The STW Ski and Snowboard thread – 2011/2 Edition

Actually if I had to criticise Cervinia for anything it would be the feeling that I always had to clock watch. Was getting paranoid that we’d miss the last gondola up from the Zermatt side and end up stuck there the night

We cut it very, very close two years ago. Just squeezed on to the last cable car up to Klein Matterhorn.

The reward was an absolutely fantastic, desserted run all the way back to Cervinia. Only the ski patrol and the piste bashers were out. 😀 Longest pisted run in Europe 8)

Ohh, and what’s with the tagging???? 🙄

Don’t know anything about skiing / boarding apart from my missus is good at the ski side of things and my bro-in-law likes boarding….

So thought I’d give it a go. Bought an O’Neil coat and some O’Neil gloves in the sales (happy to get £250’s worth of kit for £70!) and going to do one of those ‘learn to ski in a day’ courses at the SnowDome or Chill FactorE, then go once or twice a month until next winter when I’ll go for my first trip.

Does anyone have any advice about these courses?

Cheers all 🙂

Wow – wish I’d had those conditions the couple of time I’ve been to Montgenevre.

I feel sorry for people out there at the moment who must be incredibly frustrated at not being able to get out.

NBT – is that you on Snowheads SOPiB12 ? Really fancy that but going with a mate who apparently hasn’t skied a black yet but has skied for a few weeks, so no idea how good/bad he is but almost certainly not up for off piste – shame 😕

going to do one of those ‘learn to ski in a day’ courses at the SnowDome or Chill FactorE, then go once or twice a month until next winter when I’ll go for my first trip.

I predict you’ll be bored crapless after two months of that. Even the biggest snow domes are still very limiting and small compared to an actual mountain.

(Unless of course you start getting jumps/rails and go along on freestyle nights – which is where snow domes are good).

Also it is worth joining something like http://www.snowboardclub.co.uk/ (or a skiing equivalent) as it soon pays for itself with discounts in shops, snow domes and courses.

Morgs, I know people who’ve done that course at Hemel, inside. It was great for them, as it’s a fast, comprehensive way to learn. Then, get out to the mountains!

that’s me on snowheads, yep

Cool. Watching Achilles video now. Doesn’t look too ‘extreme’. Is that fairly typical of the stuff you’d be doing?

I’ve not done the off piste bash before, but am looking forward to this year’s. Am pretty happy with most of the videos I watched, Mrs NBT less so 🙂

Sounds good – trying to wade through the thread to find out the details.

I would LOVE to get some proper off-piste instruction/guidance.

Woody, still plenty of space on this off-piste course:

http://www.whiteroomchalet.com/win_backcountry_weeks.htm

short notice though!

and there will be others of us on the SOPiB… 🙂

Details really to come… admin has his own clock and calendar which is more relaxed… i’d pm Nick (achilles) if you have any questions…

Getting excited now, only another month to go 😀

Just persuaded my local shop to put a pair of Atomic Nomad Crimson TIs on one side for me. Now where’s that credit card?

Atomic Nomad Crimson TIs

NICE! Very nice indeed. On my possible shopping list as well…!

Where are you buying ’em?

br – looks brilliant but I’ve got my mate to consider who is strapped for cash + I’ve just canx hols that very weeks so I can go in March.

Stoat – cheers, will do. Must admit I quite like the idea of a group holiday as it will be the first one for a while without ‘the family’ 😉

not the best video (iPhone) & some dodgy commentary, but this is from the last day of my recent trip to Morzine – dropping off the back of the Fornet lift into Vallee de la Manche.

wasn’t the best snow for this run, a few days old so had received a good amount of freeze/thaw in that time – so a little heavy and crusty, but considering the week was predominantly about teaching the Mrs how to board i’m happy as larry to get into the backcountry, even though it was only 1 run and then a 45minute hike down to Nyon.

out again to val d’isere on feb 25th…this time ‘sans female’ and staying with my mate who’s onto his 4th season there now, so expecting some big adventures.

Atomic Nomad Crimson TIs

NICE! Very nice indeed. On my possible shopping list as well…!

Where are you buying ’em?

Sorry CFH, the last pair of last year’s 178s in Outdoor Action at Blackburn have my name on ’em!
£360 with XTO12 bindings seemed too good to miss.
I’ve always found the guys there really keen to knock money off and do a good deal. Highly recommended.

