The STW Ski & Snowboard thread. The 2014-2015 season

Rumple – do both if you can afford it. There’s still a chance you may spend all your first week on your behind though. Or if you’re some of my mates – the first six weeks 🙂

Never say never GrahamS!
I did a season (well – 10 weeks) in 2008 – my partner was very accommodating & supportive and my daughter was a grown up teenager.

My kids are only 1 and 4! 😕
Maybe once they are bundled off to uni and I’ve retired!

I remember having dinner with a ski bum couple in Fernie who were in their 70s and they rode Morning Glory every day.

So I guess there is still time…

This reminds me of an English chap I skied with in January.
He asked to ski with me on some blacks. I was fine to let hubby go off piste so I didn’t hold him up.
I asked the chap what kind of skier he was, the reply was ‘advanced’. So of course I let him go in front. The snow was really deep and the conditions were fantastic. He fell so much and was so slow I just had to pass him and wait at the bottom. Oh well.

Oooh I like The mtbing scale. I sort of work out at 3.5 if that makes sense.

I remember having dinner with a ski bum couple in Fernie who were in their 70s and they rode Morning Glory every day

Fnarr fnarr! 🙂

Morning Glory – one of my favourites. I’m back in Fernie for nearly a month in January. Can’t wait! Then off to the Alps for 3 wks in March

My kids are only 1 and 4

Ahh … didn’t realise your family was quite so young. What made it easy for me was my daughter was off to Uni.

I had a chance to do a season (well 6-8 weeks) the Mrs was so resistant it was the final straw in getting a divorce !

I’m back in Fernie for nearly a month in January. Can’t wait! Then off to the Alps for 3 wks in March

I could go off you!

I’ve probably said this before but if you or anyone else is ever looking for a place to stay in Fernie then go here:

http://www.canadianpowdertours.com/thechalet.html

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Canadian-Powder-Tours/130951840351669

Fantastic place, very chilled home-from-home atmosphere, amazing food. Probably the best chalet I’ve ever stayed in.

lol … well I’ve been ‘pwned’ – I didn’t start snowboarding until I was 32 and my first winter holiday was in 2002!

ah ah! Sounds like you’re putting in the time and effort to push through though.

I remember a long time ago there was a guy in his 30’s at the local ski club (seemed ancient back then) who was a pretty typical Brit holiday skier i.e. pretty crap. But then he decided to make it a mission to pass his BASI 3 (back when that was the entry level). He did a season in France plus a load of BASI training courses and ended up a pretty decent instructor. So can be done of course, just not by someone of that age who skis 1 or 2 weeks per year on a holiday basis.

It’s a lot easier to progress if you start young, as with most things.

Grading? I’d classify myself as intermidiot.*

(Shamelessly stolen from SH!)

I can be only dream of achieving intermidiot standards.

I remember a long time ago there was a guy in his 30’s at the local ski club (seemed ancient back then) who was a pretty typical Brit holiday skier i.e. pretty crap.

You mean this sort of thing?

😀

**** me, that was my ski class all over again

I know that video comes around every year, but still….

😀

And this one….

I think the difference is that most Brits don’t really have much of a clue about what really good skiing or snowboarding is, so as far as they’re aware, they really are experts because they can slither around the mountain at speed for a week every winter

This is partly becuase skiing is more subtle than mountainbiking with regards to technique.

There is also a lot more snobbery about technique in skiing. Most bikers are happy to ride something clean with no dabs. Lots of skiers on the other hand will obsess over how something was skied.

If anyone is interested in transceivers and the like: Steve Achelis has just published a major update to his Beacon Reviews site.

The site was completely redesigned so you can find information faster:
[list]
[*]A new transceiver review page summarizes the Pros/Cons of each beacon.[/*]
[*]The appearance of the website now adjusts for phones and tablets.[/*]
[*]You can now search the website from any page.[/*]
[*]Most of the esoteric information has been moved to a Nerdy Details page.
[/*][/list]

The information about avalanche rescue is now organized into:
[list][*]Initial actions[/*]
[*]Searching[/*]
[*]Probing[/*]
[*]Shoveling[/*][/list]

I also added a new section about searching using a probe line (a topic I frequently teach).

Other updates:

[list]
[*]There’s a new chart showing the range that various transceivers receive a signal when the antennas are perpendicular. This range is probably more important than the traditional range charts that show the best-case ranges.
[/*]
[*]Every page was reviewed and updated (e.g., airbags, transceiver comparison, interference, search strip widths, user manuals, etc.).
[/*][/list]

This is my 11th year of publishing BeaconReviews.com and it’s probably the biggest update yet. FWIW, I invest my time in this project, sometimes begrudgingly, because I’m hopeful the information will save lives. Please tell your friends and colleagues about the site.

