Any snowsports in Ireland?

trinewbie · 06-01-2010 3:34pm

done - cheers bro

masseyno9 · 06-01-2010 4:36pm

trinewbie wrote: »

Looking for an accessible spot for a bit of afternoon boarding - preferably somewhere with a few kickers built already, I read that there have been a few kickers built up stocking lane somewhere - is that in the small field straight across the road from the viewpoint car park?

Thats the one alright. If you go into the field and down and across the stream, then up to the right, theres one there that we built the other day. Well I presume its still there! You might be able to see 2 bushy things we stuck in the side of it to mark the lip.

There are a few on the main toboggan slope too, but one of them is a death trap and another constantly had kids around it. Some decent snow there. I was expecting the wet stuff we usually get, but it was actually soft and powdery!!

Think I'll head up tomorrow, early hopefully!!

jp889 · 06-01-2010 5:06pm

sarsfield06 wrote: »

Annamoe Wicklow right now

That's gas... I grew up here. Last time I saw snow like this was in 1981...think I will have to dig out the boots and skis and get up the hill!

paulharte · 06-01-2010 6:26pm

I hate work.... i was told specifically to be in at 9 tomorrow, they must know what I'm up2!!!

kermitdfrog · 06-01-2010 7:02pm

Hoping the current snow sticks until Saturday, would love to get up for a few jumps. Hoping to head up Stocking Lane, by the looks of the some of the pictures here the conditions are a lot better than I expected.

Rebrabuk · 06-01-2010 10:42pm

paulharte wrote: »

I hate work.... i was told specifically to be in at 9 tomorrow, they must know what I'm up2!!!

Ha that's what you get for a relatively obscure hobbie(hell I'd call it a way of life!) you've a habit of sticking out.

How are the roads leading up to stocking lane would you stand a chance getting up there or back down for that matter, without 4 wheel drive?

And anyone had a knock around near tallaght up towards bohernabreena/dublin mountains direction? Only just after getting back from Donegal which was mostly just wet and I come back to all this I'm goin nuts here!

sarsfield06 · 06-01-2010 10:48pm

Roads in Dublin are brutal, never seen anything like it, sheet ice everywhere, hopefully the gritters will be out soon. Stocking Lane will be off limits unless a gritter goes up there.

whatthe? · 06-01-2010 11:23pm

Hi. I got up as far as mount venus easy enough earlier on today. I was going to the DSPCA. How much further is it after that?

homercleese · 06-01-2010 11:34pm

guys, is there any where else an few amateur dole-ers could go for a bit of snowboarding on the northside of dublin tomorrow? was thinking howth head, or is there anywhere in meath with long hills etc. anyone any ideas at all besides the wicklow mountains which are pretty much inaccessible without four wheel drive at the moment. Cheers

sarsfield06 · 07-01-2010 11:21am

whatthe? wrote: »

Hi. I got up as far as mount venus easy enough earlier on today. I was going to the DSPCA. How much further is it after that?

Was that before or after the snow you went there? It's about another mile, very surprised it would be easy to get up there unless they grit that road, as no other ungritted road in Dublin is easy at the moment, apparently Dublin have only 1 days grit left.

whatthe? · 07-01-2010 3:24pm

It was during, really. I'd say it got worse but it was pretty bad at that stage too and I was in a rear wheel drive. They were jsut closing the DSPCA when I got there so it was bad enough at that stage. Had the board in the car and said to my missus that I might head up further when we were leaving the DSPCA. She told me to snap out of it as she and my son were not waiting in the car so I could disappear and enjoy myself. fair enough ... I suppose

