summer snowboarding

jaarius

are there any locations in europe that have summer snowboarding?

jaz?

DeVore

Not to my knowledge... actually I think Finland has glacier skiing so I might be wrong. If its anywhere it will be far up north.

Most people now head to Chile and the like for summer skiing.

DeV.

cerebus

I think there are a number of resorts in Europe that offer summer glacier skiing/boarding. Saas-Fee in Switzerland is a boarder-friendly resort that allows summer access to their glacier for skiing or boarding, for example.

Be warned, it could be rather expensive... most of the year-round resorts tend to be the pricier ones (e.g. Val Thorens, Val d'Isere, anything in Switzerland). Also, summer skiing/boarding will probably be pretty cruddy unless you head to places in Northern Europe. Glacier skiing tends to be icy in the morning and crappy in the afternoon, so don't expect perfect conditions.

Devore's suggestion is pretty good - head south to NZ, Chile or somewhere else in the Southern Hemisphere if you want good snow.

Alternatively, I think there are a number of indoor snow slopes in the UK (one called Snozone in Milton Keynes for example) - might be worth checking out if you're desperate for a fix

shag

I've done two seasons in NZ and reckon thats probably the best summer boarding you'll get. They have every other type of adrenalin inducing activity you can imagine and quite a few you can't available too. Get in soon to get cheap season tickets though.try www.nzski.com for more info or search for one of the many NZ boarding sites. The ticket over is big money allright but if you're going for a while the low price of lift tickets and low cost of living make up for it. If you decide on NZ get back to me for more info.Shaggy.

coreilly1

hey shag,

I know its donkeys since you wrote that last thread bout boarding in NZ.But heading out there (queenstown,nz) myself in june for 3 months so do ya have some info?Wanted to get a season pass but I heard they're sold out so is there any other way of getting a cheap pass?do people ever sell them on?

Any advice on jobs,living etc?(experienced barman and DJ)

Cian

shagman

Season Lift Tickets are available through www.nzski.com you should still be able to get them this time of year but get on it now. Try your best to sort out accomodation beforehand as QT gets packed out when the season approaches. Arrowtown is quieter cheaper but out of the way a bit and Not the partytown that QT is.Wanaka seems like a good option too. If you don't want to be moving from one backpackers to another all season get sorted asap. Also bear in mind that all resorts are a drive up a mountain road so if you are a V good and V confident (I mean it ....bumpy dirt roads with cliffs at the side) driver buying a banger for the season and selling it before you go or getting a coach up each day. The best thing you could do really is try a find a gang of people who are renting for the season and go in on a house with them and possibly a vehicle too. If you want a job as a barman you shouldn't have too much of a problem as QT has bars coming out it's ears, clubs too.Again the earlier the better it turns into a $h!tFight as soon as the flakes start to fall.So go early with a good wedge rent a gaff with other boarders get a night job buy a mid 80s subaru leone.If that all works out consider yourself blessed....oh and Pop into NZ-shred and say Hi to Greg for me when you get there.Enjoy the snow and the Tardis.

flutes

coreilly1, i see yor into mountain boarding, when u get to queenstown go down to escape backpackers cause the guy that runs it - rob is a mountain boarding nut. he has loads of them there for sale/rent and goes for sessions all the time. and if you stay there the first night (they pick you up form the airport for free) mention how good the paintwork is in the hostel, tell him the two 'irish pricks' from last year say hello,

its a pain in the arse to get a flat, ask the lads at escape they might have something for rent, but yea you'l be driving about 45mins up a **** of a road to get to the remarkables and about 25mins to get to coronet peak, wanaka - 90mins, ohau - 3hours, mt.hutt - lots more than the others
hard to get a job without a visa,

Evil Phil

I'd recommend Wanaka over QT anytime.

coreilly1

Thats great info chaps,yeah got a visa there last week so hopefully it might be worth the money.Would have bought my ski pass already but I'm meeting people over there(who wouldnt be into boarding as much) so ya know how things can change when groups are together.Taking all the info in though,cheers.

