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

So, after 20+ years of riding a snowboard we gave skiing a go. After 10 days or so on skis over the past two seasons we’ve decided we like it enough to buy some boots. We know where we’re going to buy them from, but what buying tips do people have? We’ve bought enough snowboard boots to know if a boot fits well, but what other things should we be looking for in a boot and what things should we should avoid?

oohhhh, new boots, half price in the sales in Switzerland whilst on holiday….

http://www.scarpa.co.uk/ski/maestrale/

Very nice, I take it you do a bit of back country touring, tragically1969

bluebird, that’s the plan, wanted to get into touring ever since i started skiing, seemed rude not to at 50% less than i can buy them for here.

In terms of boots just put your feet in as many pairs as you can, get measured properly, get them fastened tight(ish) and see how they feel.

What fit’s one person will cripple another as some boots have totally different lasts to others, but i guess you know that having used snowboard boots

Just make sure you use somebody who knows what they are doing and isn’t just interested in making a sale as that’s what they have i stock, i speak from experience on that particular one…

Who are you using ?

We got split boards a couple of seasons back and now try to get at least one day out of resort for every week we ride. We both love it, a totally different kind of day to riding in resort.

We’re planning on using Fanatyk, or possibly George McConkey both in Whistler. We’ll be there for a month so plenty of time to get any tweaking done. Fanatyk have a big range of brands and both are highly rated by locals as boot fitters.

igm – Member

Lessons is awsumz, no matter what level you’re at!

Skier

I’ve done 3 seasons and countless holidays and I know I could definitely benefit from some lessons. Anyone can, whatever level you get to, you will have picked up some bad techniques or at least be able to do things better.

@bluebird – no surprising advice, just something midrange and comfortable. Make sure you try the boots with the socks you’ll be wearing. Getting moulded in-soles can be worthwhile, I have had boots with and without (currently).

Agreed with @tragically too, despite having 20 years “experience” I bought some heavily discounted boots on sale and struggled with them for 5 years as they never really fitted.

Awesome night at Chill Factors tonight……full slope freestyle…..I went off 6 different features and nailed some more board slides. Just got to do a grab off a kicker within the next few weeks and I’ll have nailed all of my targets for the summer!

🙂

Newbie to the ski thread (but not to skiing). Has anyone on here used the direct ski train from London to Mounties or Bourg? Was it a lot easier than flying?

Specifically looking to cut down on travel time (and airport time) by leaving Friday night from London, returning for Sunday morning for work on the Monday

i didn’t notice cabins on the snow train website- so I guess it’s just like a plane where they turn the lights out and you get an average amount of alcohol induced coma?

Cost wise it looks similar for 2 of us 280 return for mid January, with an extra day ish on the slopes!

Have a look at http://www.snowcarbon.co.uk – it has loads of info on ski trains. A combo of Eurostar and Corea Luna would give you a bed for the night rather than trying to sleep in a seat.

Ladies and gents. Any tips on brands of jackets which tend to have high collars? I’m trying to find something to keep me cosy on the lifts.

Interesting site that Wallop, bookmarked ffr 🙂

@alwillis Not used the snowtrain myself but loads of our guests have. As a rule of thumb if you are in or around the M25 then it is a similar overall travel time on the direct train to Moutiers/Bourg as flying (assuming a drive to an airport, check in 2hrs before departure, a wait for luggage then a 2 hour transfer to resort). Our guests have said that sleep can be difficult especially if some of your fellow travellers are on the vino.

The direct train gets to Moutiers at 620 ish I think. We tell our guests to grab some food from a cafe opposite the station then collect them at 730. If you do use the snowtrain keep in mind that the previous week’s guests will still be around so make sure the chalet/hotel you are staying at has secure storage for your luggage and a place to get changed in. Also if you are hiring kit make sure that you can get an early fitting at the chalet if the company offers a mobile fitting service (someone like SlideCandy in Meribel) so that you can maximise the time on the slopes.

Saturday skiing tends to be much quieter as the majority of the resort will be on changeover so you can get a good day in at either end of your holiday.

Ladies and gents. Any tips on brands of jackets which tend to have high collars? I’m trying to find something to keep me cosy on the lifts.

My Eider (Shell, plain black. Called a Tahoe, IIRC) has a pretty dammned good collar, goes up to the back of my helmet. Combined with a high necked base layer and a buff, it’s been great in most conditions. To date, have only ever needed to wear a base layer and a midweight fleece underneath it.

What sort of jacket are you after, though?

@wallop and meribelmtb thank you, great info there! I’m only a couple of miles from st pancras so it looks like a really good option to me (Saturday skiing is indeed excellent from experience)

What sort of jacket are you after, though?

