The STW Ski & Snowboard thread. The 2013-2014 season

Could anyone use a 2nd hand pair of ski boots for their kids, they are Rossignol freeride boots, size is 23.5. Just bought some new ones and hate the thought of throwing them out…..
Happy for them to be collected or will post if need be…

For the life of me I cannot understand why I did not do it before now, enjoy it immensely.

Ditto! First trip when I was 40, 9 years ago. TBH it was never an option as a kid but on the plus side my kids, now 17 and 15 are both excellent skiers and have skied at least once a year since. My lad is very good off piste so that makes me happy and I look forward to trips with them until I am too old! 😀

Still to get goggles?

Yes, 100%. I rarely ski without them, only if its blue skies with no fresh snow and I’m just cruising the pistes with the family.

Cheers beanum! I’ve been to both of them before. Saas fee in summer and zermatt in April but I’ve never been thus early in the season so was unsure of conditions. A guy on snow heads has said the glacier runs and cervinia side are open and the conditions are good. I’m hoping it fills in enough to get most of the way down! Think it’s going to be zermatt but it means no popcorn. 🙁

but it means no popcorn.

What???

Got me a pair of these as a nice early winter present to myself! 😀

Popcorn is a bar/clothes shop in saas fee. Danced on the pool table on a few occasions.

Yes, 100%. I rarely ski without them, only if its blue skies with no fresh snow and I’m just cruising the pistes with the family.

Agreed in full. Goggles are a must have, especially with a helmet. Just works so much better than sunnies. Of course, you will need some pimpin’ shades for lunchtime posing a la terrasse, but goggles all the way when skiing. Two lenses is useful as well, one for bad conditions and one for the pretty days!

We’ve still not booked our Snowboarding Holiday so up for some suggestions?

Read a little of this thread and Serre Chevalier seemed to get some good reviews, last year we went to Tignes and the conditions were great, tempted to go back but would like to try somewhere new and scared that its never as good the 2nd time you visit. Had Val Thorens suggested to us, seems a little like Tignes.

Not really up for partying, I go on holiday to snowboard not drink, Like to hit the first lift, board all day and go for a good food(not posh) have a couple of drinks and back for a lazy evening in the chalet/apartment.

Up for trying Italy or Austria but would like to keep the prices similar to what you’d pay in France.

Of course, you will need some pimpin’ shades for lunchtime posing a la terrasse

What are you talking about?!

EVERYBODY knows that if you want to look rad you have to wear your full mirrored Oakley goggles in the pub!

🙄 Old folks 🙄

Goggles go on the table in front of you, in the sunshine.

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That way, everyone can see that not only do you have some jolly smart goggles, but you also have the pimping shades.

8)

No flash you have it all wrong.

*Not my pic.

poonprice – come see us! Sounds like just what you’re looking for. 😉

Right you lot,does anyone use a knee brace ( or braces ) on the slopes?
I am getting over a meniscus tear and don’t really want to miss the skiing this winter- but I also don’t want to risk any more damage on the knee.
Thanks

My father in law has a mental knee brace. I think it’s carbon fibre. He still takes it a bit easier than he used to but it definitely helps.

Don’t know about carbon fibre but I was looking at these

I knew some MX guys that had damaged cruciate ligaments and had gone for full on Titanium/kevlar things .
They were very expensive .

@CFH what are you drinking ?

Pastis, mon vieux, pastis!

Serre Che’s quite southern, so it’s perfectly acceptable to sup a Pastis of an afternoon.

Looked a bit yellow for that, so perhaps a strong one ! Had an epic post race party on Ile d’Yeu curtosey of very large bottle and a lot of thirsty sailors.

Of course it was a strong one!

Start strong, water down as you go through it. Then move on to a Pelforth. 🙂

Ah true, probably titanium or kevlar rather than carbon fibre. There are a plethora of knee braces out there so just choose one that suits your budget and sounds like it will do the job.
Not that I need to say it, but make sure you warm up properly and just take it a bit easier 😉

howsyourdad1 Thanks. I have looked that up and it is now on the agenda, looks within easy reach of Oslo. Now down as a must go.
Mrs clav has told me her brother has booked a cabin at skeikampen for a week.All sounding v-good. I wonder if he will pay for it as well ?
Yes I will sort out goggles. Let me get this right, must appear expensive, colour match the outfit, look good on the table, match my choice of drink.
If anyone else has the same pair do I have to leave the slope, or have a back up set. Also if my skiing is sh*te will a big boy take them off me.