Static M.e.

coreilly1,

hey just saw this post today, Im heading out around June aswell, looking to do a season in the Wanaka, QT region, sending off for Visa today. Also have another friend who is thinking of flying out in July 10ish.

Have you sorted out your flights etc yet ? Im just in the process so any info you have would be great ! I only decided to go about 3 weeks or so ago so im right in the middle of finishing up work \ giving back apartment and getting cash togother.

Has anyone got any recommendation's on places to stay which aprtments etc would be great to have it sorted before I left, really a little nervous about the whole thing, Ive no idea on prices or anything though. How much would you think doing a season would cost ? ballpark figure anything really. I do plan on getting work but incase its all taken..

Am I also better off buying my own boots \ board \ bindings as soon as I get their or should I just rent ?

Thanks for the help

coreilly1

Yeah I'm leaving on june 6th bank holday monday.sent away for the the visa about 10 days ago so I'm thinkin it could be tight getting it back (would really need to have it back the friday before).booked with trailfinders on dawson street,good crowd,will probably cost you the guts of 1200-1300 I'm sure if you're planning to just go to nz.I'm stopping in Hong Kong on my way over for 3 days so wil be in QT for about the 11th I'd say.Ya have to kind of take things as they come when backpacking so I would imagine I'll spend a few nights in a hostel or whatever n sort my way from there.

Havent a clue about gear,although I hear TK maxx do snow wear on the cheap.

Ideally I'd like to spend the whole season boarding but as I said in the last thread I'm meeting up with a group of not-so-keen-to-snowboard people so who knows.

theres prices for ski passes on nzski.co.nz but I would say a job would be a help to keep the funds afloat.have you any boarding experience static?

Static M.e.

boarding experiance
I use to Ski and then last year I moved over to boarding which I found a lot easier, I was in the advanced beginneer class in Andora last january doing lots of blue's \ Reds and some blacks dont know if that counts for much though

Im kinda hopeing to get a job in a ski resort working a button lift or something simple and that way get a free mountain pass out of it, which should save a couple of hundred or so.

I will try Trailfinders today and see what prices I can get

Shad0r

I really want to go to Chile.

Static M.e.

Why Chile ?

I got prices from Trailfinders 1050 which is grand also includes a return stop via Sydney and Thailand so I can hop off and a have a look around then.

Flights leave 1st june and I arrive at the 3rd in ChristChurch just need to find an Apartment \ house then. Which will be tough enough I think, if anyone can recommend a apartment block or somewhere they thought was nice to stay in I would apreciate it anywhere the Wanaka \ Queenstown region

Coreilly1 Are you bringing board + boots with you when you go ? or buying down their

Evil Phil

Go to the cinema in Wanaka

You won't be disappointed.

Shad0r

Static M.e. wrote:

Why Chile ?

From what I've read in snowboarding mags Chile is one of the choice destinations for the pro's from a terrain/conditions pov. I suppose the better the rider you are the more one would search for more demanding terrain...Strictly in that respect alot of the guides (afair, and I'd have to check to be 100%) dont really rate NZ highly on the world stage.

I want to go there for the conditions and the terrain, but also because its south america and cheap to boot. From experience I can say that if your looking to spend a season riding, then cheap is king because the more you have to work the less you ride.

Evil Phil

From my experience Chile is expensive, as expensive as Europe. Mind you that was three years ago but I doubt things have changed. Argentina is cheap; dunno what it's like for snowboarding though.

coreilly1

Hey static,
sorry had a few probs accessing this site for the last couple of weeks.Yeah I'm probably gonna buy my gear down there,more than likely its gonna be cheaper than here,although I hear they're doin cheap snow clothes in tk maxx.

The crowd that I'm meeting up with in nz are talkin bout following the lions tour but I'm more in the mindset of gettin a job to pay for the boarding. i don't wanna be a billy no mates for 2 weeks so if you're around man then we'll go for a couple of boarding sessions.you can show me how to perfect my 720 fakie nose-grind tail-grab mctwist (you have been practicing them haven't you?

Shad0r

Evil Phil wrote:

From my experience Chile is expensive, as expensive as Europe.

