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

Just to (hopefully) reignite the ski/ snowboard debate ,what with previous references to ‘cool kids’ etc .I primarily ride but can ski too. Snowboarding and its association with other board sports ( skating and surfing) and its their associated way of life (anti establishment I guess, freedom from rules) will always mean it’s cooler than skiing . Plus it’s all about style . Flame on!

@stoner, we will be back in Avoriaz as we all loved it. Probably February instead of xmas.

i learned to board 4 yrs ago. never wanted to ski and have no intention of doing so. i just dont like the way it looks
snowboarding = styles for miles

😀

I was just looking at flights and have got the nod from Mrs stoner to come back out first week in Feb before the HT (£58 return, bargin). Am back out again with friends early March too, and then again the week after easter with family. Should get some decent snow along the way.

If you are around early Feb we will get a chance to catch up as I will be on my own with a bit more freedom to get about.

Howsyourdad, not if the people skiing or boarding are trying that hard to be cool.

Going to bring my own board on my two outings this year so thinking I’ll get it down out of the loft where it’s been for years and service it. Easy to DIY? Or best to bring to someone who knows his or her shizzle? If the latter, any recommendations for Brizzle?

never wanted to ski and have no intention of doing so

Fair enough … we must all walk to the beat of our own drummer.

After years of just snowboarding, I had ski lessons to help with my splitboarding. Sometimes to progress in your chosen path you have to take a step back and approach it from a slightly different angle ..

Easy to DIY?

Very easy indeed … as long as you’ve got the kit. (loads of HOWTOs on the YouTube)

The Dakine ‘Super Tune’ (i.e. the one with the iron) or similar is a good starter kit.

Some form of purchased or home made stand is also necessary (the ones like ‘g-clamps’ that clamp on a worksurface are good)

Question is whether it’s worth it … if you are only servicing one board for one week a year then it’s probably just easier to take it to a shop in resort. If you’ve got a quiver and are riding multiple weeks/trips then it’s worth the investment I reckon!

In Brizzle I would take it to Chris at Ellis Brigham, he’s been at it long enough to know his “Shizzle”

I got shown how to do a wax and edge tune and my conclusion was ‘I’ll probably not be bothering doing that again’.

Useful to know how I guess but in general much less hassle to just take it to a shop, and not exactly expensive.

Just to (hopefully) reignite the ski/ snowboard debate ,what with previous references to ‘cool kids’ etc .I primarily ride but can ski too. Snowboarding and its association with other board sports ( skating and surfing) and its their associated way of life (anti establishment I guess, freedom from rules) will always mean it’s cooler than skiing . Plus it’s all about style . Flame on!

I mostly agree, but:

Deadly, For a shop service, I would take it in well before you are booked to go away as they do get busy. That goes for anywhere though.

AdH for me a week on Saturday, I am dancing for snow 🙁

Hokay guys, cheers. Shop it is then. Thanks for suggestions.

I mostly agree, but:

See also the JP Auclair street section from All I Can and/or Candide Thovex’s One of Those Days.

You’ve got to be pretty lucky or a complete nut to get a clean run through the vallée perdue. The second jump to patch of grass was a bit squeaky bum!

That ski video is fantastic but I’m not sure what you agree on? That they are not as stylish as snowboarders ? 😀

Both disciplines are full of gapers, haters and pretentious cocks.
Ride, enjoy yourself and don’t worry about the pigeon holing that some people find oh so important.

Just had a remarkably good day here in Avoriaz. Managed 70 km of pistes with some pretty decent runs (interspersed with stone, rocks and grass patches in places). Have trashed my skies, but all things considered, much better than we expected and all due to the dedication of the resort team who are scaping snow off the grass by hand to patch up the runs and keeping the place open!

Yesterday at Sunshine was awesome. Just a little bit of snow falling and warmer because of it. had a great day, but I have been forced to take a rest day by Mrs. Willard instead of getting back out there again today. Ah well, never mind.

I did get to go to the gym last night though and had a superb steak too.

Plus it’s all about style . Flame on!

