Season 14/15 Banter thread

sallymomo · 08-10-2014 1:56pm

Fattes wrote: »

I had my own private slope tonight

The jealous rage is burning with every post you give us Fattes!! Firstly guaranteed skiing every season and having Kilternan to yourself

I might be lucky to get away this season, my wife is expecting our first child in January (she has herself convinced we can go for a few days over Paddy's weekend) and bar walking, I haven't tested out the cartilage I tore in my knee last February in Limone!

I suppose I'll just have to read everyone else's trip reports on here and hope 2016 is a great year!!

Enjoy, all who do go and don't injure yourselves

it's stoopid

neilthefunkeone · 08-10-2014 2:26pm

cormee wrote: »

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=hdn.android.countdown
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.rcreations.WebCamViewerPaid (use the free version of this)
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.accuweather.android

The webcam can be tricky to set up, you have to find an active webcam, get the filename of the webcam image (usually .jpg) and add it in the settings

Cheers for the apps cormee.. Got mine set up too! Just cant get a good webcam feed.. Only panorama ones that looked stretched but still searching!

cormee · 08-10-2014 3:00pm

neilthefunkeone wrote: »

Cheers for the apps cormee.. Got mine set up too! Just cant get a good webcam feed.. Only panorama ones that looked stretched but still searching!

Looking good! It's hard enough to find the oldskool webcams nowadays. Though onthesnow.com do seem to have some - not sure if they work, but the date stamp on some of them is from today. http://www.onthesnow.com/northern-alps/tignes/webcams.html?id=950

Fattes · 08-10-2014 9:09pm

sallymomo wrote: »

The jealous rage is burning with every post you give us Fattes!! Firstly guaranteed skiing every season and having Kilternan to yourself

I might be lucky to get away

Hopefully, you get a trip away & can ease yourself back in to it. Remember the body will take a bit to adjust.

Kilternan is quiet, for the next week or two on week nights, so it's well worth a visit as you will have the same conditions

Fattes · 09-10-2014 1:39pm

This is very clever and simple and worth a few minutes!

http://www.outsideonline.com/outdoor-adventure/outdoor-skills/survival/Enter-at-Your-Own-Risk.html

stevire · 10-10-2014 1:09pm

This is worth a look:
http://www.fatmap.com/

Launching in December, only a few resorts at first:
Chamonix, Verbier, Zermatt, Val d’Isere, Tignes, La Plagne and Les Arcs.

App is free but comes with a subscription service. No data needed once the area is downloaded to your phone.

AlternateID · 10-10-2014 1:20pm

stevire wrote: »

This is worth a look:
http://www.fatmap.com/

Launching in December, only a few resorts at first:
Chamonix, Verbier, Zermatt, Val d’Isere, Tignes, La Plagne and Les Arcs.

App is free but comes with a subscription service. No data needed once the area is downloaded to your phone.

Fatmap freeride interests me. The other one not so much. I've been through many snow apps for my phone and end up deleting them all as the info is inaccurate or out of date. To be fair most are free. Will keep an eye on this one.

Xavier de la Rue recently mentioned a snow probe that could upload it's findings meaning all the data could be presented on a possible avalanche slope immediately rather then digging multiple pits. Will find the link later.

AlternateID · 10-10-2014 1:30pm

Www.avatech.com

cormee · 10-10-2014 1:30pm

AlternateID wrote: »

I've been through many snow apps for my phone and end up deleting them all as the info is inaccurate or out of date.

Ski Tracks had me going at 45kph a few weeks ago when I was walking into town.

CardinalJ · 10-10-2014 1:35pm

cormee wrote: »

Ski Tracks had me going at 45kph a few weeks ago when I was walking into town.

Wish I was that fit.

My record speed in St Anton three years ago was 247km/h…. I know for a fact that fastest I've ever gone is 92.4km through a speed trap in switzerland. Almost s**t myself.

sallymomo · 10-10-2014 2:11pm

Fattes wrote: »

Hopefully, you get a trip away & can ease yourself back in to it. Remember the body will take a bit to adjust.

Kilternan is quiet, for the next week or two on week nights, so it's well worth a visit as you will have the same conditions

Cheers Fattes! Hope to get away alright! I dont mind taking it easy, only problem with that is you dont feel like you have earned the Apres Ski! (Which in Limone is nice and relaxed)

Not sure I'd get up in the next couple of weeks but cheers for the heads up, those pics make it look fantastic (used the gym there years ago when playing football and used to love the views out the windows, over the bay). Wonder what the place will look like in the background when they start work again

cormee · 10-10-2014 2:17pm

CardinalJ wrote: »

Wish I was that fit.

