The STW Ski and Snowboard thread – 2011/2 Edition

Not a brilliant device for searching but adequate for being found.

Is there much difference in beacons in terms of being found?

I know they all use the same standard signal so they are cross-compatible but presumably some transmit more strongly than others?

Recco – Helping avalanche teams locate bodies for years.

Recco built into the soles of my boots. Should make my body easier to find if I take a header off a cliff 😀

Recco – Helping avalanche teams locate bodies for years

True, but whilst finding my body is essential for the insurance claim I’d rather they find me alive!

Not many people ski with a Recco detector (which I was once told was the size of a fridge and therefore carried in a helicopter – haven’t actually seen one myself), any group of off-piste skiers should have several transceivers with them so can set up a search team.

Edit:

Is there much difference in beacons in terms of being found?

Supposedly, for example the Ortovox 3+ I use is supposed to optimise its transmission pattern depending on which way up its buried. Also the digital ones I think tend to be easier to find. I haven’t noticed much difference when they’re buried for practice though. But there are definite differences in search capabilities!

I just won an Ebay auction for a brand new pair of ski boots .
After having spent a small fortune on a foot analysis and a custom molded footbed for my X waves they still hurt too much .
Colin at Solutions for Feet in Bicester recomended a pair of Atomic Hawx in 27.5 for my feet and type of skiing .
Due to a poor ad and the fact the boots were collection only I won the auction for £80 .
Hopefully Colin , who is ski boot fitting specialist , is bang on with his recomendation and they work for me .

Wh didn’t you by ’em from Colin?

Either way, hope they work for you!

Anyone seen any good deals for 17th March? 4 intermediate skiers. Not fussed where we go as long there’s a fair amount of runs.

damitamit check out the previous page. There were some suggestions to Woody about places to look for deals.

I don’t think we’re quite into last minute deal territory yet.

Hope it snows in the next 10 days – look like suntan weather this coming week 😈

Nick – tropical at the moment. Big thaw on at valley and resort level.

GrahamS – there is pretty minimal difference between transceivers in terms of transmission strength. There are, however, significant differences in both range and ease of use when searching.

I would very strongly recommend to any newbie buying a transceiver that they choose from the Barryvox Element, Ortovox 3+, BCA Tracker 2 or Pieps DSP.

I would suggest actively avoiding most of the “middle generation” systems – e.g. BCA Tracker 1, Barryvox Opto 3000, Ortovox Patroller/X1, etc. Either drop the cash on a more modern system or buy an Ortovox F1 and REALLY learn how to use it!

I would suggest actively avoiding most of the “middle generation” systems – e.g. BCA Tracker 1, Barryvox Opto 3000, Ortovox Patroller/X1, etc. Either drop the cash on a more modern system or buy an Ortovox F1 and REALLY learn how to use it!

That’s exactly what I’m considering at the moment. I’ve got an SOS one from Canada (F1 with optimised internals and more lights) but I need one for the ladyfriend too. I think I might try and find a deal on the 3+. Less price difference that I’d have thought.

Flying out tomorrow evening. Val d’Isere beckons – crashing at a mates gaff which is probably a dive, but its free so can’t complain! Last snowfall seems like it was about 10 days ago which is not ideal for my waist deep aspirations but that’s life on the mountain – its all good 8)

stevomcd: not something I’ll be dropping any cash on soon. Just don’t board regularly enough to justify it and most off-piste I do is “slackcountry”.

I’ll rent or get one from a guide if/when doing backcountry. Main reason I’m heading off to Slovakia in a fortnight (apart from much cheapness) is that they apparently have 5 large in-bounds, patrolled/controlled “freeride areas”.

I’ve used the BCA Tracker 1 while snowmobiling. Seemed fairly easy for a novice like me to use, so if I was going to buy one I guess I’d probably go for the Tracker 2.

Though my mate rolled his sled, fell on his Tracker and broke a rib!

Last year I replaced my old analogue Ortovox F1 with the Ortovox 3+

There’s been a number of rumblings recently about obsolescence and analogue transceivers.

(incidently the lodge I’m staying in Norway insist on you having/renting a Digital transceiver)

OBSOLESCENCE AND ANALOG AVALANCHE TRANSCEIVERS

… probably a bit of manufacturer based sales pitch going on but it seems fairly balanced on the whole.
Also read some stuff about some of the newer digital models picking up multiple signals from the F1 – which might lead to some confusion during a search and rescue. Clearly not ideal when time is the essence.

Shame as I really got on with the Ortovox F1 – kindof the ‘workhorse’ beacon and once you learned how to use it I found it less confusing than some of the older digital tranceivers and ‘Fine Searches’ were pretty accurate. It wasn’t easy to distinguish between muliple burials/signals though and this is where the Ortovox 3+ (and similar models) come into there own as you can ‘mark’ the nearest signal and then proced to fine search the others.

Could people please let us know the snow conditions when they are in resort?
Thanks.

Can people please wear a helmet and be careful on black moguls – if doubtful conditions be extremely careful, pretty much just witnessed a lady make a 95% effort at killing herself. falling over 200 meters at 30mph from the top to the bottom of some large wind swept icy moguls is not a pretty sight from a ski lift.

alexx: a much better approach to avoiding injury would be to stay the hell away from windswept icy black moguls – helmet or no helmet.

Helmets are great, but they don’t help much if you break your neck!
If you wouldn’t ride it without a helmet then don’t ride it with one.

I’m just trying to book something up leaving this weekend, its amazing how little appears to be left! Think the whole book at the last minute thing isn’t quite what it seems if anyone is planning on having a go at it!

I always wear a helmet, just sick of seeing holiday makers put themselves in dubious situations.

