Quiet in here?
I'm off to Serre Che on Saturday, woop woop. Any tips for "must not miss" things to do?
Currently torn between wishing for lots of fresh snow, which there should be, and wishing for not too much so I can drive over Col du Lautaret on Saturday!
The forecast is fresh snow every day so the "must not miss" is the first high lift of the day so you're the first person to hit the powder. You'll probably wait less time to be first on the first lift than for any lift anywhere at 11:00 so it's time well spent.
For anyone who suffers from painful cold fingertips I can really recommend Happy Hot Hands gloves from Sport Pursuit. Used them all last week in Austria. Normally I’d be in a fair bit of pain but they kept my hands comfortable all day on the low or mid setting. The gloves themselves seem pretty well built so should hopefully last well.
Phew, the building work is looking likely to be close to budget. So we are going skiing, looks like a trip to Serre Che. Not been for ages but have worked there many moons ago. Also still have a few friends hanging about, so I have to recommend the Grotte du yeti in Villeneuve.
Can’t wait to get back on skis in my old stomping ground.
Practice on the local golf course may be an option for the kids this week!
thanks for the Sports Pursuit mention... needed some gloves myself, but have now got a new Sweet Protection jacket that i didnt need on the way that was at least £150 cheaper than anywhere else i could find!! but no gloves...
back to Sainte Foy Friday week for us. not been this late before, its usually a distant memory by now!!
I got one of those Sweet Protection jackets from Sports Pursuit a couple of years ago.
Good kit. Simple design with nice attention to detail.
yeah looks good, and looks like i might get some use out of it at home too... deliberating over some matching pants now tho!! argggh wasnt buying owt new this year!
Hey folks, quick question!
Getting excited about my trip to Val d'Isere next Saturday. Now, I need to book beginner ski lessons. Would you recommend booking them now, whilst I'm over here? I'm looking at a company called Evolution 2. Or would I get a better deal if I wait till I'm there?
went riding in the summer with the fella who runs Progression Ski & Snowboard School in Val. recommend giving them a shout... we always book our kids lessons well in advance - be a nightmare to arrive and discover there is no space!! less of a problem somewhere like val tho i suspect?
Cheers for that Mahalo! I did look at the Progression guys but from what I can see they run their lessons Mon-Fri. We're arriving on the Saturday and will be on the slopes the next day. So I'm either looking for Sun-Thur or Sun-Fri lessons. My lack of confidence on the planks means that I'd really prefer to start my lessons on the first snow morning and Evolution 2 are one of the only ones that I found online who start lessons on a Sunday. I'm leaning towards booking my lessons before I go, just to be on the safe side, but then the Scotsman in me would hate to turn up at the place and find out I could have gotten lessons at half the price if I'd been a bit more patient! Decisions, decisions....argh!
but then the Scotsman in me would hate to turn up at the place and find out I could have gotten lessons at half the price if I’d been a bit more patient! Decisions, decisions….argh!
Im fairly certain that would never happen. if anything they will offer discount for booking early/online. they will aim to pull your pants down in resort.
nothing is ever cheaper in resort! look at reserving your hire equipment in advance too...
>Anyone sking in France this week needs to pack some extra layers and some down filled mitts.
Yep, last two days have been the coldest I've ever felt skiing....
Down mitts + hand warmers + toe warmers were required to stay comfortable...
Regarding board/ski bag usage, as GrahamS says, just keep an eye on the weight. (Park Tools Bike Scales are pretty useful for this - and accurate).
Flew out here to Canada with 3 x boards 1x bindings 1 x boots and assorted kit all under 23Kg:
I frequently fly with multiple boards and backcountry kit like ice axes and crampons etc and I've never had an issue or had to have my bag inspected as long as I'm within the carrier's specified weight limit.
I have both the Dakine High Roller and Low Roller - the High Roller is more robust but eats into your weight allowance. Both bags are good and have lasted years of baggage handlers abuse.
nothing is ever cheaper in resort! look at reserving your hire equipment in advance too…
I disagree, the past couple of years, hiring in resort has been cheaper than booking in advance online from the same shop. Maybe it's because it's late in the season and therefore quieter when we go, but I won't be hiring equipment in advance anytime soon.
