The STW Ski & Snowboard thread. The 2012-2013 season

I looked into it from Singapore but it was more time door to door than back to Europe so I cannot speak to it myself. A few options direct from Tokyo via train for a quick fix.

Yep, Niseko is on my radar. Oddly enough, the trip would also involve spending time in Singapore if it happens. Would be a bit odd checking in to my hotel in Tanjong Pagar with a pair of ski boots in my luggage! 🙂

(Oh, and back to Din Tai Fung when in SIN….nom nom nom nom nom. )

You are Dave Lister and I claim my £5.

You are Gloria Hunniford and I claim my £5.

Dammit, I meant Judith Chalmers.

michaelmcc
My choices would be the Line Prophets (which I’m biased to as I own them). Other allmountain-ish skis that seem to be popular are the Salomon Shoguns, and the Rossignol S3’s.

Thanks – what width are your Prophets ?

On/off piste: depends on conditions, try and do as much off as I can when the snow is good.

£229 for B&B is good value? I need to up my prices…

What do you charge and where are you?

That price is for 7 nights peak-season for a chalet room with en-suite, cooked breakfast in the morning, shuttle to and from the hill each day, and cake on return. Plus guiding during the day and trips out in the evening to the waterpark, go-karting, pub etc.

If you are cheaper then yeah.. you probably do need to put up your prices!

Thanks – what width are your Prophets ?

98mm underfoot, they’re last winters skis, 2011-12, could probably pick them up for cheap now. This years ones have horrible graphics IMO. I wouldn’t go any narrower than around 100mm ish underfoot for free-skiing.

Because you’re thinking like a girl!

YAY!

L Arche – are you waterproofing your trousers properly? I do all our gear after every trip (so once every 6-10 days on average).

I always take 2 pairs of trousers, as once I laughed so much when trying to ski powder there was a teeny weeny accident 😳

once I laughed so much when trying to ski powder there was a teeny weeny accident

LOL. Do you waterproof the inside too now? 😉

Graham – we’re in Sainte Foy in France.

We don’t do B&B, only fully-catered. That would be pretty good value for peak season, but in January or March I could do fully-catered with unlimited drinks, afternoon tea/cake, lift pass and airport transfer for around £600. That’s pretty comparable, and we’re in a ski-to-door chalet in the French Alps! (with en-suite rooms, sauna, etc.).

Ski-hosting, trips out to other resorts, etc. all included too.

I always take 2 pairs of trousers, as once I laughed so much when trying to ski powder there was a teeny weeny accident

That happened to me once on the yabba dabba do run in Kreischberg. The problem was, though, was that I was on my back with my legs up in the air when the laughter started….

@CFH @michaelmcc

So far the Prophets are in first place with Jams in second, based purely on a bit of google research.

So as 77kg, 177cm “advanced” skier (stop laughing please) I am assuming 172 / 178 are the length choices ? I ask as @michaelmcc says there appear to be a few pairs of discounted 2011/12 Phrophets about.

My “normal” ski shop in Verbier should have them for demo which would be ideal to try out but obviously at a premium price.

@CFH – Tokyo/Niseko/Singapore is a ball ache travel wise. You’d want at least 4 days of skiing to make it worthwhile. From what everyone tells me the big plus of Japan is that the locals will not ski off piste (forbidden), combine that with fresh show every night means lots and lots of fresh tracks. Officially you do have to be guided.

Glitchy

Tokyo/Niseko/Singapore is a ball ache travel wise.

Welcome to my world! I already spend enough time travelling, so getting something like that arranged shouldn’t be too bad for me. Was thinking of doing a Friday to Monday trip to Niseko, if I can fit that in. Plan being a day to find my way around a bit, then three days of play. Fingers crossed…!

So as 77kg, 177cm “advanced” skier (stop laughing please) I am assuming 172 / 178 are the length choices ? I ask as @michaelmcc says there appear to be a few pairs of discounted 2011/12 Phrophets about.

@Jam – Are you saying you are 177cm high, or that you like skis that tall? I’m about 5’8″ and have the 172’s. I weigh about 65-70 kg depending on the time of year!
I didn’t test ride them at all before buying but I knew they were the right ski for me after my first time out on them! It is very easy to like them. Before getting these I’d usually ski a 165-170 rental ski. They don’t have a lot of rocker so if they had a lot more then I would have got one size taller for sure.

One other ski I’d do some google research on if I were you are Line Sir Frances Bacons. Could prob find last years model for cheap too! 10mm wider than the Prophets, so slightly more of a powder ski.

Could prob find last years model for cheap too!

Well worth hunting for 2011/12 bargains, I’d say. Wasn’t the best of seasons for sales of skis in the UK last year.