Baars · 07-01-2010 3:43pm

Hi all, was wondering if i could possibly hitch a lift up the mountain with one of you this w/e? Have no car

k123456 · 07-01-2010 5:52pm

"guys, is there any where else an few amateur dole-ers could go for a bit of snowboarding on the northside of dublin tomorrow? was thinking howth head, or is there anywhere in meath with long hills etc. anyone any ideas at all besides the wicklow mountains which are pretty much inaccessible without four wheel drive at the moment. Cheers"

deer park golf course howth,

sarsfield06 · 07-01-2010 6:07pm

whatthe? wrote: »

It was during, really. I'd say it got worse but it was pretty bad at that stage too and I was in a rear wheel drive. They were jsut closing the DSPCA when I got there so it was bad enough at that stage. Had the board in the car and said to my missus that I might head up further when we were leaving the DSPCA. She told me to snap out of it as she and my son were not waiting in the car so I could disappear and enjoy myself. fair enough ... I suppose

You need a new Missus!!! I'm sure you're son would have loved it though!

whatthe? · 07-01-2010 6:12pm

Nah, she's alright. She boards herself. Kids are a handbrake though. Can't wait till he's old enough to throw down a mountain

Baars · 08-01-2010 1:21pm

Is there any decent slopes in the Wicklow or Dublin mountains accessible with a 2WD (front wheel) car?

michellefoley · 08-01-2010 3:26pm

anyone know if djouce is accessible today? in a land rover

whatthe? · 08-01-2010 3:42pm

I was just on to someone up there and she said she 'wouldn't take a tractor up that hill', it's pretty dodgy by all accounts. But if ye can't get up from the enniskerry side you could always leave the car at the bottom of the hill. It's not that long a walk.

Just got a call back and there are people getting up at it but it's a risky business. Someone hit a wall there yesterday.

michellefoley · 08-01-2010 4:09pm

anoyone know about stocking lane conditions today? don't know which would be better for a skiier and tobogan!

trinewbie · 08-01-2010 4:09pm

So do pepole reckon there wil be a bit of a thaw today? Should there be enough snow left around glencree/ sally gap tomorrow??

whatthe? · 08-01-2010 4:24pm

conditions aren't getting any better
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2010/0108/breaking1.htm

or worse depending on your point of view

opinion guy · 08-01-2010 7:56pm

Anyone watching Sixone just now ?
They did bit from Glendalough on mountain safety. Achingly beautiful.

Jemmy · 08-01-2010 8:17pm

Baars wrote: »

Is there any decent slopes in the Wicklow or Dublin mountains accessible with a 2WD (front wheel) car?

Eh tbh no, in a 2WD I wouldnt chance it at all up around wicklow anyway. Cars abandoned all over the place up here. 4WDs seems to be getting around with a bit of patience but secondary/country roads are lethal. The more major routes around are a bit better.

sarsfield06 · 09-01-2010 9:40pm

Jemmy wrote: »

Eh tbh no, in a 2WD I wouldnt chance it at all up around wicklow anyway. Cars abandoned all over the place up here. 4WDs seems to be getting around with a bit of patience but secondary/country roads are lethal. The more major routes around are a bit better.

If u can get snow chains 2wd should be fine anywhere, didn't ski today but met some boarders at the snow limit on stocking lane that came up in car with snow chains, they had no probs. Packed powder up there about 40cm easy enough to hike in if you're fit!

Jemmy · 09-01-2010 10:51pm

sarsfield06 wrote: »

If u can get snow chains 2wd should be fine anywhere, didn't ski today but met some boarders at the snow limit on stocking lane that came up in car with snow chains, they had no probs. Packed powder up there about 40cm easy enough to hike in if you're fit!

Ah yea well snow chains have a chance but if people don't have them I wouldn't chance it. Actually had to pull 2 people out today in cars!

opinion guy · 10-01-2010 5:58am

Would buy snow chains if i could find anywhere that sells them!!!

