The Snowsports Thread 2014-15

GAM8LE · 29 Mar 2015 at 14:31

Just heading back to Edinburgh after my week in Austria! Thoroughly enjoyed myself!! This was the first time I had ever skied and found myself doing some red runs towards the end of the week with one black at the very end

I was guided down the black run with a few thee more experienced people so I learnt it then went down normally and it was great. I surprised myself with how I picked it up but I used to waterski and rollerblade when younger which may have helped.

Definitely going to make this a yearly thing and also practice throughout the year in the indoor slope in Glasgow

Is it best to buy equipment or continually hire? Or is it only bed to buy when you are considered experienced?

Bony Maloney · 29 Mar 2015 at 21:09

C35799Gamble said:
Is it best to buy equipment or continually hire? Or is it only bed to buy when you are considered experienced?

It's a personal thing. We have our own boots, but hire the ski's every year. I have no hassles with transporting them anywhere. Plus each season we get the best of the latest skis to try. I hired boots for a couple of seasons at first then bought my own. When you do buy your own boots I would advise having them custom fitted by a ski shop, you wont regret it.

Glad you've caught the bug. It's a fantastic sport and one I got into later in life, but a passion I would not miss each year at any cost

Jokester · 30 Mar 2015 at 13:20

Well, just away to have my first day of 13 in Colorado. Breckinridge today, going to be spring skiing and particularly slushy as it appears to be very warm this week. At least there, plenty of snow base here. NW and SW USA have been a disaster for snow, but Colorado has done ok.

Bony Maloney · 31 Mar 2015 at 16:03

Jokester said:
Well, just away to have my first day of 13 in Colorado. Breckinridge today, going to be spring skiing and particularly slushy as it appears to be very warm this week. At least there, plenty of snow base here. NW and SW USA have been a disaster for snow, but Colorado has done ok.

Enjoy Jokester, lucky so and so

keep us posted. We've never skied USA and are considering Breckenridge as a base for next February/Early March. Supposed to be a great town, with character and history, a lot cheaper than Vail yet you can ski Vail on your lift pass. Work on that goggle tan!

Ronald · 2 Apr 2015 at 11:21

C35799Gamble said:
Is it best to buy equipment or continually hire? Or is it only bed to buy when you are considered experienced?

Most important thing is boots. A lot of people struggle to get comfortable in (smelly) hire boots. They're also easier/cheaper to transport than skis, so definately get those first... I'd say that it is worth it even if you only go for a week a season... But seeing you're based in Edinburgh... it is not too far at all to cherry pick the nice weekends and ski in the Highlands.

Ski hire is very personal. You'll have to service or pay for service, pay ski carriage on most airlines etc... so the case for hiring is much stronger.

I service myself and tend to put 2 pairs in a single ski bag, and I ski 3-5 weeks a season... For just single weeks stick with hiring, and make sure you have a travel insurance policy that covers the French trying to rip you off.

randomshenans · 7 Apr 2015 at 12:49

I went to les mountains at the weekend, it was the best powder we've had this late on.

It was fun.

Roady · 7 Apr 2015 at 13:48

peterattheboro said:
Made a daft video from Val Thorens.

Never really touched video editing so will be a bit rough

Enjoy.

Great video, looks like you guys had a good laugh - which is what it's all about!

Ronald said:
Most important thing is boots. A lot of people struggle to get comfortable in (smelly) hire boots. They're also easier/cheaper to transport than skis,

Gotta agree with this, although it can depend on the place you goto and 'luck of the draw'. Last year hiring boots in Bulgaria I ended up with an old pair and when we had slushy areas on the slopes I'd usually end up with wet feet... Thankfully it wasn't cold else I'd have had a real problem!

Bought our own boots between seasons and took them this year to Andorra, we were given brand new boards (or at least *very* new/great condition) and many of the others we chatted to had very new boots too!

Actually carried our boots in our suitcases and helmets in our hand luggage to avoid paying extra... It's certainly worth taking the largest hand luggage allowable to do this! Unsure if airlines really allow you to but had no problems

Went for 3 hours at tamworth snowdome last sunday... Great fun and good to know within 15 mins (2 short runs) we were back to our standard from holiday! It was rammed, but most of them seemed to be 1.5 hour long lessons so we had half an hour afterwards with only about 8 people on the slope! Actually got a deal (3 hours for the price of 2) so we didn't feel rushed and boarded as long as we liked = knackered after 2.5 hours!

GAM8LE · 7 Apr 2015 at 20:45

Ronald said:
Most important thing is boots. A lot of people struggle to get comfortable in (smelly) hire boots. They're also easier/cheaper to transport than skis, so definately get those first... I'd say that it is worth it even if you only go for a week a season... But seeing you're based in Edinburgh... it is not too far at all to cherry pick the nice weekends and ski in the Highlands.

Ski hire is very personal. You'll have to service or pay for service, pay ski carriage on most airlines etc... so the case for hiring is much stronger.

I service myself and tend to put 2 pairs in a single ski bag, and I ski 3-5 weeks a season... For just single weeks stick with hiring, and make sure you have a travel insurance policy that covers the French trying to rip you off.

thanks for this info! Much appreciated and very helpful

randomshenans · 8 Apr 2015 at 08:39

One bit of advice I'd say is to try boots when you're in the mountains. I have my boots pretty tight fitting, so not much space around the foot. So, if you're not up the mountain, your feet will swell slightly when you are up the mountains and skiing. I had a right mare with a set of fairly narrow Salomon Ghosts which were fine at home but up the mountain caused a bitch of a pain and cramp.

A lot of places should let you take out NEW boots if you say you're looking to buy something but want to try some. You're no way obliged to buy, but if you do they'll take the hire price off the boots.