Hmm would you care to elaborate on that? The reason I ask is because you cant really lump Europe into one catagory when it comes to skiing/snowboarding costs. For example the price of spending a week in St Moritz in Switzerland is not even in the same ballpark as spending a week in Livigno, Italy, which is only a short drive away.

Also do you mean 'cost of living' expensive or just lift pass expensive?

Lautje

Hey about the summer boarding, I'm planning this trip to Argentina mid-july till mid-august, anyone know anything about riding overthere? Anyone feel like coming?
Ciao Lau

Lautje

Lautje wrote:

Hey about the summer boarding, I'm planning this trip to Argentina mid-july till mid-august, anyone know anything about riding overthere? Anyone feel like coming?
Ciao Lau

Evil Phil

Shad0r wrote:

Hmm would you care to elaborate on that? The reason I ask is because you cant really lump Europe into one catagory when it comes to skiing/snowboarding costs. For example the price of spending a week in St Moritz in Switzerland is not even in the same ballpark as spending a week in Livigno, Italy, which is only a short drive away.

Also do you mean 'cost of living' expensive or just lift pass expensive?

Cost of living expensive.

Third_Echelon

I was in Queenstown with a few mates for a few weeks last summer. I couldn't recommend it enough. It was brilliant... and dirt cheap. If you are going there with Euro, you will live like a king. It was approx NZ $2 for €1 and everything was about half the price of here!!!!

We just got a week ski-pass as we were there for a few weeks and just rented the gear.

I think it was about €200 for the week pass. That included some lessons as well, which were really helpful...

Gear rental wasn't that expensive either. We rented the boards and the gear up at the remarkables ski-field, but there are plenty of shops in queenstown to buy or rent gear...

If you go to 'the station' i think its called in queenstown, you can book everything adrenalin-junkie-esque there.

A must do is the 'Awesome Foursome' -> Nevis Bungy jump, white water rafting on the shotover, Jet Boating on the shotover and a helicopter ride to the rafting start point... costs about €350 to €400, but oh my god it was worth it.

great bars and nightlife in QT as well. Winnebagoes was always good fun...

If you go, you'll have a ball... Oh and if its winterfest time, definietly get a ticket for the beerfest.... €15 and you get beer and pizza all night... Its usually in a big tent and they had a german oompa band... brilliant night. My glass was never empty. A few sips and it was filled again....

The same group that i went with are thinking of going back in a year or so for the irish summer/NZ winter....

Static M.e.

Coreilly 1, Just read your last message their, love to meet up drop me a pm when you get down or something

I just arrived in Queenstown today Im so wrecked its unreal, skulling coffee to keep me awake till after 9 so I will sleep for the whole night

Hooked up with a hostel for the night 50 NZD for a single room for the night

Had to get a flight from Christchurch to QT for 140 NZD bus journey was 7 hours and they all had left by 230 in the afternoon.

QT looks really nice quite busy already, going to look for Accomodation / work tomorrow suppose Ill get a better idea whats going on after that.

Yeah defo drop a mail, If you need any info from here let me know

Third_Echelon

Static M.e. wrote:

I just arrived in Queenstown today Im so wrecked its unreal, skulling coffee to keep me awake till after 9 so I will sleep for the whole night

You lucky thing... how id love to be there now :eek:

Static M.e. wrote:

Had to get a flight from Christchurch to QT for 140 NZD bus journey was 7 hours and they all had left by 230 in the afternoon.

I have to say... one of the best flights, scenery-wise has to be flying into queenstown... spectacular...

We flew from Auckland to Queenstown. The descent when you are nearing QT is unreal... flying through the mountains..... :cool:

coreilly1

Static,arrived in Hong Kong a couple of hours ago.need the coffee fix aswell,not really in the mood to go pointin a camera at touristy stuff today.

Will be down to QT on the 11th,will send you a pm when I get my feet on the ground.any luck with work?

reeso

hi,
when is the earliest you can head to ski fields in europe? i need to get a job and get in some boarding on a ski field before heading back to australia end of december 2006.