Winter sports thread 24/25

.:SAmSuNG:. · 5 Oct 2024 at 22:52

VRDoctor said:
Yes - all the places I've been (Ruka, Finland - Lindvallen, Sweden) have excellent restaurants and it looks like Geilo has a good selection too. We always book a restaurant for Christmas day.

Can't really comment on bars as I don't drink but Scandic countries are notoriously expensive for alcohol (although a friend we were with stated it didn't seem much more expensive than then the Alps) but these countries have generally a quieter after ski scene - unless you go to Trysil, Norway in the college/uni Easter break! Trysil is next on our list - hopefully xmas 2026.

Had some quotes back from Ski Safari but after watching some videos on YouTube it just looks abit too quiet compared to the Alps.

Ended up booking a week in Ischgl at a decent looking hotel half board from 21st Dec. Hoping there is decent snow on the mountain.

Still need to book flights to Innsbruck, they are currently £250 return each. I'm guessing it's better to book those sooner rather than later as only a limited number of seats?

JRJ · 7 Oct 2024 at 20:21

We've booked flights into Geneva for Feb half term, still deciding on where to go though.... Originally planned was St Gervais but thinking maybe La Plagne/Les Arcs now.

JRJ · 22 Oct 2024 at 19:21

Booking.com/VRBO/Airbnb, any other accommodation websites which are good for ski accommodation?

JRJ · 10 Nov 2024 at 10:03

Finally decided and booked La Plagne, just a hire car to sort from Geneva but they seemed to have jumped up in price compared to this year.

VRDoctor · 30 Dec 2024 at 22:33

VRDoctor said:
We've just booked snowboarding in Geilo, Norway for over xmas.

Havsdalsgrenda Self catering apartments with pool onsite - really looking forward to it after doing Lindvallen, Sweden in 2022 and Ruka, Finland in 2019. Love the nordic countries for winter sports - I've been to Norway snowboarding before but this is the first time we're going as a family (me, wife, 17yr old son, 16 yr old son and 14 yr old dughter). Possibly our last holiday all together for a while as eldest is joining the Marines in June.

Geilo was amazing. Bit warm on Xmas day (7c) but rode like fresh spring snow - Thursday morn was icy so headed to the pool instead but softened up in the afternoon. Zero wind all week.

Our apartment on the left

View from apartment

Top of the button lift from appartment

Looking back across the valley from the Vestlia side (free ski bus every 15 mins) - our apartment is off to the right just over the hill.

Just booked Ski STar Lodge in Lindvallen, Sweden for Feb half term '26!

Somnambulist · 1 Jan 2025 at 00:49

I need to book somewhere for myself last-ish minute. Thinking 25th of Jan atm and just browsing Crystal/Iglu/Sunweb for the desperation deals, procrastinating about where to go that’s a balance of enough skiing for a week for a middling intermediate but not so big I worry about ending up a 400¢ cab away from the hotel. Not fussy about apres as I’m barely extrovert enough to strike up conversation on a chairlift let alone go out by myself. Also not hugely fussy about accommodation as long as it’s got a comfy bed, don’t need noise-cancelling to sleep and it’s not miles from the lifts. Did La Thuile / La Rosiere last March which was just about big enough and enjoyed that but new year, new slopes/views to check out…

mingeroonie · 5 Jan 2025 at 21:24

The In-Laws have a place in Switzerland, so over there next week for a week.
All our stuff is there, so its just a case of hand luggage for the two of us

markk · 7 Jan 2025 at 16:03

Off to Les Arcs on Saturday

We've been to France the past 3 years running so want to do something different for 2026, probably Italy - any recommendations? Been Aosta before but that many years ago (20+) Never too early to start planning!

poosemon · 7 Jan 2025 at 17:44

markk said:
Off to Les Arcs on Saturday

We've been to France the past 3 years running so want to do something different for 2026, probably Italy - any recommendations? Been Aosta before but that many years ago (20+) Never too early to start planning!

In La Plagne this week but went over to Les Arcs today.

Hope you manage to get a few days like we have had as Sun was out and decent snow, not too busy, never queuing more then 5 mins for lifts.

Found the forecasts have been especially hit and miss this week so hard to say what conditions are going to be like but looks like current trend is there to be a good amount of snow over rest of week so hopefully should give a nice top up for you! However, the snow is already pretty good

markk · 7 Jan 2025 at 21:43

poosemon said:
In La Plagne this week but went over to Les Arcs today.

Hope you manage to get a few days like we have had as Sun was out and decent snow, not too busy, never queuing more then 5 mins for lifts.

Found the forecasts have been especially hit and miss this week so hard to say what conditions are going to be like but looks like current trend is there to be a good amount of snow over rest of week so hopefully should give a nice top up for you! However, the snow is already pretty good

Yeah, forcasts are saying some decent snow dropping thurs/fri. Hopefully its not too busy next week! Enjoy.

McGray · 8 Jan 2025 at 14:12

Courchevel in 2 weeks.

Looks like we'll finally have some decent conditions. Been lacking the last few years.

poosemon · 8 Jan 2025 at 15:19

Been able to look over to courcheval from the other side of la plagne, has definitely turned whiter over past few days!

Was a proper day of two halves today - this morning was low cloud, rain/sleet, wind, extremely poor visibility which I couldn't sort with various goggle lenses....But around Midday started to shift and ended up having a proper afternoon of blue sky again and good powder where it had fallen as snow higher up, lovely stuff!! Looking at the forecast think that's the last we'll see of the sun though as mostly light snow forecast during day over next couple.