No, it’s all about smiles.

gaper – A gaper is a skiier or snowboarder who is completely clueless. Usually distiungished by their bright colored clothes and a gaper gap, the gap between goggles and a helment/hat. Gapers also do the “Gaper Tuck” which is an attempt at being a ski racer by tucking, however, it is done incorrectly with the poles sticking straight up like thunderbolts and lighting, very very frightning! Gapers also sit at the bottom of jumps and try and go big off table tops in the park.

That sounds awfully like me. Except the park bit. I never ride park.

I only ride park.

Psikk, braw.

Baits line, hooks Flashy

poles sticking straight up like thunderbolts and lighting, very very frightning!

Its always best , when taking the mickey , to ensure correct Ingleeesh is used.

PSA – starting 8.00 pm channel 5 ‘Help I’m snow trapped’.

You should sue the urban dictionary STM 😉

I’ll back you up – I mean putting STW in the situation where the correct quote is incorrect English – what a quandary for your pedantically correct STWer.

And back to the S&S thread…

I’m about to book accommodation for Cervinia, but I have a couple of questions.

1. Is it going to be OK driving up to the resort in April? Am I likely to need to get snow chains for the car and is it likely to be a ball ache vs a transfer from Malpensa?
2. Any heated lockers in the town or at lift stations? I don’t mind a bit of a walk into town, but It’ll be a pain if having to carry all the gear.
3. Any top tips around deals on lift passes etc?

Edit – Also any recommendations for an apartment to sleep 4 would be good.

Very excited 😀

The words “heavy snow” appear in the snow forecast for AdH on Saturday, Sunday and Monday 😀

Yeah possibly 40cm or so forecast in Sauze D’Oulx in the next few days too I think.

geoffj –

1. Can’t guarantee it, but you shouldn’t need chains. The road up to town is wide, fairly straight and a reasonably gentle gradient. It is well looked after if there is any snow.

2. No idea about lockers. When we stayed there we were about 50m from the nearest lift so didn’t bother with lockers.

3. I can’t imagine there will be many/any deals on lift passes. The most you can expect is a reduction due to it being late season. Everywhere usually sells lift passes at the same price.

Re snow chains and cervinia you may need them legally ? We once slid our way up there in a hire car without when there was a fair covering so I don’t think the gradient is that steep though.

Agree with avoriaz comments. They are working miracles considering lack of snowfall for a month. Here with family and loads for boys to do in thier first three days on snow. I’m iust hoping this dump comes forward to tonight as they’ve come on enough to be taken up to the high ridge to look at dents du midi and the blue down but only if it comes into a bit of condition. Blues running as reds with patches of ice and mounds of sugar snow from cannons. Whilst I’d love some pow I’m just treating it as a challenge and getting decent miles in round the beautiful sunny mountains. The wife is finding it tough though as she wants easy blues to cruise and is lacking confidence for ice. Looking at the forecast I Might be putting chains on for the drive to the valley floor sat lunchtime though !!!

I’m doing the snow dance with Shifter, AdH for us to on the 9th.
A friend in Flaine describes it as icy with stones and rocks so fingers crossed there too.

Heavy Snow morning, noon and night for Tuesday 🙂

Yeah possibly 40cm or so forecast in Sauze D’Oulx in the next few days too I think.

I really hope so, we’re flying there on Sunday …

I really hope so, we’re flying there on Sunday …

Pizza at Orso Bianco. Thank me later.

Pizza at Orso Bianco. Thank me later.

It better be good! Mrs Bluebrd used to live in Rome is a right pizza snob 😀

Bit thin in Alvoriaz (nr Mossettes)

Untitled by Ben Freeman[/url], on Flickr

I really hope so, we’re flying there on Sunday …

Well I dunno which report to believe – doesn’t look like there’s gonna be a mega dump but it looks quite snowy on saturday then again during the week.

This reckons 74cm in the next 9 days:

http://www.skiclub.co.uk/skiclub/snowreports/snowreport.aspx/Sauze-dOulx#.VoU0ezbdvgo

Just got back from Sestriere (MilkyWay area). The Olympic hotel had a stand selling tickets for £5 less then Crystal/Official ticket office.

Despite there being hardly any runs open – they were excellent.

There is a forecast for over 100cm of snowfall on upper avoriaz slopes over the next few days.
http://www.snow-forecast.com/resorts/Avoriaz/6day/top
Lucky for some. We’re off tomorrow unfortunately, but I’m back on 2nd Feb.