Who is going skiing and where in 2016

[Welshbeef]

KTF said:

More here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-35303921

One would assume that they were not off piste at the time...

On R4 PM a jurno is out there on holiday apparently it was a lovely clear blue sky day perfect conditions.
On the chair lifts he saw lots of off piste tracks.
Sadly he also stated where the group of French school skiers was off piste and in an area specifically marked "risk of avalanche".

[Welshbeef]

alfa phil said:

Off to Morzine in feb, pleased to see that winter has arrived in the alps.
Been ski-ing in Europe for around 12 seasons over the years, going at all different times of the year and never has there been a time when we didn't have plenty of snow to play in, I suppose that could just be luck.

For us I'd say 2015 March was excellent best we've seen by a long way -- we missed 2014 season and that by all accounts was the best bar none.


All in all I don't think we've ever had bad conditions / maybe we just make the best of it and aim to have fun regardless as in turn it into a ski HOLIDAY not a SKI holiday if you get what I mean.

[Welshbeef]

Looking to get a wardrobe refresh before we go this year (jacket lasted 8 years and still fine but fancy a change)

I've got Eider currently I had no idea if that was good or bad as it is the first and only jacket I've bought (only one that fitted me in the shop)


So looking for ideas of which brand for jacket and salvoes (these are well worn now).

I'm skiing so guess a boarders style kit wouldn't look great



Might treat the Mrs too while the kids can make do with Decathalon as they burn through a set every year.

[Welshbeef]

Willber said:

Any suggestions for cheap deals (non-existant!!) for a week in Feb half term for two people? Not got a specific resort in mind but must have a good amount to keep us interested for a week, have previously done Aosta and the Three Valleys. Not bothered what accomodation either. I've looked on crystalski and a couople of others but are there any other good sites to look at?

Thanks

Things to consider
1. It is half term so families go en masse prices will always be high and it will be busy
2. It's been a very very poor start to the season so those who wanted to go early have delayed to later in the season some will be going half term week
3. Flights ferries and Channel tunnel will be high so you need to secure cheap accommodation.
4. Your version of cheap could be £5k per person or £500 per person - any steer on rough budget your looking at?

Romania/Bulgaria//Slovakia/Kaliningrad / Sochi Ithe Urals in western Russia.

[Welshbeef]

Willber said:

Yep appreciate all those points. Looking to spend around £600-800 for a week including flights, accom, transfers. Lift pass and ski hire on top. I've seen a few deals for a week in Val Thorens for around £750 and that's currently favourite.

Thanks guys

At that price point go for Bansko in Bulgaria.

Food drink lift pass very good value and the piste is challenging to boot. If you've not been before give it a go.

I've been probably ten times give or take its great & ive recommended it to others too who have tried it (& are skiers or boarders who've been to other places before) not one wouldn't go back and some actually have



We're off there next month too.

[Welshbeef]

A month to go

No time now to sneak in a long weekend so will have to maximise my 6 days on the piste.

[Welshbeef]

JQ said:

Was in Saalbach this time last week and will be in Morzine 2 weeks today, can't wait.

How do you manage to get the time off work / unless your a well built company director

[Welshbeef]

JQ said:

Welshbeef said:

JQ said:

Was in Saalbach this time last week and will be in Morzine 2 weeks today, can't wait.

How do you manage to get the time off work / unless your a well built company director

I'm pretty certain every full time employee is entitled to 7 days holiday, which is the total I'm taking off for skiing. If you're not getting that then you might want to think about switching jobs.

Oh I just assumed they were two sets of a weeks skiing as such to take them so close together would be tricky in lots of working environments.

[Welshbeef]

a311 said:

Dependant on the job/employer and the amount of holiday entitlement you get surely? When I'm not crocked my standard season is 2 weeks of skiing sometimes 3. The most I've done is 5 but that included 3 weeks of instructing as a block.

I get a generous amount of annual leave, plus the opportunity to bank credit time. I guess it depends on priorities, sacrificing holidays at other times of the year for most.

To take all 5 weeks off in what a max Jan - Mar time frame you've then got Apr - Dec without anything but bank holidays that's a very long stint and really most would get burnout.

I try to balance mine out every 13 odd weeks as towards the end of that I'm in need of full on R&R no way could I do 39-40 weeks back to back without any leave plus of course it would mean clearly excl Feb half term never being on leave with the kids + going skiing for 4 weeks without them.... Not sure that would go down well or more importantly would have any appetite to do it.

[Welshbeef]

Snow in Bulgaria isn't looking good at all 15 to 20 degrees and strong winds last few weeks.
Rain washing snow away.


So guessing hard pack ice first thing then mush early pm.


Where is the snow? Last year 190cm snow in a day and loads falling all week now last snow was well over 2 weeks ago! Typical

Oh well up early and into the bars

[Welshbeef]

Problem is it depends on the conditions sometimes reds can run like blues or blues like reds but a Red can certainly play like a black which some people me included simply don't want to do again.

I'm plenty happy enough on the blue runs and try the odd red. I think this year I might try a few more but doesn't matter if I do not.


For me Ice on a run makes it horrible especially if half the piste is in the shade so bad ice then the other not so could be nice powder. Last year my first run entered a reasonably steep start to a blue so I carried a nice bit of speed into the first corner (in the shade) turned and only then realised the ice... Lovely/wakes you up that's for sure.


One week to go yippee. Though after that it's then 52 weeks .

[Welshbeef]

What binding settings do you have? Is anyone running 11+ or are most in the intermediate 6-9 range?

[Welshbeef]

Bill said:

Seriously? There are more variables involved than just how hard you ski.

I've never changed it before my understanding as I had them set today on my new skis it's
Weight
Age?
Height
Ski type
Binding type
Boot
Ability novice intermediate expert (though when in resort it's a 1-7 or even 1-10 scale with pretty detailed descriptions so you can place yourself roughly in the right area).

Anyway they put me on an 8 based upon the data with a tolerance of 6.75-9.x, and I requested it to be scaled back to 7 due to the ability range being very limited to beginner intermediate and expert (phrase I read was "comfortable on all reds and able with most blacks". I didn't really understand that bit as what about those who are comfortable on blacks or even double black diamond blacks?)

[Welshbeef]

Marcellus said:

Love this comment, I think most of the very good skiers I know (residents, instructors, pisteurs, locals etc) tend to generally go on the "looser side" of DIN settings as they'd "rather lose the ski than a knee" plus as they're smooth when they ski they don't often get unscheduled releases.

However, if they decide to have some "serious fun" then they will notch the settings up!

Should I scale back 7 towards 6?

[Welshbeef]

GT03ROB said:

Far far better to have them lower, find the ski comes off to easily then tighten a little if need be, than have them high, bugger a knee & spend the rest of the holiday in the bar.

That said touch wood - I've only fallen once and skis popped in a decade of skiing. (Probably take it too easy than pushing hard)

[Welshbeef]

Jarcy said:

I was 'taken out' at some speed by some idiot crossing my path in Belle Plagne 4 days ago. He cut across in front of me, clipping my ski tip and sweeping it laterally from under me. He went flying. I was unweighted but managed to spill off some speed on one ski before landing on my side. God knows what the closing speed was (I wasn't hanging around) but a tiny fraction of a second later and it would have been hospitalizing body blow. He came from above me, on what was not an established piste crossing point. Idiot.

I'm so glad that my binding was set to just 7. 5'9" 80kg, advanced/expert. The ski just popped off, and the Marker toe binding released as it should without any twist to my knee. I was unhurt but very shaken.
The idiot's command of the English language is now reinforced with much vocabulary that you won't find in the children's edition of the Oxford English dictionary.

This is my biggest fear some idiot takes me out.

Last year I was skiing down and it was close to lunch time the place was packed so I went straight up and the three runs I went on at for me decent pace the run was deserted in fact one no one else was on it then by the time I was back down the bar and places to eat were getting quiet so in I popped. Trying to avoid busy pistes.

Also another thing I do to the annoyance of those skiing with me is if the piste looks busy I'll take ten mins out sitting on the snow then go purely to avoid congestion & idiots who are either out of control going way beyond their abilities or some too much Dutch courage.

[Welshbeef]

russy01 said:

Just had a cracking week in Val Disere. 4 of my 6 days were blue sky's - shame Wednesday's forecast for 40cm didn't materialise, but the snow has been good either way.

Gutted I won't be skiing again until 2017!

Get it booked up & onto the new thread.

Ours is booked and a "mere" 10.75months to go.

[Welshbeef]

jamiebae said:

Ski Tracks can send a .gpx by email out of the app so you can then look at it on a PC too.

Would be interesting to see people's stats on this as in biggest gradient fastest speed etc kind of you show me you and I'll show you mind

[Welshbeef]

Darranu said:

Ok if we're going for a bit of tongue in cheek willy waving.
Couple of years ago in Solden, none of that two plank stuff though, boardings the only way forward

Best I could manage this season - had a ball though, and think I'm too old to go for high top speeds now./fearful of coming off.