Snowboarding

[Brad]

Booked up for Ischgl in Feb and this time I already have all my equipment, which is good because Ischgl looks expensive. And epic. has its own Pasha nightclub apparently.

[charlesr]

I tried partying hard on my first snowboarding holiday. Never again. Ok if you are there for a couple of weeks or more and need a rest day, but the slope time is all important. Hangovers and late nights eat into that.

I'm off to Les Menuires: http://www.skifamille.co.uk/resorts/...y_village.html

[Brad]

Never been boarding in France. One day maybe but I just love Austria.

I don't get hangovers when I'm up the mountains so partying every night doesn't really impact my slope time. Lack of fitness on the other hand...

[charlesr]

You are doing it wrong (the partying).

Try Andorra one year. That'll show you who's boss (very cheap alcohol = hangover)

[charlesr]

Presume from your Austria phone thing, you are off soon Brad

I'm going to France again, but moving from Les Gets to Les Menuires (Reberty village) in this chalet on the piste:



Went to the ski shop at the weekend and got new helmets for the kids and snowboots (they keep growing...) and Lucy got some cool snowboots with retractable spikes. Realised I didn't have anything for me, so grabbed a Dakine ratchet bindings tool - last time, one of my bindings almost detached when the bolts came loose which made getting down the mountain to the shop rather "interesting" - telemark snowboard style

[capcom_suicide]

Presume from your Austria phone thing, you are off soon Brad

I'm going to France again, but moving from Les Gets to Les Menuires (Reberty village) in this chalet on the piste:

Went to the ski shop at the weekend and got new helmets for the kids and snowboots (they keep growing...) and Lucy got some cool snowboots with retractable spikes. Realised I didn't have anything for me, so grabbed a Dakine ratchet bindings tool - last time, one of my bindings almost detached when the bolts came loose which made getting down the mountain to the shop rather "interesting" - telemark snowboard style

Looks lovely! I miss skiing in the Alpes, but when the kids are older we will do it again. One of the nice things the schools do here is "Ski swap" days, where all the parents bring skis and boots to swap sizes. Even regular skiers maybe only do 3 weeks skiing a year, so the gear is like new. Nice to swap

[Brad]

Yep, off to Ischgl in Feb.

[doodledude]

Yep, off to Ischgl in Feb.

Me and my mate are going to Saalbach 2nd week of Feb.

Looked at St Anton & Ischgl but decided that the wider blue runs of Saalbach suited our current skill better and allow us to practice our turns.

We did Whistler last year so this will be a bit different I imagine, but looking forward the trip and the Austrian atmosphere compared to previous French trips.

[Brad]

You'll be converted mate! Austria rules!

[QualityChimp]

You'll be converted mate! Austria rules!

Austria?

[ETC]

Where would be a good place for a complete novice, well first timer I'm thinking about a birthday surprise for the missus any advice?

[QualityChimp]

Do you mean you want to take her away somewhere as a birthday surprise for a few days?

The Alps still has some snow as it's high up, so maybe one of those regions.

Maybe, as an alternative suggestion, you take her away for a weekend in the UK for a long weekend near an indoor ski slope where you can learn the basics and if you enjoy it, plan on going away next year?

I learned to snowboard at the Tamworth Snowdome before going to Austria and really appreciated having the headstart of getting my balance first.

Just a thought!

[ETC]

Do you mean you want to take her away somewhere as a birthday surprise for a few days?

The Alps still has some snow as it's high up, so maybe one of those regions.

Maybe, as an alternative suggestion, you take her away for a weekend in the UK for a long weekend near an indoor ski slope where you can learn the basics and if you enjoy it, plan on going away next year?

I learned to snowboard at the Tamworth Snowdome before going to Austria and really appreciated having the headstart of getting my balance first.

Just a thought!

Oh yeah snow! Forgot kind of need that in a resort. Think I will book a weekend near one in the UK and go next year. Good idea cheers chimpy oh can I rent everything to start with?

[charlesr]

It's best to rent board/ski, boots and bindings to start with till you know what you want. If going to a resort, personally, I'd buy a helmet of my own so it fits properly and you know it hasn't been bashed (internal damage doesn't always show on the outside shell). If an indoor place, they will have a helmet you can use for a couple of hours. If going to a resort and money is tight, ebay will have 2nd hand clothing. If just going to an indoor place, then anything will do - but remember... it's snow and it's cold. If boarding, you will be sitting on your bum a lot while learning.

also, if boarding, the further forwards you lean, the easier it is to turn, even if leaning down the hill feels scary... if you lean back, you will have a miserable time (falling over / not turning). You can turn with your hands clamped to your sides. If you are flinging your arms around, you are doing it wrong. To turn, twist the board by pushing toes down on one foot and pulling toes up on the other. Then once you have an edge, you'll move to pushing or pull the toes on both feet. If any instructor says "to turn, you just look where you want to go and lean" then get a different instructor.

[QualityChimp]

Usually these places include the cost of hiring boots/boards/skis in the fee. You just have to rock up with some suitable clothing. A waterproof jacket is great, but you might want some waterproof trousers. You really don't need top-of-the-line salopettes as you might decide that you hate it and would rather go away somewhere warm!

Millets or Go Outdoors etc have pairs for about a tenner. It'll save you having a soggy rump after falling over for two hours...

EDIT: both myself and Michael Schumacher agree with Charles about getting a helmet. My cousin hit his head on one of these indoor slopes and lost his sense of smell!

http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2014/jan/06/should-i-wear-a-helmet-ski-slopes