Season 14/15 Banter thread

cormee wrote: »

Anyone heading off this weekend?

Funny you should ask.

I AM! I AM! I AM! I AM! I AM! I AM! I AM! I AM! I AM!

Funnily enough I'm still here. Weather sucks donkey balls at the moment but bluebird due back this weekend. Just in time for my final week.

cormee wrote: »

Where were you? Any good?

Was in Mayrhofen, was there last year as an absolute beginner and loved it so wanted to return this year to get more lessons and do more of the runs I couldn't do last year (lack of skill). Really enjoyed it bar the queues in the morning and two crazily busy blue slopes. Weather was fine bar two days with low cloud cover and visibility, was being guided by instructor these days so was not really a big deal. Snowed a lot on the Tuesday and Wednesday. Had no lessons on the Thursday and Friday and went off on our own. Had a ball and even went down a handy black slope without falling or injuring myself. Speaking of injuries, did see the rescue helicopter out three times over the Thursday and Friday.

Highlights of the week were skiing down the half pipe (no tricks just coming over the lip, turning on the flat and back down into it) and doing the little public race track, I didn't realise how rutted it would be by each gate so completely wiped out on the third gate. Was laughing at myself before I even hit the ground.

Stayed in a hotel half board as well so put on about 2-3kg I'd say. Austrian food is just right up my street. Farmer's grill all you can eat one night, multiple steaks, ribs and kaiserschmarrn for desert and I waddled up to bed. Do I even need to mention Gasser?

Things to improve next fro next skiing trip, well my rental boots killed me (changed them twice and even then with my limited experience I felt they were impacting my technique) and trying to see through cheap goggles in flat light was crap. Obviously as a beginner I need a lot more practice to improve my technique too

Vegeta wrote: »

Was in Mayrhofen, was there last year as an absolute beginner and loved it so wanted to return this year to get more lessons and do more of the runs I couldn't do last year (lack of skill). Really enjoyed it bar the queues in the morning and two crazily busy blue slopes. Weather was fine bar two days with low cloud cover and visibility, was being guided by instructor these days so was not really a big deal. Snowed a lot on the Tuesday and Wednesday. Had no lessons on the Thursday and Friday and went off on our own. Had a ball and even went down a handy black slope without falling or injuring myself. Speaking of injuries, did see the rescue helicopter out three times over the Thursday and Friday.

Highlights of the week were skiing down the half pipe (no tricks just coming over the lip, turning on the flat and back down into it) and doing the little public race track, I didn't realise how rutted it would be by each gate so completely wiped out on the third gate. Was laughing at myself before I even hit the ground.

Stayed in a hotel half board as well so put on about 2-3kg I'd say. Austrian food is just right up my street. Farmer's grill all you can eat one night, multiple steaks, ribs and kaiserschmarrn for desert and I waddled up to bed. Do I even need to mention Gasser?

Things to improve next fro next skiing trip, well my rental boots killed me (changed them twice and even then with my limited experience I felt they were impacting my technique) and trying to see through cheap goggles in flat light was crap. Obviously as a beginner I need a lot more practice to improve my technique too

If you are seriously going to continue I'd 100% recommend buying boots and goggles. Loads of brands that won't break the bank. Every time I rented in the past I would change my boots twice too and I always got blisters.

I like Mayrhofen. Guinness is ok when I want a quiet few and plenty of places to go apres. Based here for a 4 week holiday however I've never been a fan of the Penkan slopes. Not sure why. I only every go up the Penkenbahn later in the day or I'd take the green line bus to another gondola as I can't deal with that queue. You can see they are building a new lift but don't know when it'll be ready. When I do go up I take in all the slopes all the way to Rastkogel if it's clear enough. Rastkogel is a good place to practice. Reds and blues that aren't as busy as Penken. The 150er will take you there. When the weather sucks I usually go up Ahorn or Penken just to mess about. Today myself and a mate just toured between Penken and Horberg before the cloud really dropped in. It went from an overcast dull day to 15/20ft visibility. Most of the time I drive up to Hintertux or leave the valley.

About 18cm predicted tomorrow in Tux and Mayrhofen

+1 on getting own boots and decent goggles, maybe gloves too.

Back from Flaine great snow, the GERs bowl was fab, as was diamant noir (tricky gully)

I liked the purpose built resort, was able to ski in /out of appartment.

Got my 3yr old skiing too.

cormee wrote: »

Anyone heading off this weekend?

Funny you should ask.

I AM! I AM! I AM! I AM! I AM! I AM! I AM! I AM! I AM!

off to innsbruck (stubai) tomorrow for a powder dash (two days).
savage snow coming down, lets hope for a clearance.

Boarding but been a while since I was up there....

In terms of goggles what is the pecking order of brands and quality? What should one be looking out for to help in overcast conditions when the snow just looks like a featureless white/grey surface. I have a feeling goggle companies would sell me a pair for every day of the week :pac:

I'm strongly considering boots too but would prob go to a bricks and mortar store and try on loads.

Vegeta wrote: »

In terms of goggles what is the pecking order of brands and quality? What should one be looking out for to help in overcast conditions when the snow just looks like a featureless white/grey surface. I have a feeling goggle companies would sell me a pair for every day of the week :pac:

I'm strongly considering boots too but would prob go to a bricks and mortar store and try on loads.

With out a doubt go to a shop for boots. There's so many lacing systems and different tech in each brand that'll you'll spend forever trying to find the right pair.