Poster King · 10-01-2010 12:48pm

Five of us went Skiing and Snowboarding in amazing conditions on the Sally Gap Road above Luggala House and Lough Tay in County Wicklow, yesterday. Up to 3 foot base of snow and deep poweder in places. Here is the video footage:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=27EV7nsiklg

It was an incredible day out. We were up the hill by 8.30am. Conditions were poor to start, heavy snow and poor visibility, but then it cleared and it was simply amazing. You had to keep reminding yourself that you were in Ireland. We have named the steep run from Wicklow Way track down to the road, "Face Luggala". It was amazing. Deep powder. I didn't hit a single rock all day. There was lots of hiking, but it was well worth it.

Poster King · 10-01-2010 1:41pm

Some still photos from yesterday in Wicklow. Not sure how to paste these into the body of the post.

Poster King · 10-01-2010 1:44pm

more photos

a147pro · 10-01-2010 1:48pm

looks class, I'd say it was serious for the post xmas fitness trekking back up too

sarsfield06 · 10-01-2010 1:51pm

What was the road like?

Poster King · 10-01-2010 1:55pm

more photos

sarsfield06 · 11-01-2010 11:49am

Nasty thaw in Dublin now, hopefully staying fresh higher up!

Poster King · 11-01-2010 1:38pm

sarsfield06 wrote: »

What was the road like?

We left Dublin city at 7.30am in a Land Cruiser with All Terrain Tyres. N11 was fine, despite heavy snow. We joined the R755 at Kilmacanogue and it was pretty OK, actually met snow plough very soon on that road. We drove to Ballinastoe car park, about 4 inches of fresh snow on the road but no problems driving in 4x4. We then headed on to Sally Gap Road and managed to drive up to the entrance to Luggala without too much trouble. The road past this point was covered in drifted snow and got steeper but I decided to press on. After some shovelling we got about another 100m further up the steep hill but then hit an impassable section.

It was still only 8.30am and snow was dry so good grip. Two of the lads headed on up on foot for a run despite the poor weather and heavy snow and I drove back down to help another friend who was in an Audi Quattro. He had gotten stuck lower down. But by now the snow had gotten wet and conditions were dangerous. As soon as you drove on it, the snow compacted to ice and was very slippy. Even my 4x4 was sliding and I had to get the lads to push me out of the ditch. The Audi was all over the place trying to reverse down the hill but despite a few skids he made it.
Once I put my vehicle in low gears I was able to descend no problem with good control.

We left the Audi and my 4x4 lower down the Sally Gap Road and walked up. We were passed by a Nissan Micra driving at high speed, passenger reading a map. They managed to get a fair way up before skidding and spinning into the ditch. My two mates further up the hill pushed them out. They were French, so not sure if they were experienced in those conditions or just crazy.

Later in the day a red Defender with huge tyres and extra high suspension tried to drive even further up the Sally Gap Road past the entrance to Luggala but only got about 40m past where I had to stop. There were several feet of snow on the road at that stage and only a snow mobile or caterpillar vehicle would have gotten any further.

First photo attached show the Sally Gap Road about 400m below the entrance to Luggala. 2nd one is where I parked for the day and where the road closed sign was. 3rd one show how far I got up the hill - about 30m past where my mate is standing.

Hope this answers your question.

sarsfield06 · 11-01-2010 1:45pm

Poster King, Thanks for a very comprehensive description of conditions, so pretty tricky driving then. I was talking to someone on Kiltiernan who told me his mate had to abondon his car about that way on Saturday!

Calibos · 11-01-2010 2:35pm

I've been saying to myself all week how I would love to own Ski's and boots, how I would love to head up there. (I'm in Bray) It looks like the Alps from Bray head. Of course the video just reminded me in a Homer Simpson DOH kinda way that even if I did have my own boots and ski's, that it might as well be whistler back country even if it is only a few miles up the road. There are no pistes up there!! Like I said, DOH! I'm only an advanced intermediate with no off piste deep...untouched...pristine powder experience....whatsoever!

