Ski season 2016/2017

Northern Monkey

I'm heading to St Anton on Saturday for my one and only trip of this year. This will be my first time skiing where I (hopefully) have a decent level of fitness so it will be interesting to see what sort of a difference it makes.

fmlarnapairce

mch82 wrote: »

Anyone ever been to La Thuile in Italy? How did you rate the skiing there? It sounds like it is quiet enough for Apres? Thanks

was there a few years ago, nice resort with really well maintained pistes. some nice steep slopes down into the town and good flatish area at the top for beginners. Access to la rosiere ups the mileage available. Some nice off piste (was with a guide) also I remember.

As normal for Italy I think, lovely town and mountain restaurants, zero nightlife though (not that I was looking for it that hard though tbh).

Rew

Northern Monkey wrote: »

I'm heading to St Anton on Saturday for my one and only trip of this year. This will be my first time skiing where I (hopefully) have a decent level of fitness so it will be interesting to see what sort of a difference it makes.

Was there last year, good spot, make sure you take advantage of the link over the Lech. The Skishow is meant to be worth a look but wasn't on the week we were there (http://www.stantonamarlberg.com/en/events/skishow-schneetreiben-with-fireworks)

I really liked Rendl first thing in the morning before the crowds. If you are a confident skier try some ski routes (also leant to differentiate them on the piste map or you end up looking for a pistes that isn't a piste! :-D

Basecamp is a good bar at the bottom of the slope the 2 infamous ones up the slope are good too. We rented our gear from the place right below the main lift (Galzig) good heated storage etc though bit a of a scrum at peak times. The Engineering of the Galzig lift is incredible.

If there is a fresh dump the area below the Gampen chair is a great bit of off piste but you have to be quick or it gets tracked out.

Northern Monkey

Rew wrote: »

Was there last year, good spot, make sure you take advantage of the link over the Lech. The Skishow is meant to be worth a look but wasn't on the week we were there (http://www.stantonamarlberg.com/en/events/skishow-schneetreiben-with-fireworks)

I really liked Rendl first thing in the morning before the crowds. If you are a confident skier try some ski routes (also leant to differentiate them on the piste map or you end up looking for a pistes that isn't a piste! :-D

Basecamp is a good bar at the bottom of the slope the 2 infamous ones up the slope are good too. We rented our gear from the place right below the main lift (Galzig) good heated storage etc though bit a of a scrum at peak times. The Engineering of the Galzig lift is incredible.

If there is a fresh dump the area below the Gampen chair is a great bit of off piste but you have to be quick or it gets tracked out.

Thanks Rew, we were last there in 2013, so looking forward to getting back to see if there are many changes. The Flexenbahn lift seems to be the main one. We normally ski in France and love the 3v's, etc. but still rate St Anton as the best overall holiday we've had (when you incorporate hotel, town and après). Bizarrely the main thing everyone in the group is talking about is getting nacho's from Bobo's as they were really good the last time we were there!

cormee

Northern Monkey wrote: »

I'm heading to St Anton on Saturday for my one and only trip of this year. This will be my first time skiing where I (hopefully) have a decent level of fitness so it will be interesting to see what sort of a difference it makes.

Fitness makes a massive difference. First year I went snowboarding properly fit I couldn't believe the difference it made - so much more strength and control, which increases your confidence, you'll probably find yourself doing stuff you never thought you could do before. You'll especially notice it if you're heading off-piste.

I was in St. Anton a few weeks ago. It's very challenging, compared to the likes of the 3V, it really challenges you to up your game. There is great off piste there, and the ski routes are amazing. There was one route, Route 40 I think, that is about 4k long it's pretty amazing. Also, as Rew suggested, head to Lech for a day, it's worth the trip.

There a bar called Fang bar (I think) it's at the bottom of the Fang lift, I'd recommend it for apres-ski, the guy who plays guitar and sings is great.

