Skiing

Still using skins rather than crampons? Looks easier than a Sauna ;-)

I have never been on a snow board, but a question based on observations made over the past two weeks (including a chap on a snowboard wiping my girlfriend out by running straight into her from behind) - is the rider in control as the word is commonly understood, or are they providing very approximate suggestions to the board as to where it might want to go next?

Depends on how good they are, as with skiing. I guess a beginner boarder might be slightly less in control than an equivalent skier in some circumstances, but not much in it I would say. Conditions also factor in - on ice skiers prob have a bit more control (at the equivalent skill level), in powder boarders will be a bit better IMO - on a bashed piste, pretty much the same.

On my best day I'm completely mediocre skiing and a bit worse boarding. Entirely on piste, never look graceful at any time. I will immediately defer to anyone that knows what they're talking about...

That said, as a complete punter, boarding feels like you're roughly as in control as you are skiing. Can get away with a bit more in some places (can be easier to get around on pistes that you might struggle with if it's icy on skis - albeit by scraping the snow off and pissing off skiers), and less in others - the random edges you suddenly find that land you on your arse come with less warning than skiing.

I found it different, but not necessarily more or less in control.

This could all be overcome if I knew what I was doing

Still using skins rather than crampons? Looks easier than a Sauna ;-)

I've never had the confidence to ski up or down it before. Skis or snowshoes left before the bergshrund and two axes and crampons on the way up. At laest the bergshrund should be full!

Here's a photo I took of the route (red line) in Summer 2020 (a couple of days after a 1ft summer dump).

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Looks awesome!

on ice skiers prob have a bit more control (at the equivalent skill level), in powder boarders will be a bit better IMO - on a bashed piste, pretty much the same.

This. Snowboarders might find it harder to stop as quickly as a decent skier on hardpark at the same speed but in general, intermediot skiers seem to go much faster.

Yeah - even after quite a few years boarding I still get the fear at high speeds (a couple of fractures and a concussion probably haven't helped). I go much faster on skis, have more of a laugh on a board.

As a snowboarder whose never skied I couldn't make a direct comparison but I think it's more a case of competency rather than the sport itself being less in control. If I want to head to a certain point of the slope or avoid people around me I can do that happily and if I need to stop for any reason, making a decision where to go at a split/an issue down the slope/end of the piste/immediate issue in front of me, I can resonably do that too without taking anybody out. You do definitely see snowboarders wiping out and taking others with them but I'd think they were not hugely confident/skilled personally with control yet, much like the beginner skiers who end up coming into the lift areas a bit too hot and such. On ice though it's a whole other game, can still control things but for me at least I just have to take it agonisingly slowly and the shins and calfs start to burn from the effort of not losing it so most fun is removed from the activity.

You can easily be as in control as when you're on skis. And realistically pose an equal risk to others on the hill.

The issue in my experience is as already mentioned - a lot of folk over estimate their ability (on both types), a lot of folk are not familiar with the other sport (your movement about the mountain is very different on skis to a snowboard) and the snow conditions: if it's ice and you're on a board you need to rethink life a little.

I've probably been taken out by even numbers of both clans, but have a definite bias against whatever the opposite is to what I'm on that day. And I'm sure we can all agree Big Foots and Ski Bikes are the real problem ;)

Have we done people shoeing or skinning up the sides of the piste yet?

Because I'm that guy. Although only when there is no safe alternative to be fair.

Do you still need a transceiver? I have one you can borrow if you can pick up in London

Do you still need a transceiver?

Thanks very much for the offer, I appreciate it. I ended up renting a couple. Mildy annoying but managed to get a much cheaper deal in UK than doing it in Austria.

Off to Lech tomorrow. Seems they're having a big dump of snow (and more tomorrow and Friday night) but looks good the rest of the time. Perfect for me as I'll be just doing piste skiing.

Neither liver nor legs are prepared though.

New boots too.

Old and new.

Old ones were just a tad worn...

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These are 120 stiffness boots. Going to be interesting!

I have 120’s. 82kgs expert (whatever that means). I find them a little sloppy at times. I spend most of the week cranking them up. Not all 120’s are the same.

They look familiar.

I should be 72kg but I'm 98kg, so I think I'll need the extra stiffness for now.

(Probably a total of ~40 weeks of skiing so not a beginner, but far from "expert". Also getting old so lost most of my bottle.)

These days are long gone (pretty sure that was on "145" which is the blue run next to the Muggenrat lift in Zurs, first thing in the morning, no-one else around, perfect corduroy, 12 years ago - hmm, can't be first thing with 3h42 and 58.6km on the clock already):-

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Those that are looking for cheap ski gear check out Decathlon as they are selling second hand boots and skis at good prices. The couple of decathlons I have wander in to seem to have boots a couple of years old but have not had much use or abuse. Cheaper than hire stuff and less smelly ;)

The last skis I hired were ~£2k in the shop (admittedly peak season mountain prices).

For one or two weeks a year buying your own skis makes no sense at all once you factor in servicing, excess baggage fees, etc. It's different if you do a season, but even then the hire shops have great deals for season long rentals (and you can often swap them around).

Boots make complete sense though. My second ever pair will probably see me through to the end of my skiing days.

boots... I guess it depends how much you ski. I wore a pair a bit too long, and they actually sheered mid turn at the ankle. Top separated from the bottom. Been skiing a long time so wasn't a problem but yeah do keep checking them and don't assume they will last forever!

My rule of thumb is new boots roughly every 90->120 days of skiing new boot time. For me that's normally every 3 years (but not recently due to covid)

My rule of thumb is new boots roughly every 90->120 days of skiing new boot time. For me that's normally every 3 years (but not recently due to covid)

Golf bat thread ;)

Does the boot tech change that much?

nope but the plastic gets worn out (and the insides). Esp if you don't keep them right (like buckled up and so on). Constant pressure from skiing but also hot/cold transfers weakens the outer shell after a while