So who's going skiing 2011 and where?

[maser_spyder]

Following last year's thread, what have we all got booked so far?

Sadly, i have to go to Oz for a wedding in January, which puts the brakes on the first part of the season for me, but I'm hoping to be back and over the jet lag within 10 days, and heading out to Kitzbuhel again at the end of January, coming home in April. A bit longer than last year!

If anybody is heading Kitz, Kirchberg, Westendorf, Ellmau, Sheffau, Soll region in February or March, give me a shout if you fancy a beer and toboggan evening.

I have the lucky advantage of being able to work from anywhere, and it's a quiet time of year for us too, so I can easily make time for it. Pre-Christmas is hectic though!

So, where, when, and for how long etc?

[maser_spyder]

theboymoon said:

crikey that pic brings back memories - i lived in St Jean for a summer

a surreal experience where the highlight of the social calendar is a giant tartiflette and a speed goat herding competition.



i st you not

Sorry, for a minute there, I thought you said 'speed goat herding'.....

[maser_spyder]

R TOY said:

Skiin threads already eh . We'll be heading somewhere (prob Tignes or 3 vallees) week before christmas for a cheapy..
Did the same week last year and it was great, like having your own private ski resort.
Bit concerned tho,I had a knee opp in July and its made it worse so far rather than better so hoping it will hold up ok.
Suitcase full of painkillers mixed with copius amounts of alchohol should do the trick

I've done Val Thorens in the pre-Christmas week a few years ago, it was excellent. We headed over to Meribel and Courcheval which weren't so good though. Thorens is just a bit higher, snow is much more reliable.

[maser_spyder]

R TOY said:

maser_spyder said:

R TOY said:

Skiin threads already eh . We'll be heading somewhere (prob Tignes or 3 vallees) week before christmas for a cheapy..
Did the same week last year and it was great, like having your own private ski resort.
Bit concerned tho,I had a knee opp in July and its made it worse so far rather than better so hoping it will hold up ok.
Suitcase full of painkillers mixed with copius amounts of alchohol should do the trick

I've done Val Thorens in the pre-Christmas week a few years ago, it was excellent. We headed over to Meribel and Courcheval which weren't so good though. Thorens is just a bit higher, snow is much more reliable.

Need a bit of luck with conditions that early . We went stayed in LaTania same time last year stupidly cheap and had some fantastic skiing. Not all runs open but that worked to our advantage, once youve ducked under the tape a nice long red run with 2ft of untouched powder to ski and no rocks or tree stumps to dodge.
The down side was that the lift at the bottom was shut and we had a 45min trudge back to C'val
worth every trickle of sweat.

eta.. how long did take to get to get down from your profile pic ??

Edited by R TOY on Saturday 2nd October 14:35

Ah, my party trick...

There are two ways down. One hurts.

Tought to me by an Austrian race coach about 20 years ago, and I've been showing off ever since!

[maser_spyder]

gingerpaul said:

Val d'Isere in the 3rd week of January for my group of regulars this year. Never been there before so I'm looking forward to it.

Anyone got any Val d'Isere tips?

Dicks T bar, but take plenty of cash!

It's a large area, some of the nicer runs are in the opposite direction to Tignes, through the trees, etc. Tignes way is higher, so a bit bare, but snow is more reliable. You'll work it all out anyway!

[maser_spyder]

gingerpaul said:

While we're on the subject of skiing could someone explain the numerical system for boot stiffness please. Google doesn't appear to be my friend today. If I want to do mainly piste skiing but with 25% of my time off pisting just how stiff a boot do I need? If I get a very stiff boot does that hamper your ability in powder? I got fed up of hire boots last time I was out so I'm looking at getting my first pair. Need to pop over to Solutions 4 Feet in Bicester I think...

It's as much an ability as what you want to do with it. You'll probably find there aren't great websites in English, if they are, they'll likely be US based.

Snow and Rock do a good boot fitting service, mrs maser bought hers there last year, took over 2 hours, and very helpful. It's worth paying the extra. They're not the cheapest, but the service is generally good.

I wouldn't buy skis from them though, a poor range consisting of pretty much all freestyle and powder. No exciting race skis or anything for the 'serious'. Also quite expensive for skis.

Unless you're a serious skier, in to fast racing turns, don't go for anything too stiff, it'll be too much hard work for holidays. The stiffer boots are really aimed at serious, full season racers, not holidaymakers. You'll have much more fun in a more flexible boot.

Basically, unless that turn has to be inch-perfect (I.e. Racing), a stiff boot will just be harder work, and less fun.

HTH!

[maser_spyder]

gingerpaul said:

Thanks for the comprehensive reply.

I did happen to be in the Snow and Rock at the Hemel snow dome and the guys there did seem to have all the equipment. I'm just aware that one of my friends didn't have a great experience with another branch of theirs. I have heard nothing but good things about Solutions 4 Feet but they are appointment only and haven't been open on the two occasions I've just popped by on the way through.

I have no plans on buying skis. If I was doing a season I can see it making sense but it costs so much money to fly them out and maintain them that it costs just as much to hire as far as I can see. Also it makes me cringe when I scrape over hidden rocks as it is! We go to Ski Republic and they're happy for us to swap skis every day if we want.