Rew

Bad accident in Tignes

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/02/13/least-two-dead-avalanche-french-ski-resort-tignes/

cormee

Rew wrote: »

Bad accident in Tignes

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/02/13/least-two-dead-avalanche-french-ski-resort-tignes/

Saw that, poor sods. Caused by other people too.

prunudo

A lot of mixed reports out there.
This article has a different take on it.
http://echomag.co.uk/features/2017/tignes-avalanche-update

Regardless, still a sad story, being so close to the resort a lot of people would have witnessed it too. Rip to those involved

a148pro

Yeah I think its clear it wasn't set off by people above them. But irrelevant really, its just a detail in an appalling human tragedy.

cormee

a148pro wrote: »

Yeah I think its clear it wasn't set off by people above them. But irrelevant really, its just a detail in an appalling human tragedy.

True, I'd imagine there was massive confusion.

Rew

So quiet everyone must be on the slopes

Heading to Andorra Sunday week, never been was always out off by boozy reputation but looks like it should be a good week (and its a boozy lads trip this time...). There was a massive dump on the long range but seem to have deflected and dropped on the alps :mad:

stecleary

Rew wrote: »

So quiet everyone must be on the slopes

Heading to Andorra Sunday week, never been was always out off by boozy reputation but looks like it should be a good week (and its a boozy lads trip this time...). There was a massive dump on the long range but seem to have deflected and dropped on the alps :mad:

what resort you going to?

Pas is very much a boozy town, think Ibiza on ice
Arinsal has decent night life but nothing that will keep you awake all night

Rew

stecleary wrote: »

what resort you going to?

Pas is very much a boozy town, think Ibiza on ice
Arinsal has decent night life but nothing that will keep you awake all night

Pas...

I'm hopping that given we are mostly decent skiers and will be on the slopes early enough that we should get our pick of the tougher slopes and any off piste going if it does get a fresh dump.

Any ideas what it's like for buying gear given the low tax?

stecleary

Rew wrote: »

Pas...

I'm hopping that given we are mostly decent skiers and will be on the slopes early enough that we should get our pick of the tougher slopes and any off piste going if it does get a fresh dump.

Any ideas what it's like for buying gear given the low tax?

There's(or used to be) a massive Decathlon in the center of town. not massive price differences really. You'd only really notice the tax difference if you were kitting out a place over there. Restaurants and that are cheap but not bulgaria 10 years ago cheap, A pint will still be €5, €2-3 for local stuff, Cigs about €4. Don't look at the price of electronics unless you have loads of room in your bag to get that 90 inch tv you saw home. I'n saying that i bought a Bilabong jacket there years ago for about €100, checked the price of it when i got home and it would have been €250 over here

trashcan

Well, it's finally here (almost). Off on the annual trip to Westendorf in the morning. .

Steve

Rew wrote: »

Pas...

I'm hopping that given we are mostly decent skiers and will be on the slopes early enough that we should get our pick of the tougher slopes and any off piste going if it does get a fresh dump.

Any ideas what it's like for buying gear given the low tax?

Over 10 years since I was there - booze is cheap as in Canary Islands cheap.

Go to the local ski school and see if you can get a 'private lesson' for the group, state funded so cheap as chips and will be able to show you around the slopes you need. PDLC is high so nearly always has snow.

a148pro

trashcan wrote: »

Well, it's finally here (almost). Off on the annual trip to Westendorf in the morning. .

Likewise off to italy monday. Long awaited, was beginning to lose my mind, so hopefully this helps clear the head. Enjoy.

d2ww

For those of you not familiar with www.snowheads.com, I went to on their BBB to Arabba in the Dolomites earlier in the month, and wanted to share my impressions.
The Snowheads forum was set up by a guy called Graham, who the story goes had a major windfall in the late 1990's, so even though he is not a bonded travel agent, has been organizing up to 5 trips a year for the last dozen years, without any trouble.
The format is you pay him for HB in a 3 star, doing the flights and transfer yourself.
It's a bit daunting at first having to go up and introduce yourself to people, but they couldn't have been nicer or more friendly, after all they have all been in the same situation themselves. I fell in with a group who go on 2 or 3 trips every year, and had a great week.
I would say the general level is good/experienced intermediate and above. However, Graham does a trip to Livigno specifically for beginners in January.
As for transfers, you can book directly with the Arabba tourist office for €41 return. I would definitely recommend these trips, they're a very sociable bunch, who kept the bar busy every night(if that's your thing)

masseyno9

Rew wrote: »

stecleary wrote: »

what resort you going to?

Pas is very much a boozy town, think Ibiza on ice
Arinsal has decent night life but nothing that will keep you awake all night

Pas...

I'm hopping that given we are mostly decent skiers and will be on the slopes early enough that we should get our pick of the tougher slopes and any off piste going if it does get a fresh dump.

Any ideas what it's like for buying gear given the low tax?

There's a good run down from a powder bowl that's a bit off the beaten track. We hit it nicely one year with snow all night then got up early, freshies for all! Hard to explain how to get there, but it drops you back in on the opposite side of town. If you ask around with the locals (barmen in 'Underground' took us up) someone will explain it to you. There's a couple of lifts and a traverse involved, then crossing a road and hoping that 'skidoo man' is there to take you up for a few bob. If he's not, it's a 30-45 min hike, depending on hungoverness but it is a free and clear powder bowl and worth it! I did it at least 6/7 years ago, but fb updates recently seem to suggest it's still popular with the locals. Think they call it the 'skidoo run.'

Rew

masseyno9 wrote: »

There's a good run down from a powder bowl that's a bit off the beaten track. We hit it nicely one year with snow all night then got up early, freshies for all! Hard to explain how to get there, but it drops you back in on the opposite side of town. If you ask around with the locals (barmen in 'Underground' took us up) someone will explain it to you. There's a couple of lifts and a traverse involved, then crossing a road and hoping that 'skidoo man' is there to take you up for a few bob. If he's not, it's a 30-45 min hike, depending on hungoverness but it is a free and clear powder bowl and worth it! I did it at least 6/7 years ago, but fb updates recently seem to suggest it's still popular with the locals. Think they call it the 'skidoo run.'

Sounds great, dump hitting when we land if the weather holds. Won't be straying too far without a guide anyway. Have you looked at FATMAP? Has loads of local off p routes marked on it

masseyno9

Rew wrote: »

Sounds great, dump hitting when we land if the weather holds. Won't be straying too far without a guide anyway. Have you looked at FATMAP? Has loads of local off p routes marked on it

Never heard of it. Just looked it up and it looks great. It has Whistler on there...but that's a 12+ hour drive for me. Nothing else closer, except maybe some of the NW US resorts. Great tool...although hopefully people don't forget that just because something is on a map doesn't mean it's safe.

gaffmaster

What are conditions looking like for a short trip at the tail end of the season? Do you folks reckon current snow and forecast will allow for decent conditions into April?

Hoping (but it's not very likely) to get away somewhere near Geneva late season. Ski on at least one day of travel. Suggestions welcome.

lawred2

Where might be good and cheap for a short 4 day break?

Not a huge amount of travel obviously

cormee

lawred2 wrote: »

Where might be good and cheap for a short 4 day break?

Not a huge amount of travel obviously

What level are you? Do you ski or snowboard? Is apres-ski important?

Rew

masseyno9 wrote: »

Never heard of it. Just looked it up and it looks great. It has Whistler on there...but that's a 12+ hour drive for me. Nothing else closer, except maybe some of the NW US resorts. Great tool...although hopefully people don't forget that just because something is on a map doesn't mean it's safe.

They have strong warnings on the off piste ones alright.

prunudo

Serious falls of snow due in the French alps over the next few days. Anybody heading away for the next week will have great conditions.

AlternateID

jvan wrote: »

Serious falls of snow due in the French alps over the next few days. Anybody heading away for the next week will have great conditions.

Sitting in the airport now. 3 days of snow forecast for Austria.

prunudo

AlternateID wrote: »

Sitting in the airport now. 3 days of snow forecast for Austria.

Lucky sod, I'm off next week. Hopefully there aren't many delays on transfer day for you.

AlternateID

jvan wrote: »

Lucky sod, I'm off next week. Hopefully there aren't many delays on transfer day for you.

I'm used to it. Returning a few weeks ago I got stuck on the motorway in Austria and missed my flight in Memmingen. That hurt the pocket.

