Forum menu
I don't have lessons out of season. But this year had a 3 hour refresher lesson on the slopes.
Possibly the most depressing thing I saw in the Alps last week was a party of Brits buying drinks until they counld barely get any more on the table before the end of Happy Hour. I did think of shouting “bollocks to ******” to see how they reacted but wasn’t sure I could run fast enough.
Don't be such a curmudgeonly olde git Ed...its expensive at current exchange rates and us clever Brits need to use every trick in the book to get value for money! 🙂
Quick question for boarders (or skiers). Does anyone keep on top of their skills by visiting indoor slopes? Or even getting lessons through the year? I don’t think I’m far off where I was when I was boarding last though there is definite room for improvement. And also boarding seems to have changed a bit in the last 20yrs, picking up some new skills may be a good idea.
I just watch a few events on Eurosport or Ski Sunday and I'm ready! 🙂
Im sure I saw some hanging outside ALAN shop earlier this year. I can check this weekend.
http://www.alanbike-morzine.com/rent-a-bike-in-morzine.html
although I dont know why Im enabling such disgusting behaviour.
Ta 😛
I’ve got an old Santa Cruz Bullit out here in Austria that I want to stick a ski on the front of, I reckon it’ll be mega in the park.
Still great powder to be had here, and a beautiful sunshine day today.
High winds and patchy visibility meant a day playing in the powder of flaine, went up Grand Vans once with a vague idea of skiing to Morillon but the high winds and sign at the bottom saying we might have to shut the lift put us off and we skied back into flaine.
Thankfully the high winds have gone but the snow is coming down hard this morning, fingers crossed that it is as fluffy as yesterday 🙂
dammit, Brizzle runways closed until 12:00. Our flight is going to slip 🙁
Well I’ve just started the long (got to go via the office) journey to Les Arcs. Eurostar tonight and getting picked up from BSM. Kinda glad of the drinks ban on the train as we want to be out playing by mid morning tomorrow!
We do a couple of fridge sessions each year - 1 mid summer just to keep on top of things, one just before we go out so we don’t waste proper snow time skiing like muppets. Actually had a really good bumps lesson at Castleford last week.
harrumph, flight from Briz to GVA cancelled.
Fortunately was sat at computer when notification came through so managed to grab a free change flight to tomorrow evening and slip the return back a day too.
Transfer tickets non refundable though, so will have to shake down insurance to get those back. And Id just bought two more tickets as "backstop" transfers to make sure we could get away from GVA this evening if our flight as late...just before the cancellation notice came through.
Anyway, not a disaster. Trip salvaged for an extra €80 which I should get back from insurance.
But Stoner, look at the week you’ve picked.
Snow, snow and more snow (on chaine meteo at least).
indeed. Id just rather 100% of the snow was in France and not Bristol 😉
Quick question for boarders (or skiers). Does anyone keep on top of their skills by visiting indoor slopes?
Not these days I don't ... not since SSV burned down. I'd also tried Castleford but I could only get there when it was busy, so didn't seem to get many laps in:
2 hours in the fridge seemed to be about the same as the first 15 minutes of a trip on real snow ... I fall down a couple of times and then the 'muscle memory' starts to engage!
Or even getting lessons through the year?
I'm always up for lessons/improvement. In fact the more I ride the more I want to try and improve. I got 50 days last season and quite a few of them were spent working on technique etc
@colp - nice indy! 🙂
Quick question for boarders (or skiers). Does anyone keep on top of their skills by visiting indoor slopes?
Personally didn't enjoy the conditions at either Mk or Hemel, so tend to get a lesson or two in resort each time. Although not this year for some reason (weather was a bit unpredictable).
Heading home tomorrow, I'm going to miss this snow!
Have been doing freestyle boarding all year in mk, have definitely seen a massive jump in my ability in the mountains this year.
mind you having over a metre of snow in a week helps with that.
unreal conditions and it's up to about 50cm in les gets for today on its own
I hate snow chains but I doubt Winter tyres will be enough tonight. Two sets or one?
Just got back from an impromptu visit into Flaine - didn't happened as we had to help 2 young lasses get their clio up the road. She was busy burning out the clutch and sliding backwards into a snow bank. Managed to get them going forward to a safe area then the snow plough came up the road so they snuck in behind it.
A small truck got stuck a little further down the road then the car which pulled out to over take it then got stuck - road completely blocked so we aborted and came back home.
The resort shut this afternoon due to 5/5 avalanche risk after a bad fall. I think at one point the magic carpets and one poma were running.
It is still snowing hard and we've had a lot more snow fall than was forecast. Getting slightly worried that I won't make GVA on Sunday for my flight home to my Dad's funeral on Monday.
