Skiing

I figured this might be the best thread... planning a road trip down to Italy in September. Looking for somewhere to stop around Geneva/Bern. Any recommendations, currently looking at Glacier 3000. Somewhere for nice walks with dog.

I love that part of the world. I have a friend who lives in Aigle. Like most of the Alps, loads of good options for walking with signed itineraries all over the place

Hiking thread?
https://www.lfgss.com/conversations/266936/?offset=1675#comment16940212

Hiking thread?
https://www.lfgss.com/conversations/2669­36/?offset=1675#comment16940212

Blame my end of week brain, of course there is a hiking thread... cheers!

https://nationalsnowweek.com/london

This should be good

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Looking for a new touring set up for alpine trips. I have a pair of K2 Wayback 106s which I used for a winter season in Squamish/Whistler/Sea to Sky, which is known for deep pow… https://www.outdoorgearlab.com/reviews/snow-sports/backcountry-skis/k2-wayback-106

They were my first pair of touring skis, and despite 50 days on them, I found them hard to ski - maybe they were too light and too long for a first backcountry pair (172cm, also my height), hard to ski in trees. Ultimately, I felt like I they required a more aggressive skier to not get bounced around. They are designed for powder and recommended mounting was quite far back (guess that’s why they’re “Wayback”), so I had to fight hard not to end up in the backseat. In contrast, I have a pair of Black Crow Deamons for resort/slackcountry - they’re so heavy, but an absolute joy to ski and make skiing through chunder fun... Obvs I don’t want to tour in anything quite as heavy, but I want to enjoy my now 1 week of skiing per year (now that I’m back in the UK).. so:

• recommended skis for touring trips to the Alps? What kind of width is best?
  
• Where’s a good place to look for second hand, other than Facebook/eBay
  
• recommendations for a good place to get bindings removed>mounted?
  
• Do I just preserve with the K2s?
  
  

Thanks

Interesting that you felt you were forced backseat on the K2s. I normally find a rearwards mounting point gives me more tip to drive so I can actually push forwards more. Particularly with a ski like the Wayback which is quite soft, I would imagine most people would have more of an issue with looping out rather than being backseat.
I think something in the 95-98mm waist width is good for the majority of European winter touring.
If you struggle in tight turns in trees, I would suggest trying something with a little more tail rocker, maybe the Elan Ripstick tour?

106 is big. Way more than needed for all big biggest of POW days.
95 would be good compromise. I run 80 but I'm in pyrenees. 85 would be fine too really.

Id like to get some Movement Alp tracks 95. Atomic backland would be good start. I have some dynafit blacklights and they're nice. Backland UL 85 are 600eur new, not bad.

Normally at this time of year I'd be planning on going to the Alps, but now the nearest skiing is probably Japan.

If I read the various guides (many if not all of which may have been sponsored, so I'm a bit cautious) Niseko looks to be the place to go - but very keen to hear from people with experience as to whether this is the right thing to do?

I've been.

It's a very cool place.

But. I went in the one winter week in the past ten years that didn't have any fresh snow. Insane bad luck.

If you dodge that, the snow is supposed to be out of this world, although if you only like blue bird skies you may find it challenging.

It's not massive like the Alps, but certainly big enough for a week.

Given that it's you, I'd recommend the Hilton.

I admit, I'm tempted to head to the Alps - I know the area, my appalling French is better than my total lack of Japanese, and Air Singapore will fly me to Geneva for less than they'll fly me to Sapporo.

I find Japan a much more interesting place for skiing than the alps - culturally it's just so different and the terrain is very varied (lots of trees!). Plus you have the Onsen, and there's still mtbing in winter at lower altitudes (it is dry compared to other seasons).

I did three days on one small resort and had the best snow I've ever experienced even though it only snowed one day.

I flew to Tokyo and we drove up to Nagano. Even with the drive, your travel time will be far less than getting to Europe - and once there it is far cheaper. I'm jealous you're in Singapore, I'd be off to Japan for skiing and mountain biking as frequently as my bank account would allow it!

No need to worry about not speaking Japanese, it is rarely an issue and the locals are very nice about it.

Ok, so tentatively:

Fly to Sapporo
Train to Niseko
Stay in the Hilton to make Matt happy
Profit?

I went once a decade ago, stayed at Annapuri. It's fantastic, onsens are dope and the powder was insane. The hills aren't particularly large or steep but crazy fun. Have a day over at Moiwa if the snow is good. Niseko is full of Australians, but a colleague of mine went to another resort on Hokkaido (maybe Furano?) and he said the Chinese on mass make Australians seem well mannered.
My partner's brother is a ski instructor and does half the year in Hakuba, likes it much better than Hokkaido as it's less touristy and more interesting terrain, but the snow isn't as good.

Thanks- that’s all very interesting. I’m intending on doing a lot of exploring next year but I’m prioritising “simple/straightforward” for first visits.

Yeah then leg it to Niseko, grab some gear from the many Australian run ski shops and go for it. It's really easy.

Niseko is very expensive, at least for what I'm used to paying.

Those new candide skis look like a lot of fun.

They are just the same old Candide models that Faction dropped a while ago! But I agree, they will be fun. Might have to buy a pair to replace my old 2.0s when they finally give up.

Furano over Niseko any day. It’s also considerably more affordable than Niseko which is going to be slammed with Aussies and Kiwis round this time of year. Easy access to Asahidake or Tokichidake for excellent backcountry fun.

Does anyone have recommendations for ski insurance?

What particular aspects?

We have Winter Sports cover as part of our bank account (Lloyds Premier). Never bothered with anything more than that.

Insure and go if it's basic.
Dogtag if it's not.
Or ETA maybe suitable.

MPI brokers and Ski club of GB good for cover for backcountry without a guide

I got some big burly black crows atris in 189 2 season ago, only had a couple of weeks plus a day at glencoe on them, so no new skis for me for the next wee while (unless I get a lighter pair for touring).

Quite like to occasionally hiring a different pair for a day when I'm out though, just to see how other planks feel/ski.