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

Fly back Sunday so got to make the most of it 🙂

Pics are sadly lacking as I’ve only taken my phone but will try and get some decent shots tomorrow 🙂

Last trip of the season for me tomorrow, I’ve done pretty well this year – 2 Scotland trips, Morzine and now Val Thorens. This skiing lark is costing me an arm and a leg and I’m not even close to being a rich man. Wouldn’t have it any other way though. Summer = mountain biking and winter = skiing from now on 😀

Snowing in Flaine? At this rate the 12/13 season is going to become the 12/14 season.

Could you please vote for Robert Poth (15 year old British Ski racer).

His mother Gillian says Robert has been given the opportunity to get £300,00 from marsmilk to help towards his ski racing.

http://www.marsmilk.com/fund/robert-poth

Thanks

Just a heads up, the 2014 Line, K2 and Atomic skis are online, looking pretty tasty to say the least! Loving the new Bent Chetler.

New K2 skis.[/url]

I did another 2 hours of boarding at the Chill Factore tonight…..pretty lame compared to all the seriously cool holidays that people on here go on, but I enjoyed in nonetheless. I was pretty dire for the first hour-I’d forgotten lots of what I’d learned etc. By the end, I made it all the way down the main slope once without falling (would been 3 times but for people falling off in front of me) all started to get some linked turns too I’m really struggling going from my heal edge to toe edge though, I’m fine the other way round!

Tom B, that is completely normal. Keep going and your toes wil become your confident side. I presume it’s fear of falling on our faces.. It’s a long time since I learnt but I imagine you need to put a bit more weight in your front foot to make the turn.

I think that’s it mugboo-I keep noticing that I’m leaning back when trying to do that turn-loving though…..bloomin sore this morning again!

2-3 feet overnight and the lifts have just opened after loads of blasting this morning. Woohoo 🙂

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-22236871

Grim news.

We haven’t been out for a while due to high temperatures and avalanche risk. This morning it was -1°C in the resort so we headed up the Sanctus. It’s an easy climb though picking a way up this bit takes patience and many conversions;

Once above the steep bit it’s easy going through the avalanceh
debris

The up some gentle slopes that are fun on the way down

Near the top you get an idea how much snow has fallen this year, all the features are buried

Skis off for the trudge up to the top. The flat bit is the top of a huge cornice.

Very nice pictures. My sister tried snowboarding for the first time on Friday: she now has a broken scaphoid 😆

Taken with a cheap Nokia phone. I’ve given up on the Panasonic Lumix which would have been unusable in that bright sun.

Roller blade wrist protectors are a must when new to boarding.

I’m about to buy some-I teach guitar for a living so could do with preserving the bones in my hands and wrists!

Looks like a nice day out Edukator.

Tom – have a look at the different types of guard available – some are better than others, and some will suit different people. There were a few early designs that were too stiff and saved your wrist at the cost of your forearm – not common but it happened. I’m sure they’re all gone now, but…
Also if you’ve grown up with rugby or judo then you may well have learned to fall and be better without them. I learned to snowboard at a time when I’d been playing rugby for 25 years – I rapidly concluded that wrist guards were not for me as they actually hinder my natural (ingrained) falling response.
That said on balance and for most people, wrist guards are good when starting out.

Helmets on the other hand I regard as essential for all. I wouldn’t go down those slopes on my bike at that speed without a helmet. Your choice though.

I wouldn’t go down those slopes on my bike at that speed without a helmet.

<helmet_debate>

Ah… so you openly admit that wearing a helmet makes you take risks that you wouldn’t otherwise take…?

</helmet_debate>

😉

Never bothered with wrist guards either. Just don’t stick your hands out and roll with it – much like going over on a bike.

Anyone else hoping that conditions are good enough for a mayday skiing weekender in Scotland? It’s almost a given that Cairngorm will open, the only question is how much snow there will be. Nevis range has already called an end to the season as the visitor numbers were so low during the week they could only justify running the uplift at weekends: the weekend’s storms put paid to the rest of the season sadly. I’m hoping that Glencoe will open, if so then it’ll be up to Glencoe for one day then over to Cairngorm. As The Lecht has also closed (storm again meaning there’s not enough cover), I’m not hopeful that Glenshee will manage to stay open either

Just had a sneaky peaky at the Serre Che webcams, and it looks like there’s been a fresh dusting atop the Cucumelle. Mental! Untracked snow all the way from the peak by the looks of it.

I’m still not kean on wristgaurds personally for pretty much the same reaons as igm but the general concensus is that they are very good and essential kit for beginners.