PDS has been epic this week. The 2nd half was not so great as the high lifts were mostly shut for wind reasons, but over to pre la joux was full of untracked powder. Prob because seasoners don't have lift passes for there!
Today was a let down. Loads of snow, but temp has risen and got soaked to the bone. It's wet heavy snow that's covering what was left of the fluffy soft stuff.
Little one joined ski school from mid week and still managed Ourson in the ESF scheme. Not bad for 3yrs 9 months.
Got a leave window in early March so already floating the idea with the other half.
We have a week in Val Cenis for half term, and are planning on driving there on the Friday/Saturday. Not having driven to the alps in the winter before, what are people’s recommendations for tyres, etc. I currently have standard summer tyres on the van, should I a) get winter tyres? b) autosocks? c) chains?
From what I’ve seen on google maps and from others, the drive to Val Cenis is on the main road, no big switchback climbs. Anyone been?
Just spotted a nice deal with Eaprit for me, Mrs DD and dd for St.Anton for mid-April. Anybody have any idea what kind of a gamble wrt snow that might be? It’s generally in the top ten of lists of best places to ski in April. Esprit have deals for under 2k for 2 adults, 1 kid (childcare included) - plus lift passes and hire (just for Mrs DD).
EDIT: NOT including lift passes or hire.
I LOVED St Anton, but we went in January so can't comment on the snow. Like you say, it's one of the better places in Austria for late season.
Just don't let this happen to you, because there's no public hospital in the resort:
(Oh god, sorry - that is MASSIVE!)
Oh wallop that's not good.
I seem to remember you cut your face last year.
Take care.
Sprootlet - hope you get back for Monday. How stressful.
Oh sorry - that was the same incident! Didn’t realise I’d posted the pic before. I’m ok now - don’t even have the scar I was kind of hoping for 😄
Long weekend in St Gervais.
What a gem of a town / resort (helped by great conditions).
Think my time of visiting the big ‘super’ resorts that the U.K. operators visit is over. Quiet / smaller resorts are great!
PSA world champs ski cross is LIVE right now on BBC red button. Snowboard cross is available on iPlayer
Stoner be interested to hear how the new board rides.
Out in Whistler with a mate from Vancouver. Unbelievable amount of runs to go at - 30cm of untracked powder yesterday, amazing day.
Woke up to a snowy Montriond (Morzine) this morning. Viz low today so going to mooch about in the trees in Ranfoilly. Saving châtel and switz for the next few days when the forecast is for blue skies.
Tried a new transfer this time, easybus. Have to say its very good if the drop offs and timetable suits you. Good driving, comfortable.
Fingers crossed new board arrives before Wednesday. Currently with Dutch dpd en route to me. Taking the old board out this for morning for a sentimental crash.
Nice one, Stoner - glad you finally made it out.
👍
Leaving for Lech in 5 mins ....v v excited!
We were riding in ranfoily this morning, it was pretty good, lots of decent powder. Back home tonight on the 21.30 from Geneva to Liverpool.
Gorgeous in the PDS right now and for the next few days. Tons of fresh super squeaky snow. Blue skies, bright sun. No wind. Chilly but warming.
Perfect timing
Would have been nice to have sun in the pds last week but the crazy pow more than made up for it, although not sure the skiers in our group would agree
Been reading this thread for ages, went for a snowboard taster session with my lad yesterday and loved it! it was only on a dry ski slope though. Gonna do the beginners course they do then try to convince the Mrs that a holiday in the snow is a good thing (she is a sun worshipper!)
Sad news coming out of Courmayeur this morning.
Indeed, although lots of snow is lovely to play in, we still have to remember it can also be very dangerous!
Spent the day at Combloux today - what a beautiful resort - nearly every run tree lined.
Off piste now crusty and tracked out, but the pistes in great condition.
Great views of Mt Blanc too
Sad news coming out of Courmayeur this morning
Very sad indeed. Take care out there everyone and #KnowBeforeYouGo
Blue sky and knee-deep powder at Hintertux today, epic day in the mountains.
Very not shit in Les Arcs today. Finally made it up the Aiguille Rouge too - never went up in the summer as you can’t ride off the top and the last time we came the cable car was shut all week.
Are you still around, Flash, after linking that dreadful woman giving a lesson on Netflix? Her technique was just awful, the skiing equivalent of an overweight newbie on freeride planks in iced moguls. 😉
I missed that, could you put the link back up please?
So cold in Banff (-38C) that most of the lifts have closed. Happens surprisingly rarely.
Need it to warm up a little by late April sweaman - about 30-35C more than that would be good if you could arrange it.