The STW Ski & Snowboard thread. The 2017-2018 season

Stoner – I might be asking for contacts too in the next 6-12 months.

NZCol – indeed Les Gets is very nice. We’ve been doing the summer & winter thing for a few years now (including spending vast sums with Ski Famille) and we’re thinking about buying there.

More for your money in some of the other villages, but it is very nice.

Meantime just bought some new Flows. Stuff appears to be 15-25% cheaper in Calgary shops than the UK discounted online places.

In st anton now. Pistes are bullet proof and icy, visibility is poor, so not much good skiing to be had.

The burton step on bindings are good however, work very well,not many negatives.can provide a more detailed review when in front of a real keyboard

Has anybody tried putting 2 pairs of skis in a board bag?

Just trying to work out the best way to fly with 2 pairs (165s & 155s) so not long skis

No, but I’ve travelled with two boards in the same board bag without any issue.

Any recommendations on a wheelie bag for planes, like the look of the Dakine ones but always driven to Alps so never needed a bag.

(also why is it skiing just wipes money out? I um and argh about bits costing a few quid for my bike like new bibs which I’ll use week in / week out but then blow £100s without thinking on a sport I do for a few days a year…. odd psychology)

Has anybody tried putting 2 pairs of skis in a board bag?

Often flown with two sets of boards in one bag. Just need to remove the bindings. As long as they fit no problem.
Friends use the Dakine ones.

We go a week on friday to Les Arcs on the train.

Yep Dakine Low Roller does the job for me. Mine’s been on the go for at least a decade and is still good.

Oh and keep an eye on your weight limits on the board bags. Can creep up if you are putting two lots of boards/skis and bindings in there along with the usual jackets, boots etc. Most airlines say 15 to 20kg. Check!

Flown with more than two in a bag!

Take bindings off the track.
Also Dakine double roller at the moment, got the long one but should have got the short. Waiting to use the 205’s again

We go a week on friday to Les Arcs on the train.

Train? Wowzers, have you not fixed that flat tyre yet?

Another nice vid from the Whistler guys on their European vacation, this time enjoying some off-piste in Morzine:

I think it was day 25 on skis this season. On the first lift then skied till the queues started. – 6 on the balcony and -12°C at the top. A few days off now to let the aches and pains subside.

Gents …. Silly question … I’ve heard that there is an age restriction on young snowboarders in Megeve …they have to be over 10 !?!.

That can’t be true can it ???

Taking my kids (7 and 9) to Les Saisies  (which isn’t too far away) and wanna teach them boarding for a couple of afternoons, after they have ski school in the morning.

Ta

No age restriction on boarders in Megeve. The ESF Megeve offers snowboard group classes for kids over 8 so the 7 year old would have to have individual classes. Ski group classes from 5. There will be a height limit to using chairs as in most resorts whether on skis or a board.

Flew with 2 pairs of skis in my boardbag with easyjet a few weeks back. No probs at all, and my big skis are 185s so it was a big bag!

So a more detailed review of the burton step on bindings,after 6 days of use.

The good:-

– they feel as good if not better than a traditional strap binding when riding,they are very responsive  with no noticable play, i suspect there is some play(ive seen go pro footage of play in the toe clips ),but you cant notice it when riding.

-stepping onto them is very easy, i had no issues with ice or snow build up, ita great not to have to bend down to get strapped in.

-if the ground you are on is not flat, you can still just sit down and clip in like you would a regular strap binding, ita pretty easy.

-the boots were comfy and  supportive, i have the ruler boots ,these were a little painful over the first two days,but after they were broken in they were very comfy.

The bad (and these are imo really minor negatives,but thought id put them out tbere in case these are big deals to you)

– you need to make sure you clip your trouser into the clip on the back of the boot,if you dont do this your trouser can get jammed in the mechanism ,making it hard ti get your boot in or even out – i rally manged to get mine jammed up on the last day because i forgot ro clip the trouser in.

-you need to make sure your foot fits the boot well, if it doesnt then these are nit the boots/bindings for you.

– the price,  theyre not cheap.

