
Not sure if it is in-bounds or not but at 6:38 he says [i]"Read the signs"[/i] and points out a sign saying [i]"Avalanche Prone Area - Enter Only Through Gate"[/i]. 😕
Seems like it wouldn't be a bad idea to have avi gear on at that point, even if it is officially in-bounds.
Anyway, while I'm on YouTube, I see Burton have re-invented Step Ins! Again.
I've a few free days in Brekenridge next month so hire skis boots etc whats the bare minimum kit that i need?
Warm coat, something that isn't skiing specific will be fine, just layer up underneath.
Warmer trousers. Though shell type walking trousers and some thermal tights underneath can work if pushed.
Gloves. Pick a pair up from Aldi (ski wear is in today), for £10 they do the job well.
Thick socks. If you're hiring boots then thicker socks work, Aldi, Decathlon or TK Maxx if you need to buy.
Helmet. When you skied I guess no-one wore them, not the majority do. I won't ski without one which is odd as I spent years going faster and steeper in a wooly hat. You can hire them if you don't want to buy
The rest you can hire. Expect your skis to be 175cm max, bendy and be remarkably easy to ski.
[quote=GrahamS ]
Not sure if it is in-bounds or not but at 6:38 he says "Read the signs" and points out a sign saying "Avalanche Prone Area - Enter Only Through Gate".
Seems like it wouldn't be a bad idea to have avi gear on at that point, even if it is officially in-bounds.
Spankys is in-bounds, requires a hike to get to it though. Normally (in Canada / North America in general) if the resort has such gates, they're opened by a transceiver - no beep, no go as they say (i.e. If you aren;t wearing a transceiver, the gate won't open to let you through).
Lunge, many thanks particularly the comments about the helmet i don't recall anyone other than kids using them back then
It's just the French Alps that has no snow, there's mega powder in Austria.