Ski season 2015/16

Have you watched his Keep your Tips up series on YouTube? It's excellent.

Off to Villars on Thursday! W00P! I probably won't ski... but just excited about being in the snow, and there's a RAKE of snow! Might see how busy the slopes are and see how I feel about putting on the boots while 20 weeks preggers. Once I see the slopes, I'll get a right goo on me to get up there!

I'd be worried someone could crash into you. Not worth the risk.

In fairness, I'm sure you will make the best decision for yourself based on conditions around you etc.
Be careful though.

a148pro wrote: »

I'm back on the dragon - gap opened up in work diary and lots of snow, flying to Milan Friday! Bring the snow!

Is that your second trip?

AlternateID wrote: »

Lucky duck.

I've to wait another 16 days to get back to the snow.

jammy gits, my second trip is looking increasingly unlikely. So, my next trip may well be 323 d, 22 h, 59 m!

cormee wrote: »

Is that your second trip?

Yes, third one in two weeks but en famille - breeding up the next generation

But they're all 3 day trips so not total indulgence, albeit I am certainly a lucky man

New model of skiing for me is last minute when I know snow is good. When it pays off its brilliant. Hopefully this weekend will be one such.

Seifer wrote: »

Looking good for next week in Les Arcs

http://www.snow-forecast.com/resorts/Les-Arcs/6day/mid

I was there last week (feels like ages ago). Decent enough resort, think I preferred the la plagne side though. They have an app called "yuge" for tracking what runs you have done and it gives live info on conditions as well as open runs/lifts.

iroced wrote: »

Will spend a week in La Plagne in two-weeks time :cool:.

Can I ask why you preferred the La Plagne side? Often read Les Arcs was better for skiing. Never been to any in winter.
I just hope the Bellecôte glacier will be fully open and both the 2000m elevation diff Aiguille Rouge piste and the Mont de la Guerre one down to Champagny will be open and in good condition.

I was the same, stayed in Les Arcs, and went over to La Plagne, I much preferred it too. Far more scenic, seemed better groomed, nicer restaurants, not as busy, great tree-lined runs. I don't think it would be as challenging as Les Arcs though, and probably not as many opportunities for nipping off-piste.

sorry to drop into middle of thread but don't want to make whole new thread just because of two questions.

1) Is it possible to snowboard in Summer? (Anywhere in the world, I am free to travel, open to suggestions)

2) I am considering getting my own gear (I just came back from Les Arcs and somebody took my snowboard twice by accident so I had to get different one and every time bindings/board were different mix so I was spending half a day adjusting to different setup + those boots they give are pretty worn and I am really hygienic)

I am not sure how to classify my skill level, I can do red slopes, I can control my speed, I can do basic jumps (with no tricks), I enjoy riding alone most of the time, I enjoy just cruising around pistes doing wide turns and especially I enjoy circling around obstacles (like snow machines, poles etc...) I just enjoy making random turns in general + I am trying to learn carving.

I am not crazy about flying down at full speed making back flips.

I need board size to be 160+ and to be wide.


Is there any decent online shop/place that sells boards and has good detailed description for each?

arleitiss wrote: »

sorry to drop into middle of thread but don't want to make whole new thread just because of two questions.

1) Is it possible to snowboard in Summer? (Anywhere in the world, I am free to travel, open to suggestions)

2) I am considering getting my own gear (I just came back from Les Arcs and somebody took my snowboard twice by accident so I had to get different one and every time bindings/board were different mix so I was spending half a day adjusting to different setup + those boots they give are pretty worn and I am really hygienic)

I am not sure how to classify my skill level, I can do red slopes, I can control my speed, I can do basic jumps (with no tricks), I enjoy riding alone most of the time, I enjoy just cruising around pistes doing wide turns and especially I enjoy circling around obstacles (like snow machines, poles etc...) I just enjoy making random turns in general + I am trying to learn carving.

I am not crazy about flying down at full speed making back flips.

I need board size to be 160+ and to be wide.


Is there any decent online shop/place that sells boards and has good detailed description for each?

I'd definitely recommend getting your own gear, you'll notice the difference in quality straight away, and you can fine-tune it to suit your own requirements. I got Flow bindings, and I love them, you can step in and out in seconds, no sitting on your ass in the snow strapping in. My setup is an Arbor Element board, Flow NX2-SE bindings and Burton Moto boots, the board and the bindings are only a year old, and I love them, can't fault either. The boots are cheap & cheerful, entry-level, so they're next on my list of things to replace.

If you're getting your own gear you'll also need a snowboard bag, consider one that holds your boots, with wheels. Mine is a Dakine, it's fine but it has no wheels which can be very tiring. Also, get one that is longer than your board, for the extra storage. Aer Lingus have a 23kg allowance for snowboards, if you get a bag that's big enough you'll be able to fit everything (including your clothes, toiletries etc.)you need, for the week, into your board bag and your carry-on luggage. That means you'll onyl be paying €10 extra e/w to get your gear on the pane, compared to the standard luggage charges.

If you're buying your own gear go to the independent review sites for impartial reviews, don't rely on the manufacturers', or shops' opinions, for obvious reasons.

"I need board size to be 160+ and to be wide. "
I'm 6'3"/15 stone, my feet are size 11.5, my board is only 159 and is regular width, there is overhang but I don't think I've ever come a cropper because of it. So if you see a board you like, that is narrow, you can consider boots with a smaller footprint (most brands have at least one type of boot that have smaller footprints) to compensate for the narrowness. Don't focus on recommended board widths/board heights religiously.

arleitiss wrote: »

1) Is it possible to snowboard in Summer? (Anywhere in the world, I am free to travel, open to suggestions)

2) I am considering getting my own gear (I just came back from Les Arcs and somebody took my snowboard twice by accident so I had to get different one and every time bindings/board were different mix so I was spending half a day adjusting to different setup + those boots they give are pretty worn and I am really hygienic)

I need board size to be 160+ and to be wide.

Is there any decent online shop/place that sells boards and has good detailed description for each?

New Zealand seems to be the summer destination of choice.

I'm assuming you've done your home work and are a size 11+ to want a mid wide board. Bluetomato.com and absolutesnow.co.uk are good websites for gear, evo.com in the states is great but with the weakness in the euro and shipping cost it may make the site unfeasible. Don't skimp on boots. You may not have to get a full set up, I know a number of people who own just boots. As for the wrong board being taken form the rack, I've seen that many times, I've seen one woman who had taken 2 different skis (one blue, one orange), neither of which were hers. Most of the time it's stupidity not theft. Get small cable lock that you can carry easily, if someone really want to steal your gear they'll be able to but it's a deterrent and it stops the stupid walk offs. These are great, these are awful.

arleitiss wrote: »

I am not sure how to classify my skill level, I can do red slopes, I can control my speed, I can do basic jumps (with no tricks), I enjoy riding alone most of the time, I enjoy just cruising around pistes doing wide turns and especially I enjoy circling around obstacles (like snow machines, poles etc...) I just enjoy making random turns in general + I am trying to learn carving.

I am not crazy about flying down at full speed making back flips.

Try not to ride alone, never do it off piste. If you are riding alone make sure someone knows where you are riding and when you expect to be back.
It sounds like you would benefit from a more advanced group class. I sounds like you have ability but you are doing newb things (taking up the whole run (if that's what you mean by wide turns), and riding around equipment(snow canons)) are no no's. An advanced group would give you some pointers on mountain etiquette and tighten up holes in your game.

Hope that helps.

arleitiss wrote: »

sorry to drop into middle of thread but don't want to make whole new thread just because of two questions.

1) Is it possible to snowboard in Summer? (Anywhere in the world, I am free to travel, open to suggestions)

2) I am considering getting my own gear (I just came back from Les Arcs and somebody took my snowboard twice by accident so I had to get different one and every time bindings/board were different mix so I was spending half a day adjusting to different setup + those boots they give are pretty worn and I am really hygienic)

I am not sure how to classify my skill level, I can do red slopes, I can control my speed, I can do basic jumps (with no tricks), I enjoy riding alone most of the time, I enjoy just cruising around pistes doing wide turns and especially I enjoy circling around obstacles (like snow machines, poles etc...) I just enjoy making random turns in general + I am trying to learn carving.

I am not crazy about flying down at full speed making back flips.

I need board size to be 160+ and to be wide.


Is there any decent online shop/place that sells boards and has good detailed description for each?

With the wide board thing, it probably not that big a deal for a big lad but you could get away with a normal board with the right boots.

So burton boast that the outer footprint of their boots is a size smaller than everyone else.

So if you 11.5 normal shoes, boards boots usual mean a size or half size smaller so 10.5 or 11. With burtons you d have the outer size of a 9.5 or 10 in other brands which is enough for a reg. Width board.

So my advise is get the boots right and go to shop to make sure they fit properly doesn't have to be burtons, so that usually means snow and rock but they will be limited in stock to try now. So might have to leave the boots til say december when they have their new stock in.

Once you have the boots sorted you can see what width board you can get away with.

Diemos wrote: »

New Zealand seems to be the summer destination of choice.

I'm assuming you've done your home work and are a size 11+ to want a mid wide board. Bluetomato.com and absolutesnow.co.uk are good websites for gear, evo.com in the states is great but with the weakness in the euro and shipping cost it may make the site unfeasible. Don't skimp on boots. You may not have to get a full set up, I know a number of people who own just boots. As for the wrong board being taken form the rack, I've seen that many times, I've seen one woman who had taken 2 different skis (one blue, one orange), neither of which were hers. Most of the time it's stupidity not theft. Get small cable lock that you can carry easily, if someone really want to steal your gear they'll be able to but it's a deterrent and it stops the stupid walk offs. These are great, these are awful.



Try not to ride alone, never do it off piste. If you are riding alone make sure someone knows where you are riding and when you expect to be back.
It sounds like you would benefit from a more advanced group class. I sounds like you have ability but you are doing newb things (taking up the whole run (if that's what you mean by wide turns), and riding around equipment(snow canons)) are no no's. An advanced group would give you some pointers on mountain etiquette and tighten up holes in your game.

Hope that helps.

I am not qualified to go off piste even with a group yet