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I think I’ll order a set and see how they go
please report back then. I’d be very interested to hear how you go.
Last day in la plagne today, utterly stunning weather all week with the exception of yesterday which brought us 20+cm of fresh powder to play in.
I really don't want to go home as boarding has come on a lot this week
PSA. Ladies:
This morning I took delivery of a 'SNOOKS' Skiing/snowboarding jacket.
I think I am the first person to have one delivered and am so excited to try it out.
snookswear.co.uk is a British company making jackets for women and designed by women. They're made in the U.k, which made me instantly want to support this new company.
As soon as I'm out on the slopes will post some photos.
It has plenty of zips, pit zips, long at the back, draw waist tie, hood big enough to get a helmet under. Colour is a sort of mixture of dull greens with bright orange trim and zips. Instantly warm when I popped it on.
Whoop, can't wait.
please report back then. I’d be very interested to hear how you go.
Will do, off to st anton for half term,will report back after.
We fly to Whistler tomorrow
Nice! The last few weeks have filled in all the holes and stuff nicely, so pretty much anything that looks skiable is good to go. Not a lot of snow in the forecast, but things are skiing nicely.
- Short clip of one moment from this morning. Lots of fun all round, even thought the visibility wasn't great!
The step ons have arrived, and they look pretty nicely made/thought out.
Not tested them on snow, but in the 'lounge' test, they're easy to get in an out of, and feel very secure once in, cant feel any noticable play.
Suspect it will be pretty easy to get to grips with clicking into them straight off the chair lift.
Time will tell whether they work well on the snow, but it looks promising.
Let us know how your 1 footed 720s go please
A day @ Cairngorm planned for tomorrow if the sunny forecast holds. Might even take the kids out of school for it.
Aaaargh. I'm raging!
For some reason the Crystal website doesn't let you pre-book lessons for kids under 5. So when we booked the holiday we spoke to someone in the call centre who advised us to get in touch with the resort rep directly to sort it out.
Which I did. Wrote him a nice email as soon as we booked, explaining that we were there last year and Crystal had sorted out lessons for my youngest, who was 3 at the time, so this year she is 4 and we'd like to do the same thing. Can he please reserve it for us in advance as we don't want to miss the space?
He replies a couple of days later saying he has mailed the ski school and is awaiting a response.
Two days after that I get another email saying: "The ski school have confirmed that they accept children from age 3. Their shouldn’t be any reason why we can’t add the booking here in resort. We offer these services on the transfer from the airport, so one of my colleagues can book tuition and equipment hire for her."
Sensing he was somewhat missing the point I mailed back and saying I know they take them but I am worried about availability as it is the half term week, is there no way he can take a reservation in advance instead of doing it on the bus?
Apparently not. But he suggests that if I am worried I could book with the school directly.
I point out that the school doesn't have a booking option for that week. Presumably because it is busy with all the package clients.
He says okay, he'll get in touch with them for us.
Just had a reply now saying that he spoke to them and they are fully booked!
Which is annoying enough, but then he said, without the slightest hint of irony, "..alternative would be to book with the ESF. Crystal do not use them, but it could solve your problem? ... I would try them sooner rather than later as it looks like it will be a busy week filled with non Crystal customers in resort."
NNnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnngggg....!
We've just decided to go away this year. Can anyone recommend some good companies for last minute deals? Looking to go away in early March.
ta
Morning bump
A question for the skiers on here...
I've been snowboarding for years but have been trying skis on and off for the last 3 seasons. I borrowed some skis from a friend and whilst they're fine they're also pretty heavy and I'm thinking of getting some skis of my own.
Is there any reason I shouldn't get separate bindings like this, as they seem to be lighter (and cheaper) than system bindings?
www.sportmania.ch/media/catalog/product/cache/3/thumbnail/800x800/9df78eab33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/t/y/tyrolia_attack_11_demo_brake_115_g_s-bk_left.jpg</img>
From what I've read, the biggest problem seems to that they make the skis harder to sell on...?
Link doesn't work so not sure what you mean. "system" bindings with adjustable toe as well as heel are mainly used for hire kit, most folk with their own skis would go with a standard non-rail binding (although there are exceptions and some skis come with integrated rails.
Having problems with images. Link in second post. Yep, I'm talking about a non-rail binding. My wife's skis (and her parents' skis) all came with system bindings so these separates are new to me...