BUt looking at that Vid....it just looks legendary! So I am not just envious of your day trip up to that spectacular scenery or your 4x4 or the fact that you own your own equipment, I am also jealous of your fitness and skiing/boarding ability.

Saw some other vids on youtube from last year and that looked like people backcountry skiing at the end of the season somewhere in May, what with the patches of grass, rocks, dirty snow etc. This years video's like yours looks like it could have been taken anywhere. If you told me that was taken yesterday in the alps or Whistler or Vail etc, I'd believe you.

Wow, just incredible! Pity you don't have a rich mate with a helicopter!

opinion guy · 11-01-2010 3:11pm

Calibos wrote: »

Like I said, DOH! I'm only an advanced intermediate with no off piste deep...untouched...pristine powder experience....whatsoever!

if you are advanced intermediate you could probably handle it a bit better than you imagine. But i guess that depends what you mean by advanced intermediate

Calibos · 11-01-2010 3:27pm

Well I guess what I mean, is that I could ski that steepness of slope, using the same width of 'piste'. ie. Those skiers towards the beginning of the vid. I could ski pretty much like that.....on a manicured piste

I've skied in a straight line between pistes doing that bouncy bouncy thing to keep you on top of the deep snow, but any time I tried to turn, invariably after one or two successful turns I'd catch the edge of the ski's and over I go sideways. In terms of piste skiing I can carve really fast down a blue or red and some european 'Black's' but in general I'd have to take it easier and use much more of the slope on a decent black. But like I said, my off piste is limited to straight lines to switch pistes

For those with the ability though, the Wicklow Mountains over the last few days must have been legendary. The kids might have been disappointed with the powder snow in terms of snowball fights and snowmen but by heck does it look perfect up there for off piste skiing.

I hope we see lots more vids from the Wicklow 2010 season

sarsfield06 · 11-01-2010 4:22pm

Calibos, you are well able for powder you just need to modify your technique a little, only a small tweak will make a big difference, ski powder

Have a look at the freeride instruction clips here http://www.ifyouski.com/Technique/home/

Another big help is wider, softer flex skis, more float makes it much easier, Freestyle Twin tips are ideal, a slalom ski would be very tough going! Also getting up more speed before you start to turn really helps as this will get the ski to float above the snow rather than be deep in it.

On Friday I had my sister skiing powder after 4 beginner lessons in Kiltiernan and no real snow experience! She borrowed my twin tips

here's the snow conditions (50cm + powder)

here's the type of ski that really helps

These skis are for sale but I don't know do I want to sell them anymore!

opinion guy · 11-01-2010 4:30pm

Calibos, you are well able for powder you just need to modify your technique a little, only a small tweak will make a big difference, ski powder

+1

I had the same issue for a long time Calibos - not really being able to translate what i did on the piste to the off piste. Partly this was because whenever I asked someone they just said bounce. But actually there's a little more to it than that! You're well able!

sarsfield06 · 11-01-2010 4:55pm

You can do full GS style turns in powder, all you need is bigger skis! The big mountain skis are monsters, having tested a few, your talking 110cm+ under foot, these guys will pretty much stay on top of any snow depth and go really fast, if you watch any of the Alaska movies, they are all riding big boards.

Here's a real extreme from Volkl, the Kuro, dimensions in mms 164-132-139

Now you don't need anything this size but it's very different to the dimensions of a piste ski like this 118-66-101mm

A freestyle ski is a good compromise, not too wide on piste for manageability but will float well on powder also.

Poster King · 11-01-2010 4:58pm

Agreed, Calibos you should defo give the powder a go. Next ski trip, make sure you get someone to take you into some fresh powder and give it a go. Persistence is a major part of it. It sounds like your skiing level is good enough to make the transition.

