Snowboarding

A transfer driver in front of us, think everyone survived.

Question: do mountain guides typically not take groups out if the avalanche risk is high? Courchevel is currently at 4 and ESF would not let us book a guide for Wednesday. I assumed a guide would work around avalanche risk by knowing which slopes in their area are safe in different conditions. Thinking about it though, I don't think I've ever actually gone out with a guide when the risk is more than 3.

Did they give Avalanche risk as the reason for not taking a booking?

Even if the risk is 4/5 they should be able to find somewhere relatively safe to take you. I know France is different but I've been taken out by guides in whistler when the risk was pretty high.

They just tend to take you somewhere in the trees or somewhere else safe.

Yep, the woman on the desk said they would only be able to take us on runs between the pistes because of the avalanche risk. I wonder if there was a language gap somewhere, like she thought we wanted powder lessons on something. But she also said there had been 3 avalanches in Courchevel today so maybe although the official risk is 4, the guides feel it's unusual conditions or something. I might try a couple of the other companies and see if they all say the same thing.

Really though, you'd be best not to risk anything if the guides are being ultra cautious.

Maybe they are saying it's not worth having a guide if you're just on the pistes anyway?

The guides now are heavily liable for their clients actions. So I suspect if there's good evidence it will be slippy, they'll probably not take people out.
And like TRA says, I wouldn't be risking it.

The risk is up to 4/5 today so I think the guides were thinking yesterday's 4 was going to get worse not better. On piste day today.

I was a lifty in Vail - best way to do a season, no doubt (I have also worked in an office and chalet hosted) Get fresh tracks every single day plus you rotate on the lifts so get runs in. Outside all day and you get a couple of days off a week. Pay was decent too.

First ever trip was to Tignes early January and we just booked a 2nd (cheap) trip to Isola 2000 for March. So stoked, will be going from a shitty hire board to all my own kit.

Woop, just arrived in les arc, nice and sunny greeting.

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Enjoy.

After my gf and I had to cancel our Japan trip (bought a flat!), we've jumped on a trip to Engelberg in Switzerland with some friends next month. Still only my second time, but hoping to get some lessons in and see how much more I can learn in 4 days. I was on blues after 1 day last time, but don't want to expect too much of myself!

Can anyone help with buying a jacket?

Last year I wore a very old Etnies down puffer jacket I had in the cupboard. Being 9 years old it wasn't really waterproof any more, and it was way too hot! I wore it with a base layer and I was sweltering all the time, the jacket stunk from the amount of sweating I did. To give you an idea, since the new year I've only worn bibs and a long sleeve jersey while riding my bike, I get very hot when doing exercise.

So I was thinking a padded/insulated jacket isn't for me, and I also need a decent Goretex(or similar) waterproof jacket for bopping around town or going for walks in the countryside. Does it sound crazy to just buy a hard shell to keep the wet out and layer up appropriately underneath? Are there snow specific hard shells? Can anyone recommend anything?

I also sweat like a bitch.

I wear a Burton AK 2L jacket which is basically just a Goretex hard shell jacket, no padding whatsoever.

On a 'warm' day in March I will just wear a short sleeved cotton t-shirt under it and have the vents open. Occasionally cold on lifts, but generally fine.

On cold days I wear the same but with an icebreaker merino (200) longsleeve base layer and sometimes get a bit warm with that.

It is a really good jacket and worth the cash I think. They don't do my colour way any more (2012 I think).

Norrona LOFOTEN.
Literally incredible.
Get a merino hoody for under it/ uniqlo down jacket/ whatever.
Worth every penny, especially how often I wear it for other things.

.

I also haz Goretex just a shell and no padding. Invest in Goretex, it's great.
Typically I am, long base, tshirt, light mid and shell.
Warm day is a base and shell.

A good mid-layer is a consideration also, I've got a good full zip sports merino thingy from Kathmandu from a decade ago which I love. It can go on and off.

