Skiing

If you're an experience skier, then translating to a snowboard isn't a daunting task, in fact I'd estimate 3 days before you can able to ride on the red run (with basic technique thought), you'll love being able to walk comfortably and carry the ski despite it's slow speed on the straight.

Snowboarding required a bit more care on balancing, which made thing worst for me as I don't have any kind of balance being deaf, but having the knowledge of skiing, it does make it easier.

this is what I figure out;

Snowboarding - BMX

Skiing - track bike (no brake, need to skid to come to a full stop etc.)

Val Thorens is a pretty crap resort.

The resort isn't that great, but the piste and the sheer size of the 3 valleys make up for that.

(the small valley behind Rosael where the new ski lift was build).

Right ed, thats total crap:

1. A good skier can snowboard down a red run after approximately 1hr. I've seen it plenty of times with friends on our ski team. if you can carve, you can snowboard- same principles.

2. Snowboards are slower than skis, in the top level of competition maybe, but the fact of the matter is for most people a snowboarder and a skier of the same ability will be the same speed.

3. Ski boots are NOT uncomfortable. Trust me on that one. If i can abseil, climb and rescue people in mine, day in day out, they ain't uncomfy. Get ones that fit, and you won't even notice they are on. Snowboard boots are stupid- I learnt to snowboard before I became a skier, with hard fucking boots, way back in the day when I was 7, in 1995.

4.Snowboarding in no way = BMX, neither is skiing a track bike.
IF you're one of those idiot piste racers- who zooms around like a cunt on the (open piste- i don't mind actual racers) piste, then maybe. and if you're a park rat snowboarder then maybe.

UNSURPRISINGLY- nowadays- the definitions of both are blurred.

One thing that is clear is that skiing is more like XC mountain biking, ifyou want to make a comparison- you can more easily trek up a mountain on skis than on a board, and then ski the fuck down it with mad steeez!
I'm not really sure where snowboarding fits in anymore.

1. Val T' is fucking awesome as a resort, plus as you mentioned the sheer skiiable area is fucking epic- if there's decent snow, you simply cannot get bored. thats why a trip for 2000+ skiers chooses it so much.
   

You misquoted me a little there Ed, I did say the ski area is massive. Perhapse what I should have said is "despite the village itself not having as much character as other resorts, the skiing is still awesome and I would go back". Indeed, I am going back, as previously mentioned.

I take all the points about there being some crossover with skiing, and maybe I will get the opportunity to have a go sometime soon. I am going with some boarders so could always swap skis for a board for an afternoon ... we'll see.

You love skiing don't you soperRiva?

all things snow based my friend, all things snow based.
I just don't think you can classify the two snowsports in such narrow catagories.

I think of it as cycling that I rarely get to do. I fucking love cycling, but I do do it everyday so take things for granted. Skiing i miss everyday.

I used to love snowboarding until it destroyed my knee...

Right ed, thats total crap:

1. A good skier can snowboard down a red run after approximately 1hr. I've seen it plenty of times with friends on our ski team. if you can carve, you can snowboard- same principles.
   
   

Being on a ski trip with 23 deaf people probably lengthened that to a couple days learning, so that was my only experience really.

1. Ski boots are NOT uncomfortable. Trust me on that one. If i can abseil, climb and rescue people in mine, day in day out, they ain't uncomfy. Get ones that fit, and you won't even notice they are on. Snowboard boots are stupid- I learnt to snowboard before I became a skier, with hard fucking boots, way back in the day when I was 7, in 1995.
   
   

That wasn't what I meant thought, snowboard boots being comfortable for general walking around town as well as going down the piste.

1. Val T' is fucking awesome as a resort, plus as you mentioned the sheer skiiable area is fucking epic- if there's decent snow, you simply cannot get bored. thats why a trip for 2000+ skiers chooses it so much.
   
   

I'm talking about the **resort **itself, not the piste, I'm talking about what the town offer.

You misquoted me a little there Ed, I did say the ski area is massive. Perhapse what I should have said is "despite the village itself not having as much character as other resorts, the skiing is still awesome and I would go back". Indeed, I am going back, as previously mentioned.

oh I was agreeing with you mate, sorry about that.

ha, ha... we all get crossed wires from time to time.
If you're still out there Ed - what are the conditions like in the three vallees? I've got a trip planned for Feb - but the guys i worked for a while back have offered me a cheap rate for the New Year....