Nothing wrong with that type of binding - that's the norm and hire kit is the exception for personal stuff. The adjustable toe only means you can accommodate a greater size range of boots which isn't necessary for your own kit (heel is still adjustable to a degree so you can still change to boots of different sole length).
OK great, thanks..
Out in Courmayeur at the moment. Conditions are *[b]FABULOUS[/b]*. LOADS of snow - this is my fourth trip to Courmayeur over the years and I've *never* seen this much snow. The snow is in fantastic condition, we had about 10cm fresh yesterday and a little bit has been falling since about 3pm. Visibility has been an issue - with the clouds and snow, the light has been flat, and at times the low cloud has meant very limited visiblity but the fantastic snow conditions means that we have really enjoyed it
Mrs NBT is LOVING her new jacket. We backed a Kickstarter project in October or so, a couple of young ladies producing ski wear designed BY women FOR women, made in the UK. We're both firm believers in supporting local business where possible rather than buying cheap stuff made in a sweatshop and shipped halfway across the world. As usual, things ran a little late so the planned shipping date of mid-January slipped a little and it was looking like early to mid-Feb - not great given that we flew out here on Feb 4th. However the girls at Snooks were *brilliant* and pulled out all the stops to get one of the first jackets off the line shipped out to us in time to take it away with us
It's great. The jacket is well designed and feels lovely and light. I'll let Mrs NBT feedback more in due time, but I can HIGHLY recommend Snooks. They rock.
(hope the pics work)
[url= https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4753/39408215504_6660de70ce_z.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4753/39408215504_6660de70ce_z.jp g"/> [/img][/url]Courmayeur. Fantastic conditions. Jane loves her new Snooks Union Jacket by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/n_b_t/ ]Notoriously Bad Typist[/url], on Flickr
[url= https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4702/28339192339_e73b24e9c7_z.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4702/28339192339_e73b24e9c7_z.jp g"/> [/img][/url] Courmayeur. Fantastic conditions. Jane loves her new Snooks Union Jacket by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/n_b_t/ ]Notoriously Bad Typist[/url], on Flickr
And I thought nbt was next big thing.
One lives and learns.
You may still be a little early for deals - and the snow has been good this season so resorts are just busier than normal (based on last week anyway).
I had a great week in Les Arcs, now planning a late March trip somewhere snowsure to get week 2 in, I'm already excited!
Came back from a week in Zell am See on Saturday night.
First time skiing abroad since 1984, a lot has changed!
Had a great time, snow was amazing. Especially Friday as there was a load of the white stuff falling from the sky from Thursday afternoon until we left on Saturday.
My partner is keen to go back so will start planning for next year soon!
This year ain’t over yet.
Boom. Work trip to Vancouver end of march, booking flights a couple of days early.
Sat/sun in whistler worth it?
As if you have to ask?
Nicely done!
Also, am enjoying the Snooks guerrilla marketing here! Good luck to them!
By the way, have we all seen the Kayak advert with Jeremy Jones?
He has a British accent for the voiceover.
Calgary week after next for work.
No skiing time. All work. 🤬
Ironically igm last weekend was the only one we haven't skied this year.
Hopefully heading to Glenshee this weekend for some quality queuing!
Finances won't allow for another foreign trip unfortunately.
35 hours until I’ll be sliding around Schladders. Can’t wait. It’s been too long.
CFH - The Snooks guerilla marketing might be working. The OH has been after a coat that is slightly longer. Mrs NBT’s photo above looks like it comes down lower at the rear, my OH might be interested. I’ll show her.
IGM... When do you land / leave Calgary?
There's always the Olympic park on the edge of the city for getting turns in during the evening.
We've had 25cm today so tried sweajnr and I went for a tour....
Jambo - Whistler is worth it but don't expect it to be cheap....
Grr forum. Photos from previous post now I'm on desktop....
Sweaman - it’s an arrive 1530 Tuesday, work Wednesday and Thursday and out on the 1845 Thursday evening.
Two days traveling for two days work again. Brutal.
hammerite - I am so pleased with this new snooks jacket.
It does indeed come a lot lower than normal jackets.
It's flattering, with the waist pull. Light, warm. Room for layering up but light enough to wear on warmer days.
