The STW Ski & Snowboard thread. The 2018-2019 season

I’ve got a couple of snowboards that are now surplus to requirements, is eBay the best place to sell them on?

Colorado resorts already opening!

Im trying to decide if I want to go ski this weekend at Loveland. They’re opening at the weekend. Could be fun, most likely be terrifying! I went to day after opening last year so I may shot for that on Sunday.

@bluebird – is that a stealth ad?

what type of boards are they?

PSA Horizon tonight at 2100. Inside an avalanche, may be of interest.

what type of boards are they?

No, it wasn’t meant to be, they are Burton Custom X 164 and 158 (2013/14 season.)

5 year old boards, popular brand and model, but in an over saturated market. Ebay is probably the only place you’ll get a definite sale. If you can hang on ’till the webcams go white you’ll probably get a better price.

Prepare to get stung on postage though!

https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2018/oct/20/10-best-small-affordable-ski-resorts-europe-alp-readers-tips

Good article – might pivot the February trip to one of these.

Bluebird…

Classifieds has a Snow category

Anyone been to Grand Tourmalet, la mongie/garages skiing or snowboarding?

Think I’m going there for a few day after Christmas, not expecting the best snow as it’s early in the season but I’d be interested to know what people thought of the it if you’ve been?

sprogeny no.1 will require new ski-wear (pants & jacket) this winter, (although she’s 5’10 so firmly in adult sizes)

Where is good to look online?

I will also be making a trip to TK max as have heard they sometimes have good kit.

I will also be making a trip to TK max as have heard they sometimes have good kit.

They used to, not seen much lately when I’ve been in. Sometimes you have to try a few different branches.

I’ve had some great bargains from the O’Neill outlet in Cheshire Oaks too.

https://www.mountainwarehouse.com/womens-ski-package-p18327.aspx/one/

I have my jacket from there which has been fine. Not really going to set the world alight but good vfm

@ads678 I haven’t been to those resorts but I have been to other French Pyrenean stations and early season the snow can be better than the Alps! Obviously nothing is a given 2 months out.

FWIW I’ll be 1000km further south just before Christmas and I fully expect to be on slopes of Sierra Nevada for the 3rd year in a row.

After 5 years of a posh, all inclusive, catered chalet type jobs, we need to find a cheap alternative this season.

Up until 5 years ago I always just went on my own with the lads. Ive skied since I was about 17, we used to book allocation on arrival deals with Airtours, pitch up at the airport with no idea where we were going! For me its always been about the skiing, I couldn’t give a shit about fancy hotels or catered chalets, id honestly sleep in my van and eat bread and cheese all week if I could ski every day!

Unfortunately this sentiment is not shared by my wife and kids. For them its very much about the salubrious digs and nice food and less about time on the slopes.

But, having been out of work for a large part of this year, and now earning a chunk less than in recent years we cant afford to go with our usual crew. In fact, being a bit more skint lately an looking back at what it normally costs ‘all in’ was quite a shock and not an amount I ever wanna spend again regardless of circumstance.

I need either very cheap catered, or really nice self catered. I am considering driving down not only to save on flights but also make the location less of an issue? Need to prove to the mrs that a SC ski holiday is not the hell she imagines it will be..

Ideally I’d like to be anywhere between Les Arcs and Val up the Tarentaise Valley. Our regular patch is Sainte Foy so would like to ski there one day at least… maybe even meet up with our mates if the dates align…

were not restricted to half term, but gonna need equipment hire and kids lessons.

Any advice great fully received.

Noticed some great apartments on Airbnb!

We’re preparing to drive from the midlands to Morzine again this new year. We’re luck enough to have a mate with accommodation there, but I imagine there’s loads of Airbnb options in Morzine/Avoriaz?

Did it 3 years ago and it works well – albeit we didn’t encounter any bad weather or traffic.  Loitering on the snow heads forum is a good source of info. One thing that seems a consensus there is the need for winter tyres on car so that’s an added expense over what you may think is a good price compared to flights – Actually it’s not a cost overall as you only wear 4 tyres at time and so the summers last longer but it’s cash up front initially.

One thing I’d say about self catering is it works so much better if there’s two families – you can alternate and feel like you’re being looked after a bit.  This obviously requires two families that get on well enough to share for the week and produce similar standards of meals to prevent disharmony.

ps i’m in exactly the same boat re lack of budget/desire to ski/would happily rough it/need to keep wife on board!

I’ve done self organised and used Crystal. If you are going to fly, then Crystal can be a chunk cheaper than DIYing IME.

Can I just leave this here for Cervinia 🙂

https://www.lookr.com/lookout/1292518449-Breuil-Cervinia#action-play-day

@Mahalo, We’ve used Peak Retreats a few times and they have good quality apartments in good areas. If you are driving the cost can include the FlexiPlus Tunnel in both directions which takes loads of stress out of the crossing (at a cost)

They are very helpful if you call them and actually have a conversation about what you want and how far you are willing to be from the slopes / lift.

