Winter 2012/13

Off to Morzine myself with 4 mates on the 8th of Feb.


CANT WAIT!

any advice, one mate has been before but never been myself! Only place I have been was 3 valleys (Val Thorens etc)
 
randomshenans said:
You know it!

Powder skis it's all about surface area :D
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Amp34 said:
It's still never been explained to me satisfactorily why height has anything to do with ski length, other than to give an approximation of weight and strength, which IMO is far more important for ski length.
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Tall people need a longer support base, weight and strength are less important. Intact weight I really don't see affecting ski length at all except when in powder a you would require more surface, but then. Would feel more width would be sbetter.

I ski with several really tall people, they have to get really long skis to feel comfortable.
 
Goggle wearers, I'm looking at some new Oakleys as a present from the missus. Persimmon/Blue Iridium for the best all round conditions? I can't decide..
 
Went to La Plagne last week myself. Stayed at Hotel Maeva in 1800

Great place for the price. Was very surprised by how cheap it is to buy over there.

Loads of mountain to shred too. Didn't really think Les Arcs was very good tbh, apart from the speed trap :D

Loads of snow on Thursday night led to epic powder day on the off piste on Friday. Great way to end it.

Want some good mid/low level skis that are good all rounders? Thrusters.
 
Just got back from Alp D'heuz, 13th and 14th were sunny then on 15th had a massive snow dump in the morning. First time I have ever skid powder and damn was it hard... But so much fun. A black run in the afternoon (La Balme) was transformed into what was more like a giant off piste powder field. You literally couldn't see where the piste boundaries were. At some points I couldn't see my knees which looked pretty scary. I imagine if I bailed and lost a ski then it wouldnt be getting found very easily. I did have quite a few falls and took me ages to roll my way out because it was too deep :) . It turned green runs into blues, and some blues were transformed into blacks. Le Tunnel was also good fun, however not as challenging as what people make out. I would have loved to go off piste more but was put off by the avalanche risk 4 and hearing constant blasts going off. I did do a bit and went around 'danger avalanche' signs (not under then just around them) then looked up and saw about a 20 foot snow slide

Skis I had were Rossingnol Experience 83 (hired)
 
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Looking at booking Val thorens for 30th March. Only week we can all do but I've only every been boarding once in Obergurgl, Austria and that was in August. I don't have much luck so what are my chances of there being poor snow?
 
Alex_6n2 said:
Went to La Plagne last week myself. Stayed at Hotel Maeva in 1800

Great place for the price. Was very surprised by how cheap it is to buy over there.

Loads of mountain to shred too. Didn't really think Les Arcs was very good tbh, apart from the speed trap :D

Loads of snow on Thursday night led to epic powder day on the off piste on Friday. Great way to end it.

Want some good mid/low level skis that are good all rounders? Thrusters.
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The trick with les arcs is to get a guide and head off the back into be nature reserve for untouched powder. It is illegal for unguided people to enter so it remains untouched for ages, and like 2000m of vert.
 
Guest2 said:
Just got back from Alp D'heuz, 13th and 14th were sunny then on 15th had a massive snow dump in the morning. First time I have ever skid powder and damn was it hard... But so much fun. A black run in the afternoon (La Balme) was transformed into what was more like a giant off piste powder field. You literally couldn't see where the piste boundaries were. At some points I couldn't see my knees which looked pretty scary. I imagine if I bailed and lost a ski then it wouldnt be getting found very easily. I did have quite a few falls and took me ages to roll my way out because it was too deep :) . It turned green runs into blues, and some blues were transformed into blacks. Le Tunnel was also good fun, however not as challenging as what people make out. I would have loved to go off piste more but was put off by the avalanche risk 4 and hearing constant blasts going off. I did do a bit and went around 'danger avalanche' signs (not under then just around them) then looked up and saw about a 20 foot snow slide

Skis I had were Rossingnol Experience 83 (hired)
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FYI, avalanche danger 4 pretty much means stick to be piste or dense trees (but be weary of openings that can still slide). Doing anything remotely interesting off-piste is reckless, and even ifyoubdont care about your own life if you trigger a slide that kills someone else then you will face man slaughter charges.

If you want to get into off-piste then buy a beacon, probe and alloy shovel, hire a guide to show you the best areas and keep you safe, he should also help teach you all The requisite safety skills, e.g avalanche search strategies, beacon checks, etiquette such as ski 1 at a time between safety islands. Get some freinds together and it is well worth the cost, not least he will find the best untouched powder.

Don't ignore the dangers- every yer hundreds die and there are typically a we uneducated Brits on their half-term holiday "just having a laugh in the powder".

Putting that aside, off-piste and a country is where TS t.i can't remember Te sat ie I skied down a posted slope and I ski 50-80 days a year...
 
Off to Niseko (in northern Japan) next week! Averages 15cm of snow per day during January and it has snowed there everyday for the last 3 weeks! Excited would be an understatement. :D
 
15cm a day for 3 weeks sounds pretty awesome.

A friend who didnt come this year has just asked me if I want to go to Val d'isere on 9th feb. Seriously thinking about busting out some savings for another week. Do you think this is not very wise? (~£1300 needed)
 
Just came back from Kitzbuhel today, and had an absolute blast. The snow was incredible the whole week we were there. It also seemed like 99% of people couldn't care less about the powder and stayed on piste, meaning there was heaps of fresh lines to be had without really needing to hike anywhere. Man, it sucks to be back.

Pics:
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I can't remember if I'd asked or not so will do again :p. Can anyone recommend a good place to go end of March/April? I want to try and get a second trip in on the cheap.

physichull said:
I've never been skiing and this thread is filling me with envy.
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Then do whatever you can to go? It isn't cheap, but you can get package deals that really aren't expensive.
 
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Anyone recommend any decent salopettes to buy online/instore, probs £80 max is my budget, would be happy cheaper but want good quality?

I'm a skier if that helps who has been twice but really enjoyed it and got the bug.

Going Tignes 8th March so have a little while yet..
 
ArmoVanBuuren said:
Anyone recommend any decent salopettes to buy online/instore, probs £80 max is my budget, would be happy cheaper but want good quality?

I'm a skier if that helps who has been twice but really enjoyed it and got the bug.

Going Tignes 8th March so have a little while yet..
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Try them instore (buy online if it's cheaper ;) ), over your thermals if necessary.
A fly zipper that can 'lock'. Mine doesn't always stay up which can result in rather cold draughts! :eek:
An internal cuff around the ankle for the boots to prevent snow going up your leg.
Mine have vents but I never use them. I never use the pockets either.
 
I mention that I'm getting new goggles, and suddently every advert on every webpage is for Oakley :p.

@ArmoVanburren the requirements for me are braces, and internal snow gaiters that slip into the boots as Tomsk said. I've got a couple of Icepeak pairs that I find excellent, but you can get decent salopettes quite cheaply.

Good time to pick them up too, eg http://www.trekwear.co.uk/s/dare-2b-turn-out-mens-salopettes/65697/Product.aspx are pretty good, 5000mvp, though no braces.

http://www.trekwear.co.uk/s/dare-2b-tradeoff-mens-salopettes/86391/Product.aspx seem a bargain to me. 10,000 mvp, gaiters, braces, fitted knees, snap closure, and a few other things. I've never had D2B stuf fmyself but plenty of people wear it so it must be all right.
 
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