For lessons, I'd book in advance. Evo2 are populare
As an alternative there's this company:
http://www.tdcski.com/val_disere/
I know one of the directors. Not used them myself but my friend who is an excellent skier has for years and rates them highly.
its an interesting one. id expect them to be cheaper in low season / quieter times but then again from their POV the average punter through the door is absolutely not gonna shop around, they have probably been sent to the shop by their operator, are either super eager to hit the slopes or get on the lash after a long journey and are 100% going to spend their cash either way.
im tempted to now to book online but not mention it when we show up at the shop, get a new price then go with the best..
I disagree, the past couple of years, hiring in resort has been cheaper than booking in advance online from the same shop. Maybe it’s because it’s late in the season and therefore quieter when we go, but I won’t be hiring equipment in advance anytime soon.
Just to add clarity we had the exact opposite, knew the in-building shop was Skiset linked, looked at online costs and thought I'll just hire in resort, (end of season lifts only open for another week must be bargains to be had), they just laughed and said they are online in advance prices and after a bit of negotiation I got the price down but they wouldn't match the online price.
Tried all the other shops in resort and they were all the same price, like a cartel, so ended up back at start and had to pay more.
I have an Intersport code if you need it.
Cheers for all the advice guys. I went ahead and booked the lessons in advance.with Evo 2. I went skiing (after Xscape lessons), with my mates in Stubai last year, and ended up in a worse state at the end than I was at the start! So I'm really keen to get proper lessons on the slopes this time, and I really wanted to get on with the lessons on my first day so Evolution 2 ticked all the boxes.
Thanks again!
C.
Almost enough to ski in York tonight. Just need some hills.
Recommendations please for premium chalet holiday companies catering for the larger French resorts, eg Val, Courcheval, Meribel. Friends asking for 2018/19 season. Thanks
Scott Dunn are always in demand.
Posh Chalet companies - VIP ski, Oxford ski company, le Ski. Alternatives look at the signature range of Skiworld, we stayed in a 6-8 person chalet in 1550 Courchevel-it was lovely but not Scott Dunn lovely
Thanks, Scott Dunn is a bit too premium (as is Powder Byrne who don’t do Frabce anyway). Asked them to quote Zermatt once, arranged my own trip at same hotel for a much lower price.
Anyone else not make it out to the alps this morning due to cancelled flight? Managed to rearrange for Tuesday flight but having to drive to Serre Che from Milan. Hoping Italian roads are not as bad as their reputation suggests!
I completed the 21km circuit of the Loch Leven Heritage Trail on XC ski yesterday. It took about 5 hours and was brutal on unprepared and very variable snow. Despite being essential flat the accumulated height gain must have been in the 100s of metres climbing over endless sizeable drifts. I was fully gubbed by the end.
DD did I see you on the 12.50 out of Brizzle yesterday?
my Sweet Protection Sport Pursuit special turned up, i was disappointed that its basically a gore-tex shell, no thermal properties at all. but it looks cool and fits really nice so am gonna keep it. I have been told its all about the layers, last few years ive just worn a base layer under a north face jacket, was either too cold, or if i added a fleece - too hot.
just deliberating what to run underneath it now, i have a montane featherlite down jacket i could use, but i also picked up one of those £30 x-light hiking jackets from Decathlon. that slots under the sp jacket a treat and the hood fits over my helmet, but im dubious about how it will perform in the cold?
A shell is much more useful than an insulated jacket. You can layer appropriately to the temp, insulated jackets are less versatile
My current jacket is the Westbeach Backcountry and it is just a breathable shell too (20k/20k - made out of some weird Goretex infused with coconut fibre).
As per Tiger, I like it a lot. Much more versatile that way. Allows you to add/remove layers or even just unzip some layers while keeping the jacket closed. Generally speaking I layer:
Warmish weather: long-sleeve base, cotton t-shirt, micro fleece gilet, jacket
Colder weather: long-sleeve base, t-shirt, thick hoodie, jacket
You do need something between jacket and skin if it is windy, as even though the jacket is windproof it does suck the heat.