Regarding skis, the wider ones are better for powder for sure. However I was skiing on ten year old 204cm straight skis on Saturday. It took a few turns to get used to them again. I wouldn't have taken new skis up there for fear of damaging them, but none of us even touched a rock there was so much snow.

opinion guy · 11-01-2010 5:55pm

Poster King wrote: »

Regarding skis, the wider ones are better for powder for sure. However I was skiing on ten year old 204cm straight skis on Saturday. It took a few turns to get used to them again. I wouldn't have taken new skis up there for fear of damaging them, but none of us even touched a rock there was so much snow.

Wow!! Weren't striahgt skiis out ten years back. My Xscreams are that old I think. But by God I love my X-screams!!!!!!!

sarsfield06 · 12-01-2010 3:10pm

Sunday in Kiltiernan, some fun and falls! Some of the boarders made a great kicker on the golf course, might have melted now though

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First falls I had doing 180s, rails are normally my nemisis! It was the end of the day and my legs were feeling it, that's my story anyway.

snowstreams · 12-01-2010 5:23pm

Pity Kiltiernan isnt a bit higher cause the wicklow mtns are still getting a dumping of snow today. It will take a fair while before it all 4-5ft of it fully melts.

Tonka · 12-01-2010 6:53pm

i think it was about 300m vertical drop over a distance of about 3-4km.

On sunday i humped my gear up to Slieve Martin(this near killed me) in the Mournes and skiied from there to the Kilbroney park cafe in Rostrevor. This was along footpaths via Cloughmor stone. It was mainly about 2 inch of snow on top of ice which i dont think was good for the skis edges. The steepest section was between Cloughmor stone and the carpark. I had made a little kicker on a rock in the track. The road from the carpark to the cafe is tarmacced but had been closed so it had a good 2-3inch snow on it and been two lane in places i got a bit of carving in. The south facing slopes up here melt their snow cover a lot quicker than the north facing slopes.

It would take a 4wd to drive it but there is a dirtroad up to near the summit of Slieve martin.

i have since discovered the 22euro Gelert rucksac i bought a few months ago has ski straps and can take me boots too!!!

even though it has been raining the last 2 days at sealevel in carlingford lough.i see there is a snow filled bowel up on the cooley mountains that i might tackle tomorrow.

Curvedcoast · 13-01-2010 4:03pm

snowstreams wrote: »

Pity Kiltiernan isnt a bit higher cause the wicklow mtns are still getting a dumping of snow today. It will take a fair while before it all 4-5ft of it fully melts.

Anyone up there last night? Thinking of a little floodlit session if there's still snow on the "piste"

sarsfield06 · 13-01-2010 4:05pm

If anyone is higher up the dublin/Wicklow mountains today or in the next few days give me feedback, I would be interested to know is there still powder about or is it just wet snow now?

Poster King · 13-01-2010 10:08pm

a147pro wrote: »

looks class, I'd say it was serious for the post xmas fitness trekking back up too

To be honest I quite enjoyed the hiking up. There is great sense of satisfaction in it. There certainly wouldn't be the same satisfaction if there was the option of a ski lift, snowmobile or car to drive you back to top of the hill.
The experience has reaffirmed my desire to get into ski touring. You get to go places very few others do.
Has anyone done any ski touring? I'd be interested to hear some recommendations.

Mmmm_Lemony · 14-01-2010 7:19am

Curvedcoast wrote: »

Anyone up there last night? Thinking of a little floodlit session if there's still snow on the "piste"

Was up there sunday and tuesday night gone. Just arrived before the guards 'completely' closed the roads up. They were only letting 4WD up then stopped everything until a plow came. Ended up parking on the road outside the entrance as the little hill to the car park was a nightmare to get up.

Snow was pelting down although it was a bit slushy but great craic all the same... Only 1 instructor made it up and took a mixed class. Fair play to the staff up there for keeping it going despite the protests from the guards. Went up for a B1 expecting rain when I left the house, and managed to get a nice practice session in on lovely soft white stuff!

...if only the snow gods would grace us with even just a few weeks of these conditions every winter...

Any snowsports in Ireland?

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