Plenty of pockets which don't look lumpy when full of the normal tissues, purse, lippy, sun cream etc.
As for sizing, the cut is very generous. I have monkey arms and they are possibly a little too long. However I much prefer a longer arm than a cuff stuck halfway up your glove.
The hood is big enough to get any helmet or fashionable bobble hat underneath.
Amazingly I've never been one for colour coordinating gear on the slopes but there are enough colours in the jacket and zips to match my skis, buff and trousers, that was luck.
Let me know if you have any questions?
Must admit to liking the fact I've got the best goddamn jacket on the mountain (bonus points if you can name the reference?).
@IGM. Tough schedule indeed.. Hard to get some time on skis with that short a turnaround but if longer or spare time on a Friday....
wheeeeeeee !
Off to the airport, fully caffeinated
Have a good week everyone
1 week to go.
Can't wait !
Aldi Winter Olympics advert. 😎
Met a family on the Eurotunnel today in a 4wd Tesla complete with winter tyres, had stopped for a charge at Folkestone (not an issue due to 2.5hr delays 😐 ) then had two further stops/charges planned before getting to Chamonix overnight then through to Courymayeur. Quite a road trip that and a first for me, never seen a 4wd version of the Tesla.
And you a non-believer in full electric Jamba.
(No I wouldn’t have had that car for that trip either. But then while I can believe in electric, Tesla look like a red herring to me.)
Plenty of snow in the 3 Valleys. Snowed all day today and still is. Viz not brilliant but that’s okay.
Managed to bust a binding though, so now I’m some awful emergency rental Special Bus bindings that genuinely have left and right printed on them 😂
Sunshine in Scotland's own Les Trois Vallées [url= http://i.imgur.com/iznBVPL.jp g" target="_blank">
Shit day in st Anton today. Gave up at around half one. Desperately hoping the forecast for the rest 9f the week isn't true.
GrahamS - you should never have threatened them with the Burtons. They know. 🤫
@oldtennis that looks great !
Candide Thovex .. worth following on FB
Of to st anton on saturday.
Hopefully it should be good,could do with some sunny days.
ski passes booked .
hire skis booked .
Alpe d' huez here we come .
weather forecast looks ok for next week .
Was listening to Chemmy explaining how to fall properly when skiing. She was explaining after a slalom skier crashed during the combined comp yesterday (he took out a pisteur on the way down and looked out for the crash bag).
He stayed loose and just flopped down, not tensing up which she explained many tourist skiers do, thus breaking bones and ending up with acl damage.
Like oldtennisshoes I was up Glenshee on Sunday. Snow conditions were fantastic, but the wind on the ridges was incredible. Free dermal abrasion anyone?
Yesterday we set out planning on another Glenshee trip only to discover the access road was closed so we headed for The Nevis Range instead. Similar conditions to Glenshee on Sunday but with more fresh snow!
Results so far
Days skied in mainland Europe 6
Days skied in Scotland 6
Long may the current weather continue!
Both Cairngorm & Glenshee closed today. Should be open tomorrow though 🙂
Shredalert, shredalert!
Snowboarder wins Women's Super G at the Olympics. haha brilliant
Paris zone on holiday as of today. Hopefully the weather system that's going over today will drop a little snow low down when the cold front arrives as the warm front is currently dropping rain at over 2000m.
Yesterday morning was rock hard. They closed some of the steep pistes till it warmed up and the surface softened to limit the number of ambulances needed. We gave up after surviving one run.
Still no obvious way of posting pics or vids on this new forum
Scotland best snow in Europe then?
Arrived in Alpe d Huez yesterday. It snowed all day, but woke up this morning to blue sky and sunshine and fresh snow.
Great day, some queues but 10 minutes max.
Could not ask for more.
And they even had 5 or 6 Tesla going round the ice track !
Back yesterday from a week in Hinterglemm - some of the best snow piste-wise that I've seen in many years
Off piste was fine but no more than maybe a foot of fresh. Nice light stuff though
Rained up to about half the mountain on Friday and the snow up top felt a lot heavier too afterwards
There's plenty of base but they could do with some more fresh snow from colder skies to cheer it all up again
Threw down with snow in Obergurgl yesterday and I’ve just woken up to blue skies and fresh snow. Today will be a good day!