With goggles there's loads to chose from. I often wonder if there's really any difference between the brands. I have the latest Oakley prizm rose lens which is supposed to be for snow and overcast days. I think Oakley and I disagree what overcast means. In sunny/partially cloudy days they are incredible. Cloudy or low light they suck. Weather today is cloudy, poor visibility and snowing most of the day. I've spent most of it on the couch. Yesterday was the same but I went for a look about. Not a lot of fun but I don't like missing many days off the snow. The lens to generally go for is either yellow, orange or in Oakleys case rose. You've probably got plenty of time to research online before your next trip and there will be end of season sales.

Vegeta wrote: »

In terms of goggles what is the pecking order of brands and quality? What should one be looking out for to help in overcast conditions when the snow just looks like a featureless white/grey surface. I have a feeling goggle companies would sell me a pair for every day of the week :pac:

I'm strongly considering boots too but would prob go to a bricks and mortar store and try on loads.

Whatever you get, I'd recommend getting 2 lenses. Some brands give second lens with their goggles - I know VonZipper do and that's the main reason I bought mine (well that and the 40% off warehouse clearance sale I was at). I think dragon do with some of their goggles, but can't be sure. Get a yellow lens for low light, it's unbelievably useful, and then a darker or mirrored lens for bright days.

Oakleys can get pricey, even the extra lenses are getting up there in prices. I've heard mixed reports about the Oakley rose lens (as mentioned above).

Some brands to look out for. By no means extensive, but just decent brands off the top of my head.
Oakley
Dragon
VonZipper
Smith
Spy
Bolle
Anon
Electric
Ashbury (pretty new I think, but look ok)
Airblaster (brand seems to be gaining momentum)

I'd happily wear any of the above brands if the price was right, although I've mentioned here before that I'm not fussy on my gear, and generally buy what's on sale, which hasn't failed me yet. I also have access to a once a year warehouse clearance sale over here, which helps! Scour the online shops for clearance or outlet stuff.

When buying boots, depending on what time of year you are shopping, you can get some great deals on previous season's gear. Generally the start or end of the season is the best, but it obviously depends where you are, as buying in the shop would be highly, highly recommended!

Johnny_Fontane wrote: »

I've always used my spy googles (not the x-ray variety) for low/flat light. I have a pair of really swiss looking sun glasses with a head strap that I use for bluebird days..

As a boarder, I have always preferred wearing shades on nice days, skiiers have this right.

WTF are Swiss looking sunglasses?!

Just back from Chamonix, conditions were great, the sun was shining and the snow was very nice. Brevent was choppy as hell - as usual, Les Grand Montets were great, and Les Tours was, as always, very nice. We also ventured over to Courmayeur for a day, although it's a small ski area it's very well groomed and there are some great runs, especially Youla. Something that I was told that was typical for Italian ski resorts is, from about 1pm, when they stop for lunch for the rest of the afternoon, the pistes were almost empty, Italians seem to stop for the day at lunchtime, that made for some great fun on the slopes.

The one thing that does my head in about Chamonix is the travel time to get to the different ski areas, you can be waiting for a bus for half an hour, followed by a 30 minute packed bus trip, then another 10-15 minutes in lifts getting to a point you can begin boarding/skiing. That can be stressful. But overall it was a far better trip than my earlier one to Les Arcs.

11 months to my next trip.

Brilliant! Enjoy lads

sallymomo wrote: »

Anyone else enjoying the fresh stuff? 3 feet on piste in the last 24 hours in limone and still going

Alas I got home yesterday. I'm thinking of going to Italy next year.

http://unofficialnetworks.com/2015/03/italian-town-just-set-new-world-record-for-single-day-snowfall-8-feet-4-8-inches

Quick question here, best/cheapest ski insurance for the week, all on piste. Any suggestions?

fannymagee wrote: »

I've tried and failed to find better/cheaper than VHI Multitrip. I don't get the extra winter sports cover, the basic cover is enough in itself. If you have time, get to your local health centre for your EH1C card (old E111), God forbid you need medical treatment that's the first thing they'll ask for

If you have Medical card or drugs Payment scheme card you can save yourself the trek and apply online for free!

Awful lucky with how the snowpack settled too, seemed to break away quite easily. Surely the first thing to do is get out the beacon? He was preparing shovel before locating. Beacon, probe, shovel that would have been the order I would take

I think it's fair to say that guy is dead 99 times out of a hundred, and in fairness he knows that. Hopefully people will learn from the video. The problem is when it's just embedded without the blog people just watch it and get the "wow, he survived, what quick thinking" which is unfortunately not the message.

And after the best day skiing every yday, during the 2nd or 3rd run this morning I twisted my knee bad enough on a slow narrow but very slushy blue. Plenty of painkillers now, hopefully will be back out later or tomorrow at least...

Timmaay wrote: »

And after the best day skiing every yday, during the 2nd or 3rd run this morning I twisted my knee bad enough on a slow narrow but very slushy blue. Plenty of painkillers now, hopefully will be back out later or tomorrow at least...

Ah boo! Cheer us all up by telling us why yesterday was so good?

Brilliant! 3V recently confirmed as the actual largest ski resort in the world I think. I have fond memories of abandoning my meandering companions one day there, sticking on the headphones and just absolutely blemming it around the place for a full day, one of the best days on skis in my life.

fannymagee wrote: »

I have still never skiied with music- even though I have a funky helmet with a built in sound system. It's on my to-do list, but I'm afraid I'd have sensory overload haha ;-)

I was the same but did it on my last day in Hintertux. I was singing radiohead like a complete muppet down some made off piste. Last day and I just didn't care. Didn't have the music very loud. It kind of distracted me from how steep it was.