-i think they could do with some sort of latch to keep the high back upright when on the lift etc so you can just step back in without having to first kick the high back up with your foot. As it stands the high backs are quite free to move and fall back down into the binding quite easily, it might be possible to tighten up the screws the high back hinges on to make it a bit less easy to move.

-the release lever could be a bit larger, i sometimes had a bit of trouble getting hold of it.

These negatives really are minor imo, and i suspect future iterations will address them, id wager that these bindings will become default for most people  over the next few years as the cost comes down and the range of boots increases.

Overall theyre great, as good as a strap  binding in terms of performance,but with no bending down or messing around getting strapped in. Will be selling my strap bindings now.

What i cant comment on is reliability/longevity, i guess its posaible that the binding could develop play over a longer period of use,but i guess well hear about this over the next few months if its an issue.

Thanks julians that’s really useful.

For contrast this is about the worst review I’ve found (and even then it’s not bad):

(Caution: some swearing)

Very tempted myself, but we’ve decided to move house so I guess I’ll be limping along with repaired K2 Autos till the gear budget recovers. 🙁

Anyone sking in France this week needs to pack some extra layers and some down filled mitts.

Edit to add: Madame went to help a skier yesterday who was hunched up on her knees looking injured. To cut a long story short it’s the first time I’ve ever seen someone evacuated in a barquette with cold hands

im nowhere near an expert rider,im  probably ust your typical intermediate,so i cant argue with his view that agressive riders wont like them,but for me they work great, as good as if not better than a regular binding.

The other comments i think are a little over emphasised, especially the comments about it being hard to get properly locked in, its very easy to lock into position 1, and then all its takes is a hard heel edge turn and the binding then automatically locks into position 2 . This is how i used them all the time, gentle push of boot into binding  to engage position 1,then hard heel turn to after setting off to finally push the boot into position 2.

I found what worked well was just locking into the back binding while riding the chairlift up,its easy enough to do from the chair, if you know that the run out at the top doesnt require any pushing.

I didnt get any issues with the screws loosening off,but i am using it ona  burton EST board,so maybe thats an issue if you use it with other boards.

i will add that i dont think a single day is enough time to get to grips with them ,i think you need a good few days to get your muscle memory remembering how to step in and out without you having to think about it (probably quite like spd pedals in that respect) .

Just left Obergurgl after one hell of a week. Massive amounts of snow, blue skies and cold without being silly cold. Anyone going this week can expect some awesome, if somewhat cold conditions.

Quiet in here?

I’m off to Serre Che on Saturday, woop woop. Any tips for “must not miss” things to do?

Currently torn between wishing for lots of fresh snow, which there should be, and wishing for not too much so I can drive over Col du Lautaret on Saturday!

The forecast is fresh snow every day so the “must not miss” is the first high lift of the day so you’re the first person to hit the powder. You’ll probably wait less time to be first on the first lift than for any lift anywhere at 11:00 so it’s time well spent.

For anyone who suffers from painful cold fingertips I can really recommend Happy Hot Hands gloves from Sport Pursuit. Used them all last week in Austria. Normally I’d be in a fair bit of pain but they kept my hands comfortable all day on the low or mid setting. The gloves themselves seem pretty well built so should hopefully last well.

Phew, the building work is looking likely to be close to budget. So we are going skiing, looks like a trip to Serre Che. Not been for ages but have worked there  many moons ago. Also still have a few friends hanging about, so I have to recommend the Grotte du yeti in Villeneuve.

Can’t wait to get back on skis in my old stomping ground.

Practice on the local golf course may be an option for the kids this week!

thanks for the Sports Pursuit mention… needed some gloves myself, but have now got a new Sweet Protection jacket that i didnt need on the way that was at least £150 cheaper than anywhere else i could find!! but no gloves…

back to Sainte Foy Friday week for us. not been this late before, its usually a distant memory by now!!

I got one of those Sweet Protection jackets from Sports Pursuit a couple of years ago.

Good kit. Simple design with nice attention to detail.

yeah looks good, and looks like i might get some use out of it at home too… deliberating over some matching pants now tho!! argggh wasnt buying owt new this year!

Hey folks, quick question!

