Latest posts for the topic "Top Ten Toughest Ski Runs In The World"

Top Ten Toughest Ski Runs In The World

Sun, 15 Nov 2009 21:34:30 GMT

Hey All

Was sitting down for a few beers with some pals and the top ten toughest runs topic came up which caused some debate and a fair few beers to be sunk.

So thought i'd post on here and get your views on the toughest runs, appologies if this has been covered many times before.

Cheers

Matt

Re:Top Ten Toughest Runs In The World

Sun, 15 Nov 2009 22:51:47 GMT

Ones we have done, or runs we believe to be the toughest?

Pistes or mountains? I'd say the north face of the Eiger was pretty tough to ski, but I havent got round to it yet.

Seriously, set some criteria and we can all chip in.

Re:Top Ten Toughest Runs In The World

Sun, 15 Nov 2009 23:42:03 GMT

Interesting question.

One's personal experience will always include conditions.

Reasonable conditions, the Palivacini, Arapahoe Basin, also Blackcomb Glacier, in a whiteout, plus a sh*t steep couloire some where in France, I can't remember where, I can remember the circumstances, Sheeeeet.

Icy conditions, the Tiger run, Glenshee, and the Club abfarht, Niederau, (off piste, in the trees, now extinct, overgrown), made worse, in that on one occasion, I was at the rear end of the Ackier, (first aid sledge). The unfortunate could see all my facial expressions and no amount of pretend whistling could hide the fact that I was shitting peas.

Re:Top Ten Toughest Runs In The World

Sun, 15 Nov 2009 23:55:43 GMT

Tiger is awful 99% of the time :lol:

Re:Top Ten Toughest Runs In The World

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 00:11:18 GMT

Yeah, well I never experienced the 1%! 8)

Re:Top Ten Toughest Runs In The World

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 08:24:01 GMT

The steepest was a black in La Thuile, but I would not say it was difficult to ski once I gained the bottle to go over the top, I don't really think
I am that adventurous .

Re:Top Ten Toughest Runs In The World

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 10:03:02 GMT

Best/hardest off piste would be grand colouir in courcheval-was pretty hairy as was the matafan face in la plagne.
Best on piste would either be the swiss wall in portes du solei or the hanenkahm (one week after the race and fresh powder = icy powder nightmare!)

Re:Top Ten Toughest Runs In The World

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 10:05:28 GMT

rossyhead wrote:Best/hardest off piste would be grand colouir in courcheval-was pretty hairy as was the matafan face in la plagne.
Best on piste would either be the swiss wall in portes du solei or the hanenkahm (one week after the race and fresh powder = icy powder nightmare!)

Thats jogged my failing memory the Stelvio at Bormio was pretty tuff but that was a few years ago and race prepared :shock:

Re:Top Ten Toughest Runs In The World

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 10:13:21 GMT

excellent, sounds good!

check out the webcams of livigno btw-looks a bit like scottish skiing!

Re:Top Ten Toughest Runs In The World

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 10:14:42 GMT

particularly this one

http://www.livigno.com/~camera2/camera2_grande.jpg

Re:Top Ten Toughest Runs In The World

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 10:25:36 GMT

rossyhead wrote:particularly this one

http://www.livigno.com/~camera2/camera2_grande.jpg

Thats the Costaccia side the Montolino cover should be better, just be patient it will come 8)

Re:Top Ten Toughest Runs In The World

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 10:39:17 GMT

I'm not joking. I don't expect everyone to believe me but I once saw a guy ski down the Matterhorn on the T.V.

I've looked for it on youtube but can't find it but I did see it...

Re:Top Ten Toughest Runs In The World

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 13:15:44 GMT

Ian Wickham wrote:The steepest was a black in La Thuile, but I would not say it was difficult to ski once I gained the bottle to go over the top, I don't really think
I am that adventurous .

Ian
I have also skied La Thuile, a ski station that seams to be just off the tourist radar! Never see it advertised in any of the ski brochures. Why is that?

Back to the thread, Le Face - Val Di'Sere has to be up there if only because all of the skiing public in the village are watching as one comes down on ones backside. :oops:

Finn

Re:Top Ten Toughest Runs In The World

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 14:28:32 GMT

Finn wrote:

Ian Wickham wrote:The steepest was a black in La Thuile, but I would not say it was difficult to ski once I gained the bottle to go over the top, I don't really think
I am that adventurous .

Ian
I have also skied La Thuile, a ski station that seams to be just off the tourist radar! Never see it advertised in any of the ski brochures. Why is that?

Back to the thread, Le Face - Val Di'Sere has to be up there if only because all of the skiing public in the village are watching as one comes down on ones backside. :oops:

Finn

The TO's only seem to go to the Plannibel hotel/apartments I have never stayed there but used the facilities a couple of times 8)

Re:Top Ten Toughest Runs In The World

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 14:37:58 GMT

Ian Wickham wrote:

Finn wrote:

Ian Wickham wrote:The steepest was a black in La Thuile, but I would not say it was difficult to ski once I gained the bottle to go over the top, I don't really think
I am that adventurous .

Ian
I have also skied La Thuile, a ski station that seams to be just off the tourist radar! