Who is going skiing and where 2014?
Discussion
DoubleSix said:
Thanks. Good info there.
It's not the cost as such, more the hassle of lugging it and my perception (wrongly or rightly) that ski technology changes pretty fast so seemed like a poor proposition - I may need to reconsider this view.
Although, when hiring it's not a blind experience. I pay for 'Schwartz' skis and usually have a little chat about what I intend to do and how conditions are, AND you can take them back and switch as often as you like throughout the week.
If you are as good as you sound I think you would really enjoy having your own skis. It's not the cost as such, more the hassle of lugging it and my perception (wrongly or rightly) that ski technology changes pretty fast so seemed like a poor proposition - I may need to reconsider this view.
Although, when hiring it's not a blind experience. I pay for 'Schwartz' skis and usually have a little chat about what I intend to do and how conditions are, AND you can take them back and switch as often as you like throughout the week.
Edited by DoubleSix on Thursday 13th March 17:32
Its no real hassle to transport skis backwards and forwards (I've just come back from the Dolomites - £35 to fly the skis there and back) and it saves time in the rental shop. Also the choice can be limited if you arrive in resort late on a Saturday and all the best skis have gone already.
If you have tried lots of different skis, you will know that there is quite a big variation in "feel" between them, so once you find a pair that fit your style, you know you will be skiing on them all the time.
Ref ski technology, I think most of it is marketing - I'm still very happy with the skis I bought in 2009 (which were the 2008 model of the same skis)
For me I'd hired skis for years until I found a pair I just loved, so bought them.
They weren't a cheap ski but based on skiing 2 weeks a year, paying for ski carriage 1 week (2nd usually on Swiss so free) and getting them tuned once a year I'll have broken even on owning in 6 years vs hiring top level skis.
Havving done one trip already it really wasn't much of a hastle.
They weren't a cheap ski but based on skiing 2 weeks a year, paying for ski carriage 1 week (2nd usually on Swiss so free) and getting them tuned once a year I'll have broken even on owning in 6 years vs hiring top level skis.
Havving done one trip already it really wasn't much of a hastle.
Burrow01 said:
If you are as good as you sound I think you would really enjoy having your own skis.
Its no real hassle to transport skis backwards and forwards (I've just come back from the Dolomites - £35 to fly the skis there and back) and it saves time in the rental shop. Also the choice can be limited if you arrive in resort late on a Saturday and all the best skis have gone already.
If you have tried lots of different skis, you will know that there is quite a big variation in "feel" between them, so once you find a pair that fit your style, you know you will be skiing on them all the time.
Ref ski technology, I think most of it is marketing - I'm still very happy with the skis I bought in 2009 (which were the 2008 model of the same skis)
Cheers. But I think I may other issues now. Its no real hassle to transport skis backwards and forwards (I've just come back from the Dolomites - £35 to fly the skis there and back) and it saves time in the rental shop. Also the choice can be limited if you arrive in resort late on a Saturday and all the best skis have gone already.
If you have tried lots of different skis, you will know that there is quite a big variation in "feel" between them, so once you find a pair that fit your style, you know you will be skiing on them all the time.
Ref ski technology, I think most of it is marketing - I'm still very happy with the skis I bought in 2009 (which were the 2008 model of the same skis)
Got my DIN pushed up to 10 and some different skis after chatting with the tech guys.
But I couldn't ski. My confidence is shot. I can't commit to my turns and just feel as though I'm going to lose a ski any moment - almost like flashbacks tbh.
I just ended up swishing down the piste in a completely unengaged manner and slammed the brakes on as soon as i got any chatter.
foliedouce said:
russy01 said:
Just got to Val D!! 2 weeks left!!!
Off there on Wed myself for a boys trip. What's the snow like? It's supposed to get to 13 degrees on Monday in Val Village, hot!Tomorrow should be a cracking day, although the end of the week looks to be a bit unsettled.
Driving up to courchevel 1850 for the weekend, so hopefully weather will settle down.
We had great conditions in La plagne last month, lovely snow and only 2 days reduced visibility.
Off this weekend for st paddys so popped over to Scotland here, Cairngorms to be precise for the first time. Very impressed, ok its not France but its 100 times better than I was expecting and we got lovely views and some absolutely superb skiing in over the last few days with no waiting at the lifts or funicular railway at all.
Off this weekend for st paddys so popped over to Scotland here, Cairngorms to be precise for the first time. Very impressed, ok its not France but its 100 times better than I was expecting and we got lovely views and some absolutely superb skiing in over the last few days with no waiting at the lifts or funicular railway at all.
irish boy said:
We had great conditions in La plagne last month, lovely snow and only 2 days reduced visibility.
Off this weekend for st paddys so popped over to Scotland here, Cairngorms to be precise for the first time. Very impressed, ok its not France but its 100 times better than I was expecting and we got lovely views and some absolutely superb skiing in over the last few days with no waiting at the lifts or funicular railway at all.
It's been a prime year for Scotland's skiing this year.Off this weekend for st paddys so popped over to Scotland here, Cairngorms to be precise for the first time. Very impressed, ok its not France but its 100 times better than I was expecting and we got lovely views and some absolutely superb skiing in over the last few days with no waiting at the lifts or funicular railway at all.
At one point it was leading the season's snowfall record for the whole of Europe - could well still be.
In Val Thorens as I type. It's a stinking hot slush fest! If you follow the sun the pistes are in good nick. Got to say there are more out of control t
ts than I've ever experienced in 20 odd years of skiing, and this is from someone who regualry frequents St Anton!
If you're coming out bring your sun screen! Perfect spring conditions but the off piste is horrible and generally not worth it unless you get a guide who knows what's what.
ts than I've ever experienced in 20 odd years of skiing, and this is from someone who regualry frequents St Anton!If you're coming out bring your sun screen! Perfect spring conditions but the off piste is horrible and generally not worth it unless you get a guide who knows what's what.
Off to Verbier this weekend...looking how warm it's been not expecting much abut looks like some fresh snow is due on Sat. They have the Xtreme on this weekend which is a competition for people that want to get as close to possible as killing themselves skiing down pitches that look utterly impossible.
a311 said:
In Val Thorens as I type. It's a stinking hot slush fest! If you follow the sun the pistes are in good nick. Got to say there are more out of control tts than I've ever experienced in 20 odd years of skiing, and this is from someone who regualry frequents St Anton!
If you're coming out bring your sun screen! Perfect spring conditions but the off piste is horrible and generally not worth it unless you get a guide who knows what's what.
Ditto, we are staying in VT, it was 6 deg C in the village yesterday at 2300m, 1 Deg C at the summit. We've not even bothered going over to Meribel/Courcheval as they must be awfully slushy. Consequently all the runs are far busier than you would expect this time of year, outside of school holidays. This is the first season I've noticed an abundance of tts than I've ever experienced in 20 odd years of skiing, and this is from someone who regualry frequents St Anton!If you're coming out bring your sun screen! Perfect spring conditions but the off piste is horrible and generally not worth it unless you get a guide who knows what's what.
ts with Go Pros, or more specifically, reckless tts who can't ski with Go Pros, taking ridiculous risks on busy pistes for a moment's YouTube glory. It genuinely worries me - I love my gadgets, but I reckon that it won't be long until we're hearing of somebody killed on the slopes, the innocent victim of some idiot wearing one of these. Great run down from Le Col yesterday though, the higher north-facing runs are holding up remarkably well considering.
Edited by PurpleTurtle on Wednesday 19th March 06:35
PurpleTurtle said:
Ditto, we are staying in VT, it was 6 deg C in the village yesterday at 2300m, 1 Deg C at the summit. We've not even bothered going over to Meribel/Courcheval as they must be awfully slushy. Consequently all the runs are far busier than you would expect this time of year, outside of school holidays. This is the first season I've noticed an abundance of tts with Go Pros, or more specifically, reckless tts who can't ski with Go Pros, taking ridiculous risks on busy pistes for a moment's YouTube glory. It genuinely worries me - I love my gadgets, but I reckon that it won't be long until we're hearing of somebody killed on the slopes, the innocent victim of some idiot wearing one of these.
Agreed, I was in Morzine last week and saw some shocking behaviour by nobs with gopros. ts with Go Pros, or more specifically, reckless tts who can't ski with Go Pros, taking ridiculous risks on busy pistes for a moment's YouTube glory. It genuinely worries me - I love my gadgets, but I reckon that it won't be long until we're hearing of somebody killed on the slopes, the innocent victim of some idiot wearing one of these. Noone wants to watch your s
t skiing/boarding on youtube. Grow up. I am heading out to Chamonix with 3 mates for a long weekend on 10th April. All of us are proficient skiers, able to ski pisted reds and blacks easily and a little off piste.
We are unanimous in wanting to ski Vallee Blanche, but also want to ensure we ski it safely so have decided to hire a guide for the day. Can anyone recommend a great guide who will help us have a day to remember?!
We are unanimous in wanting to ski Vallee Blanche, but also want to ensure we ski it safely so have decided to hire a guide for the day. Can anyone recommend a great guide who will help us have a day to remember?!
I did it with a group of mates about six years ago, we hired a guide from ESF, an old-timer in his late 60's who knew the place like the back of his hand, that was very worthwhile.
I don't want to piss on your chips, but I didn't really enjoy it. The climb down the arret is both spectacular and rather scary at the same time, definitely makes you aware of your own mortality! After that however it is more of a not-particularly-steep dodge around various crevasses on hard-packed icy snow. The views are spectacular and if like me you're a bit of a box-ticker it's worth doing, but I got to the bottom feeling rather underwhelmed at it as a skiing experience. Perhaps it was the 'you could die at any minute if you don't follow my exact tracks' instruction we were getting, but it wasn't in any way relaxing, and consequently not much fun. I'd be interested to hear what you think, I don't know anyone else personally who has done it.
Wise move to go with a guide though, the week after we did it a British boarder (without guide) died after falling into a crevasse in an area that our guy specifically told us not to ski in.
I don't want to piss on your chips, but I didn't really enjoy it. The climb down the arret is both spectacular and rather scary at the same time, definitely makes you aware of your own mortality! After that however it is more of a not-particularly-steep dodge around various crevasses on hard-packed icy snow. The views are spectacular and if like me you're a bit of a box-ticker it's worth doing, but I got to the bottom feeling rather underwhelmed at it as a skiing experience. Perhaps it was the 'you could die at any minute if you don't follow my exact tracks' instruction we were getting, but it wasn't in any way relaxing, and consequently not much fun. I'd be interested to hear what you think, I don't know anyone else personally who has done it.
Wise move to go with a guide though, the week after we did it a British boarder (without guide) died after falling into a crevasse in an area that our guy specifically told us not to ski in.
Edited by PurpleTurtle on Saturday 22 March 12:31
Edited by PurpleTurtle on Saturday 22 March 12:32
schmalex said:
I am heading out to Chamonix with 3 mates for a long weekend on 10th April. All of us are proficient skiers, able to ski pisted reds and blacks easily and a little off piste.
We are unanimous in wanting to ski Vallee Blanche, but also want to ensure we ski it safely so have decided to hire a guide for the day. Can anyone recommend a great guide who will help us have a day to remember?!
These guys are fantastic, have used them on numerous occasions and have never been disappointed. http://www.evolution2-chamonix.com/guides/coursesWe are unanimous in wanting to ski Vallee Blanche, but also want to ensure we ski it safely so have decided to hire a guide for the day. Can anyone recommend a great guide who will help us have a day to remember?!
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