J2Ski Forum Posts and Replies by verbier_ski_bum

Vallee Blanche is no more difficult than most red runs in Chamonix, would have been easier actually if it were not for crevasses. Arete is scary because of exposure, but the guide told us to use crampons and it made the walk somewhat easier. Was the first and the only time so far that I wore crampons. My first off-piste experience too, but because of the traffic and no new snow for couple weeks when we skied it, it was more like a piste. Definitely take a guide though.

Last weekend of Jan 2010 we went to Leukerbad - this was the only time we went there so I remember well, a big group of 25 people. It was nuking powder from Friday till Sunday afternoon when it finally started to clear. And two weekends before that I was in Verbier and it was also snowing, we stayed in Le Chable actually and had to leave a friend's b/d party early because it snowed really hard and we didn't have chains so didn't want to be stuck. I remember the year because it was the only year I didn't rent a place in Verbier for the season and was travelling to ski other resorts.

Oh, no, it wasn't partial, and the doctor recommended by a sport club said to operate, but as my attitude to athletic achievments changed slighty after the injury, we took a second opinion, then a third etc, so the balanced view was to wait and see as children generally have a more favourable prognosis for recovery without surgical intervention.

Jan 2010 was good, I was in London over Christmas/New Year and was nervous for delays as had things to do - we landed in GVA on Jan 8 and there were tons of snow, but in 2009 it didn't snow till Australia Day and then didn't stop snowing till June.

So you will be missing your Mont Blanc trip then? That's a shame. If it's only ACL you should probably be fine by December, but will need to wear a brace for a while. I did mine ages ago when I was 12 iceskating but never had an operation after seeing a number of specialists. Lot of physio though. It's usually worse when complicated by some other tear. A friend tore ACL and meniscus a few years back and switched to snowboarding as a result. She said her knee never regain it's full strength post operation. But it could also be because the wrong choice of graft.

Thank you, guys. I heard about new Atomic and Salomon touring bindings and I know many skiers waiting eagerly to get them, but unfortunately DIN starts from 7, so no good for me. Kick turn is a good point, thank you. I spoke to guys in the shop in resort and they pointed me in the direction of Freerides, they say their plus side is that I don't need to get out of the bindings to switch the modes, but I am a bit concerned that the profile will be a bit too high and will take some getting used to on the downhill. I guess I will rent something next week to see how this works. Should be fun, especially with sunny days and warm temps.

pavelski wrote:Verbier Ski Bum,

Spring skiing is so short and is so wonderful that most "good skiers" want to get most from "Spring Experience" ! They can tan any time during Summer !

Those "slushy bumps" do not exist higher up !

Why you ask ?

There is a pattern to how skiers at various levels ski! Those "slushy bumps" are created by skiers who want to slow down, who want to make quick "windshield wiper"turns! Thus pushing snow to side! If you look to the sides,,,the edges of the trail, no "bumps" there !

Now go higher up,,to steeper runs and look at the "lines" of the skiers who passed by ! Very different !

Why pay for a lift ticket to get a sun tan near a resto ?

Still skiing Spring snow and at 3 pm few skiers on slopes!

Short???? We had spring skiing as early as December this season. Brief period in January of "normal" skiing followed by 2-3 freezing weeks in February and it's been spring skiing since and will continue for another month. I love spring skiing but not enough to ski first lift to last one for 10 weeks running:)

I am getting bored skiing resort as conditions at lift-served and short-bootpack off-piste deteriorate quickly, within a week from snowfall everything gets tracked out, within two weeks - bumped out, within three weeks bumps become tanks surrounded by trenches and not fun, and on average it snows 2-3 times per month in Europe. I don't like crowded pistes and i want to get into touring next season to enhance experience. I found a good deal on a pair of Atomic Access with skins and Market Tour F10 bindings. I saw many good reviews of the ski, so I think it will work well. My only concern is that they come at 161cm length (I am 168 and usually ski at 165-175 range). So, is ot OK to go slightly shorter for touring? My other question, has anyone got any experience with Marker Tour? i know that Tour F12 is considered a stronger binding, but I am lightweight and use DIN 6. But is there anything else I should take into consideration? Can this bindings be used with regular boots? I will have to indicate my BSL, but when I tried on touring boots last year I noticed that they tend to run somewhat smaller. I ski in 23.5 alpine boots but could only fit into size 25 some Black Diamond boots. If I give BSL of my regular boots, can the touring bindings be re-adjusted later without requiring re-drilling? I will appreciate all input I can get. I might even start learning to skin this season and have more fun on slopes than I would otherwise.