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.
In st anton now. Pistes are bullet proof and icy, visibility is poor, so not much good skiing to be had.
The burton step on bindings are good however, work very well,not many negatives.can provide a more detailed review when in front of a real keyboard
Has anybody tried putting 2 pairs of skis in a board bag?
Just trying to work out the best way to fly with 2 pairs (165s & 155s) so not long skis
No, but I've travelled with two boards in the same board bag without any issue.
Any recommendations on a wheelie bag for planes, like the look of the Dakine ones but always driven to Alps so never needed a bag.
(also why is it skiing just wipes money out? I um and argh about bits costing a few quid for my bike like new bibs which I'll use week in / week out but then blow £100s without thinking on a sport I do for a few days a year.... odd psychology)
Has anybody tried putting 2 pairs of skis in a board bag?
Often flown with two sets of boards in one bag. Just need to remove the bindings. As long as they fit no problem.
Friends use the Dakine ones.
We go a week on friday to Les Arcs on the train.
Yep Dakine Low Roller does the job for me. Mine's been on the go for at least a decade and is still good.
Oh and keep an eye on your weight limits on the board bags. Can creep up if you are putting two lots of boards/skis and bindings in there along with the usual jackets, boots etc. Most airlines say 15 to 20kg. Check!
Flown with more than two in a bag!
Take bindings off the track.
Also Dakine double roller at the moment, got the long one but should have got the short. Waiting to use the 205’s again
We go a week on friday to Les Arcs on the train.
Train? Wowzers, have you not fixed that flat tyre yet?
Another nice vid from the Whistler guys on their European vacation, this time enjoying some off-piste in Morzine:
I think it was day 25 on skis this season. On the first lift then skied till the queues started. - 6 on the balcony and -12°C at the top. A few days off now to let the aches and pains subside.
Gents .... Silly question ... I've heard that there is an age restriction on young snowboarders in Megeve ...they have to be over 10 !?!.
That can't be true can it ???
Taking my kids (7 and 9) to Les Saisies (which isn't too far away) and wanna teach them boarding for a couple of afternoons, after they have ski school in the morning.
Ta
No age restriction on boarders in Megeve. The ESF Megeve offers snowboard group classes for kids over 8 so the 7 year old would have to have individual classes. Ski group classes from 5. There will be a height limit to using chairs as in most resorts whether on skis or a board.
Flew with 2 pairs of skis in my boardbag with easyjet a few weeks back. No probs at all, and my big skis are 185s so it was a big bag!
So a more detailed review of the burton step on bindings,after 6 days of use.
The good:-
- they feel as good if not better than a traditional strap binding when riding,they are very responsive with no noticable play, i suspect there is some play(ive seen go pro footage of play in the toe clips ),but you cant notice it when riding.
-stepping onto them is very easy, i had no issues with ice or snow build up, ita great not to have to bend down to get strapped in.
-if the ground you are on is not flat, you can still just sit down and clip in like you would a regular strap binding, ita pretty easy.
-the boots were comfy and supportive, i have the ruler boots ,these were a little painful over the first two days,but after they were broken in they were very comfy.
The bad (and these are imo really minor negatives,but thought id put them out tbere in case these are big deals to you)
- you need to make sure you clip your trouser into the clip on the back of the boot,if you dont do this your trouser can get jammed in the mechanism ,making it hard ti get your boot in or even out - i rally manged to get mine jammed up on the last day because i forgot ro clip the trouser in.
-you need to make sure your foot fits the boot well, if it doesnt then these are nit the boots/bindings for you.
- the price, theyre not cheap.
-i think they could do with some sort of latch to keep the high back upright when on the lift etc so you can just step back in without having to first kick the high back up with your foot. As it stands the high backs are quite free to move and fall back down into the binding quite easily, it might be possible to tighten up the screws the high back hinges on to make it a bit less easy to move.
-the release lever could be a bit larger, i sometimes had a bit of trouble getting hold of it.
These negatives really are minor imo, and i suspect future iterations will address them, id wager that these bindings will become default for most people over the next few years as the cost comes down and the range of boots increases.
Overall theyre great, as good as a strap binding in terms of performance,but with no bending down or messing around getting strapped in. Will be selling my strap bindings now.
What i cant comment on is reliability/longevity, i guess its posaible that the binding could develop play over a longer period of use,but i guess well hear about this over the next few months if its an issue.
Thanks julians that’s really useful.
For contrast this is about the worst review I’ve found (and even then it’s not bad):
(Caution: some swearing)
Very tempted myself, but we’ve decided to move house so I guess I’ll be limping along with repaired K2 Autos till the gear budget recovers. 🙁
Anyone sking in France this week needs to pack some extra layers and some down filled mitts.
Edit to add: Madame went to help a skier yesterday who was hunched up on her knees looking injured. To cut a long story short it's the first time I've ever seen someone evacuated in a barquette with cold hands
im nowhere near an expert rider,im probably ust your typical intermediate,so i cant argue with his view that agressive riders wont like them,but for me they work great, as good as if not better than a regular binding.
The other comments i think are a little over emphasised, especially the comments about it being hard to get properly locked in, its very easy to lock into position 1, and then all its takes is a hard heel edge turn and the binding then automatically locks into position 2 . This is how i used them all the time, gentle push of boot into binding to engage position 1,then hard heel turn to after setting off to finally push the boot into position 2.
I found what worked well was just locking into the back binding while riding the chairlift up,its easy enough to do from the chair, if you know that the run out at the top doesnt require any pushing.
I didnt get any issues with the screws loosening off,but i am using it ona burton EST board,so maybe thats an issue if you use it with other boards.
i will add that i dont think a single day is enough time to get to grips with them ,i think you need a good few days to get your muscle memory remembering how to step in and out without you having to think about it (probably quite like spd pedals in that respect) .
Just left Obergurgl after one hell of a week. Massive amounts of snow, blue skies and cold without being silly cold. Anyone going this week can expect some awesome, if somewhat cold conditions.
