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

Duane – as someone has suggested, check out UCPA. Great all-in deals in either Paradiski or 3V.

cheers whatnobeer – if you think of yourself as an average skier then you might have a good idea of what I’d enjoy, where to try and find untracked terrain 😀

so I need intermediate level boots for a heavy bloke,

First off it’s a really good idea to get your own boots. But as for type of boot, it’s more a matter of fit, weight and your range of ankle flex rather than beginner, intermediate or expert level boots. A good boot fitter will put you in the optimum boot for your foot shape, weight and ankle flex while taking account of your skill level. Basically there is a trade-off between comfort and close fit. An expert racer will demand a mega-close fit to the point of being uncomfortable for all day use. A more casual intermediate will be fine with a bit more boot volume in the right places.

EB is not generally the best place to get a decent boot fit, although some are better than others. EB is the Evans Cycles of the ski world.

Where do you live? I may be able to recommend a good boot fitter.

Just out of interest is snowboard boot fit as important as ski boot fit?

Obviously you can get different stiffness boots but they all tend to have quite a lot of padding and in general are more comfortable than ski boots.

Quick one, I’ve been snowboarding quite a few times now, always booked in advance.

Smaller gorup this time 2-3 people. We are thinking of booking an agreed week off work early March, then going last minute depending on snow. Is this a good idea? is it significantly cheaper and it it possible? All flying from London probably

thanks!

Thank moshimonster, I’m Cambridge based so was looking at MK EB, based on a friend having been and saying he’d had a fitting, been out and used the boots for a trip then come back to exchange after finding problems with them and had no problems with the exchange – however, does suggest they weren’t right first time, but I assume boot fit/comfort is a difficult thing to judge without a handy slope to use for a day or 2.

Willing to consider recommendations though so please let me know if you have any.

🙂

I-Ache – ask my wife about snowboard boot fit.

She thought pain was normal after about an hour, to the point she was taking her boots off at every stop (read beer). Then she tried some Northwaves on. Less foot movement than her previous Burtons and more comfort too.

She just didn’t have Burton shaped feet.

Bought the Northwaves and it transformed the holiday.
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Toby1 – Ellis Brigham / TSA at Castleford let you try demo boots on the slope I think, if that’s any help (it may not be)

Thanks igm, just like ski boots then.

Quick one, I’ve been snowboarding quite a few times now, always booked in advance.

Smaller gorup this time 2-3 people. We are thinking of booking an agreed week off work early March, then going last minute depending on snow. Is this a good idea? is it significantly cheaper and it it possible? All flying from London probably

thanks!
@howsyourdad – this is an excellent plan and one I have used frequently. Book time and flights now. Pick the cheap weeks in early March (after half term before easter). Then look for deals, there are always some (can be 30-50% off). You will definitely get good snow as if its a poor season you pick a high resort, if it’s a good season you go where you want.

Jon Taylor – regarding Whistler, you could ask over on snowheads.com. They are the skiing and snowboarding version of STW.

As I understand it Whistler and Blackcombe are ski areas (inbound), rather than piste and off piste. If you want to ski out of bounds it’s better to find a guide and pay for a day out. Or even better if you can afford it, go heliskiing.

OK STW, more advice. Seeing as I’m going to be working in Whistler for a good chunk of the winter now would seem like a good time to invest in my own gear – Skis, bindings and boots. I plan on getting these when I arrive in Canada, so just looking for advice on what to look for? Thinking new boots, 2nd hand skis and bindings? What models/features are best to look for for a decent, but not amazing skier?

I-ache:

Snowboard boot fit is indeed just as important as ski boot fit.

Important points:

Width is pretty crucial.

Too wide and your heel/ankle will not be held down properly and you’ll get heel lift when you try to ride on your toe edge.

Too narrow and it might feel OK in the shop, but when you then strap bindings on and start crushing your foot from two directions at once, you’ll get mega foot-pain.

If it feels really cushy in the shop, it’ll probably feel sloppy on the mountain pretty quickly. But don’t go for the “2 sizes smaller than your trainers” nonsense either.

There is such a thing as too stiff. Ankle flex is essential in snowboarding and if you have a boot that sets like concrete, you won’t be able to flex your ankles. If you ride all season long and will quickly break-in and soften your boots, go stiff. If you’re a 1-2 weeks a year rider, maybe look at something softer.

I’ve had my last couple of pairs custom-fitted by Sole in Chamonix (I have weird square feet – 5’11”, 14-stone bloke with size 7 feet, so they’re really wide!). Highly recommended! They’re pretty opinionated in there and the only snowboard boot brands they’ll consider are Salomon, Ride and Deelux.

I’m riding Salomon Malamutes at the moment (stiff!) which are probably my favourite boots ever but the recent Ride boots look awesome as well. Last pair were Deelux which were eventually a really, really good fit, but the breaking-in process was painful, even with the boots heavily customised.

So what are everyones targets for the year – either specific lines / activities or improvement goals?

I’d like to ski something steep off piste and feel like I’ve skied it, not just hacked my way down it.

I’ve got loads of lines I’d like to ski in Scotland but that’s largely outwith my control.

I’d like to do some proper ski-mountaineering in the alps.

and finally I’d like to sort my arms out.

That’ll do for now. 🙂

keen to find out where the best bits of accessible off-piste are (we don’t mind a bit of a hike or skinning).

If you’ve fancy a bit of lift assisted hiking on Whistler you should get yourself on the Symphony Express. There is an inbound hike into Flute/North Flute which are patrolled but ungroomed bowls. They groom a cat track up to the summit so the hike in is straight forward and only about 20 minutes.

If you want to go out of bounds you can skin off the back and over to Oboe from the top of the Flute hike. And if you’re fit/fast enough and there’s enough day light push on to Cowboy Ridge. (Obviously I’d recommend getting a guide unless you’re very competent in the back country).

On Blackcomb Spanky’s ladder will give you access to some great ungroomed, but patrolled skiing/riding. It can be busy if it’s dumped, but worth joining the line and waiting if it has. The Everglades in 7th Heaven are also great if it’s dumped.

Whistler/Blackcomb is a race to get fresh tracks, if it dumps get up early, grab a coffee and join the lift queue early. The fresh stuff really doesn’t last for long.

Specfic targets?

Even more smiling and laughter than last year.

Beyond that… well actually beyond that nothing. I’m never going to be great on a snowboard, but I am going to cruise around, look at the views, enjoy food and drink I bars in the mountains and watch our boys become far better on the snow than my wife and I.

Life is good.

One thing about boot fit that’s easily overlooked is volume.

I knew my feet were relatively wide across the forefoot, but with a narrow heal, Salomon and 32 were pretty good, but never quite right until someone pointed out my feet were “thin” – I made myself a few different volume reducer insoles (2, 4 and 6mm out of sheets of paper and parcel tape) and take them with me when I when I’m trying on boots.

Very happy with 4mm in Malamutes. They’re getting a bit soft and packed out after a few years and a fair bit of hiking and split-boarding, but I took all the stiffening plastic inserts out when I bought them, so there’s a bit to win back there.

Plus I’m interested in the deelux style mountaineery snowboard boots, and another year of development can only be a good thing. Maybe Salomon might even jump in at some point.

nedrapier – I had the Deelux Sparks. They’re good (very good in fact). Very comfortable, stiffness is just right and the vibram soles works very well for splitboarding/mountaineering. The down-side for me was that the sole is very thick and relatively narrow. This means that you can feel a bit high and wobbly when riding in them and your feet can slop around a little in normal bindings.

I went back to a more standard boot (Malamute) for my next pair. For the amount of touring I do, the difference is pretty marginal and they feel more stable for day-to-day riding.

Ideally, I’d have 2 pairs of boots, one for normal riding, one for big tours, but can’t really justify that right now.

Season’s goals? Get my head around boardslides and smash some boardercross races.

If I am allowed any time at all, ride as much steeps and powder as possible.

I’m riding Salomon Malamutes at the moment

These are my default boots as well, but a boot-fitter once told me I had typical ‘Salomon Feet’, suggested Malamutes and I’ve never looked back!

I’ve had a few pairs of Malamutes ‘pack down’ rather quickly but for the past couple of seasons I’ve been rotating the liners and just using the newest liners for day-to-day riding and the older liners for touring (with a pair of outers that I’ve cut the ‘Integrated Heel Strap’ buckle out as this was causing pressure pain when my boots were cranked up tight.

I’ve definitely come to the conclusion that touring dramatically accelerates boot pack-down …

I was also interested in the Deelux Sparks you mentioned stevomcd – sounds like there’s a bit of a compromise when using normal bindings

Seasons goals … well this is likely to be my last ‘big season’ so I’m also hoping to ride as much steep & deep as I can!

I’d also really like to do a stylish method that doesn’t look like I’m just trying to b1tch-slap my board! 😳

If I am allowed any time at all, ride as much steeps and powder as possible.

you’re the boss 😉

Just looking at winter and especially summer bookings FYI (need to be quick as they are selling out !). I see season doesn’t start till 20th again with you, looking for an early week again.

I was also interested in the Deelux Sparks you mentioned stevomcd – sounds like there’s a bit of a compromise when using normal bindings

It’s noticeable, but still very slight – I wouldn’t let it put you off.

It’s noticeable, but still very slight – I wouldn’t let it put you of

cheers for the feedback stevomcd! greatly appreciated 🙂

Just looking at winter and especially summer bookings FYI (need to be quick as they are selling out !). I see season doesn’t start till 20th again with you, looking for an early week again

We’re starting on 13th December in some of our chalets. Special offer price for the week – €499 with lift pass.

