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J2Ski Forum Posts and Replies by Neiltoo

Messages posted by : Neiltoo

Last blast for 2009!
Started by User in Switzerland, 50 Replies
LOTA wrote:
but I've been to Tignes a couple of times, not one of my favourites,!

Each to their own :mrgreen:

LOTA wrote:
and I'm feeling very anti-French resorts for a number of reasons.

I can relate to that )

LOTA wrote:
Tignes is also more difficult to get to, compared with cheap flight to Zurich and straight on the the railway!


No argument there, but I'm still going :mrgreen:
Last blast for 2009!
Started by User in Switzerland, 50 Replies
I'm not knocking Engelberg (I've never been there) but I'm heading back to Tignes after Easter, about the 16th for a week or so.
Its a long time till next winter! )
Shane McConkey, 1969-2009
Started by User in Ski Chatter, 17 Replies
Very sad. R.I.P.
Spring avalanche risk
Started by User in Avalanche Safety, 5 Replies
karen.488 wrote:I have V. little understanding of avalanche risk whatsoever. I ski verbier. We've had plenty of fresh snow. I hear terms like poorly bonded etc. Can anyone tell me in general terms what the avalanche risk is on itinery runs. i.e. chassoure, gentianes and valon d'arby, particularly in spring. I don't have any avalanche equipment and avoid vallon d'arby because I've heard it's unsafe. I know the risk varies from day to day but does anyone know specifically know about these runs?


As already said avalanche risk is dependant on conditions so the season is not really a factor. I suppose you could say that on average its warmer in April than in January, but if you are out on the day in April when its -18 and windy then averages wont keep you warm )

Its many years since I spent much time in Verbier but I tend to think of Vallon d'Arby as being 'different' from gentianes and chassoure. Col de Chassoure to Tortin, whilst an itinerary, usually has the appearance of a piste. When open, it is always busy and the snow is quickly compacted. Most of the exposure to avalanche is on the top section, either from the slope you are on or from the few couloirs above on Mont Gele.

Vallon d'Arby on the other hand is much more remote. Once into the valley you will be on or under a lee slope at sometime (regardless of where the wind has been coming from) and you can be exposed until you get to Tzoumaz

Its a fairly steep sided valley which has claimed the lives of many over the years, quite a few tourers have been caught on the valley floor while skinning up.

Surely you can find some people to go out with in Verbier who can tell you a bit about snow conditions etc?

There are many books available and courses to go on.

Some good info here: http://www.henrysavalanchetalk.com/
BASI LEVEL 1
Started by User in Ski Technique, 48 Replies
Ian Wickham wrote:
Neiltoo wrote:
rossyhead wrote:
Neiltoo wrote:"Foragonal"
Could it be that its a corruption of 'forward' and 'diagonal'


wow you ARE a clever boy :D


Clever? don't think so, but I obviously need to work on my irony.


I don't do any ironing, the housekeeper does that :shock:


Credit Crunch -- I've had to make a few compromises :mrgreen:
BASI LEVEL 1
Started by User in Ski Technique, 48 Replies
rossyhead wrote:
Neiltoo wrote:"Foragonal"
Could it be that its a corruption of 'forward' and 'diagonal'


wow you ARE a clever boy :D


Clever? don't think so, but I obviously need to work on my irony.
BASI LEVEL 1
Started by User in Ski Technique, 48 Replies
"Foragonal" Thats a new one to me. Does anyone know the origin of this word, it doesn't appear in any dictionary that I've checked.

Could it be that its a corruption of 'forward' and 'diagonal' and it was made up by a bunch of trainers who take themselves way too seriously?

English is a fairly comprehensive language, if you can't explain what you are trying to get across without resorting to making up new words then perhaps its time for a change of career. )
The Best Skis of 2008-09 (so far)
Started by User in Ski Hardware, 7 Replies
Switch_meister wrote:105 in the wasit is nothing! Haha, I've seen people who use Kuro's as there everyday ski!


That obviously says something different to you than it does to me.

The first time I skied on really wide skis was in Canada in 1997. They were called Fat Boys and they were designed for 2 reasons:

1. To enable intermediate skiers to ski in powder (so that Heli ski operators would have a bigger client base)

2. To enable fairly competent skiers who were not very fit to be able to ski in powder for much longer (so that Heli ski operators would have a bigger client base)

They perform the same sort of job as stabilizers on a kids bike )

I'm not knocking them, they've opened up skiing off piste to a lot more people (a good and a bad thing) but making out that the wider the ski the more 'hard core' the skier shows a marked lack of understanding about how skis work.