I don't have the skill to do proper racing turns but I do get a fair bit of pace up. The slight feeling of my feet rattling around in the boots and the boots themselves is a bit disconcerting though when I'm going flat out. I have tended to go for all mountain skis recently rather than piste biased so perhaps some of that is down to the skis to being stiff enough for harder packed surfaces but any extra control would be gratefully received.

Actually that's an interesting point. What choice of ski would you think I should aim at using for the type of skiing I described above? Last year I started off on a relatively soft pair that were great on powder but we were covering so much distance that my legs were destroyed after two days meaning I had to switch to something stiffer to allow me to keep up. Is it of a handicap using stiffer skis on powder or softer skis on the piste? I found the softer skis were completely useless on ice whereas at least I could get by in the powder on stiffer skis even though I no longer hand the control of the softer ones.

That's a bit of an essay, sorry about that!

Please don't take this the wrong way, but it sounds like you're using equipment to excuse a lack of talent and experience, and are going too fast for your ability.

Skiing should never be about how fast you can go. There's too many accidents caused by this sort of behaviour. I honestly don't mean to brow beat, but a couple of things you mentioned above are nothing to do with the kit you're using, rather technique that needs tightening.

As for skis, a lot of it is personal preference and ability. I used to race, so personally, i like a really stiff pair of skis. My absolute favourites are my Atomic SL FIS Race skis. Short, very stiff, very fast, and accelerate out of a turn pushing you in to the next. You have to be at the top of your game though, or they'll eat you alive!

Unless you're in deep powder, you should be able to work a stiff ski in almost any conditions, but again, it comes to experience and ability.

I would honestly recommend a good coach, rather than a good ski, for your next trip. You'll get so much more out of your holidays in the future with more tuition before you get too far in to bad habits.

I'm one of the lucky ones. Started skiing at 3 years old in 1983, started racing at 6 or 7, and had coaching up until I was about 16. This season, I have a race coach lined up to fine tune my technique, even after 27 years, I still have a lot to learn!

Having said all that, you won't regret a decent pair of boots, which properly fitted, will transform your trip and will help to improve your ability. A good fitting boot is much more important than having the correct ski for the conditions. A good skier should be able to work any ski, but only with good boots.

The other way of looking at it, is that the boot is the defining link between what you're telling the ski to do, and the angle of the ski itself. If it's a bad link, control is lost. If it's a good link, every movement you make is transferred to the ski as intended. Only with a good fitting boot will the type of ski make much difference at all!

Hope that helps, and honestly, coaching is worth it....

[maser_spyder]

gingerpaul said:

I'm very much a late starter so you're absolutely right that I have nowhere near as much talent skill as a lot of people out there. Seeing 8 year olds ski by with amazing technique is particularly annoying. It's just interesting to understand what effects of the different elements have on the overall picture, even if I'm not able to use them to their fullest. I am well aware the limiting factor is and always will be me though.

I'm quite lucky that one of the guys in our group used to be a ski instructor so I do get put right when I'm going wrong but unfortunately I don't get and probably never will get enough practice to become really good. I'm aware of my limits though and won't get into a situation where I'm way out of my comfort zone. Last year the guys were going down one of those taped off speed runs but I gave it a miss as I wouldn't want to be going at those sorts of speeds without having the space to do a couple of turns to knock speed off if I wasn't comfortable half way down.

It's interesting that you think a stiff ski should be ok in most conditions. Probably the thing to do then is to go this route and perhaps get my friend to give me some drills to practice to try and get my technique better. Perhaps I'll take some time out this year to get a couple of lessons with a current teacher too. It's probably something I wouldn't have even considered until you mentioned it so thanks for that.

Looks like boots are a good idea at least. I'll have to get an appointment booked.

Thanks for taking the time to write such great replies Maser.

No worries!

As for being a late starter, my old man started the year I was born, he was 28 or 29 ish. 10 years of lessons made him an excellent skier, and he still has the odd few days of coaching every couple of years to brush up on technique.

I skied with him last year, now 58 years old, and although the legs are getting old and the speed is not what it was, his technique is still pretty awesome (for an old git).

Age should be no boundary at all, the skills can be learned at any age. Appreciate it's easier for the young, but it's not impossible for the older too if you persevere.

Actually, the more skill you acquire, the easier it gets. Skiing is not necessarily about pushing and pulling your body around to make turns, it's about positioning your body above the ski to make it work efficiently. The more you have the technique drummed in to you, and your bad habits drummed out, the easier, and more graceful you will become.

The satisfaction of a really nice, gently, easy carve with almost no effort is simply sublime....

[maser_spyder]

Just had a lucky break. I booked an apartment for the season in about May this year, and the guy contacted me the day before I left for France on holiday to apologise that the apartment was no longer available....

So I'm now looking for an apartment for the season, in October, not great.

I've just head back from a speculative email that a really nice looking place can put us up cheaply, and for the whole time we need, which is a real result. It's right in the centre of town too, with parking, etc.