My record speed in St Anton three years ago was 247km/h

That's a screen to leave open when you're at the bar ordering pints at the apres ski.

"Oh ladies, it was nothing, really, I didn't even realise it at the time!" :cool:

CardinalJ · 10-10-2014 2:43pm

cormee wrote: »

That's a screen to leave open when you're at the bar ordering pints at the apres ski.

"Oh ladies, it was nothing, really, I didn't even realise it at the time!" :cool:

Funny, I had a check, 247, wouldn't actually be the fastest a person has ever gone on skis….:eek:

Fattes · 10-10-2014 4:30pm

Those speed trackers are wildly inaccurate, mine once said I was doing 150 Kph I was doing easily 210

AlternateID · 10-10-2014 4:34pm

Two identical iPhones with the same app and in the same pocket of my mates pack gave different speed readings. I still went faster

masseyno9 · 12-10-2014 8:55pm

Sorry guys, didn't mean to ignore anyone, just haven't been on much the past week!

stevire wrote: »

Sounds amazing, very jealous! How long you out there now? Doing boarding as a weekend warrior?

Been here just over 2 years. Just weekends for the moment, although I'm staying for Xmas this year so I'll do some travelling then I'm sure. I usually get out twice or 3 times a month. I can drive out to Sunshine in just over 90 mins, or to Lake Louise in about 2 hours. Sunshine has a 15-20min Gondola ride to the base, so it kind of evens out, even though Lake Louise feels further! Next resort is Kicking Horse which is 3 hours and about as far as you could really go for a day trip...it's a LONG day! Revelstoke, Fernie and Kimberley are all in driving distance for weekends, but I haven't made it to the latter 2 yet. Then there's Whitefish down in Montana for cheap beer and decent snow, I hear.

Fattes wrote: »

One of the best resorts on the planet! Had 5 days there and even though the locals said the snow was poor! I had a lot of fun

Oh yeah I loved it there. Lost one of our 2 days we had planned there last year when the mountain pass was closed due to avalanche danger, but there was good snow when we finally got there! Then we heard the road was going to close on the way back again, so some of us left before the beers started flowing. Those that stayed were stuck for 3 more days! It is a great hill though and it's spread out more than some of the resorts over here so feels a lot less busy, which is great.

stevire · 14-10-2014 9:37am

This sounds pretty good....
http://m.washingtonpost.com/blogs/capital-weather-gang/wp/2014/10/13/fall-snow-bonanza-in-north-america-and-siberia-may-portend-brutal-winter/

I'll get my request in early, where is decent for snowboarding in Dublin/Wicklow (with a 4x4)? Have only done short runs around Military Road and think there was a few guys up around the hellfire club.

prunudo · 14-10-2014 10:32am

stevire wrote: »

This sounds pretty good....
http://m.washingtonpost.com/blogs/capital-weather-gang/wp/2014/10/13/fall-snow-bonanza-in-north-america-and-siberia-may-portend-brutal-winter/

I'll get my request in early, where is decent for snowboarding in Dublin/Wicklow (with a 4x4)? Have only done short runs around Military Road and think there was a few guys up around the hellfire club.

Hopefully it comes through,as some people keep reminding me we're going to pay for the good spell of weather this summer.
If it's like a few years back I'll be hitting Djouce Mountain Resort again :pac:

hawkwind23 · 14-10-2014 10:51am

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ds6BFqXwqVU

would love to do Donard

Fattes · 14-10-2014 10:02pm

I believe topflight are running a ski sale until tomorrow night! Probably still over priced

Fattes · 15-10-2014 12:27am

Oh an this is interesting

http://m.nydailynews.com/sports/more-sports/1.1969228?cid=bitly#bmb=1

AlternateID · 15-10-2014 9:14am

Fattes wrote: »

Oh an this is interesting

http://m.nydailynews.com/sports/more-sports/1.1969228?cid=bitly#bmb=1

I wonder if it works. Time will tell of course assuming it's used. Wait and see how many use it.

Fattes · 15-10-2014 12:36pm

AlternateID wrote: »

I wonder if it works. Time will tell of course assuming it's used. Wait and see how many use it.

Testing seems positive! I cant wait to see the first Russian idiot wearing one on a green slope in ski school! :cool::D

AlternateID · 15-10-2014 5:41pm

Fattes wrote: »

Testing seems positive! I cant wait to see the first Russian idiot wearing one on a green slope in ski school! :cool::D

I haven't found any info on how it's deployed. Every auto method I can think of could be triggered by a normal skier by mistake.

Every little helps but I'm not convinced this would be that useful in the grand scheme of things when a downhill skier looses it. As a racer what do you think?