Mrs NBT less so

Mrs nbt here.
Yes I’m a little nervous, as all the off piste I’ve done in the past wasn’t particularly in deep fresh powder.

I think my main worry is not being able to keep up with the chaps and so I need to really get my fitness sorted. Stil, looking forward to it though.

I’ll ask nbt to put up a little video of my ‘cough’ attemps at off piste last Saturday (new years eve). Then you’ll all see why I’m worried 🙂

Edit, He’s too busy now, so hopefully I’ve saved my blushes for at least another few hours.

That’s a great price for this years nomads. I had some of the 2008s but swapped them on for some skis I trashed last week. So some Coombacks with barons and ready shaped skins are on their way from Germany as we speak. 🙂

Nice vid apart from the last word, Peachos. 😉

@morgs

I learnt to snowboard about 7 years ago at Tamworth snowdome and really enjoyed it. Unfortunately I had no target like you do so soon got fed up with going there as it is quite expensive. A few monts ago it was announced that we are going on a family trip to Morzine for my FILs 60th with the other 5 adults having skied for about 20 years each and me with nearly no snowboarding experience I decided to learn how to ski so I would be able to get advice on what I was doing wrong from the others. I went to the local dry slope for a ski in a day course and it was ok. I have been a few times since and have improved somewhat but cant wait to get on the snow.

I have to say that getting the hang of boarding was definitely easier but in the medium term in improvement terms I have no idea. But I am going to get back on a board at Tamworth later in the year as I would like to be able to do both in the future.

Peachos, SBZ will be along shortly to slate your skillz…! 😉

Good price on those Nomads!

La Plagne is more or less entirely shut

Ay caramba! 😯

Not so long ago friends of mine who live out there were looking out at green and brown slopes scratching their heads. I’m heading out there in a couple of weeks’ time!

Time to wax some skis. Rex violet with a “rainureuse” to finish I think.

SBZ will be along shortly to slate your skillz…!

happy to take advice from anyone who can tell my level of riding from that clip!!

thanks all! Now, stupid question (maybe…?) would (should…?) Switzerland be snowy in mid december?

from the clothing thread;
CF –

(Not me, BTW, although I have ridden those BBRs!)

how did you find them? seen a few out and about around here, and am intrigued… good for piste and powder?

if it weren’t for the gopping colour (and the fact that they’d clash with my ski pants 😳 ) i’d almost be tempted…

Bit late to this thread; we’re going for a short (thurs-mon) trip in Feb to Combloux, never been therefore before.

@hungrymonkey, I’d rate them as a good all rounder. Pretty much a 50/50 split ski. I liked them, a lot. But…..Not enough to buy them over a pair of the utterly magnificent Salomon Enduros.

They were pretty good in choppy stuff and crud, not too bad on the loose stuff, and great fun on piste, but overall, not enough to persuade me to buy a pair. Yet……They’ll be even better next year!

Only other thing was….At the top of EVERY lift, having to explain to someone what they were! 🙂

ah, fair enough.

think my next pair will be a nice set of freeride skis – fat(ish) (110 waist) and twin tipped.

CFH – are you CarlosTheSlackal?

Either that or the mild mannered janitor……

😉

Spent a fantastic week in Zermatt enjoying mixed weather both on the Swiss and Italian side down to Cervinia. Lots of fun both on and off-piste, just finished editing a little video giving a taster of the trip. Unfortunately I had leant my GoPro to a friend as this was a rather impromptu organised affair, so the footage is all from a little hand-held HD camera. As such not much exciting fast first-person stuff as that was all too shaky.

Cheers, Rich

Wonderful. Looks like you had a lot of fun and fantastic snow.

Playing around under the Jungeralm lift, Bad Gastein, New years eve.
No music, just plenty of squeals.

Higgo = higs?

Higgo = higs?

nearly…..

higgo = Higs.

Pedant! 🙂

and while we’re at it…
I think I’ve worked out who ‘NBT’ is.

Ski Sunday starts in a bit on BBC2.

My son finished third in his GS so Rex violet with a rainureuse must have been about right. Madame thought it icy and demostrated her thoughts with some impromptu rotations. I decided a good book was more enjoyable than persisting on verglas. Meanwhile NTV showed pictures of Austrian resorts closed due to heavy snow fall.