Flash enjoying Le Station there, are Clive’s lyrics still more post watershed?

Just a little something to get all frothy over. Breathtkingly beautiful. (you’ll want HD and fullscreen)

@poonprice – I can thoroughly recommend @stevocmd’s setup at The White Room Chalet. Ste Foy is a little gem and if you wish you can ski in Les Arcs or Val d Isere / Tignes for a look see if you’ve a car.

Val Thorens is even more “ice station zebra” than Tignes (dating myself a bit with that movie reference), I’ve only skied there during the day, always stayed in Meribel or Courcheval. Austria has a more picture post card feel than most of France, my favourite resort there is St Anton, world class skiing and lively scene afterwards. It’s hard to make recommendations as there is so much choice. Price wise I’ve found Austria tends to come out a little cheaper than France, Switzerland perhaps a little more. If you’re staying in a chalet the cost of lift pass is main differential as most of you’re eating and drinking is done “at home”

Well it got into my mind. Best ski movie I’ve seen. Seriously good production and score.

That was very good.

Not sure which section I liked most, I do know I NEEED to to back to BC. Our guide from when I was there was in the credits!

A heads up for anyone taking their kids out on the piste this season, LIDL are doing kids ski gear shortly, helmets, hogs, base layers etc

Uber cheap but looks fine!

Goggles go on the table in front of you, in the sunshine.

Cue low-rent copy-cat from AdH:
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Beer[/url] by woldspinner[/url], on Flickr[/img]]

My second trip of the season is now booked so hopefully I’ll be creating a similar pic at Chev over New Year 🙂

Flight details printed out 😀 I’ll be in St. Anton from the 4th of the December for the season again.
Just trying to win some powder skis (volkl shiros) on ebay and we’re all set!

@mbydmt – lucky you enjoy, one of my favourite resorts.

Lots of snow been falling, French TV showing snow down to 400m in a lot of places. There was an “uphil only” ski race in Tignes and snow coverage there looked really good already. @stevocmd posted some pictures on White Room’s Facebook from his first split board up / board down run of the year. Got some discounted Bolle Goggles delivered this week, working on knee rehab and it’s looking good for getting back gently 8)

ooh. 10 days to go. spose I ought to start sorting out stuff to pack.

Lads’ trip booked for mid Jan. Flight to Munich, then drive down to somewhere Kitz’-ish area.

Family trip booked for Feb half term. Flight to Munich again, then drive over the Brenner to Kronplatz.
😀

Good choice. Innsbruck early Jan for me, then over the Brenner to Arabba in early Feb. Can’t decide where to go in early March for a sneaky 4th trip, but Ski Welt may feature.

Arabba looks interesting. Passed through there a few times when doing the Sella Ronda with Family.
Only thing that puts me off slightly from staying in the area is the lift queues that we’ve always encountered on the Sella Ronda. Do you escape that once you get off the SR?

Hardly any queues anywhere, most of the time, but then it’s never been a half term week for us. With the exception of the Marmolada cable car, which can have horrendous queue.

On the loop itself, and also San Cassiano gondola, there can be a few spots which have a queue, but I’ve never had to wait 5minutes. Chair coming over from Canazei to Arabba is one. The 2 way chair both ways between Corvara-Colfosco is another, and the really short chair in Selva to access the gondola coming back over to Corvara (one you put skis on under cover on matting). Busy, but not massive queue, IME. Never seen a queue in Arabba, more than a few chairs’ worth of people.

Hey lads and lassies, has anyone ever tried or bought one of the Ortovox or EVOC backpacks with built in back protector? I have my eyes on one 😛 .

Im off to Munich on 27/12 with my daughter staying in Oberau area so lots to choose from.

Another heads up Chaps…..Lidl are doing adult ski gear from this Thursday. Some good looking stuff from socks and base layers to helmets and jackets/trousers.

off to inneralpbach next tuesday for 10days can’t wait to be the first people on the slopes this season 😀