Not sure yet. I’m thinking of going for a shell, instead of a down jacket, as my skiing thus far has tended to include a cold week in France and a warm week in Austria. A shell would give me flexibility to adjust layers for temperature I think.

Just catching up on this thread a saw this from last week sometime:

meames – Member

..I’m competent on a snowboard having done 3 trips thus far and comfortable on black / off piste terrain…

Now I know I’m not exactly a body-natural rad-to-the-max type – but I’ve been snowboarding since the mid 90’s and probably done at least 25 weeks abroad by now in Europe, America and Canada.

And I wouldn’t say I was “comfortable on black / off piste terrain” 😯

I mean I do off-piste runs through some fairly tight forest in Slovakia – but it’s bum-clenching stuff, comfortable isn’t a word I’d use!

Am I just crap? Should I take up something more sedate, like dominoes?

Wallop, shells are the only choice, IMHO. Layering means they work well in anything from blistering -20s to the lunacy of April in Serre Che in the heat, and the days when you have to seek out the shade to stay cool!

FWIW, I’ve always liked the look of Eider, stealthy not too Euro looking, and the performance of Schoffel. The latter, however, often go a little bit too lairy Euro/race stylee, though. Stuff like Arcetryx or Noronna always look a little too try-hard to me (Often worn by the ski equivalent of the Audi in the trail centre car park driver…)

I suppose budget (and of course colour!) are the next choices…! 🙂

Oh, and the first of my 2014 lust photos..

Week booked in Val d’Isere in March so looking forward to hitting some familiar runs across the Espace Killy. Would have preferred to be based in Tignes but its the same week at the X Games so accommodation difficult to get.

Thinking of buying some boots this year, and would ideally like to be able to get a second week in.

nice lust-worthyness up there^^

Have quite a few Schöffel bits of clothing, but all are from a couple of years back, and it just looks like “a red ski jacket”, and “plain black salopettes”. Hope the latest kit is not too much in your face, and “hey look at me”. Better than what I had before (Columbia + Berghaus), and here, it’s just normal ski clothing that’s better than the cheap stuff, and cheaper than TNF and the posh brands.

But I do think it’s time for a new jacket (unless the salopettes shrunk in the wash again 😉 in which case they’ll need upgrading first). Have a €100 voucher to spend, and I think SportScheck accept them.

Only just saw this now! I’ll be moving to Oz for at least a year, so not sure when I’ll even see snow again 🙁 .

Give Thredbo a red hot go, Bruce!

Bruce? Hmmm that does look kinda tempting though. 🙂

Anyone getting new skis and or boots this season??! 😀

Anyone getting new skis and or boots this season??!

Looking at these I am… 👿

Bit’o filler there taka, jobs a goodun!! What’s the front of the ski like, make/model?

There rossignol bandits there a few years old now so could do with replacing at some point anyway the fronts have no damage at all I don’t know how it’s got that bad…

Woodsy doing well again this season!

🙂

Whoop, have received confirmation that my Wife and I will be working in Chalet Amber in Morzine this coming winter.

Chalet Amber

Mates rates? 🙂

Has anybody tried both skiing and boarding with a dodgy ankle?

My ankle is still knackered from 18 months ago and am torn between the two, I can probably ski better than I can board but turning right really hurts.

turning right really hurts.

You are Derek Zoolander, AICMFP.

Not sure which is best here, but a part of me would be thinking that the support provided by a well fitting ski boot would be an advantage for a knackered ankle. I suppose it’s also about how said ankle was knackered and if lateral or vertical movements would be the more painful.

Either way, ski. It’s betterer. 😉

CaptainFlashheart – Member
Mates rates?

Well It’s not my company but I could probably sort 5 or 10% I expect.

Captain the ankle was knackered while skiing! I managed to break it on my first ever day.

It hurts to twist and it hurts to put a lot of pressure on it. Last season I was having to plow right and then do parallel left turns.

turning right really hurts

Go to the Dolomites and do the Sella Ronda.

Anti-clockwise. 😀

like

don’t go that way with a board though, else you’ll need to walk on the flat bit heading from selva to campitello

edit: which map is that one? it’s upside down.

Nice idea Graham but I’m already booked for Morzine for the first week in Feb.

Speaking of which I saw this vid on facebook and quite liked it. Its a long one but looks fun.

easy – do the PdS loop anticlockwise 🙂

Second snow season in Carinthia, Austria for me. Season ticket goes on sale next week!

One of these arrived yesterday for my better half. Very nice.