J2Ski Forum Posts and Replies by admin

Interesting article about measuring (and eventually forecasting) snow from space on WattsUpWithThat :-

http://wattsupwiththat.com/2012/02/01/what-we-dont-know-about-snow/

Predicting the future is always a tricky business — just watch a TV weather report. Weather forecasts have come a long way, but almost every season there's a snowstorm that seems to come out of nowhere, or one that's forecast as 'the big one' that turns out to be a total bust.

In the last ten years, scientists have shown that it is possible to detect falling snow and measure surface snowpack information from the vantage point of space. But there remains much that is unknown about the fluffy white stuff.

Here's a cool picture of falling snowflakes...


Image courtesy of NASA

...and a completely gratuitous picture of a cool satellite that's all shiny and everything...


Image courtesy of NASA

More about NASA's Global Precipitation Measurement mission can be found here.

...thinking ahead, I'm quite liking the idea of a global network of snow measuring satellites. Maybe we could call it J2SkyNet? I could go skiing more often if it was autonomous and, er, self-aware? :twisted:

CHEMMY ALCOTT JOINS THE TEAM AT J2SKI

The following PR will be going out in the morning, but we thought we'd share it with our awesome Forum Members first... 8)

Chemmy will be providing Exercises and Fitness Tips for skiers (and snowboarders) on J2Ski.Com, to improve their ski fitness and reduce the chance of injury.

J2Ski are delighted to announce their sponsorship of Britain's favourite World Cup Skier, Chemmy Alcott, while she recovers from injury; and Chemmy will give fitness advice to the many thousands of skiers and snowboarders who use J2Ski throughout the year.

Chemmy is Britain's Number 1 female downhill skier, ranked 8th in the world and is a three-time Olympian. Despite a career-threatening fall in December 2010, Chemmy has beaten the odds and is now training with the aim of competing at the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics. She is currently competing in the 2012 season of Dancing on Ice on UK television.

With the required skating providing valuable rehabilitation for her recovering leg, she can be found at the gym (or the ice rink!) most days and is the perfect source of ski fitness tips for the skiing public.

Chemmy's Ski Fitness Tips and Exercises can be found at http://www.j2ski.com/ski_fitness/

"I follow the snow reports on J2Ski whenever I'm away from the mountains, and I'm so looking forward to skiing later this season. You can get so much more out of your snow time by improving your fitness, and I hope my simple tips and exercises can really help.", said Chemmy.

Admin (for it is I), commented... "We're thrilled to be backing Chemmy as she targets the Sochi Winter Olympics. We know what she's been through to get to this point and can't think of anyone better to inspire our readers to improve their ski fitness."

Chemmy also gave J2Ski an in-depth interview earlier in the season, that can be found here.

Delighted is an understatement... as you're all undoubtedly aware, Chemmy has quite a schedule at the moment but she will be dropping in on us occasionally as the season progresses.

As we're a month into the New Year and all the excitement of Xmas is a distant memory (and somewhat eclipsed by all the snow, let's face it!), we think it's time to play Santa again.

We've got a bunch of prizes to give away over the next week, including :-

- a box of Pole Position ski training aids
- a couple of vouchers for *free* ski hire
- some special surprise prizes!

Each competition will be announced separately in this section of the forum (Ski Deals and Competitions).

You can get notified of each competition automatically, simply by clicking Email New Topics

Our first, very simple, competition will be announced shortly.

Good luck and enjoy!

Excellent report Tony - thank you! :thumbup:

best pizza restaurant in France

Damn you. Now I have the need to book a trip to ADH...

Pistes, Powder and Pizza. Good job! :lol:

...you look in the mirror and see the grin's still there...

Check out Sam Smoothy's winning line from the Chamonix round of the Freeride World Tour held a week ago...



... and for a slightly crazier approach to the Courmayeur face from Samuel Anthamatten ...



...I'm looking forward to seeing GoPro shots like that from Snapzzzzzzzz...

As reported on Chamonet and PisteHors, a Chamonix resident - Felix Hentz - was killed by an avalanche last Saturday afternoon.

firechick wrote:a skier died today around 4pm in an avalanche in Chamonix described as being in the couloirs around the area under the Rond glacier, near the right bank of the Les Bossons glacier after an avalanche came down from above them, at around 2300m. Three other skiers with the deceased were not buried. He was wearing a beacon, but it took the PGHM 2 hours to locate him, so assume it was a large slide.

A later note indicates that it was the Couloir des Cosmiques beneath the Aiguille du Midi that slid.

Felix was an experienced skier and mountaineer, and some of his videos can be found here - http://vimeo.com/felixhentz/videos

RIP

French and Swiss authorities warn that, despite relative stabilisation of the snow pack, the risk of large and full-depth slides remains in many locations.

Iceman wrote:No warnings from adders so we all survived.

Adders knows you're all good boys and girls really... 8)

...but his axe is sharp... just in case. :shock: :lol: