The STW Ski & Snowboard thread. The 2015-2016 season

Oh go on then, I know it usually/traditionally starts in August, but just to keep Geoff happy….

Here it is again, everyone! The STWS&S thread, back for another year, and hopefully as successful, useful and mirthful as ever!

So, what have you got planned? What are you hoping for? Any kit lust we should know about?

For me? Well, am planning to get back to Montana again, as Bridger Bowl was so utterly brilliant. Am hoping to be able to get out to Big Sky this year as well though. Looks ace;

That aside, it’s pretty much time to get the family out to Serre Chevalier, as Little Miss CFH would thrive on skis, I reckon.

Kit? Well, if the 2016 versions are anything like as good as the ones I had in Bridger, Nordica NRGY 100s are going to be my “go to” quiver killer.

Not that there’s really any need for a few house rules, but…

No blades. No discussion of blades, unless it’s derision. 🙂
Erm, that’s about it really.

GO!

Booked a family week in February to Val di Fassa with our two boys who will be 5 & 3 by then. I’ll be on a nice new Lib Tech Mark Landvik Phoenix, starting to get a little excited 😀

Soooooo – recommendations for a week at Christmas in the Alps for beginners/intermediates? I guess it needs to be high – Cervina?

Norway Norway and more Norway with a little bit of Sweden thrown in.

Spring Break tree hunter ( the lairy green one ) and I may get one of the Craig Kelly re-issue Burtons if I can get over their channel system.

Managed to get some turns in June so only 5 months to go

Week in portes du soleil going Easter, 25/3/16, staying in morzine. Got big Appartment and sharing with some friends. We are bringing our 2 boys age 12 and 14.

Oldest boy has new slash happy place, looking forward to trying it too.

Fingers crossed for a good late season.

Simone

Two weeks in Morzine, probably – Feb and March! Yey!

Bugger it, missed out on last years as the wife was pregnant. Have reluctantly conceeded that heading out boarding with a ~6 month old is slightly too young for the nursery. So am looking forward to 2016/2017

Christmas and NY at my sisters in the Pyrenees so will get a couple of days in then. Either Andorra/Ax/Mont D’olmes.

Then hoping to get to Samoens in Feb, but might end up in the Pyrenees again.

As for new kit, I want a new Helmet! Orange if I can find a tasteful one!!

Booked flights to Geneva for first week of Xmas holidays .

Havent decided on accomodation yet ?
Dont really want to go back to Les gets due to lack of snow last year .

thinking Morzine ?

any suggestions for a self catering flat ?

Les Gets, Easter.

9 year old has to master clean parallels on black and off piste this time to get his next ESI badge – and we’ve promised him a snowboard lesson.

4 year old (5 by then) gets to do his second proper week.

And I have some nice (well OK loud green) goretex Sweet Protection trousers that I got in the sales in April.

That buying club that’s like a hole in your bank account have a lot of Dakine stuff in at the moment.

Might get some slushy ice combat Jedi skiing in just after Crimbo as I’ve booked into a holiday rental for New Years week in the highlands.

But for actual skiing that’s likely to happen. Not sure, GF wants to go to Whistler. But I’ve seen chatter about a weather thing in the Pacific that’s making me think twice. I can’t stand that thought of a 7 month snow dance ffs.

So there’s a desire to head over the pond for two weeks, but I’ve no idea where. The more I look, the more places I’d like to ski.

If that doesn’t come together fairly soon. Åre for a week, and maybe Austria or Cervinia for another week.

Hopefully I’ll still be in Whistler, if not I’ll likely be living in Vancouver so still plenty opportunity for skiing. I progressed so much last season from being intimidated on even the easy blue runs to skiing down double blacks at the end of season I’m keen to get to the parts of the mountain that were still a little out of reach last year.

Bumper year for us this year – Courcheval twice (Jan & March) then a Obergurgl to finish.

So there’s a desire to head over the pond for two weeks, but I’ve no idea where.

Montana.

I’ve fallen hopelessly in love with it as a state. 🙂

Not sure where to go this season I need a new lid too. Boards are ready to be waxed and edged and I’m eyeing up banf, just need to brainwash myself that 8 hours in a tin can with other people is a fun time.

Mini cobrakai will only be 10 months in February so very much doubt this season will happen. A couple from our NCT group did say they would consider a chalet and child care share though.

I’ve still got my Swiss wall, first run on a powder day memory from last season that should keep me going.

Montana.
I’ve fallen hopelessly in love with it as a state.

Can I be the first to ask, how would you describe yourself, farmboy or redneck?

Something different for us this year, after failing to secure tickets to the Rio Olympics I think we’re going to spend our money heading south and do a few weeks in New Zealand’s South Island. I’m thinking Wanaka and Queenstown. I’m a little bit excited.

i’ve booked an awesome chalet in tacconaz for mid january for two weeks baby!

Got a group going out to Les Arcs, some driving and some flying, going to arrange a Chalet. But given the differences in travel arrangements what would the hive mind do for booking, travel agents or flights and tenders billed separately? Group is about 10 people with about half flying. Also, any recommended sites to look at for Chalets?

Can I be the first to ask, how would you describe yourself, farmboy or redneck?

You’ve clearly not been to Montana recently! 🙂
It’s got all the latest steezy stylings on the slopes!

And some lovely cloth of the king!

Sometimes the pistes are really crowded.

Luckily, the back country’s pretty sweet too!

Verbier, to hopefully get a bit more use out of these:

CFH – just jealous. I’m just back from Des Moines, Iowa. I didn’t fall in love with the snowy mountains.

Strangely.

Looking at a cheeky short one with Mrs DTs and some friends in Jan and a week with the kids at half term.
Have put my ambitions for the Murren Inferno on the back burner for the moment due to lack of fitness and a poorly knee. Anyone have any Inferno Experience? For those that don’t know, think Mega Avalanche on skis.

Having owned a property in Sainte Foy for the best part of 12 years, I have decided to do a season (while I still can!).

tragically1969, nice boots. I think they will be my next pair.

It’s going to be hard not to go back to the Lyngen Alps again for more of this:

But Lofoten is calling too. And it would be good to do a non-touring trip as well: 10,000m of descent in 8 days last year. Not a huge total!

Anyone GPS their lift skiing and got weekly totals?

Not sure yet. Mrs NBT broke her hip last year so wasn’t allowed to go on the trip we’d already booked for january just gone – as an understanding wife she insisted that I go ahead anyway as I’d done all the arranging (19 people in a ski in/out chalet in Reberty). We’re hoping that the consultant will give her the okay to ski this year, but even if he does she doesn’t yet feel ready to ski so it may be a barren year 🙁 😐

Niseko booked, Sauze D’Oulx on the cards. The new season’s looking good so far 😀

Looking at a Feb trip with the family anyone ever been to the Altitude Apartments in Les Arc 2000 with Esprit?

tragically1969, nice boots. I think they will be my next pair

Yeah they are, I got them as a second stiffer pair as I have the normal Maestrale as a lighter setup but they surprised me as they are a lower volume fit when they are *meant* to be exactly the same shell as the normal Maestrale.

DT, haven’t been to that chalet, but really enjoyed Les Arcs. 2000 is a bit of a faceless French resort like Flaine, but excellent skiing.

Bluebird, Sauze is a lot of fun. Be sure to have pizza at Orso Bianco at Sportinia. Was there at Christmas once and there was a bar in the village with a chalk board outside advertising “mince pies”. Someone had doctored the c. 😀

Still count as skiing…

Elder son is doing ski club at Xscape tomorrow, 0830 to 1730.

Turns out he’s grown and we don’t have any gloves that fit him any more.

DT – having skied in Les Arcs a couple of times, if I was going with a family I would try and head for 1800 or Vallandry. 2000 is ok but it lacks atmosphere and the layout is confusing and awkward – possibly not great for little ones.

Thanks for the input guys. My dad was suggesting it was a bit high for the kids, I think he must remember me and my sister being a PITA at Thyon 2000! I like the look of Paisey but it looks a bit out on a limb.

Off to Japan in Feb for 3 week honeymoon. Nice 🙂

cchris2lou – Member
Booked flights to Geneva for first week of Xmas holidays .

Havent decided on accomodation yet ?
Dont really want to go back to Les gets due to lack of snow last year .

thinking Morzine ?

Morzine is lower than Les Gets. If you want to go high in PDS then you need to go to Avoriaz, but even that isn’t that high.

@Flashy, not this year.

Slowly, painfully, edging towards Austria.

Arlberg, last two weeks in January. Would I regret it?

Because you’re skiing over grass Les Gets works even with minimal snow. Higher places need more cover because they tend to be rockier. Late season that’s not a problem because they will have accumulated all season and melt later than lower down, but early season? In the early season at least if Les Gets is not working then most of PdS will be similar. Go somewhere else.

Of course all generalisations are normally wrong.

Does anyone specialise in short break ski trips, the annual group holiday has finally died off with too many kids at school and other responsibilities but we reckon we could squeeze a long weekend together.

Challenge is getting 10-20 people (depending on who goes) together from all over the country into one place.

We stopped for ice cream in Peisey a couple of days ago – it’s really beautiful – a proper French village. It’s at the bottom of the lobster pots, which is right underneath the Vanoise – I don’t know if you know the area but that’s the cable car linking Les Arcs with La Plagne – I think it’d be a great base for a holiday.