That happened to me once on the yabba dabba do run in Kreischberg. The problem was, though, was that I was on my back with my legs up in the air when the laughter started….

Lol.
I have no excuse, I was skiing upright for once, just found it so exhilarating that I was laughing uncontrollably.

Maybe some tenner lady would be a good idea for us girlies Wallop 😉

Incontinence pads wouldn’t have kept my back dry that fateful afternoon 😥

Its happened to all of us at one time or another. At least it wasn’t the ‘cough’ other end.

@CFH – my Niseko route research

Sinagpore – Narita (6-7 hours) – then 2-3hr transfer to the other airport, flight to other island, 2-3hr train ride – I was advised beware little english spoken en-route so easy to get it wrong

From Sing it was easier to fly to HK and then fly direct to the other island, this was what I settled on a plan A

As said door to door it was quicker to ski in Switzerland from Singapore

If you have 3 days I would suggest somewhere accessed via the bullet train out of Tokyo – for Niseko you loose nearly a day each end on travel even from Tokyo.

@CFH/@michael – thanks for ski comments – yes 177cm tall

😆

Hmm. Thanks. Adds up a bit. Might need to look at somewhere closer to Tokyo, but the HK option is a possibility as well. Any idea if either Cathay or JAL do that route? Want to stay on OneWorld for all the shiny goodies I get!

@CFH – yes Cathay do to Sapporo from hazy memory. If you stick to Tokyo/train options you get to ski in shadow of Mt Fuji which would be cool. Niseko is legendary for the amount of powder, I think the weather comes in from North over the sea and just dumps on the resort almost every night – so I hear. Have messaged a mate in Asia for some recommendations re Tokyo

Niseko is legendary for the amount of powder

That’s why it was so high on my list!

yes 177cm tall

I imagine the 172’s would be on the small side for you then. All down to personal tastes and your skiing ability. I’d go for the shorter ones if you like skiing in trees, the longer ones if you prefer big open stuff.

Ski movie season has arrived.

TGR’s new film is out on iTunes – The Dream Factory. Busy downloading now.

Cool I just watched that one a few times and the trailer for Level 1’s sunny. Both look sick!!

Torsoinalake what do you make of The Dream Factory? I watched the trailer and wasn’t bothered on it at all?

Michaelmcc, ace, Level 1 have smashed out another great film (downloaded and just finished watching) just prefer eye trip but sunny is great – I do like the travelling circus/line boys as well who feature in it a fair bit.

I watched the trailer and wasn’t bothered on it at all?

Savage looking front flip in it mind.

Changed my mind, added it to the buy list after that’s it, that’s all (can’t believe I haven’t seen this!).
The section where he pops through the ice hole looks fun in Dream factory!

Skiing on Helvellyn today apparently.

Skiing on Helvellyn today apparently.

And at Glencoe, Glenshee, and Cairngorm (for the 37th(+?) consecutive month) and no doubt a fair few other places too. Fair play to Raise though for being the first lifts fully open. Looked to be quite good too for early November and no base.

and the best place online to get genuine oakley goggles/lenses is ??

Don’t know about best but I recently bagged some Oakley Twisted from eyewearoutlet.co.uk for 59 quid for my niece. They came with a spare lens included.
Had some A Frames off them for myself last year.

Got my Oakleys for £39 (marked down from £80) from freezeproshop in Edinburgh. Not sure if they’re still doing deals. Probably not, now the ski season is here.

I’m getting this:

http://www.surfdome.com/oakley_snowboard_goggles_-_oakley_o_frame_snowboard_goggles_-_dual_vented/persimmon-69788

just looking for the genuine product not some ebay fakes, last pair i got was from the oakley store at cheshire oaks outlet village.. but thats a bit of a drive for me and they dont always have the stock i am after

How can you make sure you get genuine ones? Are the ones I posted fakes? *starts looking again*

Edit – I shall toddle off to the Oakley website to see if there’s a list of retailers….

Wallop – think you can email oakley re: authorised dealers. Surfdome’s a reputable retailer so will be genuine. Think they may be tied in to twoseasons as well which would only reiterate that they’re a solid retailer.

Re: lenses/goggles, I found freezepro great in August; A Frames with persimmon lenses for £40. Just trying to decide whether to get fire iridium lenses as well or not (£48)

Nice – thanks.

wallop, i was not havin a dig at you sorry if it looked like that, i have been looking at these but until a few days ago had never seen that website

It looks a proper oakley dealer but would be nice to get them a few quid cheaper
http://www.surfdome.com/oakley_snowboard_goggles_-_oakley_crowbar_snowboard_goggles_-_matte_white/hi_yellow-69766