VRDoctor · 16 Jan 2025 at 15:26

After bad foot pain snowboarding in Norway at xmas (I'm a little bit, ahem, 'bigger', since I last boarded), went to Snow and Rock for a boot fitting. I was looking at step ons but after trying everything in the store couldn't find any that were a good fit (have pronation, wide feet, odd bones). Burton Ruler no-step ons in wide at half a size bigger than existing boots were the nicest fitting (of the ones that weren't crazy stiff) so settled on those. Got them heat moulded and used my existing Sidas inserts and will pop some Remind Cush insoles in when they've packed out a little. Really, really pleased with the fit and 2 hours on the slope were a delight compared to old boots.

I was also pondering upgrading from old Burton Clash board / Freestyle bindings to something stiffer and they has a factory second Burton Instigator that they did a REALLY good deal on - just had a bit of a gouge along one edge but nothing major - just cosmetic. It was board I'd been looking at (Bateleon Thunderstorm was another but preferred the ride of the Instigation when tried on a demo day). Grabbed some Mission bindings that they did me a good deal on as well. That's board, boots and bindings all a little stiffer plus board is a more intermediate profile so should allow for some progression.

So that's me set up for the next few years - let's hope I can find some step on boots that fit next time!

markk · 19 Jan 2025 at 09:41

poosemon said:
In La Plagne this week but went over to Les Arcs today.

Hope you manage to get a few days like we have had as Sun was out and decent snow, not too busy, never queuing more then 5 mins for lifts.

Found the forecasts have been especially hit and miss this week so hard to say what conditions are going to be like but looks like current trend is there to be a good amount of snow over rest of week so hopefully should give a nice top up for you! However, the snow is already pretty good

Had 6 full days of blue skies - amazing! Made it over to La Plagne too. It felt empty the whole week, never queued more than a few mins for a lift - it was perfect.

Sadly, a 62 yr old British Skier died on the black Aiguille Rouge run - we saw a lot of helicopter activity that day but didn't know what had happened until a day or two later. Shame.

poosemon · 19 Jan 2025 at 11:33

markk said:
Had 6 full days of blue skies - amazing! Made it over to La Plagne too. It felt empty the whole week, never queued more than a few mins for a lift - it was perfect.

Sadly, a 62 yr old British Skier died on the black Aiguille Rouge run - we saw a lot of helicopter activity that day but didn't know what had happened until a day or two later. Shame.

Saw on the news about the skier, I think that run was closed most of the time we were there, similarly a couple of blacks over la plagne side were never opened.

Glad to hear you had good weather, had a friend in Saint Foye last week who would have had similar too. We got a few days blue sky and lots of fresh powder so can't be too jealous.

My post skiing blues are still strong! Don't think I have as bigger come down from any other holiday then a skiing one.

Hopefully going to head out next year. My daughter's school fortunately has an inset day on 5th Jan so going to aim to go same week probably so I can take her and it only be 4 days i.e avoid a fine!

Know weather can be hit and miss bit will go to a high french resort and should be reasonably safe.

Jokester · 27 Jan 2025 at 18:09

Currently looking quite good at Glenshee and Glencoe - can ski back down to the car park at the moment.

PapaLazaru · Thursday at 18:10

Going boarding for the first timre in 12 years haha. March. Driving in VW Transports with brother in law.

La Plagne or Alp D'huez. Not going to buy any new kit yet so will get ny old board serviced and see how many bones I break.

Though I did price up a new board, bindings and boots and its nigh on £2k

manic111 · Saturday at 14:42

Just had an unbelievable week in Meribel. Dumps of snow overnight and sunny days, only one whiteout. Some of the best conditions I've seen in over 30 years of skiing.

Does anyone have any ski boot recommendations? I've got a really wide forefoot, and have been using Atomic Hawx boots (fitted and moulded by Snow and Rock) for years, but they destroy my feet - I now carry trainers in a rucksack and wear them during lunch and apres. I'm a decent skier (comfy on blacks and a bit of off pisting), so don't want anything too flexible but equally the current boots often come close to ruining trips and it's time to change them.

Jokester · Saturday at 14:52

manic111 said:
Just had an unbelievable week in Meribel. Dumps of snow overnight and sunny days, only one whiteout. Some of the best conditions I've seen in over 30 years of skiing.

Does anyone have any ski boot recommendations? I've got a really wide forefoot, and have been using Atomic Hawx boots (fitted and moulded by Snow and Rock) for years, but they destroy my feet - I now carry trainers in a rucksack and wear them during lunch and apres. I'm a decent skier (comfy on blacks and a bit of off pisting), so don't want anything too flexible but equally the current boots often come close to ruining trips and it's time to change them.

I would get a proper boot fitting, not sure Snow and Rock would be the best place, though depending on where you are you might not have much choice. Independents I suspect will give you better service than a chain store. I've a wide forefoot and have a pair of Solomon Quest Pros and Technica Zero G Tour Pros and they both fit like a glove. Fitted by Craigdon in Aberdeen and had the custom foot beds, and shell tweaked to fit.

manic111 · Saturday at 16:51

Jokester said:
I would get a proper boot fitting, not sure Snow and Rock would be the best place, though depending on where you are you might not have much choice. Independents I suspect will give you better service than a chain store. I've a wide forefoot and have a pair of Solomon Quest Pros and Technica Zero G Tour Pros and they both fit like a glove. Fitted by Craigdon in Aberdeen and had the custom foot beds, and shell tweaked to fit.

I'm in London, they've got a pretty good reputation for boot fitting and moulding, although after the last set I'm not in a rush to go back. If anyone has any better recommendations I'm all ears!