Also, feet can be really different to each other and I'd say you soon get to know your feet. I know I have fairly flat feet, so weak bridges, which means when I put pressure on them, they spread flat, going wider, so causing pain too in a tight boot. You can get around this a bit with higher bridge inner soles, which I have. I also found that I was getting pressure around a part of my foot which I made better with a heel raise.
Basically, unless your feet are the complete norm, it can take some faff to get your boots 100% but don't give up on it because it's worth it.

I love my Dalbellos. The design of the inner boot and everything around them makes them a breeze to get on and off in the mornings, even when the plastic is cold and really nice fit.

GAM8LE · 8 Apr 2015 at 16:57

randomshenans said:
One bit of advice I'd say is to try boots when you're in the mountains. I have my boots pretty tight fitting, so not much space around the foot. So, if you're not up the mountain, your feet will swell slightly when you are up the mountains and skiing. I had a right mare with a set of fairly narrow Salomon Ghosts which were fine at home but up the mountain caused a bitch of a pain and cramp.

A lot of places should let you take out NEW boots if you say you're looking to buy something but want to try some. You're no way obliged to buy, but if you do they'll take the hire price off the boots.

Also, feet can be really different to each other and I'd say you soon get to know your feet. I know I have fairly flat feet, so weak bridges, which means when I put pressure on them, they spread flat, going wider, so causing pain too in a tight boot. You can get around this a bit with higher bridge inner soles, which I have. I also found that I was getting pressure around a part of my foot which I made better with a heel raise.
Basically, unless your feet are the complete norm, it can take some faff to get your boots 100% but don't give up on it because it's worth it.

I love my Dalbellos. The design of the inner boot and everything around them makes them a breeze to get on and off in the mornings, even when the plastic is cold and really nice fit.

Very helpful as well thankyou! The only advice I was given so far was about leaning forward in them etc, checking for movement but nothing about the potential of swelling.

My feet are fairly normal in terms of shape/bridge etc which based on what you are saying should make it a bit easier. The only weird thing is sizing, the boots I rented were size 5, but my shoe sizes can vary from 5-7 depending on what I get. I don't know how old the boots were either so the padding may have been non existent.

I think I'm going to go soon and try some out

Maybe this weekend actually as I'm going to book into the Glasgow indoor slopes over the next few weeks.

Skidder · 23 Apr 2015 at 16:41

Just booked a flight to head off to Chamonix in the morning for a last blast for the season. Bring it on.

Jokester · 1 Jun 2015 at 12:27

Some fresh snow today at Glen Coe if anyone fancies some hiking.

Bought some new Salomon Quest Pro 110 boots and had them fitted with custom foot beds at the weekend.

Patiently waiting for the new season.

Buffman · 14 Jun 2015 at 22:09

Got my first snowboard, will be good next season. Nice n cheap too at 90inc bindings. It took ages sorting out the bindings (Burton bindings on Burton board, but seems a while to set up.)

Has anyone ever got the eurostar train to France /italy/Switzerland?
I'm thinking of taking it, if it doesn't take much longer than a flight would anyway (I live 40 mins from central London atm)

Ashley Jordan · 23 Jun 2015 at 14:22

Hi Guys,

I've been to Tignes in France twice so far, skiing the first time and then on the last few days on the 2nd trip was learning snowboarding.

I Absolutely loved it and want to go again but i am thinking of buying my own board or skis?

What do you guys think? i will most likely be going for either a long weekend or a full week, But would you recommend me buying a new board or skis or should i just use rentals?

Also if anyone could recommend me some nice and cheap places similar to France - Tignes i would be more than greatful!

MagicUK · 14 Sep 2015 at 19:59

Looking to go skiing this year on a budget, what would places be to advice? I'm looking at Serbia? Any advice the cheap way to go? Also when's the season stRting? I assume Jan onwards?

zakjattaway · 15 Sep 2015 at 09:11

MagicUK said:
Looking to go skiing this year on a budget, what would places be to advice? I'm looking at Serbia? Any advice the cheap way to go? Also when's the season stRting? I assume Jan onwards?

I went to Andorra in Feb 2014 and it cost £470 (Accomodation, Food on and off slopes, flights, transfer, lift pass, ski equipment hire) and I couldn't fault it. Would definitely recommend it. Also Bulgaria is a cheap place to go. Ski season really depends on the snow fall in certain places. Can start in December if there is enough snow.

randomshenans · 15 Sep 2015 at 09:47

You can rent my apartment if you like?

I'd give you a ocUK discount haha

Funny this thread popped up as I've been eying up some new skis to replace my Salomon 2012s, which I've loved, but had about 3-4yrs, they need a service, but I could also do with a new set of all mountain skis. Just don't know what to go for. Seems choice is mega these days.

MagicUK · 15 Sep 2015 at 10:49

randomshenans said:
You can rent my apartment if you like? I'd give you a ocUK discount haha

Funny this thread popped up as I've been eying up some new skis to replace my Salomon 2012s, which I've loved, but had about 3-4yrs, they need a service, but I could also do with a new set of all mountain skis. Just don't know what to go for. Seems choice is mega these days.

There's potentially 6 of us, would that be too many and what's the rate? Would I have access to Internet and a gaming PC for the evenings ha

Wink · 15 Sep 2015 at 12:11

Booked my first snowboarding (and drinking) trip last week, we're heading to Snowbombing.

Myself and one of the others in the group can already ski, but the rest can't so we're going to all learn to snowboard. It's cooler anyways!

Plan is to get some lessons at Chill Factore in Manchester first rather than going there as complete amateurs.