Who is going skiing and where in 2017

[Welshbeef]

feef said:

Jarcy said:

Welshbeef said:

Decathalon does the kit so well if your after budget stuff which is ideal for novices and kids or those who simply cannot justify the big cost of too end brands.

I know I shouldn't be a brand-snob, but whenever I see "Wed'ze" on the slopes, or the '3 dot' logo, I think, well, I, errmmmm...
I'm sure it's terrific stuff and great value...Just so long as you're not sliding on something with the name Wed'ze on it.

For the average family who only ever ski once a year for a week, Wed'ze skis are probably going to be fine and will most likely be made either by Meditec in Tunisia ( http://www.meditec.com.tn/ ) or the Elan plant in Slovenia.

I wonder how many here would actually know and feel the difference if they were all unbranded, and how much of it is brand snobbery

Personally I have
Head boots - bought for barely over £100 on super sale really good and far better than the £350 Saloman boots I had.
Head Skis - again I bought them cheap they are fine I cannot tell he difference between these and hire skis. So far they have already Been paid for by the hire savings
Ski poles - Wedze
Helmet - no idea of he brand but Decathalon and I change it every 2 years
Fleeces socks etc all Wedze
Gloves Saloman these were pricy but well worth it

Kids (2year old and 4year old) exclusively Wedze. We try to get unisex colour so that they can use each other's sadly that doesn't work as a summer baby v winter meaning actually different size when they go. But it's cheap and does a good job.

I might splash out on some new salapets this season - current are 10years old I think still ok but a bit worn.

[Welshbeef]

Jarcy said:

lemmingjames said:

I must be one of the only ones who rewears the same gear year after year etc.

I must be a tart, I know, but if a jacket lasts me 5 years, then that's 15 sets of holiday photos where I'm wearing the same kit.

lemmingjames said:

You do know that you can wash the jackets in a normal wash then get rewaterproofing wash stuff to return it to good dont you?

Ssshhh - don't tell Mrs Jarcy - that said, she likes her new gear as much as me.

feef said:

Dare2B is a brand name of Regatta

Shudders! - I didn't know that. My poor kids. At least they've out-grown that.

feef said:

Quiksilver, the new range of Roxy skis are now made by The Faction Collective

Interesting - I've been following The F.C. to see how they take off.

Lol an average of 3 skiing holidays each year for 5 years.

In isolation that's not cheap I wish I could do it but school term times mean I'd be going without the kids - not reallly an option for us

[Welshbeef]

theguvernor15 said:

After a bit of advise from the PH collective.
I'm currently learning to ski as the gf & i are off to Zermatt at the end of January.
I've got most of the kit required, however my sticking point is currently the helmet, the gf says just hire it when we get there, however i hate the thought of using a pre-used helmet, not having known what's happened too it alread.
I think it's around 30 Swiss francs to hire one, however for not much more i can just buy one in the UK & take it with me & bring it back, is there a 'done thing'?!

Buy a £30 helmet from Decathalon.

I bin mine after 2 years use.

I'd never hire one - if it's knocked it should be scrap and it's safety compromised. Not worth it.

[Welshbeef]

Bansko has had a huge snow dump over the last few days.

Last Friday no snow/gass pistes.
Today heavy snow everywhere + still snowing + -12 and snow cannons on flat out too.

Current view is they will open unofficially early 8/12.

[Welshbeef]

feef said:

Huge dumps, mental low temps and no base means an unstable snow pack unfortunately, especially if it's not followed up with more snow or a quick thaw/freeze to consolidate the base.

The key temperature gradient is 10 degrees per meter. If there's more than 10deg per meter difference within the snow pack, then there's the likelihood that you'll see depth hoar develop, and the avalanche risk go up significantly

Oh!!! Don't destroy my joy.

[Welshbeef]

Cheburator mk2 said:

Bansko's official pistes are OK in terms of avalanche danger. It is the off-piste stuff, which would be pretty bad. Same as last year. A guide there is essential - easy to get oneself killed...

I'm a strict Piste skier so no worries there.

A few years ago we were in Bansko (2015) when we arrived the snow in the village was crazy meters deep wading through the stuff. Usually none in the town or just a tiny bit. Anyway there were strict instructions on all the information boards and speaker system (continiously) high avalanche risk off piste do not go off piste. Pretty clear and in countless languages.

Anyway sadly I think 3 - 5 individuals climbed to the peak and went off piste, they followed each other but the last person triggered an avalanche over them all. All were killed.

A few years before that friends of friends went and one liked off piste he got lost took 5 hours of wading through deep snow to get back to normality (no one knew where he was). As it turned out a local was walking and saw him then was waving frantically at him - he managed to get over to him, turned out he was walking over a small lake without knowing so could easily of died and really it would be unlikely of finding him until the thaw.

It looks cool in the videos but not for me or our kids

[Welshbeef]

NRS said:

Obviously the local would have known the local conditions and what had happened that season, but often walking over a lake is not an issue at all, as depending when in season/ conditions the ice can easily support a car. Just coming from the UK it tends to freak people out a bit more. Bit of a mistake to get that lost though - 5 hours walking through deep snow is not a great idea in most cases.

Where he was his phone had no coverage at all - was with a group of 12 but everyone doing their own thing. I think they assumed he was down in one of the village bars bottom of the gondola...

Yep 5 hours not a clue where he was he was really worried - beyond 5pm when the local spotted him ie getting dark. Very lucky.