Stay Safe,
Steve Achelis

😀

That slingshot lift video is great.

That slingshot lift is mental, i thought it was like a 4 person rope tow but, blimey. Brilliant commentary.

As an ex-instructor and patroller there is an inverse relationship between the vocalisation of skiing skill and actual skills.

This is partly becuase skiing is more subtle than mountainbiking with regards to technique.

Also, people are generally free to talk up their skiing as much as they like, given how unlikely it is that you’ll ever bump into them in resort. I had a great conversation with a guy who described his last day in the Vallee Blanche in peak season. I asked if he felt nervous on the arête on the way down. He said that he found it tricky, but that he skied it well. His wife then revealed that it was his 3rd week on snow, but he’d been to the snowdome loads 🙂 😆

It’s more dangerous to do that with MTB since they person you’re bullshitting might suggest a ride together! 🙂

Ok let’s do this honestly then. I do the snowboarding thing, starting in my early 30s. Bust knees mean I can’t ski any more, though I did a little as a kid.

I skid most turns. I can carve (not well you understand), but I actually like the slidey feel of skidded turns. That said I don’t just go edge to edge straight down the fall line as suggested some people do.

I’m comfortable on reds and steeper blues, but I don’t like icy bits. I hate shallow / flat blues – there are times I’d rather walk these.

Edge of piste power is superb. The day after 8″ of fresh snow fell after the pisties had finished was even better. I’ve never experienced waist deep power – I suspect I’d love it right up until my first fall that I couldn’t get back up from.

My board is far higher end than I need but I like it and I can afford it. The same is true of my other board that I don’t really need.

I like high end kit I probably don’t need.

I am always aware that at the end of the day on the slopes there are two small boys who depend on my wife and I to look after them – note to self, go home in one piece Iain.

The older of those two boys is, at 8, probably already a better skier than I am boarder.

I will never be expert (the boys might).

Unless I move to the Alps for my retirement. Which isn’t impossible.

ou mean this sort of thing?

Ah the all time classic Kevin 🙂 Love it.

He was actually the more stiff robotic type you often see on Warren Smith tutorial vids (not Warren, but the Brits he’s typically teaching). Maybe they are typical Brit enthusiast skiers i.e. still a bit shit, but probably tell their mates how good they are 😉

FYI I will be riding powder (boarding) in Niseko, Japan for two weeks from end January. happy face

Nice one jamiep – Japan is definitely on my Bucket List, but it seems to be mighty expensive and a massive pain to get to. Would you mind revealing what you are paying and how you are travelling/staying?

In return here is a nice little article about Dunx from SCUK riding in Niseko.

New skins arrived last night, they are snowboard specific, but they may need a trim. If they do, are there any tips? Or is it just a case of sticking them on and running the pre supplied trim tool along the edge?

Thanks

jamiep me too. We arrive the last Saturday in January. I am so excited!

That Kevin video reminds me of my first trip, as I was leaving the chair with some of the other learners from my group, one of the girls put her ski on top of mine, as the chair pushed away I had no control over that foot and went to ground.

The chirpy attendant stopped the lift, wandered over and helped me up with the comment: “Well done for coming skiing”. What a guy!

Andorra Pas dela Casa for reference.

Last year I think I left every lift cleanly so no dramas luckily.

New skins arrived last night, they are snowboard specific

Which ones did you get? The G3 skins?

Trimmed my Black Diamond Glidelite skins with the supplied trim tool – was a bit apprehensive at first by was actually pretty straight forward

The Spark R&D tail-clip was a good investment – I think Spark’s skins are re-branded G3

GrahamS – Member
Nice one jamiep – Japan is definitely on my Bucket List, but it seems to be mighty expensive and a massive pain to get to. Would you mind revealing what you are paying and how you are travelling/staying?

It is more spendy than a week in France, of course, but not crazily high once flights are bought. We have gone diy rather than a package. it is fairly trouble free to get to.

Flight was £560, which was a steal. Manchester-Hong Kong then Hong Kong-Sapporo.
Shuttle coach transfer £20-25 each way
We have an apartment rather than a bunkhouse. About £48 a night, which wasn’t much more than a bunkhouse.
Lift pass is still to be bought but they are cheaper than Europe.
Food/drink is cheaper than France resorts

Cheers jamiep, that’s actually a lot more reasonable than the horror stories I’d heard. Maybe next year 😉

For comparison, our family half term trip to Les Deux Alpes for a week is costing us £3222 in total !!
(flights/accom for 3 adults and two kids + lift passes, kids club and lessons)

And my 2 week trip to Whistler comes in at: £2412 pp
(Flights/accom = £1362, 2 days catboarding = £650, 10 day pass = £400)

Ah well.. it’s only money eh? 😯

Going back to the carving conversation. Here is Ryan Knapton ably demonstrating carving on a board:

And then ably demonstrating that it is the rider, not the board:

Which ones did you get? The G3 skins?