I rather stupidly (various reasons including running late/injured Mrs etc.) went out without my bum, knee protection or helmet last Saturday on a powder day and never thought about it until I nearly went over heelside on a heavy patch while going reasonably quickly – for me at least 😐 Shook me so much I went straight down and hired a pair of the Movement ? Turbos (bloody massive purple things anyway) and ……..oh my……..a whole new world opened up 😀

Upshot is that I’ve now decided to concentrate my limited abilities on skiing, rather than switching from one to the other over the past few years and am seriously tempted to buy a pair of ‘proper’ FAT ski’s even if it’s just for the odd day! Saw a pair of Storm twisted Sistas in Flaine(didn’t realise what they were at the time) and they appealed as they looked so ridiculous. I didn’t catch the guy as he went past the cafe but all I could say to The Mrs was WTF….want!! Not sure if Storm are going to be continuing (reports say probably not) but some real bargains on their ski’s at the moment!

ps Thanks again to Grahams for leting me borrow his K2’s, I’ll be in touch to arrange dropping them back. Preferred my Flow’s though 😉

No worries Woody – just give me a shout next time you are round my way.

Preferred my Flow’s though

Yeah – but apparently you prefer skiing too, so there is no accounting for taste 😀

Not sure if Storm are going to be continuing (reports say probably not) but some real bargains on their ski’s at the moment!

Apparently not.

Movement are pretty much at the top of my list of skis these days. Really like everything of theirs I’ve tried. Super Turbos are like waterskis, though!

Oh, and welcome to the good side of the force! You can now tell your parents, they’ll be so proud. 😉

😆 I asked for that!

Board was brilliant though (Flow Solitude) and I was sold on the double rocker. Just seemed to do everything well on the mountain and I had very few ‘moments’ and didn’t catch an edge once.

Oh, and welcome to the good side of the force! You can now tell your parents, they’ll be so proud.

They were aghast when I said I was switched 10 years ago after years of slating boarders. I may just keep it in the closet 😉

The Movements look really nice but a bit pricey for an occassional use ‘fatty’. These Storm Superforce look wicked but I think I’d have to go shorter than normal as they are very very stiff and I’ve slowed in my old age. Plenty others similar on fleabay for around £100 which is ridiculous for that standard of ski. Even the Twisted is on there for £135!

Edit And these!!

I’ve been skiing movements for five or six years now. Movement skis *ROCK*

Didn’t get many pics in Flaine (and these are rubbish) but to give you some idea of conditions….

This was last Thursday (pre-tumble and she couldn’t ski for last 2 days 🙁

and this was what I woke up to Saturday morning – 2ft + on the balcony and the sun came out not long after the pic was taken 😀

mumblemumblemumblesomethingaboutlovelylookingpeaksmumblemumblemumble

😉

Looks ace!

This was last Thursday (pre-tumble and she couldn’t ski for last 2 days

Blimey! That must have been some tumble you gave her… 😯

this was what I woke up to Saturday morning – 2ft + on the balcony

Glory be. Now why on earth would you be wanting to hit that beautiful pow on anything other than a snowboard?!?

woody – wouldn’t you be better buying the ‘Movements’ and hiring fat boys on the odd days that justify them?

That would be an option but I have a virtually unused pair of Scott Aztec Pros and Head M75’s for piste duties + there is no guarantee that any fatties will be available to rent if there is powder day…………..and ……as I’ve resisted the urge to buy a fatbike, the opportunity to buy something fat, at a fraction of the cost, is becoming irresistable 😉

Mrs N in Courmayeur

Morning play in the fresh with doggy at the Chardonnet hut in the Vallee Claree

Skintrack of the other 4 before we turned off our own way.

After 2 1/2 hours skinning with no sign of others we get to the ridge.

And see 5 tracks coming in from the other side!

They didn’t get the blower pow on the north face, though! Mrs N in the White room, good girl!

Mmmmmm beer…………………..and the other pics look ok to 😉

Cheers Woody. That there is a tasty, tasty beer. If you see it, drink it!

I will and that looks fantastic.

Oddly enough I’ve been trying to persuade my mrs that Courneyuer might be a good bet for next year. She’s only had 9 days on snow and I’ve promised her nice cruisy wide blues to make up for some of the ‘interesting’ grading in Flaine.

I’ll not show her those pics 😀

I want to go skiing this week, any suggestions for a cheap couple of days away?

All those pics look great Edukator, Woody & Ned.

Greg – I’d just see where you can get cheap flights to (assuming you’re flying) as that will take up the lion share of the cost and just pick a resort that’s still open and high.

Christ I have got to get a winter holiday booked!!

Split board I assume Ned?

If anyone’s happy going unguided, I just found out the Lyngen Alps is rather accessible. return flights to tromso from Gatwick from £200 full board bunk accom from £33 pppn. Quite tempted by a cheeky weekend!

Yes, Ed., Venture Zephyr for me, K2 Panoramic for her.