Nice, let me discuss/email you.

So what are everyones targets for the year – either specific lines / activities or improvement goals?

Its just me and the wife going snowboarding so it shall be a fairly chilled affair this year. Mostly cruising and taking in the scenery.

Have been recommended hot chocolate and brandy as the ideal mountain tipple….so this year I shall mostly perfecting ordering and drinking those.

So what are everyones targets for the year

actually go? might fail on that one though.

actually go?

That would be a start!

Get back to skiing with a bit of confidence, bust my ACL in Dec 2012 and last year’s skiing was pretty tentative to say the least, delighted to have been on the snow but it was all very cautious.

My target is to get much better at riding in powder….full time lessons in Tignes hopefully in Feb so this should help!

Also really want to get my 180s and Tailslides nailed (snowboarderist aint I)

….and to get monumentally pissed on the Tuseday night UCPA blowout again, that’d be nice 🙂

Also really want to get my 180s and Tailslides nailed (snowboarderist aint I)

I think there are 64 different 180s , which ones do you want to get? Good target mind, 180s are crucial crucial crucial

Just off my heels, maybe with a grab in there 🙂

In about a zillion attempts I’ve landed 1 perfectly!

There’s already plenty of snow on the peaks here in Montana! 🙂

Sadly, not sure there’s enough to open yet, and besides I’m stuck in the office. 🙁

As I understand it Whistler and Blackcombe are ski areas (inbound), rather than piste and off piste. If you want to ski out of bounds it’s better to find a guide and pay for a day out. Or even better if you can afford it, go heliskiing.

While in NZ we rarely ski groomed trails. Ella’s a real good skier and I’ll try and follow her down some stuff but she’s quite interested to find out how much ungroomed stuff there will be accessible form the Whistler/BC lifts.

Most of the ski fields we ski round here are patrolled but ungroomed bowls/terrain see my pic on the previous page 🙂

Her current plan is for 3-4 days in Whislter/BC and then a day touring around Squamish. She has the backcountry skills – I tried to do some avalanche skills stuff this season but the snow wasn’t good enough to run the courses while we were around in the early part of the season. So yeah – we may choose to do that guided so we get the most out of it and stay safe.

bluebird – cheers – that’s the sort of stuff Ella’s keen to find out 🙂

Re: Targets.

Pass the addiction to snow onto the next generation. My elder daughter is the same age as I was when I started, no pressure, just mucking about on and in snow. We will be on a big family ski trip with three generations, including, my Sister, my Nephews and Niece.
Can’t wait.

there is TONS of ungroomed stuff which is lift accessible in Whistler, even more if you are prepared to hike foir a few minutes – try Spankys ladder for access to the Gemstone Bowls (Sapphire, DIamind, Ruby etc)

It won’t be untracked, but it won’t be groomed

If you are serious about finding the best stashes, are happy looking after yourself in terms of terrain and related dangers and don’t want to hire a guide, you could try this

Advanced/Expert Ski and Snowboard Guide to Whistler Blackcomb (3rd Edition)

My pal had the first edition when he was out there for a season and used it quite a bit. He took us on a 20 minutes hike round Flute Bowl for some of the loveliest fluffy powder I’ve ever ridden. They’ve now built a lift up there 🙁

edit – found a few of my pics showing the bootpack along the ridge at the top of spankys ladder and our descent through Ruby

Heading up on the bootpack

Looking back along the bootpack (at least one person said it was easier on skis)

One dropping into the chute, one waiting – the skiier in the photo has admitted it’s the one time he was genuinely frightened, and this from a chap who broke his arm ina fall at Jackson Hole the previous season!

One clear, time for the next one to drop in

Wooo, steep!

Did we really ski that? Yes we did. The “chute”, as far as I can make out, is the wider openeing directly under the sun, although I’d be very happy to be corrected (my pics seem to show untouched snow in the narrower chute to the right). The line of trees in the centre of the photo pointing to the bottom right divides “Playland” from the bowl itself

Off to Lofoten for 10 days snowboard mountaineering in April 😛
https://vimeo.com/42116710

Thank moshimonster, I’m Cambridge based so was looking at MK EB

In that case, I would recommend driving a bit further to Solutions 4 Feet in Bicester. They are one of the best, if not THE best boot fitters in the UK. Different class to MK EB and not just for experts, all levels. Last time I was there Graham Bell was in there having a boot fit. So he obviously thinks it’s worth the trip.

oooh, nick. oooooh.

Where are you staying?

I am tucked up in bed with a stinking cold so downloaded Higher, the third of the Jeremy Jones films.

It is abolutely mind blowing, the first two were good, but this is a whole new level of mental!

I can’t recommend it enough

Lofoten looks amazing!!! Wow!

Cheers moshi, tip duly noted 🙂