Yes, they’re the Burton x G3 skins. Tails clips was the main reason for getting them. I did buy two sets of the Spark tail clips but could never fit them as our current skins are too short. In fact they talkies are in the loft – I really should chuck ’em in eBay.

jamiep That’s a fantastic price for flights, our group paid between £800 – 1000.

GrahamS You forgot the $1000 you’re going to spend in the GLC 😉

10 day pass = £400

Wow … that’s pretty reasonable for BC – I thought Whistler would be about $100 CAN per day [with a discount for multi-days]

I think Fernie is over $80 CAN per day this season – hence why I bought my ‘early bird’ season pass in June!

You forgot the $1000 you’re going to spend in the GLC

And that’s just for a pitcher of beer & some nachos! 😉

Here is Ryan Knapton ably demonstrating carving on a board

Gotta love a bit of ‘layback carving’! 8)

Wow … that’s pretty reasonable for BC – I thought Whistler would be about $100 CAN per day [with a discount for multi-days]

It’s about $110 per day over Xmas/NY, but then dips a bit.

Reasonable discount for multi days, but I agree that £400 for 10 days seems a bit cheap, I didn’t think you could even get 8 for that in peak season?

GrahamS You forgot the $1000 you’re going to spend in the GLC

Excellent point! Our trip is self-catering so add in costs for large pitchers of beer and the odd burger. 😀

£400 for 10 days seems a bit cheap

We booked the lift tickets direct through the Whistler website back in November for a trip that starts on March 7th. So Early Bird discount and not exactly peak season.

If you do a bit of searching it looks like a 10 day pass for around then is now $748 CAN, which is about £420 at current rates, so it hasn’t changed much.

Gotta love a bit of ‘layback carving’!

The man has undeniable steeeeeeeze!

If you do a bit of searching it looks like a 10 day pass for around then is now $748 CAN, which is about £420 at current rates

Nice! 🙂 Intrawest must be getting generous in their old age!

btw – if conditions are peachy or you just fancy being up the ski hill super early then have a look at the ‘Fresh Tracks’ breakfast up on Whistler!

Yeah tempted by that Digby. Is it worth doing?
Can you go where you like (within reason)?

I’ve seen “Fresh Tracks” at other resorts where you all end up coming down the same few runs of freshly groomed corduroy, which defeats the purpose for me (though the skiers love it).

Oooh that ‘Kevin’ video still has me howling with laughter. Those are very short skis they put him on, even for the days before parabolic.

My hairy tow moment was in Passo Tonale. The only way up to one of the black runs was a walk up hill, carrying skis. A bright spark started towing 8 people on ropes tied to the back of his ski-do. You were completely relying on the others being proficient, which of course some weren’t, it was a case of hanging on and just watching others either enjoying the ride, or panicking and falling all over the show. There was a lot of swerving going on. Much fun.

Edit : I think health and safety banned this practise a few years ago and there is a tow lift up there now.

Intrawest must be getting generous in their old age!

Didn’t Intrawest sell their stake in WB a few seasons back?

I’d agree, and recommend giving the Early Bird a miss. They don’t open much up and you’ll end up pigging out on bacon and waiting for the loo! If it does dump just get up early and join the lift line with a coffee, it will only get longer.

Yeah tempted by that Digby. Is it worth doing?

Depends entirely on the conditions, so there’s always going to be an element of luck:

Too much snow fall and the patrollers won’t have everything opened up and too little and you’ll be cruising the groomers.

It was March ’06 when I did it at Whistler – a good few inches of a freshies and whilst lots of folks were still stuffing breakfast I managed 3 laps off the Harmony chair before I saw another soul.

Either way I reckon it’s a change of pace and a nice way to beat the morning crowds!

Didn’t Intrawest sell their stake in WB a few seasons back?

I wasn’t aware of that – A quick Google shows that yeah .. they sold the last of their shares in WB in 2012 … probably explains the change in pricing!

a nice way to beat the morning crowds!

A Canadian “crowds” 😀

We were out with a board guide in Fernie one year (the rather fantastically named “Napoleon Champagne”) and he took us to some runs above the pistes.

When we made it back down onto the pistes he was moaning that it was “so busy” and “way too crowded man”.

I reckon there were about 20 folk there. Tops. 😆

I always wondered what he’d make of the Alps at half term!

I realise Whistler is quite a bit busier than Fernie by the way, but even then there is “Canada Busy”:

And there is “Alps Busy”: