Attn Stalkers....Snowboards

kona_matt

i'm with you, haven't skied yet but plan to learn one day, probably when the boy is old enough to start skiing. will be a god send on those icy days where being on a board is about as much fun as being beaten repeatedly with a large bat.

the skier/boarder rivalry is fantastic banter and long may it last. all adds to the fun.

and whilst we're talking boarding, if you haven't seen the movie First Descent, you MUST!

Daz555

I also reckon skiing is the way to go as I get older. I just can't see myself wanting to be sitting on my arse or down on my knees waiting around when I'm in my 50s and 60s. Much better to be on a pair of skis I'm thinking.

anton1r

Daz555 wrote:

...Skiers have excellent mobility in comparison to a boarder...

True that and it's also very noticable as soon as you go onto ski's from a board and AFAIK that's why in Whistler the full time Ski Patrol staff are on ski's. Snowboards whilst fun just aren't up to the job!

kona_matt wrote:

...Those icy days where being on a board is about as much fun as being beaten repeatedly with a large bat.

Ahh sheets of bullet proof ice. lovely. Have to say the thought of having two edges in contact with the ice is much preferable to having just the one edge and the constant fear of ending up face/arse first on it.

kona_matt wrote:

whilst we're talking boarding, if you haven't seen the movie First Descent, you MUST!

That's one of the Burton ones isn't it? Question is though, how does it compare to That's It, That's all or even DC MTN Lab? 8)

kona_matt

kona_matt wrote:

whilst we're talking boarding, if you haven't seen the movie First Descent, you MUST!

That's one of the Burton ones isn't it? Question is though, how does it compare to That's It, That's all or even DC MTN Lab? 8)[/quote]

No, featured some Burton riders (shaun white, hannah teeter) but pretty sure it was independant. it's a proper full length movie/doccumentary featuring 2 story lines, 1 the history of snowboarding and 2, taking some of today's top pros (haakonsen, white, rice, teeter) to Alaska for heli boarding with some of the originators of the sport (shaun farmer and nick perata). epic footage and confirms that terje haakonsen is an absolute god!

http://www.firstdescentmovie.com/

some clips on youtube but watching them kinda ruins it and i would recommend getting hold of a copy of the full movie.

a must for any snowboard fan, tend to watch it every time i go away boarding.

Stevo_666

Daz555 wrote:

Sking and boarding are essentially the same sports and I think this is why the transition is not too tricky - both sports are about body position, feel, and edge control. Helps that my best mate is a ski instructor of course and 3 straight full days of one on one tuition goes a long way.

Funny that, I tried snowboarding a couple of times and just couldn't 'get it' - I was crap. And I'm not a bad skier at all. Figured it was better to keep on enjoying what I knew, save my knees & lower back and avoid having to grow a goatee / trying to look 'rad'

And now that the weather's getting cold and nights drawing in, time to start sorting out that next trip to the Alps 8)

kona_matt

Stevo 666 wrote:

Daz555 wrote:

Sking and boarding are essentially the same sports and I think this is why the transition is not too tricky - both sports are about body position, feel, and edge control. Helps that my best mate is a ski instructor of course and 3 straight full days of one on one tuition goes a long way.

Funny that, I tried snowboarding a couple of times and just couldn't 'get it' - I was crap. And I'm not a bad skier at all. Figured it was better to keep on enjoying what I knew, save my knees & lower back and avoid having to grow a goatee / trying to look 'rad'

And now that the weather's getting cold and nights drawing in, time to start sorting out that next trip to the Alps 8)

it can take a while to "get it." i've had skier friends say the same, they also gave up

Stevo_666

kona_matt wrote:

it can take a while to "get it." i've had skier friends say the same, they also gave up

I think you're right - problem was that by that time I was already happy doing blacks & off piste on two planks, so the idea of spending a week in pain to get going on a board when I could be hacking it down the mountain on skis just was not enough for me to keep trying.

I'd probably be time barred from being a snowboarder by now anyway

anton1r

Stevo 666 wrote:

And now that the weather's getting cold and nights drawing in, time to start sorting out that next trip to the Alps 8)

Here's a question then peoples. I assume we all go away once a year. If so how long before you go away do you book your trip? and how many people are you booking with?

Currently/just been in a bit of a debate with friends about when to book for a group of us.

kona_matt

anton1r wrote:

Stevo 666 wrote:

And now that the weather's getting cold and nights drawing in, time to start sorting out that next trip to the Alps 8)

Here's a question then peoples. I assume we all go away once a year. If so how long before you go away do you book your trip? and how many people are you booking with?

Currently/just been in a bit of a debate with friends about when to book for a group of us.

pretty much now, never leave it too late as flight prices rise. i don't book packages as the in-laws have an appartment in switzerland 8) i married well

Stevo_666

anton1r wrote:

Here's a question then peoples. I assume we all go away once a year. If so how long before you go away do you book your trip? and how many people are you booking with?

Currently/just been in a bit of a debate with friends about when to book for a group of us.

Depends - if I don't go on a package job with a biggish group that book in advance, then I have a couple of mates who are happy sorting something out closer to the time with one of those small firms that arranges scheduled flights so you can come & go when you want and aren't tied to a week with weekend changeovers. Work means I can only go either before mid Jan or late March onwards but at least keeps me out of peak (cost) season.

kona_matt - you are a jammy get.

kona_matt

Stevo 666 wrote:

kona_matt - you are a jammy get.

just to clarify, we still have to pay to use it, not full price though, just enough to cover bills, tax and cleaning (which isn't cheap being switzerland). the major bonus is that it's a proper sized appartment rather than the shoe box you usually get in the alps.

psymon

my best advice would be if you are young, have no ties (not the neck type), in a crap job and can handle your drink, go do a winter season.
its mint.

kona_matt

psymon wrote:

my best advice would be if you are young, have no ties (not the neck type), in a crap job and can handle your drink, go do a winter season.
its mint.

i fit the bill in no way what so ever

wish i had have done it when i had the chance. the missus has done 2 seasons the jammy cow.

psymon

i cant do it any more, its a young mans game.

its hard work, tons of hours, auful pay, horrible customers, expensive in resort for anything, messes up your body in all kinds of ways.

but damn its fun.

anton1r

Do a season: Done that... Whistler 05/06. Was a Lifty and skint most of the time after digs and the odd night on the beers but that didn't matter much as it was pretty much just working and riding! 8)
Couldn't ride at the time went there a total noob just knew I wanted to learn best thing i've ever done! Didn't get as good as I feel I should have got though... Meh never mind!

Well my mates were planning on getting a full chalet rented out for like 14 people. I said we should wait until the snow has started falling but no one agreed with me and they booked it without me anyway a few weeks ago. Fair enough...

I still think this is crazy early for booking a winter holiday but maybe i'm the crazy one for booking later :?:

I usually like to wait and see where the snow is, if its in Europe ill book December/January for March time/Late Jan. If Europe's not looking too hot I don't mind spending the extra to go to North America. (Only had to do that once though).

psymon

did you stay in whistler staff accomodation?
i did, and we made this...
it got bigger too...



then it fell over and spilled rotten beer everywhere.



Kokanne beer rocks.

kona_matt

funny how threads evolve isn't it. this started with miss bint trying to get one of her band of stalkers to buy her a new snowboard and has ended up with 3 past their prime men talking about the best way to book a holiday.

anton1r

@kona_matt yeah its great isnt it.

is 26 past your prime? bloody hope not!

@psymon indeed we (with Missus) did, Bluevault 3 or something like that IIRC. Twas one of the ones that backed onto the Blackcomb run back to the village. Ahh Kokanne, the Western Canadian equivalent of Tennents/Carling. Nasty cheap lager. Pitchers in Merlins for $10! Good stuff!

What did you do?

Also what's the consensus on booking holidays? Say for March time. What month would you book it for:
A. A large group (12+)
B. Small group (6+)
C Couple

My answers:
A: Late Nov early Dec
B: Dec
C:Jan/Feb

Answers please gents? Want to know if i'm the one in the wrong.

kona_matt

anton1r

Yeah, your answers are about right i suppose but personally i still book as early as poss. but i see what you're saying about choosing a location that has the snow.

kona_matt

anton1r

oh, and hate to be the bearer of bad news but as a 30 year old 26 might just be past your prime

bobpzero

http://www.bargainboards.co.uk/productlist.aspx?AddItem=12843&SubCat=27

another link to add to the collection. no im not buying

ddraver

It was only a joke! I did a Season and my riding buddy was a snowboarder (god I want some of those Armada skis though). I also tried boarding for 2 hours but I have no balance whatsoever, particularly in that sort of direction (I'm useless at skateboarding/wakeboarding/surfing for the same reasons)

What I particuarly like about Backcountry skiing is that it allows you to get so much further when you start using skins and such!

Anotehr talking point - I wonder how lucky I am starting when I was 4 though, as the new technology (stolen from snowboarders) has made learning much easier IMO. However, on the other hand my middle class, ESF upbringing measn i know how to race, ski bumps, powder, ice and any other type of snow/terrain that my other friends with a more rapid learning curve can't......

oh and we ve booked our week in St Anton after xmas already!

Stevo_666

psymon wrote:

horrible customers.

Hang on a sec, that's us now...

Fancy going back to Tignes/Val D'Isere this season, haven't been for a few years and bl00dy great skiing and decent nightlife (on the Val side anyway) 8)

@ DDRaver - IMO St. Anton has the best apres ski going that I've come across, never used to miss a mornings skiing due to pi$$ing it up the night before - until I went to St. Anton.

ddraver

Yeah I ve been there a few times now, We re finally getting the whole family together there this time now

Just to totally hijack poor MissBint's thread - what is the style in trousers/sallopettes now - the big thick duvet seems to have gone out of fashion for thinner fabrics but i can't find any anywhere to check out....?

supersonic

I thought MTBing was expensive, but 350 quid for a a couple of pieces of laminated wood?! Murder ;-)

paul.skibum

I am a ski instructor. I am just about to do my 7th season. I am 39 and I will be sharing with 2 early 20's. You are only as tired as th enext man as unfit as you and I pride myself in going into m seasons fitter than the previous one. 2011 is going to rock - the canadian winte ris predicted to be cold and snowy and the Okanagan is going to be the centre of it. Champagne Powder up to my chin strap.

Kokanee is alright, I prefer Okanagan Spring.

anton1r

supersonic wrote:

I thought MTBing was expensive, but 350 quid for a a couple of pieces of laminated wood?! Murder ;-)

and £350 is quite reasonable too, plus you need bindings and boots!

I think its easier to go from Snowboarding to Skiing than vice versa. Especially as with snowboarding you really need to be able to spend a day or two on your ass which isn't always feasible when your only in the snow for a week (or two) a year.

@paul.skibum Lucky boy. Good for you for my man.

@ddraver Aye when in whistler one of the lads I was friends with had a nice pair of Armada's I have to say those ski's made me realise there was more to skiing than one pieces and perfectly carved turns down the piste!

Jeeesus I'm getting excitied already.

<homer simpson> Hmm... Pooowwwderrrrrr </homer simpson>

kona_matt

anton1r wrote:

supersonic wrote:

I thought MTBing was expensive, but 350 quid for a a couple of pieces of laminated wood?! Murder ;-)

and £350 is quite reasonable too, plus you need bindings and boots!

indeed, you could go for this at nearly £1300 :shock: http://www.weloveburtonsnowboards.com/p ... N-A&ref=gs

anton1r

Since matt's uber expensive board has almost killed the thread. Time to ask another question...

Who rides/ski's throughout the year in domes or on dryslopes or are we all 1 week in the alps kinds of people?

kona_matt

anton1r wrote:

Who rides/ski's throughout the year in domes or on dryslopes or are we all 1 week in the alps kinds of people?

nah, been to milton keynes once and what a waste of petrol that was. always said i would go back on a freestyle night but never have. too far for an evening.