I just got back from the 3 vallees, and it just started to snow heavily, end up having to plow the road ourselves so the coach can move.

plentiful of snow, especially in Val Thorens.

Cheers mate. How were the temperatures?

forum ski trip?

Snow chains on track bikes...... oh yes, especially after a few pints of Mutzig.

oh I was agreeing with you mate, sorry about that.

Ah sorry, no worries, how was your trip? I saw the weather last week had been -15 in Val Thorens!!
I cant wait 'til I finish work for xmas, then it's only 4 more work days til I head out there. Looking forward to it all apart from the coach trip at either end :(

Mutzig - drink of the gods. The very, very drunk Gods.

Brilliant fun, althought it hasn't snowed for a short while and certain part of the piste were getting very icy, really fucking annoying to have skier/snowboarder crashing in from behind me because they didn't realise the snow was thin and skiddy near the bottom.

it's the coldest I've been to, surprisingly the Swrve jacket held up well.

before you go there, get some good insulation for your hand (to put on under glove), it'll make a difference on the chair lift, believe me.

That does sound annoying. Although if you hit a patch of ice when you're not expecting it, you can lose it very easily.
I've only gone into someone from behind once; I was going too fast over a bump in the piste, they were stood just after it so couldn't be seen until it was too late to do anything other than slam on the brakes. Still wiped him out. Apologised lots and haven't done anything that silly since.
Although it did serve well to illustrate the rule of "stand where you can be seen" to the kids I was with.

Yeah, good gloves are the one item I lack. I normally get away with some thin gloves that people doing work in walk-in freezers wear, then sealskinz, then some cheap ski gloves. I think this year I will layer up properly so the rest of me is warm enough to compensate for colder hands. I normally just go with a long sleeve t-shirt and ski jacket and end up too hot, but if its still as cold as it has been I think i'll need more layers!

yeah, I don't mind them standing there, if there's a slope that you can't see beyond, it's always safe to approach it with caution, especially if there's a group of skier learning down there!

forum ski trip?

YES. I am serious. I also quite like lists:

People who would be interested in an LFGSS ski/snowboard trip:

1. soperRiva
   
2. Buddha Fingaz
   

YES. I am serious. I also quite like lists:

People who would be interested in an LFGSS ski/snowboard trip:

1. soperRiva
   
2. Buddha Fingaz
   

fuck it lets just go on the college ski trip.
I'm sure they have old members prices.
or VT next year. so cheap. and i know the guy who runs it.

Yeah, good gloves are the one item I lack.** I normally get away with some thin gloves that people doing work in walk-in freezers wear,** then sealskinz, then some cheap ski gloves. I think this year I will layer up properly so the rest of me is warm enough to compensate for colder hands. I normally just go with a long sleeve t-shirt and ski jacket and end up too hot, but if its still as cold as it has been I think i'll need more layers!

Thats awesome! and worrying.

Has anyone seen the trailer for that new ski movie where they get stuck on the ski lift ?

fuck it lets just go on the college ski trip.
I'm sure they have old members prices.
or VT next year. so cheap. and i know the guy who runs it.

College ski trip? Send me details!

Thats awesome! and worrying.

I should point out that I have the gloves layered, so I wear 3 pairs in total. Original post was not too clear. Hands still get cold :(
Off to Val Thorens on Friday, can't wait! Although it doesn't look too warm, -25 with wind chill on Sunday!

YES. I am serious. I also quite like lists:

People who would be interested in an LFGSS ski/snowboard trip:

1. soperRiva
   
2. Buddha Fingaz
   
3. edscoble
   

Just got back from a week in the Gastein valley of the Amade region of Austria. An utter gem of a place and well worth the visit. Much quieter than France and no schools of kids pushing and shoving in the queues. Well worth checking out.

Much quieter than France and no schools of kids pushing and shoving in the queues.

why were you skiing the green line for the duration of your stay?

Just got back from a week in the Gastein valley of the Amade region of Austria. An utter gem of a place and well worth the visit. Much quieter than France and no schools of kids pushing and shoving in the queues. Well worth checking out.

What were the prices like? I'm really struggling to find a good deal this season. Tempted to head back to Espace Killy same as last.