Snow Sports Thread 2018-19

[Jokester]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-highlands-islands-45705256

Bad times at Cairngorm.

Now looks increasingly likely that the fannicular is completely ****ed. And since they removed the lower access chair lifts recently it’s likely they won’t be able to open this year.

 

[D.P.]

Bif dump in the alps this weekend, some good base building weather with temperatures going up and down, strong winds and a lot of precip.

 

[Deleted member 66701]

Two family holidays booked - a cabin in Trysil for Christmas week, Club Med in Les Deux Alpes for Feb half term and Sestriere for a long weekend with some friends last weekend in March.

 

[Lima]

Booked up Lake Tahoe (heavenly for main location) for March.

Not really sure what to expect as it seems like a bit of an unusual set up. No real town centre as such. Bars and restaurants spread along a highway. Very very expensive lift pass. The skiing looks great though and it was recommended by my cousins who said it’s their favourite place to ski and they’ve been all round. Fingers crossed.

 

[Jokester]

What pass did you get?

 

[D.P.]

Booked up Lake Tahoe (heavenly for main location) for March.

Not really sure what to expect as it seems like a bit of an unusual set up. No real town centre as such. Bars and restaurants spread along a highway. Very very expensive lift pass. The skiing looks great though and it was recommended by my cousins who said it’s their favourite place to ski and they’ve been all round. Fingers crossed.

Skied there a couple of times. South Lake Tahoe can be quite nice but it is odd as you say. Made odder because it straddles the Nevada state line, and soon as you cross states the hotels turn in to Vegas casinos and bright lights.

The skiing is OK, mostly gentle cruising slopes. There is one small area with some short steep slopes but nothing too technical. Really good views. Snow is a bit changeable, doesn't get the the volume of resorts on the western slopes. If you book a rental car then instead of doing 1 week at heavenly I would make trips to the other resorts. Kirkwood is quite close and is really good, get epic snow in a dump. I notched uo 65 days there in the 06/07 season! Mount Rose has epic views and is different enough. Both have cheaper passes than Heavenly, although everywhere inthe US is stupidly expensive. $130 a day.

 

[Lima]

What pass did you get?

I haven’t yet. Gambling on pound gaining some ground before March. Based on the recent news of the bad deal I guess my wait might be futile. Lol.

DP, yea that’s the plan. Going to be based in casino hotel in heavenly. Ski 4 days there and 2-3 days at other places; kirkwood, maybe sqwaw valley.

 

[Somnambulist]

Hi guys, I've been roped into going to Bansko for a week in January with some workmates and other than perhaps my collection of Uniqlo HeatTech base-layers I have absolutely no kit whatsoever. I think the temperature is around freezing during the day so nothing mental but obviously I need snowboard pants and a jacket as a priority then all the bits and pieces... I realise this time of year isn't the best for sales stuff although I'd be happy to buy used on eBay etc - any particular vfm brands? In particular ones that do small sizing because I'm only a 29" waist, usually wear XS tops and don't want to look like a tent.

I was also going to buy some SunGod polarised glasses as I need new shades and wanted something for driving at this time of year when the sun is low... are their winter sports goggles as good as they look? The holiday itself is about £550 for flights, accommodation and 3 days worth of lessons + 6 day ski pass, so while I don't mind paying a bit I don't really want to spend more on gear than I do the holiday itself.

 

[Syla5]

Are you going to be skiing or snowboarding?

In terms of clothes it doesn't make a difference which but if you are going to snowboard I would strongly recommend learning before you go, it will make the holiday that bit more enjoyable.

I would suggest 2 coats and 2 pairs of salopettes. You dont want to be heading out on the mountain with anything that is wet/damp and if your gear hasn't dried over night for what ever reason you want to be covered.

Most of your first lot of gear you can get away with going on the cheaper end of whatever you find. I would avoid shops like Ellis Brigham etc and aim for things sold in Tresspass or Dare2Be which are all perfectly acceptable.

Sunglasses - I would strongly recommend goggles, the extra coverage alone makes them far superior to glasses.

Gloves - 2 pairs.

Get a balaclava or buff protecting your face from the cold is going to make staying warm easier. With a buff you can put it on and then pull the back part back over to rest on the top of your head, this will also cover your ears and be easier for it to stay up at the front as well to cover your mouth/nose as required.

Helmet - don't go without one! or make sure you rent one, no one should ride without one, and anyone who does is a fool.

If you really want to be sure your jackets/salopettes will protect you, you can get some wash in sno seal to waterproof them.

All in I reckon you will get a good selection of everything that will be more then good enough for £300-£400 max.

TL/DR
2 Jackets
2 pairs of Salopettes
1 buff/balaclava
2 Pairs of gloves
Goggles not sunglasses
Helmet
Snoseal wash in waterproofing

 

[Skidder]

1 jacket and 1 pair of trousers is fine. If you buy reasonable shell for both absolutely no reason why anything would be wet from one day to the next if you stick it on a radiator (or even just hang it up). Overkill for someone clearly a beginner wanting to save money. Equally one pair of decent gloves is fine.

 

[Jokester]

Aldi or Lidl (can never remember) have reasonable looking ski outer wear for sale at the moment for about £30 I think, which I assume would at least have a decent water resistant shell to it.