Getting excited about my trip to Val d’Isere next Saturday. Now, I need to book beginner ski lessons. Would you recommend booking them now, whilst I’m over here? I’m looking at a company called Evolution 2. Or would I get a better deal if I wait till I’m there?

went riding in the summer with the fella who runs Progression Ski & Snowboard School in Val. recommend giving them a shout… we always book our kids lessons well in advance – be a nightmare to arrive and discover there is no space!! less of a problem somewhere like val tho i suspect?

Cheers for that Mahalo! I did look at the Progression guys but from what I can see they run their lessons Mon-Fri. We’re arriving on the Saturday and will be on the slopes the next day. So I’m either looking for Sun-Thur or Sun-Fri lessons. My lack of confidence on the planks means that I’d really prefer to start my lessons on the first snow morning and Evolution 2 are one of the only ones that I found online who start lessons on a Sunday. I’m leaning towards booking my lessons before I go, just to be on the safe side, but then the Scotsman in me would hate to turn up at the place and find out I could have gotten lessons at half the price if I’d been a bit more patient! Decisions, decisions….argh!

but then the Scotsman in me would hate to turn up at the place and find out I could have gotten lessons at half the price if I’d been a bit more patient! Decisions, decisions….argh!

Im fairly certain that would never happen. if anything they will offer discount for booking early/online. they will aim to pull your pants down in resort.

nothing is ever cheaper in resort! look at reserving your hire equipment in advance too…

>Anyone sking in France this week needs to pack some extra layers and some down filled mitts.

Yep, last two days have been the coldest I’ve ever felt skiing….

Down mitts + hand warmers + toe warmers were required to stay comfortable…

Regarding board/ski bag usage, as GrahamS says, just keep an eye on the weight. (Park Tools Bike Scales are pretty useful for this – and accurate).

Flew out here to Canada with 3 x boards 1x bindings 1 x boots and assorted kit all under 23Kg:

I frequently fly with multiple boards and backcountry kit like ice axes and crampons etc and I’ve never had an issue or had to have my bag inspected as long as I’m within the carrier’s specified weight limit.

I have both the Dakine High Roller and Low Roller – the High Roller is more robust but eats into your weight allowance. Both bags are good and have lasted years of baggage handlers abuse.

nothing is ever cheaper in resort! look at reserving your hire equipment in advance too…

I disagree, the past couple of years, hiring in resort has been cheaper than booking in advance online from the same shop. Maybe it’s because it’s late in the season and therefore quieter when we go, but I won’t be hiring equipment in advance anytime soon.

For lessons, I’d book in advance. Evo2 are populare

As an alternative there’s this company:

http://www.tdcski.com/val_disere/

I know one of the directors. Not used them myself but my friend who is an excellent skier has for years and rates them highly.

its an interesting one. id expect them to be cheaper in low season / quieter times but then again from their POV the average punter through the door is absolutely not gonna shop around, they have probably been sent to the shop by their operator, are either super eager to hit the slopes or get on the lash after a long journey and are 100% going to spend their cash either way.

im tempted to now to book online but not mention it when we show up at the shop, get a new price then go with the best..

I disagree, the past couple of years, hiring in resort has been cheaper than booking in advance online from the same shop. Maybe it’s because it’s late in the season and therefore quieter when we go, but I won’t be hiring equipment in advance anytime soon.

Just to add clarity we had the exact opposite, knew the in-building shop was Skiset linked, looked at online costs and thought I’ll just hire in resort, (end of season lifts only open for another week must be bargains to be had), they just laughed and said they are online in advance prices and after a bit of negotiation I got the price down but they wouldn’t match the online price.

Tried all the other shops in resort and they were all the same price, like a cartel, so ended up back at start and had to pay more.

I have an Intersport code if you need it.

Cheers for all the advice guys. I went ahead and booked the lessons in advance.with Evo 2. I went skiing (after Xscape lessons), with my mates in Stubai last year, and ended up in a worse state at the end than I was at the start! So I’m really keen to get proper lessons on the slopes this time, and I really wanted to get on with the lessons on my first day so Evolution 2 ticked all the boxes.

Thanks again!

C.