J2Ski Forum Posts and Replies by ise

As a footnote to that, I looked at the min/max thermometer we have outside, in the last month the lowest recorded temperature has been -1.1' that's at 1600m in Zinal. Nothing alarming, it's just seasonal but it does show how warm the ground is. In fact, we were planting some trees yesterday.

The temperature's up and down right now, on Friday we needed a fire (just) but yesterday we could have easily have had a bbq outside. We did actually eat on the terrace of a local restaurant at lunch and it was 19'c and sunny.

snowgirl wrote:I don't know, some friends who live over in Tignes le Lac told us that it has been the best summer snow on the glacier since 10 years, but didn't see myself.

I think I'll stick to my weather policy "Wait and see.... and keep praying !"

Cheers

I know there was a good fall back in August but the reports otherwise seemed poor. Within the last 10 years I've been able to ski down to Le Lac in June and October , in fact I can recall skiing down to le Lac even 4 years ago in October.

Skiers memories are like anglers :D all the fish are bigger, the transfers suddenly lose an hour or two and the actual snow depth gets forgotten.

Still, the long range models do look positive and if you're up on the Motte this weekend, if the visibility's any good it should be pretty good.

snowgirl wrote:

Right now the ground's hardly cold enough for the snow to consolidate and it'll be another month or so before that starts to happen. There's a little cold air around right now but next week the temperatures should be back up in the 20's again. Some long range forecasts and models seem to be suggesting a better season than last year but the snow on the ground right now I'm afraid means nothing at all, sorry!

In the meantime they'll be some nice days on the glaciers of course.

I agree it doesn't mean anything for the next months, but what I can tell you it's that the ground is cold enough from this summer !
I've been in Tignes this morning and it was 2C and snowing at 1550 m, so even if it's warmer later on, it's still pretty chilly at this altitude.

And the glaciers have been covered by snow in summer too, so definitely some good skiing coming !... at least on the top....

I know it's cold today, in fact I just lit a fire. But it's been a perfectly normal summer, the ground's the same temperature as normal for this time of year. Forecast is that it'll be back in the 20's next week.

Most glacier conditions have been dire in the summer as well, I don't think the Motte was any exception.

Stig wrote:I’m glad someone asked this question!…and from your responses it’s looking good! Lets hope so… I’ve got December booked in Arosa !
Friends in Switzerland are expecting a good one!!, as indications from the people that study this subject are that its ‘on track’ !

It's always great to see a bit of snow on the ground but this is perfectly normal this time of year, last year was exceptional as we didn't see much snow before December. Right now the ground's hardly cold enough for the snow to consolidate and it'll be another month or so before that starts to happen. There's a little cold air around right now but next week the temperatures should be back up in the 20's again. Some long range forecasts and models seem to be suggesting a better season than last year but the snow on the ground right now I'm afraid means nothing at all, sorry!

In the meantime they'll be some nice days on the glaciers of course.

Hirsty wrote:
Well all rounder in so much as it does what Ise is looking for - mainly powder but can be landed fakey. Also it works well on the groomed.

Hard to say since, a) I've not skied the Big Daddy, b) I'm not likely to, c) I don't ski in the park and d) I'm not going to ski anything with a turn radius of 41m :D

But I'm pretty sure 41m turn radius is hopeless on piste and that 125mm would be awful in the park as well.

The range looks good, the Snoop and Sugar Daddy both look reasonable skis, I just think the Big Daddy is an ultra specialised deep powder ski. It's probably the case that Banff does offer the opportunity to ski that type of terrain but if Rossfra8 is doing an instructor course then he's really going to need to be able to actually ski sooner or later without relying on strapping a couple of barges to the feet :D

The rule of thumb I'd suggest, and I've not skied enough pairs to have fully tested this, is that any turn radius over 20m is going be less than perfect for the piste but probably still usable until you get over 30m at which point in anything other deep powder it's going to be a pain. The real advance in fat skis over the last couple of years has been to reduce those turn radii I think, the Sugar Daddy is 29m at 126 - 99 - 117 which is really quite impressive.

Of course Banff, if it's on form, is going to be one of those places where a fatter ski won't be such a drag.

Hirsty wrote:You are really looking at two pairs of skis for your requirements.

But that said the Atomic Big Daddy (and the rest of the Daddy series) is a pretty good all rounder from what my mate tells me.

do mean the big daddy? a 125mm waist and a turn radius of 41m? I've not skied it but I can't quite see that as an all round ski :D

Rossfra8 wrote:I need skis.. my current skis are Nordica Hot Rod Modifieds and Dynastar Trouble Makers-being in the process of getting rid of the trouble makers. Not that i dislike them I just need something capable of getting plenty float on those powder days (doing a season in Banff) yet still able to stick a trick in the terrain park when need be. Anyoine have any ideas? I want something quite a bit wider than the trouble makers which arae 81's. Cheers lads and ladies-been looking at Dynastar Big Troubles and Armada ARV.

I was reading a review of the Atomic Snoop Daddy which might fit the bill. It's light though which doesn't work for everyone.

Sport Conrad have some amazing prices on those and other skis.

If I were you, I'd give some thought to what bindings you want. Something like a Marker Duke maybe? Then you've the option of climbing a little for some near-country stuff

SnowDog wrote:It is Chapelle d'Abonance that has decided tp pull the plug due to is altitude, not Abondance which is considering renaming itself due to just such confusion.

It is Abondance that's halted skiing not Chapelle d'Abonance. Chapelle has a ski area at Crêt Béni and a high speed lift that links to Domaine de Braitaz and from there on to Torgon etc. In fact they've a new detachable lift opening at Crêt Béni next season.

It's not really a simple issue of altitude, they've been making a loss for 15 years, this is mostly just a business failure. If ski stations are normal businesses, and it's not certain in all cases they are, then we'd expect some to fail. It may be that some failed, or will fail, as a result of climate change but it doesn't follow that every failure is caused by poor snow. They needed over one million euro's in investment on top of yearly running costs of 640k euro's. When they went to the local government for the money it just wasn't available.

One of their main problems, as pointed out by David of Pistehors elsewhere, is that the French themselves weren't going. The angst of some UK skiers who've never been and never would must seem a bit rich to the locals of Abondance :D

Also there seems to have been a massive overlook of the PDS Portes Du Soleil in replies to your question. Avoriaz, Morzine, Chatel, Torgon, Le Croset.. 1000 mtrs to 2466 mtrs Huge area 1 hr from Geneva. cant really see how people have missed this in their suggestions.

They're close but an hour from the airport is stretching it a bit in an ordinary car.