Will be collected in Germany and blast to Söll for a week then over to Mayrhofen for another to end the season.

a148pro

gaffmaster wrote: »

What are conditions looking like for a short trip at the tail end of the season? Do you folks reckon current snow and forecast will allow for decent conditions into April?

Hoping (but it's not very likely) to get away somewhere near Geneva late season. Ski on at least one day of travel. Suggestions welcome.

If conditions are good, avoriaz is about an hour away.

If conditions not good then maybe grand montets in chamonix as its north facing, also an hour, or ideally val thorens, as its the highest, about two and a half hours away

a148pro

lawred2 wrote: »

Where might be good and cheap for a short 4 day break?

Not a huge amount of travel obviously

If you search through my posts you'll probably see a good few covering this (well four day breaks, not necessarily cheap though). I only do short breaks at last minute now. Will do up a thread on them at some point.

For cheap, aim for small resorts you've never heard of. But unless snow is good there may be a reason you've never heard of them!

cocker5

off to Ischgl tomorrow for 10 days.... bliss

lawred2

cormee wrote: »

What level are you? Do you ski or snowboard? Is apres-ski important?

While since I've skied but I was decent enough. Wouldn't be bothered with off piste.

Apres ski for a few meals and a few drinks would be sufficient. Wouldn't have to be a party town.

empty21

Had a great week in Oberstdorf, Germany. Snow conditions were good on the piste, it hit 13c there on one of the days followed by snow the day after. Thought it would be quieter after the mid-term, but apparently they have a week off school at that time for a snow holiday in the Bavarian region only, maybe something to remember for next year!?? Lots of Dutch there too.

cormee

Distraught! Only one trip this year. And I've already made it (
Spring trip cancelled. WAAAH!

slingerz

Off to Andorra on Thursday, anyone know what Encamp is like there?

Rew

Just back from a week in Andorra. Pleasantly surprised by Andorra, I had long written it off as the place you go on your first trip or where you go to drink more then you ski. We were in Pas de la Casa in the Grandvalira ski area. Town had plenty got those who wanted to hit the booze or the slopes or bring the family. Some of the other parts of Grandvalira had great setups for kids (we saw at least 4 very good dedicated kids areas). The slopes were all well groomed, decent variety of options. Off piste looked great but we didn't get the fresh snow to make it possible. By the end of the week the temps were way up and the snow quality was dipping and some runs were heavily moguled by the end of the day. Also Saturdays are very busy with day trippers which didn't help in combination with the high temps.

The negatives were high winds that stripped a lot of snow high up and closed some lifts early in the week, I believe thats not uncommon. The other big one was a couple of spots where there are lift bottlenecks that caused big queues.

The shopping was top notch, all the ski gear and brands you could want at generally much better prices made even better by end of season sales that were 20-50% off.

Rew

Got a GoPro Karma Grip before the trip. Have to say very impressed, videos from it are super smooth (when hand held following someone its like a drone shot), battery lasts ages and it takes a beating. I fell directly on it while it was chest mounted and got it covered in snow/wet repeatedly. It does have issues where its horizon can drift/tilt though. I really hope thats something they can work on in firmware. Wasn't a big deal but I haven't been though all the videos yet so may find some that were spoiled.

cormee

Rew wrote: »

Got a GoPro Karma Grip before the trip. Have to say very impressed, videos from it are super smooth (when hand held following someone its like a drone shot), battery lasts ages and it takes a beating. I fell directly on it while it was chest mounted and got it covered in snow/wet repeatedly. It does have issues where its horizon can drift/tilt though. I really hope thats something they can work on in firmware. Wasn't a big deal but I haven't been though all the videos yet so may find some that were spoiled.

Fantastic quality - and it is chest mounted too? They're usually the worst, in terms of shakiness. The zip line one is almost too smooth though, you lose the feeling of motion.

Rew

cormee wrote: »

Fantastic quality - and it is chest mounted too? They're usually the worst, in terms of shakiness. The zip line one is almost too smooth though, you lose the feeling of motion.