Peak Retreats looks great. thanks

@ads678 I haven’t been to those resorts but I have been to other French Pyrenean stations and early season the snow can be better than the Alps! Obviously nothing is a given 2 months out.

Yeah I’ve been a few of other Pyrenean resorts in France, Andorra and Spain, but this one is new to me. It looks like it could be good. Fingers crossed. It did have a dump of snow a week or so ago but that all gone now 🙁

Will have to get to Seirra Nevada some time as I’ve always fancied it, but never made it there apart from a quick trip up there one summer to have a look. Wasn’t any snow though….

@Maholo, if you like Sainte Foy, I’d suggest just going back there SC as it’s now somewhat over-supplied with SC apartments and prices are pretty reasonable if you can go outside of school holidays. Most of the apartment blocks have pool/spa facilities, etc. so are good for kids. The MMV block is probably the cheapest and the apartments are really nice.

Don’t know who you’ve been staying with in the past, but if you want to stick with catered at a lower budget, our friends at http://www.whiteroomchalet.com (note, that’s not me any more, I have no direct ties to the ski holiday side of things these days!) are a lot cheaper than some of the other Sainte Foy options and without doubt have some of the best food around (head chef Matty has worked at Michelin star level).

If you have kids to get to ski school, I wouldn’t recommend staying out of resort unless your budget is super-low. Other than Bourg, the other valley destinations have very little going-on.

@ads678, I’ve been to La Mongie / Bareges (albeit a very long time ago!). La Mongie side is a pretty soulless concrete-fest of a resort, but has some pretty good terrain. Bareges is a very nice spa town but the terrain is pretty flat. The lift-link is pretty seamless, but riding all the way down to Bareges takes a while and is pretty dull.

I have the green light to go for a week ski touring in March, looking at an organised tour group. I have done a little day touring, and am a confident skier, reasonably fit but lack mountaineering skills.

So far looking at a Silveretta Ski tour with Glenmore Lodge anyone have anything else I should look at?

I want to go hut to hut not valley based. Already going with the family at Easter so can’t go later than March.

Great service from Ski Exchange in Dry Drayton (Cambridgeshire) last night. The guys spent an hour tweaking boot fit for my wife and she was happy at the end of it, so hoping she has a better time with them on the slopes this season.

Essentially just wanted to say that should you be in the market for some new kit or a fit/refit then give these guys a shout. I’m not affiliated with them in anyway by the way 🙂

TheDTs wrote

I have the green light to go for a week ski touring in March, looking at an organised tour group. I have done a little day touring, and am a confident skier, reasonably fit but lack mountaineering skills.

So far looking at a Silveretta Ski tour with Glenmore Lodge anyone have anything else I should look at?

I want to go hut to hut not valley based. Already going with the family at Easter so can’t go later than March.

I believe @Grum has done a couple of weeks with the Eagle Ski Club in Zinal, with guiding / instruction from these guys

https://www.frostguiding.co.uk/blog/626

https://www.eagleskiclub.org.uk/

I’d bookmarked them for when I get the chance to do something. Looks like this year’s trips are busy

NBT, Thanks, my dad’s mate has toured with Eagles, it had slipped my mind. Will look into that. Cheers.

Has anyone been to Madonna di Campiglio?

yep, skied Madonna a few times on a trip to Folgarida. really liked it always wanted to go back.

Mrs NBT’s done Madonna a coupel of times. Very “fur coat and no knickers”, apparently. I’m not implying anything, honest 😉

Well that sounds right up my street, nbt! Not quite sure what that means for a ski resort though 😂

it’s popular with the “in-crowd” from Milan and Turin – people who pop up for the weekend, wearing fabulous gear, but who may do very little or even no skiing

Ah! Should keep the slopes nice and quiet then. Any Russians?

Not sure how I feel about this one, but there’s some cheap Spyder gear on SportsDirect at the moment e.g.

https://www.sportsdirect.com/spyder-alpine-full-zip-hoody-jacket-mens-402254?colcode=40225441

Doesn’t our OP, CFH, have some views on Spyder?

Are you fat, moustachioed, Austrian, wearing a race helmet & sunglasses combo and do you answer to the name Hans?

If so, then by all means, fill your boots with cheap Spyder gear.

^ ha ha

If anyone is interested I have a _lovely_ Spyder jacket and trousers for sale having been gifted a complete wardrobe of new gear !

id probably go for some sypder smalls at £15, fully concealed!

Just got confirmation through for our week in Les Arcs beginning of February.

Staying at the Goat Shed in Peisey – slightly out the way, but very decent price, great food – we’ve stayed there before (former home of Trail Addiction) and I know Gordy passably well as he does the Trans Provence catering.

Proper looking forward to it!

Jon- it’s a great spot, I went to uni with Sophie and worked a season in Vallandry- their place is great and they are fabulous hosts. You are also at the heart of paradiski so can go either way. Have a great time!

Les Arcs

Been to 1950 for the last 3 years, great ski area and start of Feb is usually a pretty good time to go (usually go last week of Jan).

Anyone stayed at Club Med La Plagne? hugely conflicting reports on Tripadvisor…