CardinalJ · 15-10-2014 6:23pm

Fattes wrote: »

Testing seems positive! I cant wait to see the first Russian idiot wearing one on a green slope in ski school! :cool::D

No no, a the airport in Innsbruck wearing it up to the damn metal detector and wondering why they have to take it off, then look back at the rest of the Q and slowly take off their jewelry, beats by dre and airbag crash vest.

Happens literally every time I pass through.

a148pro · 15-10-2014 10:16pm

hawkwind23 wrote: »

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ds6BFqXwqVU

would love to do Donard

Great vid! Whenever I'm up the mountains I'm always looking round saying "that'd be skiable", South fact of Donard was one I'd dreamed of, steep!

Any sign of that this year and I'd definitely be on, I assume those lads don't rent gear though?

I also would have thought avalanche risk would be high given the snow wouldn't have bonded?

Fattes · 15-10-2014 10:56pm

AlternateID wrote: »

I haven't found any info on how it's deployed. Every auto method I can think of could be triggered by a normal skier by mistake.
Every little helps but I'm not convinced this would be that useful in the grand scheme of things when a downhill skier looses it. As a racer what do you think?

There was a new material a few years back DTS or some such like that that knew when an impact was coming and hardened, it was used in Beanies and spyder jackets!

Anything that helps soften the impact between you and the ground at that speed is a good thing, it is only being used on Downhill and super G next year!

stevire · 16-10-2014 9:33am

a148pro wrote: »

I also would have thought avalanche risk would be high given the snow wouldn't have bonded?

There would be no layers underneath though, you'd get more sluff than a full on avalanche. Only if we get solid snow for a month would there be any risk of an avalanche. I could be wrong but that would be my understanding. I think there'd be more factors as to why we wouldn't have an avalanche rather than why we could possibly have one in Ireland.

Fattes wrote: »

There was a new material a few years back DTS or some such like that that knew when an impact was coming and hardened, it was used in Beanies and spyder jackets!

I have the same stuff in my impact shorts, haven't noticed much difference on impact vs regular stuff. It is more comfortable and snug though.

Fattes · 16-10-2014 11:52am

stevire wrote: »

There would be no layers underneath though, you'd get more sluff than a full on avalanche. Only if we get solid snow for a month would there be any risk of an avalanche. I could be wrong but that would be my understanding. I think there'd be more factors as to why we wouldn't have an avalanche rather than why we could possibly have one in Ireland.

Kind of, the risk is quite high actually, think about late season in the lower pasture parts of the alps, as it warms up a layer of water from's between the grass and the snow pack and helps it slip very quickly! Which would be similar to here and the conditions we get, plus most of the slopes and the angle they are at in Ireland would be very close to the optimum range for self sliding avalanches.

But hopefully everyone has fun and is safe, there is actually a pair of my old skis in that video form the Mournes :cool:

Fattes · 16-10-2014 12:34pm

Winter cant come soon enough for some people. Here are a few nutters from my home resort keeping themselves occupied over the summer and autumn months!

http://vimeo.com/109060226

masseyno9 · 16-10-2014 10:33pm

I did a bit of reading on the d-air system having seen it in motorbike racing since about 06/07 I think. I always figured it must have been triggered by a tether to the bike, but from reading the user manual (available on dainese website) it seems it's a series of accelerometers that only fire the system in a crash scenario. Understanding that skidding, bumps etc. happen more in skiing than in track racing, I imagine it was quite a challenge to program the sensors accurately. Time will tell I suppose - maybe each course will use practice runs to program the system for each round? Maybe there'll be false-triggers that'll need to be ironed out. It's an interesting development anyway.

If anyone hasn't seen it, check out youtube for videos of it in action in motogp and moto2. The crashes are pretty similar to a lot of the downhill crashes I've seen. Highsides and lowsides are pretty much replicated on skis when things go wrong - although the run-out is larger around tracks than on hills, generally.

In other 2014-2015 season news, the Sunshine village and Lake Louise webcams are looking promising! Sunshine has a dusting all over and Louise has some snow at the top, by the looks of things.

barry181091 · 17-10-2014 2:40pm

Fattes wrote: »

Winter cant come soon enough for some people. Here are a few nutters from my home resort keeping themselves occupied over the summer and autumn months!

http://vimeo.com/109060226

I wonder how dangerous this would actually be? Seems pretty safe. I would love to try it!

am i bovvered · 19-10-2014 11:37am

Really looking forward to the winter, all booked up now, with 2 new resorts.
First a week in Bisanne 1500 espace diamont, 14 of us self catering ski in out chalet, then a week in Le Praz, Corchevel 1300, fully catered (first time trying this)

CardinalJ · 19-10-2014 10:53pm

Cool vid.

fmlarnapairce · 19-10-2014 11:40pm

i'm not allowed to paste in urls (still a newbie!) but youtube danny maccaskill and the ridge. not snow related, but it is mountain related, and we do all love mountains...