Yeah thats the risk with it alright here is a hand held version from the guy on the 2nd line:

Rew

cormee wrote: »

and it is chest mounted too?

It has an optional ring that you attach that has a standard gopro mount so you can mate it to any existing gopro gear.

prunudo

And so winter 2017 is over for me now. From what looked like a possible missed winter I managed to get a long weekend on the slopes last week.
3 of us went, got flights to Bergamo for €128 p/p return (including luggage, boards and reserved seat's).

We were unsure of which resort so we held tight for a while, waiting to see what the snow God's would throw up, originally thinking the Dolomites, even contemplating Chamonix at one stage, but eventually settled on Livigno as we'd been before so went with familiarity.
We hired a car and drove up on the Thursday, then had 3 full days on the slopes, with amazing bluebird days every day. There was still a bit of fresh powder to be found but the majority was choppy. Pistes were perfect though.

We never heard any Irish while there and only 2 groups of middle aged English people. It appears that Livigno has changed from the last time we were there. Lots of Italians, Germans and Polish, doesn't seem to be many package operators from what we could see. We reckon that it appears to be positioning as a more up market resort.

We took the scenic route back via St.Moritz and down the west side of Lake Como which was a beautiful drive, stunning scenery with blue skies all the way.

I don't usually use the word relaxing when describing a snowboarding trip but it was certainly one of the most relaxing breaks I've been on.

It was the first real diy trip we've done, some might find the long drive a waste of time but it suited our needs and we still got 3 full days on the slopes. Ideally I'd look for cheap flights to Geneva to give more resort options but I don't know if there is such a thing.

Roll on 2018

Rew

Back from Les Deux Alpes a few days and resigning my self to the season being over for me. It was a family trip so only skied mornings, with my wife and my 4yr old and my self all doing ski school and the 2 year old and baby hanging out with a nanny. In the afternoons we ice skated, sledded and skied the bunny slopes with the kids. All in all a very pleasant trip despite the snow being pretty poor. There was a welcome top up late in the week and the last couple of days on piste was very nice. Off piste was a no go.

Flew EasyJet out of Belfast to Lyon, amazing value at €300 for the 5 of us (4 seats) and 3 x 20kg bags. Rented a car and drove, very easy 2 hour drive on the motorway most of the way with one toll each way of €12. AirBnB'd a nice apartment close to everything. Had a near disaster with passports so id advise renewing or applying for any passports way in advance. Kids took over a month and half and thats with panicked trips to the passport office and the staff there giving us a dig out.

The kids loved skiing!

a148pro

He's brilliant!

cormee

Trip booked to Chamonix for 26th April! The lifts close a few days after. This is definitely cutting it fine, but even slushy snow is better than none.

Rew

A friend just back from there today, conditions looked fantastic. The way this winter has gone could be epic when you get there!

cormee

Rew wrote: »

A friend just back from there today, conditions looked fantastic. The way this winter has gone could be epic when you get there!

I go in late March/April most years, it looked like it wasn't on this year, then in the space of 24 hours it was agreed and booked.

We went around this time of the year last year, the conditions were crazy, we got stuck on top of Point de Vue, in the Grand Montets, in a blizzard with roughly 6' visibility after the lifts had closed, I think that was the first time in 15 years-plus snowboarding that I felt my life was in danger.

So yeah! Literally anything is possible weather-wise at this time of the year. I'll be happy just to get away from the kids for a few days, and slop around in some slush.

Rew

Some of the resorts in Tahoe in the US are planning on staying open till the 4th of July! Last I saw they have gotted over 600" of snow this season. Crazy stuff.

lawred2

Rew wrote: »

Some of the resorts in Tahoe in the US are planning on staying open till the 4th of July! Last I saw they have gotted over 600" of snow this season. Crazy stuff.

600 inches of snow? seriously? 50 feet of snow?

cormee

lawred2 wrote: »

600 inches of snow? seriously? 50 feet of snow?

I'd well believe it, there were photos doing the rounds of the tops of chairlifts, the wheel part, barely protruding from the snow after one of the storms they had during the year.

Am very envious of the season they have in the USA, it will start again, as early as October in some resorts.