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

Bikeverbier posted a rather worrying picture today, out biking at 1100m surrounded by grassy fields

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Pretty damn snowy* in my garden at 900m!

*Snow, ice, slush, muddy gunge. Whichever variety you like, my garden has it…

The snow is still great in Avoriaz even though it was really mild today. Cutting into some deep moguls on a couple of pistes higher up around Fornet where loads of people have headed. Bit of a nightmare for me but that’s because I’m rubbish 🙄

Mostly excellent though 🙂

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Fun day yesterday. Around 12″ of new in 24 hrs.

great news. Im on the plane tomorrow morning, will be up at avoriaz on wednesday.

D, pm me if you get a chance and we me get a chance for a beer, M

Conditions not great in Sauze. Afternoon slush was fun in the sun though and I got to try out my touring setup. It’s pretty bare in general though – links to Sestriere etc shut. Gonna check out Montgenevre by minibus I think.

Decent dump is forecast for the day we leave apparently! Enjoy your pow. 😐

Grum .
skied Montgenevre last Thursday. It wasnt great , some linking runs were shut already . Some porridge early afternoon on the south facing slopes. There are some very long chairs to get you up and away from the town, they arent the fastest. The GB developemnt lad we were talking with reckoned that MG had the best snow in the area ( via Lattea).
Best area was south of the town , heading away on a funny chair/cabin combo lift

Thanks STM that’s good info.

Not that anyone needs to know this… a funny chair/cabin combo lift is known as a Telemix.

Death in La Plagne yesterday – apparently as a result of an icy piste. Very sad. 😥

Very sad and perhaps a warning to us all because whilst the Guardian article highlights the icy conditions the local reports highlight high speed (vive allure) as well as icy conditions.

qui avançait visiblement à vive allure, a brutalement quitté la piste.

One person dead and 2 others critically injured in Deux Alpes after sledging on an inflatable mattress! 🙁

On a happier note, anyone headed for 3V next week…this is happening today (30cm predicted) and temps set to stay cold for next few days…

LD, drop me an email (in profile) with any questions.

Jeezus Deux Alpes are not having a good season this year 🙁

DD: good to see. How are those bindings working out for you?

Loving them Gee! Took a day of getting used to, but delighted with them now. They’re nice and light and respond to my ponderous turns quickly enough anyway. 😀

Stepinandoutability is awesome and has shut up the skiers I’ve been with with the usual whinge about snowboarders taking ages to get strapped on in. Currently taking a break from some high winds.

Nice! Good to hear, I might take a fresh look at Flows when it’s time for me to replace my current bindings.

And wind schmind, get out there and tear it up for those of us stuck in an office not able to get away this year.

Me too when my old drakes fall apart.

Lots of fresh snow at lindarets bowl today. Cloud and snow coming and going now at lunchtime. Supposed to be a sunny day tomorrow. Mosette hopefully opening up if the winds have dropped, will be full of fresh up there.

Might go and hire a new fangled board this avo for tomorrow, my 2000 Scott looks old-fashioned.

Stoner – wanna borrow a go on a Jones M’twin with Flows in March then?

Or can’t you wait?

Nice photo by the way.

8)

Ooh that’s an idea.

My current board is 160cm. At 193cm in my high heels how long a board should a piste basher be using these days?

Also, if I pinch Mrs stoners skis this week to go and do some practicing, is that a bad idea given they only come up to my neck?

Also, if I pinch Mrs stoners skis this week to go and do some practicing, is that a bad idea given they only come up to my neck?

No, short skies are easier to turn on esp in Moguls.

Lindarets, Prolays and in the murk to the left the new brochaux.
Ace fast new 6man. The Blue velvet piste off it is OK, but as a fast liaison back to Avoriaz from mosette and a route back to Lindarets for boarders to avoid the bottom of the mosette descent it’s great.

Will be a well used MTB lift in summer too I reckon.

Cheers flaps. So what’s the point of long skis?

Longer skis are typically more stable at speed and will support your weight more in the soft.

Great. Diddy skis on the green runs for me next time the weather is icky.

Your call, but probably big – or same size as me probably at 184cm and 16st. I have a Flagship that’s too much board for me really, but forgiving enough to get away with and stunningly good fun when it’s soft and fresh, and a Mountain Twin which is just plain good fun. Both are about 160. But someone (Stevo?) was saying not to get hung up on length too much – flex and length in contact can be as much of an influence.

Skis? Who knows, some darksider will be along in a bit though.

Also, if I pinch Mrs stoners skis this week to go and do some practicing, is that a bad idea given they only come up to my neck?

Please tell me they’re covered with pretty pink flower graphics!

OK I can’t resist.
I’ve tried to not read this thread but failed.

Heading out to Val Thorens over half term. I was worried about the amount of snow but clearly not now.

counting down the hours left at work – 59 and counting

Just the lift passes to renew and daughter and I are all set…

CFH – I didn’t really see Mrs Stoner as a pretty pink flowers sort of person when we met. Could be wrong of course.

Once again I hired skis this year and once again they gave me 175’s despite me being 193cm. I have to say that they felt incredibly fast and stable. (Salomon 24hrs max)

You mean you haven’t seen those pictures, igm?

It wasn’t me, I didn’t touch anything, I wasn’t even there and anyway you can’t prove anything.

What pictures?

Heading out to Val Thorens over half term. I was worried about the amount of snow but clearly not now.

I really don’t think you need to worry! 🙂

You two can be as nasty as you like. I’m the one sitting in the apres ski barso thhhhrrrrpppppp to the pair of you 😛

Good day today in Claviere. Bit of fresh snow and some sunshine – better/more snow than in Sauze and some good red runs with potential for hooning it down.

I’m 5’8 and 16 stone – I’m on 183cm skis which are technically probably a bit long but I’m getting on well with them. I’m no expert but IME longer skis react well to being pushed harder. At slow speeds they feel a bit unwieldy but they feel great going fast. Stable on harder snow too.

Oh dammit…I’ll post when I can upload an image. 😡

You two can be as nasty as you like. I’m the one sitting in the apres ski barso thhhhrrrrpppppp to the pair of you

I dunno you lot…..you’re on holiday and you can’t help doing what you do in the office!

You say that like I have an office….

You probably had friends with you Rockape.

You probably had have friends with you Rockape.

FTFY, DD.

I’m off to sulk.

And then move by bindings over to the powder board, because, you know, ACRES OF FRESH SNOW OFF THE SWISS WALLLL

Thhrrrprpppppp!