Alpin – yeah but the women eh ;-)

Funny I used to find heaps I liked about the UK and then I moved here and you know what – I found plenty of things I don’t like as well. Think living somewhere removes the rose tints somewhat

The Germany and Germans I have experienced have been ace. But if critical on fashion and food then surely music should be included? Any country that includes David Hasslhoff as one of their more popular recording artists must be having a collective   brain fart

thanks Shark. Thats exactly what I was hoping to hear. Heading over from Samoens just for a day so although I want to check it out i don’t want it to get in the way of any riding.

Ro5ey – glad to have played a small part in a new board decision. Good choice by the way. I have never tried one but certainly curious to try one. My first ever board was a LibTech Matt Cummins back in the day so I have a soft spot for them.

I ride a lot (mostly) switch when out with the kids and although I will typically be offset I did change recently To be more centred and it was more comfortable but you just get used to whatever usually. I then changed to a goofy set up so I could get better at carving switch. That was interesting!!

Reckon on the SB you would want to be centred but someone with that board would be best to advise.

Ro5ey – it has certainly changed my attitude to riding. Don’t feel the need to be charging from first to last lift anymore. Of course though….Still bums me out on powder mornings when I draw the short straw with MrsDoz.

As for the kids, I made the mistake of letting my two eldest (12 &8) get too far down the skiing path before getting them onto a board. Not interested now. Working on the youngest (6) she has had a couple of days, and reckon she’ll take to it.

Hi Ned I had never heard of Dupraz until I saw an instructor on one in Samoëns at Christmas. It looked like a beast.

Would love to demo one. Where did you try?

I am out again at Easter so may do some research and see if there is anywhere in Grand Massif area that stock them.

They cost though! I might need to dip into my new bike fund!

Thanks for the tip, good to hear a genuine review.

Thanks for your comments Digby.

I will keep my eye on end of season deals on Korua’s, they do tend to run short of stock though I think. Have had my eye also on the Spring Break which you mentioned as well. Interesting your comments on the industry direction to the ‘surf style’. I think it is probably that us old(er) folk are no longer really looking to spin to win off 40ft kickers so they have developed a segment to suite that reflects a return back to when it all started. Certainly appeals to me and will keep the marketing peoples happy because of course we are now older and can afford a ‘quiver’. Not sure it will help boost the ageing demographic of boarding though, which is a shame.

Great idea of 50@50. I am aiming for something similar by doing a 2020 BC Powder Highway tour. Will be a few years short of 50 but it will be 20yrs since I did that road trip the last time. I like the symmetry. Hopefully this time with some cash to add in a few Heli or Powder cat days.

Have you heard of this place Nth of Revelstoke – htt<wbr />p://www.ridevalemount.com/<wbr />sled-skiing/ ?

As an Aussie living in Surrey and having also lived  in Canada I can add a little input.

As you ask specifically about work culture then I would say working 9-5 in a city is pretty much the same. Depends more on the company itself. However both Oz and Canada have more opportunities to find more lifestyle agreeable jobs.

Outside of work, well it could be as simple as do you prefer beaches or mountains. Or go to NZ and get both 😀

Good discussion!

Digby – I have been toying with the idea of Korua since last season. Just can’t decide which one. The TrannyF seems to be the most versatile but tempted by the puzzle for more carving focus. What is the quality like? I have read mixed reports on their durability.

Riding with the kids (who ski for now) has been a revelation. Back on Piste again and riding greens and blues like I did when learning 25yrs ago And it’s flippen great! Just playing around on little side hits, carving a few turns and just messing about. At 45 I have even learnt a few new tricks. When your kids say – Oh Dad stop showing off – you know you are doing something right!!!

Duane – just strap some skis on and give it a go for a bit before lessons. You will be surprised how quickly you pick it up. I hadn’t skied for 25yrs since first snowboarding and found the shorter carve skis quiet brilliant. Wife had never skied after boarding for 20. She did take 1 lesson but preferred just to follow/watch others. The whole sliding down a hill is usually the main obstacle for beginner skiers so you leap frog this bit.

Enjoy – on icy days with the kids I am no longer ashamed to have two planks on my feet.

What Scud said above. Snow is great but…

Riding the sand dunes on Lewis and Harris felt very similar to fresh powder fields in the Alps. Just shorter.
Oh and more brutal on the running gear.

Niseko Hirafu has been owned by Australian resort Mt Hotham for some years now. I first went all the way back in 97 and there were plenty of Aussie and kiwis then so bound to be worse now Mr Rice and the Red Bull kids have discovered it.

Go with a backcountry tour guide or better still had Sth to Yamagata prefecture and go to Zoa Onsen. You can thank me later.

La Clusaz from a few weeks ago I believe.

La Clusaz

^
Skishopweb.com mentioned above is a counterfeit site.

If it sounds too good to be true my friend…

Go. Its awesome. A proper hill. But if on a board bring your traversing legs. The further you spread out to get the good stuff the longer the traverse back. Some are loooong and very exposed at times. It’s all good fun though.