A friend has an apartment in Chamonix I'm considering a March visit to. Not been there before and was hoping someone could explain how it works to me, there looks to be a bunch of ski areas, do you need all of them, are some better than others? I'm used to skiing in Les Arcs so how does the local piste grading compare? Any advice welcome 🙂
heading back out to Morzine for the weekend on Friday.
Lots of base, and nice low freezing level this week, but little new snow forecast. Should be clear and bright though and the PDS groomers do a grand job.
looking pretty bloody fine out there at the moment
http://www.portesdusoleil.com/webcams.html
my snowboard plans (Are, Sweden) fell through on the weekend. Anybody got a spare place and want a housetrained, 29 yr old snowboarder to join? 🙂
Back to work after an eventful week in 3 Valleys (staying Les Menuires):
- despite emailing the resort rep over a month before we left, and repeatedly since then, we were told (by text) on arrival that he hadn't been able to secure a ski school place for my four year old! 🙁 Fortunately a much more sensible rep was able to do the required begging and saved the holiday!
- weather was very mixed: two snowy low viz days, two bluebird days to enjoy all the lovely fresh snow, then two more snowy/rainy low viz days.
- snow was absolutely brilliant all week, even when it was difficult to see. 🙂 Amazing soft and fluffy off piste - but it was a family trip so I was mostly stuck stealing intra-piste slackcountry where possible. Pistes were in great nick and were mostly soft, exactly the way I like them. No icy corduroy for me!
- kids did well in ski school. 4yo now happily doing laps on the magic carpet and did her first chairlift. 7yo now coping well with red runs, joining us for the afternoon and leaving MrsGrahamS standing.
- MrsGrahamS showed some great improvement, coping brilliantly with some challenging conditions and trying a bit of switch as well as the baby boardercross and jumps.
- I broke a binding and had to rent some remedial school bindings. Which sucked.
- MrsGrahamS also broke a binding! (Bolt undid on her heel strap as she was scooting and was lost in the snow). Resulting in an exhausting uphill high-altitude hike back to the nearest gondola and much faffing in ski shops to get a replacement.
- 4yo's rental skis were stolen on the last day. 🙁 Three other kids too. All from the same rack. 150 euro charge and unlikely we'll get it back as the police station was closed, so no crime number for insurance purposes. 🙁
- hotel was good (Neige et Ciel). Amazing four course buffet every night, wine on tap, and some evening cabaret for the kids.
All in all a brilliant week with just a couple of niggles. I'll post some more piccies later but here's one to be going on with:
Back at desk after a memorable week in Flaine, fantastic snow conditions, kids now all better skiers than their Dad so my job is done.
Interested to hear what traffic Qs in and out of the Tarentaise Valley resorts was like last week. I have driven to Flaine the last 2 years and found it easy but want a new and more extensive area next year. Only previous experience was a 5 hr transfer to Geneva from La Plagne which has really put me off the area at Half Term.
Traffic was surprisingly fine from Les Menuires, Vino.
We were expecting the worst and so were the tour company judging by the warnings. We did have a long transfer last year (in the week before half term) but this year it seemed much better.
Guess the early start helped. We set off around 6:30am (by coach), arrived at Geneva around 9:20am, so about normal and we were asleep for most of it anyway.
Interesting blog post about an avalanche and rescue at Glencoe the other day:
http://crankitupgear.blogspot.co.uk/2018/02/a-trip-to-white-room.html
Another stunning day in Alpe d Huez.
Forecast good for the rest of the week.
Traffic was ok coming here and French TV were surprised that there were so few jams.
A friend has an apartment in Chamonix I’m considering a March visit to. Not been there before and was hoping someone could explain how it works to me, there looks to be a bunch of ski areas, do you need all of them, are some better than others? I’m used to skiing in Les Arcs so how does the local piste grading compare? Any advice welcome
Worked there back in 2005 so my advice may be dated, but essentially it's a bunch of separate ski areas under a single area pass which are connected by a bus with about 10-15 mins between each one. The town itself has no ski area you can walk to easily but it's a proper town rather than a ski resort so there is more going on. I lived in argentiere at the base of gran montet so pretty much rode up there all the time with the occasional trip to le tour, flegere never really seemed worth it. Piste grading was pretty similar to other French resorts, though there are probably fewer blues and more reds/blacks.