Other things I would recommend is a buff, handy for a bit of sun protection or pull it up to cover your face in blizzard conditions. Probably the best £5 you can spend for skiing, or even pick up for free in some places.

You only need one pair of gloves as well, though it is handy to have maybe an unisulated pair for warm days.

My recommendation for leg wear under your outerwear is 3/4 length cotton tracksuit bottoms - avoids that roll up of material at the top of your boot.

Worth getting a decent pair of ski socks as well.

 

[Syla5]

so while I don't mind paying a bit I don't really want to spend more on gear than I do the holiday itself.

1 jacket and 1 pair of trousers is fine. If you buy reasonable shell for both absolutely no reason why anything would be wet from one day to the next if you stick it on a radiator (or even just hang it up). Overkill for someone clearly a beginner wanting to save money. Equally one pair of decent gloves is fine.

I wouldn't call it overkill especially being able to do it still well under the OP's budget.

As a beginner spending more time on his butt is likely so not only is there a higher chance gear might not be ready from one day to the next, there is also a higher chance that the gear will get dirty, and/or ripped.

Given the time of year and the area, it can be very rainy in Bulgaria, having been there myself this year in the first week of February we got drenched so badly on our first day due to long lift lines and blowing wind giving us sideways rain that we swapped out day 2 for our 2nd jackets and trousers and our gear isn't budget gear either, it really was that wet! It also gives you different options in terms of thickness / warmth factor you want from your outer layer as well.

 

[Somnambulist]

Thanks all.

Yes I've been given a list which has buffs, ski socks, impact shorts and things like that. I'm hopefully going to get a day at Milton Keynes indoor place soon and I might do a couple of sessions at Chel-Ski as well so I'm not totally green when I go there. I can either ski or board but pretty much everyone going is boarding so I might as well join in.

 

[McGray]

2 pairs of everything is nuts.

 

[Syla5]

Thanks all.

Yes I've been given a list which has buffs, ski socks, impact shorts and things like that. I'm hopefully going to get a day at Milton Keynes indoor place soon and I might do a couple of sessions at Chel-Ski as well so I'm not totally green when I go there. I can either ski or board but pretty much everyone going is boarding so I might as well join in.

My local is MK. Good for learning. If you do get to MK there is a Dare2Be and a Trespass right next to each other in the Xscape building where you can get more than good enough trousers and jackets for very reasonable prices.

2 pairs of everything is nuts.

Jacket, trousers, gloves. Far from everything, and more importantly the 3 main items for keeping you dry AND warm. It is also a suggestion, not a must do, and its not nuts, its being prepared, especially for a beginner. People forget how much time is spent sitting/falling, gloves in the snow etc, and getting wet. Boarding especially you spend plenty more time sitting down and strapping in as a beginner, and clearing out snow from your bindings.

 

[D.P.]

Good gear will dry overnight, make sure it is hung up to dry as soon as you get in. The only reason for say 2 jackets would be a complimentary set such as a good quality softshell when conditions are good and a pro hardshell for storm skiing.

I also recommenced sunglasses over goggles when it is sunny, much more breathable and stops overheating. You also need different lenses if it is a whiteout of blue sky, so this involves either 2 googles or the special googles with interchangeable lenses. Much easier to have 1 pair sunglasses and then 1 [pair of orange tinted googles for low visibility storms. Goggles are also very expensive, the budget ones fog up, and the more premium ones still don't last that long. While sunglasses you can pay a few quid to get a full UVA 400 pair that fully covers all eyes.

 

[Syla5]

Nearly all goggles now are interchangeable less setup.

 

[Lima]

2 pairs of everything is nuts.

Agreed^

2 pairs of outer layers is complete overkill. Pointless and also will take up so much room in suitcase.

Nearly every ski accommodation will have radiators in the rooms and will generally have a warm ambient temperature unless you leave windows wide open. Been skiing every year for last 11 years and more times before that and never been even close to needing 2 outer layers due to drying issues. I will say though that gloves will be the hardest things to dry out so make sure you put these on radiators straight away. You also only need 1 trouser underlayer. Whether you use long john type/ activewear type / or just tracksuit bottoms if you want to save money (but they can be bit bulky).

I have a clean pair of ski socks for each day. Clean t shirt each day. Also 2 boxers for each day. 1 for skiing, 1 for after evening shower and going out.

 

[Skidder]

I wouldn't call it overkill especially being able to do it still well under the OP's budget.

As a beginner spending more time on his butt is likely so not only is there a higher chance gear might not be ready from one day to the next, there is also a higher chance that the gear will get dirty, and/or ripped.

Given the time of year and the area, it can be very rainy in Bulgaria, having been there myself this year in the first week of February we got drenched so badly on our first day due to long lift lines and blowing wind giving us sideways rain that we swapped out day 2 for our 2nd jackets and trousers and our gear isn't budget gear either, it really was that wet! It also gives you different options in terms of thickness / warmth factor you want from your outer layer as well.

If you ride in simple shell and layer up below (as everyone should) there is no way it is wet from one day to the next if it is decent breathable material.

I have tonnes of jackets and trousers but making a beginner buy two sets of outer layers is nonsense.

Goggles all the way. Sunglasses are for the beach.

 

[Jokester]

I'm very much goggles any condition as well now, with a decent photochromatic lens it handles almost any light level.