Snow Sports 2016/17

[D.P.]

This is why I love the 3 valleys. The ridiculously cheap off piste insurance which can be purchased with the ski pass allows an unbelievable area to explore... and get helicoptered out of if you're in trouble!

If you are dead the helicopter is not that useful.
And if you get trapped somewhere or injured without the appropriate equipment and safety knowledge you can still be liable for the costs of your rescue. It isn't a get out of jail free card.

If you are making safety decisions with respect to the possibility of a helicopter rescue then you should be sticking to the slopes until you get some more professional training.

 

[peterattheboro]

The missus just got me my first snowboard for my birthday... a Burton Process Camber

Got Val Thorens booked again early February. Will be the first boarding holiday where I've had all of my own gear

 

[jpaul]

zackjattaway - after speccing the area I had thought Arcalis was part of Valnord ?

... nothing beats the scream of your new skis as they cross that first rock

 

[Richdog]

Guys I need a bit of ski buying advice for 80-90% piste, 10-20% powder.

I have my eye on some Atomic Vantage 85 Cti's as seen here https://www.snowcountry.eu/atomic-vantage-85-cti.html

The difficulty I am having is deciding which bindings to get with them (from those listed in the page I linked above). I will be wearing alpine boots, though I guess it's interesting to have the option for others with the MNC bindings.

Thoughts, please?

PS: I have thought about seasonal renting, but I'm a sucker for having an emotional attachment to stuff I buy, and have had a pair of old Volkl P60 race skis that I bought for 50chf 8 years ago that have been absolute champs and I loved them dearly.

 

[tom_nieto]

If you are dead the helicopter is not that useful.
And if you get trapped somewhere or injured without the appropriate equipment and safety knowledge you can still be liable for the costs of your rescue. It isn't a get out of jail free card.

If you are making safety decisions with respect to the possibility of a helicopter rescue then you should be sticking to the slopes until you get some more professional training.

Who invited Buzz Killington to the party?!

Anything out of sight of the piste I get a professional guide... I like to ski to the limits of my ability and have a professional on hand if I go beyond them! Also, you make extremely rapid judgements about ability and experience.

 

[tom_nieto]

PS: I have thought about seasonal renting, but I'm a sucker for having an emotional attachment to stuff I buy, and have had a pair of old Volkl P60 race skis that I bought for 50chf 8 years ago that have been absolute champs and I loved them dearly.

How much skiing are you doing in a season? I absolutely relish the opportunity to change skis to suit the conditions which my wallet wouldn't allow if I were to buy them outright. Now that airlines are charging for ski carriage it is making less and less sense to own your own unless you're doing more than 2 weeks in a year.

 

[Richdog]

Who invited Buzz Killington to the party?!

Anything out of sight of the piste I get a professional guide... I like to ski to the limits of my ability and have a professional on hand if I go beyond them! Also, you make extremely rapid judgements about ability and experience.

D.P. is very highly strung and always makes ridiculous snap judgements, so don't take it to heart. Bless him.

How much skiing are you doing in a season? I absolutely relish the opportunity to change skis to suit the conditions which my wallet wouldn't allow if I were to buy them outright. Now that airlines are charging for ski carriage it is making less and less sense to own your own unless you're doing more than 2 weeks in a year.

I live next to the mountains, 1-3 hours train away depending on the resort, so go approx 5-10 times (or more, it depends) per season.

 

[Kreeeee]

I live next to the mountains, 1-3 hours train away depending on the resort, so go approx 5-10 times (or more, it depends) per season.

Pfft, you live miles away from the mountains

I'm very tempted to buy a pair of skis this season. I rented a snowboard last season but skiing is just so much easier.

 

[Richdog]

Pfft, you live miles away from the mountains

I'm very tempted to buy a pair of skis this season. I rented a snowboard last season but skiing is just so much easier.

Bah, I do live net to mountains, you just cant ski on those ones.

Imo a pair of skis is a worthwhile investment and if you keep them 3-5 years the cost of owner ship is very low. Hell, my last one's were 35 quid and lasted 8 years.

 

[Kreeeee]

I need to find a good place to buy and learn about them. Despite being a pretty good skier (I played amateur level ice hockey in my youth so it all feels very natural to me) I am clueless about the different types of skis, bindings and boots.