Hate me.
I think I’m going to buy another set of Flow bindings. My NXTs from a few years back are starting to fall apart, and I think I’ve found some NX2s at a good price.
Come on, tell me why I’m worse that a blader.
a little oirish chap got me into Flow bindings a year or so ago and I picked up some well refurbished s/h Flow Five bindings in Morz.
I think you showed me some as well a year or two ago. Thet've been quite the revelation although I think Id find the fit more comfortable with the toe cup strap rather than over strap which seems to be an inappropriate design for a rear foot access binding.
But HOW MUCH for NXT???!?!? I think I paid €50 for my FIVEs!
I've been looking at NXTs too so would be interested how you get on. I've got some APO Expresso bindings at the moment which are fine, but old.
I already replaced them once with some SP Slab bindings but they got stolen with my last board. I found them a pain to clip in and out of so wouldn't buy them again..
Love my NXTs - sacrifice a little performance for a lot of comfort, speed if you want it, same fit off every lift - and as DD points out a standard clicker opening if you want it. Also ridden Burton, Drake and Now - but I like the Flows best. I’m old and slow.
Not paying full price (or anything like) for the NX2s - I shall be in Calgary this evening (work unfortunately) and I’ve found a place on the web near my hotel.
Never really got on with Flow myself, though admittedly it has been many years since I tried them.
I am strangely drawn to the Burton StepOns though - even though I know I shouldn't!
I particularly like the armchair internet criticism that they are for "past it old men whose beer bellies mean they can't reach their toes". Sounds perfect 🙂
Was in Les Gets week before last, loveyl conditions and another good week with Ski Famille. Bugger me it's expensive though, and this was week before half term. We've given up and decided to buy something as we're there winter and summer now for the forseeable and will use it circa 6 weeks a year.
GrahamS - suddenly I’m drawn to those step-ins...
NZCol - buying in Les Gets? The thought hadn’t crossed my mind. Speak to Stoner - he bought in Montriond.
"<!-- .bbp-reply-author -->my snowboard plans (Are, Sweden) fell through on the weekend. Anybody got a spare place and want a housetrained, 29 yr old snowboarder to join? "
I live just outside Åre and go snowboarding almost every weekend. Are you visiting these parts?
respect the send
Well done that lass. Played the system well.
Just back from annual family day long weekend in Kimberley. Friday morning Sweajnr got his first runs off a proper ski lift managing 1300m of descending with limited help.
Then on Saturday it started snowing and it kept on snowing... 41cm in 24 hours with 36cm overnight.
Unfortunately all of the Columbia valley descended on Kimberley leaving lift lines for the ages.... 8:55am.
But Sweamrs and I still managed to find plenty and managed 4 decent runs.
Before we headed back at lunch and picked up Sweajnr for a powdery lap in the afternoon.
NZCol - grand plan, prices to buy are steady at the moment.
Drop me a line if you want some contacts (I have a good English solicitor btw)
@howsyourdad
“<!– .bbp-reply-author –>my snowboard plans (Are, Sweden) fell through on the weekend. Anybody got a spare place and want a housetrained, 29 yr old snowboarder to join? ”
I live just outside Åre and go snowboarding almost every weekend. Are you visiting these parts?
I've never been before! I used to live in Helsinki and most of my friends/ colleagues have been there. I'm looking at a long weekend
cool well it's great. Lots of snow this winter. I'm going sunday if can get out of a kids party!
Cheers Stoner - knew you had a place out there in the Morzine valley. Will drop you a message.
igm - yeah, i really like it as a village and while it's low it's lovely in summer and winter, is small and people actually speak French 😉 We're having a bit of a nose around now and are out there for 3 weeks in the summer anyway so will try and get something locked in. Just looking at cost versus size. I was quite keen on the 7M Euro+ chalet with the infinity pool but Mrs NZCol pointed out that it was out of budget, I could see myself reclining in it as well ....
Stoner - I might be asking for contacts too in the next 6-12 months.
NZCol - indeed Les Gets is very nice. We’ve been doing the summer & winter thing for a few years now (including spending vast sums with Ski Famille) and we’re thinking about buying there.
More for your money in some of the other villages, but it is very nice.
Meantime just bought some new Flows. Stuff appears to be 15-25% cheaper in Calgary shops than the UK discounted online places.