*( yes I know I shouldn't wear cotton but I've never found it to be a problem to be honest).
yeah, thinking long sleeve base with a micro fleece rab hoody under the jacket for milder days, but swap the fleece for one of these on colder ones... just unsure whether than deacthlon thing will be warm enough when it really cold!? not that im expecting really cold in March, but it was last week!!
I have a Nike down thing pretty similar to that Quencha that I sometimes wear under my jacket when I'm wearing it casually. Pretty toasty, but I wouldn't want to board in it as it can get a bit sweaty.
Booking up a few days in Chamonix at the end of March now, getting excited all over again! Won't be same as Les arcs ski in/ski out, but will be nice to go somewhere different for once!
You can layer appropriately to the temp, insulated jackets are less versatile
Absolutely.
On a really cold day in Fernie B.C:
1 x Merino Shortsleeve
1 x Merino Longsleeve
1 x Arc'teryx Fortrez Hoody (with handy intergrated hood and neck gaiter)
1 x Arc'teryx Proton Hoody (breathable low bulk synthetic)
1 x Arc'teryx Alpha SV Shell jacket
On a less cold day in Fernie B.C:
1 x Merino Shortsleeve
1 x Merino Longsleeve
1 x Arc'teryx Alpha SV Shell jacket
So that's pretty much every temp from minus 20 to zero celcius. I don't think you can get that flexibility with an insulated jacket.
Double hoodie Digby? Blimey! Never had to resort to that. Brrr.
Double hoodie Digby? Blimey! Never had to resort to that. Brrr.
Aye - first time for me riding whilst wearing a double hoody - twas pure baltic for a while... I didn't even ride with double hoody in Greenland!
I have to say I like my insulated jacket but agree it lacks flexibility... luckily it's still -20C in Calgary this morning so I also use it to walk to work.
Rockies at -30C. To be honest though even with this lot it's still a bit of an exercise in endurance and extremities start to chill.
Midweight base layer.
Rab Powerstretch fleece.
Patagonia Nano Puff Jacket
Patagonia Primo Down Jacket
I usually just ride in a T shirt and insulated coat, on really cold days I’ll put a long sleeve on too.
I mess around a lot off piste and on piste try lots of little 180s etc so warm up pretty quickly.
I reckon a heated gillet could work well, give you control without having to add/remove layers.
I have never been anywhere colder than Fernie. (Although Zermatt was close.)
It was warmer stood still than skiing, which is rare.
The wind chill was extreme, one of the party got frost nip on the cheek, we called it a day and went for hot choc then beer...
Also, good news, were off to Serre Che on the 24th, woooohooo! I can't wait.
I reckon a heated gillet could work well
Great until the batteries run out at the top of the mountain or you get stuck somewhere and need to stay warm.
My gloves last all day, no reason a gillet couldn’t do so with higher battery capacity.
http://happyhotfeet.com/heating-jackets/
When I lived in the US (East Coast) I had to buy all new kit to ski in. Conditions there are very different.
Quite a sobering video
Yeeesh nasty! Looks like it is the convex slope that goes first then pulls the rest with it.
Do we know if the skier made it out?
I have never been anywhere colder than Fernie
To be fair there was only one week and another weekend out of the entire 6 weeks that I was there when it was super cold - the rest of the time is was the usual -4 to -10 or thereabouts (and it only rained twice this time - once to the top of the ski hill!). Although I didn't see the sun for the first 3 weeks!
Like most continental mountain ranges, the East Kootenays where Fernie sits will have a few cold spells each season when a 'modified arctic air mass' sits over the Lizard Range ... and when it does it's bone-chilling!
Looks like it is the convex slope that goes first then pulls the rest with it
Aye - it looks like a 'remote trigger'. The skier appears to be on a concave section just below the large convex area (skiers right), that slides first before the whole slope goes from the top as it propagates ... fortunately the convex area that goes first, appears to be a relatively slow moving slab avalanche ... the slide from the top is much faster and catches up with the slab. Hopefully the skier was well clear of it and could exit skiers right and there were no terrain traps.
