The STW Ski and Snowboard thread – 2011/2 Edition

We’re purely about the snow guns ‘n boobies

Ftfy!

🙂

Early snow seems to have stopped now 🙁 but sunshine forecast all day tomorrow! 8)

Desperately needed snow forecast in SW France tomorrow. The turbine in the snow factory is broken so even though the cold has finally arrived the nights are silent.

For anyone who’s heading to the Tarentaise, I’m now trying to put a daily English translation of the avalanche forecast on our site:

Tarentaise Avalanche Forecast

Edukator, where are you based? THe pyrenees look starved of snow judging by the webcams shots I saw recently

I saw some pics of Vallnord in Andorra and they seemed to have a reasonable amount of snow.

Western Pyrenees. It hasn’t snowed at resort level since the beginning of January. My favourite X-C pistes are shut and the snow higher up is very hard.

Mentally preparing a check list now….

1) Looking for good playlist selections. Someone ^ suggested She Sells Sanctuary – which having listened to for the first time in many yrs, sounds like a good call for skiing

2) Anyone skiied on Volkl Tigersharks? Quite fancy a go on a pair. Nordica spitfire also sounds tempting as an energetic quick, turny type ski…

Did anyone see this report on BBC news?
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-16715883

Snow at Val D’Isere looked lovely.

Did anyone see this report on BBC news?
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-16715883

Oh no, not a HELMET DEBATE!!

Fairly balanced report on helmet use that. It even mentions risk compensation. TJ would be proud.

I didn’t wear a helmet for years. They weren’t even available in the late 90’s when I started (or wrist and bum guards!).

Got one a couple of years ago because they are compulsory at the snowdomes and I didn’t want some sweaty rental jumping with teenager nits.

Don’t mind wearing it at all. Gives me a bit more confidence amongst the trees.

Also on BBC News, I see Slovakia is getting enough snow:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-16735047

😯

Don’t worry T.J. doesn’t read this thread 😉

Interesting helmet article, although I suspect the speed you are travelling at, and the speed your head de-accelerates at are two completely different figures. Still, I wouldn’t ride without mine anymore.

I didn’t wear one until I smacked my stupid head on the snow this year and went all dizzy. 🙁
Now I got a nice Giro.

I didn’t wear a helmet for years. They weren’t even available in the late 90’s when I started (or wrist and bum guards!).

It’s funny isn’t it – a few years ago almost no-one wore them – now most people do and it seems dangerous not to wear one.

I took one but never bothered with it on my trip – I would wear it if I was doing sketchy off piste or park stuff though. It was partly cos there was so much lovely soft snow everywhere when you fell over it didn’t hurt at all 🙂

I don’t usually go out with a plan for what sort of riding I’ll be doing that day. We just wing it depending on what the snow is like. So I wear the helmet all the time now, plus it’s nice and warm. 😀

Does make you a bit deaf though.

Pardon?

The main window display item in shops in Val d’Isere was helmets this year.
As said, very few people wore them years ago.

[edit]A groomed piste is nearly always gonna be ‘ard!

A groomed piste is nearly always gonna be ‘ard!

I’ve whacked my head a few times on bulletproof pistes (including Scotland). That never made me want a helmet. Just made me want to avoid doing it again 😀

Interesting helmet article, although I suspect the speed you are travelling at, and the speed your head de-accelerates at are two completely different figures. Still, I wouldn’t ride without mine anymore.

If you’re boarding and catch an edge, I swear your head hits the deck 10 times as fast as you were moving when upright.

Nordica spitfire also sounds tempting as an energetic quick, turny type ski…

Fast as a very fast thing! Only for the groomers, but great fun at speed!

Don’t worry T.J. doesn’t read this thread

I did a little LOL….! 🙂

Another glorious day here. Early low cloud was low down, so up above was stunning. Hit Yret first off, then played around above Monetier for a while before heading back for a superb lunch! Much playtime around the Grand Serre area afterwards, then in to the “Melezone”, a sort of natural obstacle course on show, with some jumps, rails etc, all made from wood. Great fun!

I now have a Leffe 9 to contend with, so later posts may be somewhat incoherent…..! 😉

Meanwhile in Jasna, Slovakia:
— from https://www.facebook.com/PropagandaSnowboard

Oh my, pillows ^^ 🙂

Any pictures CFH? (not of the beer)

Sorry, Bunny, none online. Have hardly taken any, been too busy skiing my whatsits off! 🙂

Typically, a dump is due this weekend, starting on Saturday, my last day here!

Ho hum…..!

Pistes are in awesome condition, food is sublime (epic steak tartare today for lunch!), oh, and my arse really hurts….! Fell over this morning after picking up skis! 😳

If you’re boarding and catch an edge, I swear your head hits the deck 10 times as fast as you were moving when upright.

makes me whince just to read that!

I wakeboard in the summer, and catching an edge out there REALLY hurts!

Knocked myself out once! 😳

Oh, and can I just say….

I love this thread! 8)

Hol # 2 Just Booked , my CC actually groaned .
10 Mar – 17 Mar. Chamonix in a SC apartment with a group of 5 other randoms , all from inside the internet. The joys of being a looser single…
Its only a week , as long as its twin beds will be aok ( fingers crossed)

Only for the groomers, but great fun at speed!

Ach, skinnies for the win! If you want ski knee deep powder, then you need to be *in* the snow not *on* the snow. This predeliction for fat skis is somewhat worrying (72mm underfoot on the last powder day I had – admittedly will be packing 92mm for the off piste trip to Serre Che in a few weeks)

If you’re boarding and catch an edge, I swear your head hits the deck 10 times as fast as you were moving when upright.

Aye, that or your arse – its like a pivot point, one minute you’re fine, next you’re staring at the sky saying “why is the snow blue? What just happened?”

Oh dear I seem to have gotten myself some rather nasty sun burn today. The skiing is great in Morzine at the moment IMO.

Disclaimer: I have only been skiing for 4 days and am loving it.

Sweet pic Graham!!! Makes me wanting snow in the Peaks now!!!!! Cold snap coming nxt week better bring some snow!!! I’m holding out for a holiday in Cham in March!!!

Not taken by me!!! But!!! Thanks!!!! 😉

Just watched “Art Of Flight”. Wow!

Recommended!!

Graham S – cracking picture. Conditions look excellent.

I’ve got used to wearing a helmet for skiing. We tend to ski in Finland and Sweden so it’s a great way to keep your head warm as well 🙂 Hitting a tree was also a good reminder on why they might be useful.

T-minus 2 days 🙂

Anyone see Ch5 last night – daredevils or something?

some awesome skiing / boarding / ski base / paddling etc

RIP Sarah Burke

rkk01 – Member
Anyone see Ch5 last night – daredevils or something?

some awesome skiing / boarding / ski base / paddling etc

Just watched it. That skiier going off the cliff and setting off the avalanche… unbelievable 😯

Just finished packing (and weighing) for flight to St Anton tomorrow and then a Piste To Powder course for next week 🙂

At the airport waiting for my 06.50 flight to Geneva. Would be awesome if i hadn’t left my ski jacket at home!

Not looking forward to how much ita going to cost me to buy a replacement in resort!

You know those days when you wake up, pull back the curtains and see that it’s been dumping all night, and is still snowing hard?

This is one of those days! 🙂