J2Ski Forum Posts and Replies by tino_11

Pav, I love reading your posts about skiing even though I don't have the faintest clue about it due to being an evil snowboarder. I am not one of your baggy trouser, hang around the park types (well my pants have got baggier over the years), I ride for the speed, the wind in my hair and the sun in my face. If you catch me off the floor, then 99 times out of 100 I have made a mistake.

Don't get me wrong, I see your point, but for me the whole thing is about speed (and control). The idea of having nothing but my ability and the conditions to think of thrills me. I go out on flat light days for this reason, no-one about. I ride out of season, late in the evening, on glaciers and at lunchtime for this reason. Give me a crowded piste in Tignes in December then I'd rather be in the bar. I'm not up there to meet folk, woo my girlfriend, or carve the most stunning s-turns down the hill. I'm up there to put something between me and the rest of this sterile, risk free, mundane society we live in. I know the risk, I don't ignore it, quite the opposite, I embrace it. I want to spend 2000m oF vertical and 14km thinking of nothing other than what I can see 100 yards in front of me. I don't panic on ice, I don't miss a change in the weight of the snow (anymore), I don't look around at the mountains (that's what bars are for) and if the most beautiful woman in the world was up there for me to find, I'd wait till the aforementioned bar before worrying about it.

Before I get a load of nay-sayers talking about the risk to others, I never learn to drive for exactly that reason. I won't do it. Simple.

For me it is all about, steeper, faster, deeper - mainly faster ) I don't want to fly into the sun, I want to slingshot it and come back faster.

Well, that's logical I guess. Applyingthe logic it has personal benefit too. SnowPulse, that's the fella, still can't get a coherent answer on if you can fly with the cartridges in the hold. Some say absolutely not, others say European carriers will if you declare them. Seemsva bit dishy washy.

bandit wrote:

tino_11 wrote:Is it true that now a helmet is legally required when skiing/boarding off-piste in Italy?

Seems a bit of a fudge to me, if I nip over the border for a quick bowl of pasta and a glass of Chianti I must carry a helmet all day just in case I want to nip off the side for few minutes. Cheeky.

More likely to get grief because you are not carrying a Transceiver, Probe and Shovel )

Maybe, but they are bugger all good if you are by yourself.

I'm buying an ABS rucksack for the European winter, or the more recent Swiss version. I forget the make but they are owned by Mammut now. Still not an ideal solution for solo riding, but better than anything else, other than not doing it.

I have spent the last 3 Christmas' in either Zermatt or Grindelwald and had great conditions each time. Christmas in Zermatt last year was about the best riding of the entire season.

Is it true that now a helmet is legally required when skiing/boarding off-piste in Italy?

Seems a bit of a fudge to me, if I nip over the border for a quick bowl of pasta and a glass of Chianti I must carry a helmet all day just in case I want to nip off the side for few minutes. Cheeky.

11.5 days ) Valle Nevado, might go for a slide here on the glacier next weekend to decide which board(s) to take.

I don't get it.

Coop wrote:

Oh, and Tony H is also another Niederau fan-boy.

That made my afternoon )