The moguls were ok however it depends on your ability and definition of ok.

1 week skiing holidays isn’t any time for hero lines

Cardiff

I got a reasonable good deal last week to Serre Chevalier (or so I thought) as I was starting to panic at lack of availability. Less than 48 hours later it was £90 cheaper 😐

Should be a few deals available now the conditions are changing but this weekend is cutting it fine!

look like suntan weather this coming week

You mean panda eye weather 🙂

I’m just trying to book something up leaving this weekend, its amazing how little appears to be left! Think the whole book at the last minute thing isn’t quite what it seems if anyone is planning on having a go at it!

This season doesn’t seem to have been too good for late deals.

All the deals for next week have been getting booked up really quick and there was much more availability on the weeks either side for some reason

This season doesn’t seem to have been too good for late deals.

All the deals for next week have been getting booked up really quick and there was much more availability on the weeks either side for some reason

Tell me about it, 4 of us spent hours and hours search web sites and phoning places up! Finally found something last night, via phoning up and getting a cancelation, in Tignes so leaving Saturday morning! Seems to be as lot more around for the following week though, but we couldn’t make then. We’ve had to go Self Catering, but its that cheap that based on what we were willing to pay we’ve got up to £275 to spend on food for the week, so pizza a few nights then eat out a few. Can’t wait!

Oliver/Cardiff – were you looking anywhere other than France? It’s still half term for some French regions, so I’m guessing UK tour operators just cancel the beds and give them back to the chalet/hotel operators to get rid elsewhere – as they’re more likely if it’s school hols somewhere.

I looked at quite a few places and settled on Italy (Bardonecchia). There just seemed to be less package deals with regional departures than last year. I booked a while back but it’s taken until this week for any real late deals to emerge (probably cancellations)

Just finished this little video of me and a couple of mates slackcountry riding in Schladming the other week:

To mitigate against any flaming/pity, please bear in mind:
– it’s my first go at editing a video (Sony Vegas)
– I didn’t have much footage cos I only took the camera out twice.
– it’s a fairly crappy handycam (Sanyo Xacti).
– yes I do need a Steadicam!
– we’re one-week-a-year boarders, so the riding is not exactly pro standard!

But other than that, comments most welcome.

Enjoy 😀

Resounding silence. The one response I hadn’t prepared myself for.
Damn you STW! *shakes fist*

Come on, someone at least say they hate it. It took me chuffin hours to do.

Your skis are on the wrong way round….

😉

OK GrahamS – I don’t even have to watch it to know it’s pish.

Will that do? 😉

Seriously, looks like fun riding, sweet conditions. For editing, keep the shots a lot shorter – like 5 seconds per shot. And your mate Maccy D is indeed a mincer of the highest order.

😀 That’s better! Cheers.

For editing, keep the shots a lot shorter – like 5 seconds per shot.

Fair point. I knew some scenes were a bit long, but I only had like 10 vaguely usable clips (just 3 days riding, so I didn’t waste too much time filming 😀 )

Lesson learned for next time: shoot more close range short stuff.

And your mate Maccy D is indeed a mincer of the highest order.

Yep! He prefers corduroy piste (weirdo – I think he is a closet skier).
Makes me look good though 😀

Spring snow in the Pyrénées now. Hard as nails in the morning, soupe in the afternoon and a sweet spot around 12:30.

Hmmm

Formigueres for the weekend, methinks 😆

Well just spent the evening repairing and rewaxing my board (after an ill-advised ride down a practically-bare road).

This time next week I should be in Slovakia. Though worryingly they are reporting that three people died there today in separate incidents 😯 busy holiday weekend and bulletproof piste apparently! Nasty. 🙁

Afternoon folks.

Anyone ever taken the overnight coach from london to tignes?

I’m thinking about it, but worried that it might be a suffer fest, as I’m 6ft 7ins, with long legs. Maybe not the best way to start a holiday.

Also, any crystal ball owners know what conditions will be like at the end of March?!

Done the coach to Chamonix and its a MF crampfest. I’m just under 6ft so I’m sure you’ll have a ball.

Graham the snow looked cool. Had a similar splat into deep snow in Saas Fee the other year and its crazy how much effort it takes to get the snow off your board!!

its crazy how much effort it takes to get the snow off your board!!

Yeah, we got carried away and went too low in the forest to cut back to the piste as planned. Took us about 25 minutes of slogging uphill through that deep snow to make it back out. Seriously knackering! We had to take turns at the front.

Even had to stand on each others boards as ladder rungs through the deepest powder. Just silly. 😀

Snow for the next couple of days then sunny till 15 March, Giant. Keep an eye on it here.

X-C skied for an hour and a half in the rain then went to pick up junior from his skicross. He won which added to his last win gets him to the French championships. I could well be having a late season break in Val Tho’ or la Rosière.

15-30 cm expected tonight in whistler and another 10-15 cm throughout the day tomorrow.. POW POW POW!!!!! 🙂 🙂 🙂

If anyone is still looking for a last minute bargain then Propaganda Snowboards in Slovakia have a last minute cancellation: shared room, next week, £99 for the week.

£99 for the week.

😯

Not on FaceAche, so tell me – Lift costs etc? ASsume that price is self catering as well….

scary stuff!!!

Not on FaceAche, so tell me – Lift costs etc? ASsume that price is self catering as well….

That price is B&B. The company website is here:
http://www.propagandasnowboards.com/accommodation.html

Resort is Jasna: http://www.jasna.sk/en/winter/

5 day pass is 143 €

Flights are RyanAir and pretty cheap, but ski/board carriage is expensive.

I’m going in the same week, but staying in the town at Chalet Slovakia.