Also once you get better, you work less and probably sweat less.
If I get cold at the top, motivates me to get down faster!

Site which can't be named are doing Goretex mens jackets for about £180, so see if you can beat that.

Got the same problem here.

I often don't bother wearing a jacket if it's above about -5 and I'm not planning on going far.
Other times I'll wear a non tech T shirt and a jacket and throw a hoodie on if it get's real cold.

I very rarely have to wear thermals.

http://www.myairblaster.com/collections/mens-jackets/products/grumpy-jacket?c=Dinoflage#.VOtRB1OsUhI

It's not too thick and pretty waterproof but also has massive vents under the arms that you can open up.

Freedom suit looks epic.

Thanks for the tips, @smiff @mands @eyebrows @IR

Heading to Jasna Slovakia in 2 weeks:
http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=677_1424561966

Can't wait #FullyInsured

Read a nice little article just now.

http://mpora.com/articles/longform/scott-stevens-interview#yijcMW0SxbIOMwsg.97

Pining for snow already.

Hey NH...Engelberg is a proper destination but its a massive free ride resort - few pistes...what there is is narrow and pretty limited. However, its the perfect place to experience off-piste if the snow is right - you don't need to look hard to find it. So if the snow is good, you'll have a really progressive trip, which is what its all about. Its very big with the free ride ski crowd - especially the scandi's. This place is pretty good for a drink and for chatting to locals/seasonaires about the mountain http://skilodgeengelberg.com/en/

If you head up to the left side - Brunni - after the gondola there's a really nice chair to lap. Excellent when the snow comes in - only 1800ish so good tree cover and tree runs to be found around the back, but also a mellow relaxed ride as the rest of the hill on the right can be quite gnarly. That said you have to go up to the top (3000m+). Its got the world's only revolving cable car which takes you right over an incredible glacier which you then get to ride back down over. If poss I'd definitely get some more indoor time under your belt before you go...real snow will feel like sex from the moment you put your board down and it'll really increase your confidence.

Some pics...typical terrain. My missus after her first ever hike for fresh tracks. You gotta love walking up hills!

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Mega info! Thanks :-) the friends we're going with went there a month ago and said the snow was so deep!

This is their video from there:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fGRBddjtWRw&feature=youtu.be

Funny! I think their first line is round the back of Brunni where you actually come left off the chair vs right onto the piste. I think they've had an incredible year there so far.

Another thing on this sweating business...a down jacket is fine, but if you're still more of a beginner snowboarding is going to be much more effort whatever you're wearing. As you get better you spend so much less time pushing yourself back up again and your technique becomes more natural with less energy wasted...plus you're more relaxed. When you're learning, you sweat a lot if you're trying, regardless of what your wearing. I sweat a lot, but I love a down jacket - good airbag if things go a bit pear shaped. Get a waterproof jacket with good vents...a couple of layers underneath...maybe pack an extra one if you can be bothered to take a backpack - i don't if i can help it as its annoying and messes with your centre of gravity...when you're learning and improving i think it helps not to be distracted with things like backpacks.

Riding off piste like your buddies is going to fuck you up if you've not done it much before. Once you get it, its bliss, but pushing yourself up in waist deep powder time and time again and digging yourself out when you get stuck on a flat section - which will happen a million times - will destroy you physically and make your previous sweating look like nothing. So be prepared for that...best thing you can do is get your weight on your back leg, point the board forwards and keep your speed.

Wet gear really sucks...I have a down jacket, a regular waterproof and a goretex - I think you need all three, but a goretex will do everything. See if you can pick up something from previous seasons...annoyingly the burton 3L stuff is really good. You will need it if you're gonna try to repeat what your crew have been up to!

Well-jel - not sure when I'm gonna get out. Last season was the first in 15 years i didn't ride. Still time to put that right this year.

T minus 3 days...first time since 2012.

Hope knee holds out...