[Welshbeef]

Jarcy said:

Once you get to a certain standard, then the ecstasy of skiing in deep powder and the magic of the isolation of an alpine wilderness, is worth all the risks and too much of a draw for many people. Once pistes no longer challenge you, it's natural to start exploring off piste.

There are never any guarantees, but of course the advice is to use a guide, unless you are skilled not only in detailed mountain-craft, but also have extensive local knowledge. One of my annual holidays that I take is a specific off-piste adventure, where we are looked after by a guide for the duration. Sometimes on a 'family' or 'mates' holiday I'll take a day out and hire a guide for some off piste adventures.

Myself and my kids (young adults) often explore lift-served off piste without a guide. But all precautions are taken, including ensuring that we're fully kitted with avalanche gear. Avalanches can always occur (even on piste) but one hopes that straying off the sides of the piste is not too dangerous so long as kept 'in bounds'.

Understand.
I guess for me I doubt I'd ever be at that standard with only 6 days a year and with so many resorts to try I'll never cover these in my skiable life.

Maybe I'm getting old! But the excitement and fear of a really narrow steep section of Iced red is really really pushing my limit. / I find that more of an achievement over yea done let's do it again

[Welshbeef]

Mothersruin said:

How many lessons do you have now when you go?

I haven't for a few seasons now - been trying to get our 4year old up to level 4 as quickly as possible then our 2year old I want him to get on skis or snowboard /knowing him he'll be a boarder and she's definitely a skier.


I think I should get some more lessons in this season.

[Welshbeef]

So had confirmation 75cm of snow fell on Bansko pistes over he last few days.

As such they are opening up very early 3/12/16 for a mere £12.88 daily lift pass until season starts properly


Superb

[Welshbeef]

KTF said:

Bulgaria is cheap but the resorts are tiny. We could easily ski the whole of Bankso in a day then what do you do for the remaining 5 days?

It's 75km in Bansko.
There are two small resorts very close by which have a few runs on it too.

They have been trying to expand the number of pistes for the last 6 years but the Govt controlled the area refused point blank. Govt has just changed and appears to be much more open to extending permissions. Ski area could then easily double.

Pomparovo isn't that far nor Borovets if your wanting to try different runs. But it's not supposed to be a direct competitor to the 3 Valleys it's a cheap and challenging set of pistes which has charm and enables beginners to get used to it and then once god enjoy the big resorts elsewhere.

[Welshbeef]

Cheburator mk2 said:

Depends how good your skiing is? Anyone can snowplough down the reds and blacks... When you have done the pistes in Bansko, you go and hire a guide, as the off-piste is on par with the best Europe can offer... If you cannot go off-piste, then perhaps you can do more lessons in the resort?

As you say off piste is apparently very good (not tried it personally)

I'd struggle to justify the big resort costs for a big family /. It would restrict my number of times I ski and imagine that's the same for many people.

[Welshbeef]

downthepub said:

Been thinking, my ski helmet is 5 or 6 years old, and I'm wondering if it should be replaced. Does anyone else routinely change out their helmet?

It's not had any serious bangs, but equally hasn't been treated with kid gloves especially.

Every 2 years.
The material deteriorates.

Just in the same way a baby car seat does too so if you think you can keep using it for child after child you are wrong regardless of bumps it's protection degrades.

[Welshbeef]

When is the next big dump expected in Europe?

[Welshbeef]

//j17 said:

Welshbeef said:

When is the next big dump expected in Europe?

As it stands - Jan/Feb.

Seriously? Potentially 8 weeks until it snows again???

[Welshbeef]

malks222 said:

no, not quite. depends where in Europe you are looking at.

but theres a very detailed thread running over on snowheads (link below) where some smart people seem to know what they are talking about and put up the charts (colorful pictures I don't understand!). but the charts are currently showing:
Austria getting a little round the 12th/15th dec
Austria maybe into Switzerland a little around the 17th dec
the whole alps next big dump around the 21st dec

now the full weather system breakdown/ massive dump of snow on the 21st is still way off (predicting 2 weeks ahead is very finger in the air). but the charts all seem to agree that weather systems are going to breakdown and something is going to happen round about then....... how much/ where/ how good..... is all in the balance and will hopefully clarify more as the computers keep running the models and the date gets closer.

http://snowheads.com/ski-forum/viewtopic.php?t=126...

And being mercinary what's the forecast for Bansko?

[Welshbeef]

Steviesam said:

I am off to Tignes tomorrow afternoon (driving after work)for four weeks!!!!!

Yipeeee

How do you get all that time off work?

[Welshbeef]

st

Breaking news BA cabin crew are going on strike over pay and conditions. Dates TBC.
We're flying with BA and I'm fearing we will be hit knowing our luck.

[Welshbeef]

Bansko is open lots of runs open fake snow running all the time and it's cold really cold.

So if your after snow covered Piste it's worth a consideration given Les Gets and others are grass Pistes.

[Welshbeef]

cashmax said:

Welshbeef said:

Bansko is open lots of runs open fake snow running all the time and it's cold really cold.

So if your after snow covered Piste it's worth a consideration given Les Gets and others are grass Pistes.

I seem to recall reading a while ago that you had a Chalet there. How often do you end up using it?

Every year skiing and also manage a summer too - plus we have a big summer holiday elsewhere.

Does it make financial sense? Hmm take the rose tinted off nope