Can't quite believe we've been so lucky, I thought we'd be camping!

So, now the subject of tobogganing has come up, and there's a challenge between me and my mate about who can build the best one. Entirely home built, using standard materials only. Watch this space!

[maser_spyder]

eps said:

The best way to improve technique (imho) is to go as many times as possible. If you only ski for one week out of 52 p/a you are not going to improve at a vast rate of knots. I think I effectively went 3 times in a 12 month period and improved a lot, but saying that it wasn't difficult!!

I've been teaching Mrs Maser over the past six years, and she came on leaps and bounds last season, when she did three/four weeks out of six.

She's nearly there, just a bit more fine tuning and she'll be running pretty well.

[maser_spyder]

Well, after my bloody nightmare apartment being cancelled at very short notice, I think I've finally managed to find another one....

Just waiting for confirmation about the total, then I'll be having a little cheer to myself.

I did exactly the right thing, and found an apartment for the season back in April/May, all booked, deposit paid, job done.

Chap contacted me very late September to tell me unfortunately it was no longer available, which meant me looking for an apartment, for the season, in October, which is far too late for Kitzbuhel, which is booked up for months in advance.


I'll be starting another thread about our toboggan adventures, but suffice to say, my old office has been temporarily turned in to an aluminium workshop!

So, skis/boots are coming out of the loft next weekend, along with roof bars, clothes, and all the other kit, to get ready for the season. It's all fun!

[maser_spyder]

eps said:

maser_spyder said:

Chap contacted me very late September to tell me unfortunately it was no longer available, which meant me looking for an apartment, for the season, in October, which is far too late for Kitzbuhel, which is booked up for months in advance.

Opening this weekend I believe, October!!!

Pass Thurn opened yesterday. Snow at the top of the Hahnenkahm already, looks like a good start to the season.

So, anybody heading Kitzbuehel way this winter?

[maser_spyder]

Marcellus said:

maser_spyder said:

Well, after my bloody nightmare apartment being cancelled at very short notice, I think I've finally managed to find another one....

Just waiting for confirmation about the total, then I'll be having a little cheer to myself.

I did exactly the right thing, and found an apartment for the season back in April/May, all booked, deposit paid, job done.

Chap contacted me very late September to tell me unfortunately it was no longer available, which meant me looking for an apartment, for the season, in October, which is far too late for Kitzbuhel, which is booked up for months in advance.


I'll be starting another thread about our toboggan adventures, but suffice to say, my old office has been temporarily turned in to an aluminium workshop!

So, skis/boots are coming out of the loft next weekend, along with roof bars, clothes, and all the other kit, to get ready for the season. It's all fun!

Nic if you have any problems with finding something for the season, drop me a line .......

Austria?

[maser_spyder]

Marcellus said:

maser_spyder said:

Austria?

Wagrain?

Looking for Kitz / Kirchberg. Pretty sure we've got somewhere now, at least I've paid a fairly hefty deposit, just need to confirm it on Monday.

But cheers anyway!

[maser_spyder]

Yay, my apartment has finally been confirmed (after the first one fell through last minute), so I'm definitely off now.

Not sure what the weather is doing yet, looks on a knife edge at the moment...

See my other thread about building toboggans for this year, it's all going well so far!

http://pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&f...

[maser_spyder]

Well, it's snowing over in Europe!

A fairly large dump of snow over last week, in small chunks, and pretty much all over.

Some resorts opening either a little early, or at least on time.

Looks like a good season in Europe coming up.

[maser_spyder]

Chris71 said:

Thinking either Meribel or Saint Anton this year. I know the 3 Valleys very well, but never been to St Anton before - heard good things though. Anyone here been?

I ended up in a bar with Graham Bell and his cameraman after the Hahnenkahm in Kitzbuhel last year, he said his top two ski destinations in the world are St Anton, and Whistler.

These have to be about the only two places I've never skied....

Anyway, I've not been, but for skiing, Graham Bell reckons it's the best in the world, and he's been around a bit.

[maser_spyder]

If anybody is heading out Kitzbuhel way (Ellmau/Sheffau/Going/Westendorf/Kitz/Kirchberg/Soll etc.) from January to April, we'll be out there testing these;

http://pistonheads.co.uk/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&amp...

If there are any PHers out there with big brave balls who fancy a go, just drop me a PM.

[maser_spyder]

R TOY said:

Just booked a cheap pre christmas week in LaPlagne.
Not a lot of info on the snow out there tho, hoping it will be decent. anyone know how it looks out there?

Haven't looked for a 'condition' report, but you can keep an eye on the forecast;

http://www.netweather.tv/index.cgi?action=ski;page...

[maser_spyder]

theboymoon said:

just back from Val....

tonnes of snow on the upper slopes, home run back into la Daille complete.

very sketchy off piste as it keeps on snowing but temps have gone from minus 30ish to minus 1 or so. The snowpack is totally unconsolidated and a bit scary.

Bumped into Graham Bell and spent a day on the mountain with him and then a hazy evening in Dicks etc. Funny guy who can still ski a bit!

I saw him after the Hahnenkahm last year, he can drink too!....