Snow Sports Thread 2018-19

Just got back from the Les Arcs 1800 this Saturday.

its been 8 and a half years since I boarded. my god why have I left it this long to go again, I had the time of my life!

I had only been away 2 other times, they were both a disaster and I had no Idea what I was doing.

went away with 2 decent boarders this time. I could already survive a blue/red run just not stylish and fairly slowly.

By the end of the week I was keeping a decent pace, carving smoothly, tail pressing on the flatter runs, switch to 180 out.

had an absolute riot, got in with all the seasonaires, so partys most nights and cheap drinks in all the bars, had a big dump of snow half way through the week. it was around 18°C peak temperature so even got a nice tan whilst knocking the beers back!

wanting to book next year already and might try and get away over the Xmas break. The mrs isnt very happy as she likes her sunny holidays and all I want again is snow.
 
Just back from 3 valleys. Had a good week with a little bit of fresh and lots of the usual spring conditions.

Probably last of season but I may go to Chamonix close party if I can fit it around work.
 
Thinking about Japan next year for New Year... anyone been?!

Also if I wanted to get some boots for myself (since fit seems a critical thing), is ProFeet in London the place to go? My hardcore ski friend recommended Solutions4Feet in Bicester but it's a bit of a mission for me (unless it was really worth the trip).
 
No comment on ski boots as I'm a snowboader but yes have been to Japan, just Niseko. The snow in Niseko was amazing, so much powder, trees so well placed apart, was utterly brilliant. Terrain is generally very mellow but by god was it fun. Going again next season and really looking forward to it. Food was fantastic too. Especially the sour cod semen.
 
Somnambulist said:
Thinking about Japan next year for New Year... anyone been?!

Also if I wanted to get some boots for myself (since fit seems a critical thing), is ProFeet in London the place to go? My hardcore ski friend recommended Solutions4Feet in Bicester but it's a bit of a mission for me (unless it was really worth the trip).
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Ellis Brigham and Snow and Rock both have big stores around Covent garden you can go to. As long as it’s a decent store with a good selection of brands that’s the main thing.
 
I used to work at Ellis Brigham as a boot fitter and have to say would avoid it if necessary. The training is minimal and unless you find a store that someone with prior experience, you’re likely going to get an inferior product.

They also only use the sidas pre moulded supports as well, which have no transverse support. Places like profeet will use a full foam sheet, so generally gives much better support.

This is based on when I was boot fitting 7 or 8 years ago, but I doubt much will have changed.

I have also done 6 seasons in Niseko as well as skied Hakuba, Nozawa, Myoko, Kiroro, Rusutsu and Furano, so let me know if you have any specific questions.
 
Jokester said:
It’s worth spending a bit extra on getting ski boots custom fitted in my opinion, not sure how good EB and S+R would be at that.
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Pretty good. Most places have ovens for liners and Ellis Brigham stretch/modify shells as well. I had the shell stretched on my boots there (on a pair of boots bought a few years before elsewhere*).

*from a small specialist store...

Edit: @timebomb I never had a bad experience at the Ellis Brigham in Coventry Garden, but IIRC it’s their flagship store and most of the people I spoken to there are not your normal shop worker. Some of the smaller shops may well be different.

Either way they fixed a pair of uncomfortable boots (I have extremely difficult feet) and I’m quite happy wearing them for 10 hours a day without any issues since then.
 
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Amp34 said:
@timebomb I never had a bad experience at the Ellis Brigham in Coventry Garden, but IIRC it’s their flagship store and most of the people I spoken to there are not your normal shop worker. Some of the smaller shops may well be different.

Either way they fixed a pair of uncomfortable boots (I have extremely difficult feet) and I’m quite happy wearing them for 10 hours a day without any issues since then.
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Oh they definitely do some good work, but from what I’ve seen it’s still too much of a lottery.

Any ski shop should be able to punch a boot or heat a liner, but the biggest part of a custom fit is the footbed. Getting a good mould and build from the beginning can prevent so many issues down the line.
 
timebomb26 said:
Oh they definitely do some good work, but from what I’ve seen it’s still too much of a lottery.

Any ski shop should be able to punch a boot or heat a liner, but the biggest part of a custom fit is the footbed. Getting a good mould and build from the beginning can prevent so many issues down the line.
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I got a custom footbed from the specialist, but got rid of it in the end. They was too uncomfortable. That said I have weird feet and I’m dreading getting new boots, even though I’m getting to the stage where I need a new pair.

I think either way, wherever you go, make sure they have a large selection of brands so you can try them all for the best fit.
 
I'm after boots for next year.

Anyone got any advice on best time to buy? I'm getting conflicting advice.

I'm inclined to start looking October/November vs June/July. I hear that if you look in the Summer you may get a deal but will be looking lower stock and possibly being sold kit the shop is looking to be rid of.
 
You’ll tend to get big discounts at this time of year as shops will be clearing the 18-19 stock as they move into the summer season. Next seasons boots will essentially be the same as this years, possibly just different colours so it’s not something I would specifically wait for if you can get a pair now that fits and you like the look of.
 
Hi all - some recommendations for travel insurance + snowsports cover please. I'm specifically interested in anyone that has made a claim and it been a relatively stress free experience.

We're booked with Crystal Ski for Ruka, Finland at Christmas and their own insurance (TUI) is coming in at 137gbp which seems a tad steep.
 
amigafan2003 said:
Hi all - some recommendations for travel insurance + snowsports cover please. I'm specifically interested in anyone that has made a claim and it been a relatively stress free experience.

We're booked with Crystal Ski for Ruka, Finland at Christmas and their own insurance (TUI) is coming in at 137gbp which seems a tad steep.
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I haven't claimed on it before so cant offer advise on that element of things. However I do have world wide travel insurance + snowsports cover as part of a packaged bank account deal with Nationwide. Its £13 per month, but also provides mobile phone insurance for the family and Car Breakdown cover including Europe as well. For £156 per year all its worth considering.
 
amigafan2003 said:
Hi all - some recommendations for travel insurance + snowsports cover please. I'm specifically interested in anyone that has made a claim and it been a relatively stress free experience.

We're booked with Crystal Ski for Ruka, Finland at Christmas and their own insurance (TUI) is coming in at 137gbp which seems a tad steep.
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As Syla5 said, a lot of bank insurance now cover snowsports, but check the small print to determine if the cover is suitable for your desired activities. My bank insurance covers snowboarding holidays, but they don't cover off piste or freestyle park, so I've used Insure&Go for the last 4-5 years. Not had to make a claim tho, so don't know that side of it - just know they specifically cover the bits that I would worry about from being missed off other policies (e.g. off piste). I also seem to remember noting that my bank insurance didn't cover equipment theft/loss to anywhere near the same level.
 
Do we not have a '19/20 thread yet? :)

A group of us are looking to go March '20 and are all fairly out of the loop. I'm a decent intermediate, but most would be lower intermediate (plus a boarder ;)) with the potential for a couple of beginners to come too. I think we're all agreed we could take or leave France. The last trip we went on was St. Anton about 5yrs ago which was awesome. Reading above Mayrhofen sounds interesting, but some of the French people in my office have suggested looking at Italy too.

Soooo, tldr; Group of probably <10 intermediates looking for a chalet experience outside of France. Smaller/less busy resort would be nice, but somewhere with something happening in the evenings (no clubbing, just bars)? Any suggestions? :)
 
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