Fattes · 20-10-2014 9:57am

http://www.weathertoski.co.uk/weather-snow/

And so it starts, 70cm forecast for my home resort this week

October and November snow is always exciting but no indication of anything but still nice to see.

Here is the Danny Mccaskill video, absolutely amazing

http://youtu.be/xQ_IQS3VKjA

cormee · 20-10-2014 10:24am

CardinalJ wrote: »

Cool vid.

How the hell would they know where they were going? In some of the scenes there is no ambient light whatsoever, besides what they're wearing. It would be like being in a snowstorm, with 2 or 3' visibility.

Horrible experience if you aren't familiar with the slope you're on. I got caught in a white-out in Les Menuires once, it's very disorientating, I literally did not know whether I was going up, down, left or right, when I was moving - there's nothing you can use for a visual frame of reference.

Cool video though, yeah!

Fattes · 20-10-2014 10:43am

cormee wrote: »

How the hell would they know where they were going?

Cool video though, yeah!

Head lamps, good pre line planning and they have probably skied it before! Its an incredible idea and a great piece of footage! Something similar done a few years back slightly diferent concept but looks like Tron

cormee · 20-10-2014 4:07pm

CardinalJ wrote: »

Cool vid.

Fattes wrote: »

Head lamps, good pre line planning and they have probably skied it before!

That's all grand until you run into the side of a hungry Sasquatch

Fattes · 20-10-2014 5:21pm

cormee wrote: »

That's all grand until you run into the side of a hungry Sasquatch

Thanks for that coffee everywhere ha ha ha

CardinalJ · 20-10-2014 5:49pm

Fattes wrote: »

And so it starts, 70cm forecast for my home resort this week October and November snow is always exciting but no indication of anything but still nice to see.

Yup. Nice dumping of snow for west Austria.

AlternateID · 20-10-2014 6:05pm

cormee wrote: »

Horrible experience if you aren't familiar with the slope you're on. I got caught in a white-out in Les Menuires once, it's very disorientating, I literally did not know whether I was going up, down, left or right, when I was moving - there's nothing you can use for a visual frame of reference.

Cool video though, yeah!

The mention of white out brought back this memory for me. Sept last year in Hintertux. The photo is from the middle station. If you squint really hard you'll make out the roof gondola station that takes you to the top a further 600m up. Now imaging coming down from the top on my board. Lucky I knew where I was going. ah good times.

Fattes · 21-10-2014 5:43pm

Something to think about before you book for the season!!

http://www.skiclub.co.uk/skiclub/news/story.aspx?storyID=9269#.VEaMwSifOS0

prunudo · 21-10-2014 6:15pm

Fattes wrote: »

Something to think about before you book for the season!!

http://www.skiclub.co.uk/skiclub/news/story.aspx?storyID=9269#.VEaMwSifOS0

There's a lot of resorts I've still to visit so. Better get saving for the long haul ones haha

fmlarnapairce · 21-10-2014 11:01pm

Fattes wrote: »

Something to think about before you book for the season!!

[skiclub/news/story.aspx?storyID=9269#.VEaMwSifOS0[/url]

and I thought I was doing well! good to see engelberg makes the lists, well worthy.
flaine, argentiere and la grave would be high on my list. have you ever skied Pontresina, sounds interesing.

CardinalJ · 21-10-2014 11:07pm

Fattes wrote: »

Something to think about before you book for the season!!

http://www.skiclub.co.uk/skiclub/news/story.aspx?storyID=9269#.VEaMwSifOS0

Only been to two, Trebble Cone in NZ and St Anton, where I'm off to again in Jan.

Lot of skiing still to do!

Fattes · 21-10-2014 11:39pm

fmlarnapairce wrote: »

and I thought I was doing well! good to see engelberg makes the lists, well worthy.
flaine, argentiere and la grave would be high on my list. have you ever skied Pontresina, sounds interesing.

Probably done about 30-34 of them, Ponteresina, is on the radar, might get down there this season now that I have less races and more me time

Fattes · 22-10-2014 8:35am

And so it starts!! Snow in the village and right the way to the top!

cormee · 22-10-2014 11:30am

Les Arcs also got a dusting.

Yeah baby!

cormee · 22-10-2014 11:36am

fmlarnapairce wrote: »

and I thought I was doing well! good to see engelberg makes the lists, well worthy.
flaine, argentiere and la grave would be high on my list. have you ever skied Pontresina, sounds interesing.

La Grave has always intrigued me, would love to try it one day.

Great video about it: http://vimeo.com/15315278

Season 14/15 Banter thread

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