I have 3 different ski resorts within 30 minutes of my house so I really have no excuse not to go most weeks this season.

 

[Jokester]

The difficulty I am having is deciding which bindings to get with them (from those listed in the page I linked above). I will be wearing alpine boots, though I guess it's interesting to have the option for others with the MNC bindings.

Thoughts, please?

Personally, unless I already had a non-alpine sole boot, I would just get a standard binding on a predominantly on-piste ski.

 

[tom_nieto]

I live next to the mountains, 1-3 hours train away depending on the resort, so go approx 5-10 times (or more, it depends) per season.

Definitely worthwhile then! If you've got your own kit it also makes it easier to pack up and go for the day. If I lived that close I'd definitely own a pair of skis.

I looked at those MNC bindings and agree with Jokester, unless you're going to use them with anything but a standard ski boot mostly on piste you might as well save your cash.

I'd be very tempted to just go with the cheap Marker ones, unless you're doing something specialist like massive off piste, touring or competitive racing I don't think there's much point in going super expensive as long as you're getting the DIN that you need. For on piste cruising I keep the setting much lower anyway. Also, the benefit of your own skis is that you can drill them straight into the ski without the rental shop adjustable footplate which adds a whole lot more stability to the ski.

 

[Richdog]

Personally, unless I already had a non-alpine sole boot, I would just get a standard binding on a predominantly on-piste ski.

Noted. So which from that list would you get?

Definitely worthwhile then! If you've got your own kit it also makes it easier to pack up and go for the day. If I lived that close I'd definitely own a pair of skis.

I looked at those MNC bindings and agree with Jokester, unless you're going to use them with anything but a standard ski boot mostly on piste you might as well save your cash.

I'd be very tempted to just go with the cheap Marker ones, unless you're doing something specialist like massive off piste, touring or competitive racing I don't think there's much point in going super expensive as long as you're getting the DIN that you need. For on piste cruising I keep the setting much lower anyway. Also, the benefit of your own skis is that you can drill them straight into the ski without the rental shop adjustable footplate which adds a whole lot more stability to the ski.

To be honest cost isn't a factor and the difference between those listed isn't too great, I just want long lasting bindings that will do the job for years to come.

 

[Jokester]

Noted. So which from that list would you get?

Being a bit OCD about mixing makes, I would have went with the standard Atomic Warden, but I don't think they've actually got them in stock by the looks of things, it's only 10Euro more for the MNC version though, or just get the cheaper Marker bindings.

 

[Richdog]

Alternatively these are half the price and also well reviewed ... http://www.evo.com/ski-packages/salomon-x-drive-80-ti-skis-xt12-bindings.aspx

Thoughts?

Being a bit OCD about mixing makes, I would have went with the standard Atomic Warden, but I don't think they've actually got them in stock by the looks of things, it's only 10Euro more for the MNC version though, or just get the cheaper Marker bindings.

Not sure mixing brands matters with skis to be honest...

 

[Jokester]

Hence why it's OCD

 

[Richdog]

Hence why it's OCD

lol, fair enough!

 

[Jokester]

X-Drive 8.0s are highly regarded by the way.

 

[jpaul]

If I was buying new bindings would probably look for something that ejceted the ice and snow more easily after an off - that is the principal problem I have had with bindings - but maybe there is no easy solution.
Presumably the MNC bindings you are considering have brakes too ? (could not see where you were looking)

1hr by train must be do-able by car as well - no ? presumably you have to bag the skis on a train and carry spare shoes in a ruc-sac - versus door to piste and back to shower convenience a car offers with skis on roof ? it is just the chosen driver who has to refrain from a beer (or less in France)

 

[Richdog]

X-Drive 8.0s are highly regarded by the way.

Ok cool thanks, they look like they could be worth a punt then.

If I was buying new bindings would probably look for something that ejceted the ice and snow more easily after an off - that is the principal problem I have had with bindings - but maybe there is no easy solution.
Presumably the MNC bindings you are considering have brakes too ? (could not see where you were looking)

1hr by train must be do-able by car as well - no ? presumably you have to bag the skis on a train and carry spare shoes in a ruc-sac - versus door to piste and back to shower convenience a car offers with skis on roof ? it is just the chosen driver who has to refrain from a beer (or less in France)

Yes, they have brakes. As for how I travel to skiing, thanks but there is really no need to discuss that.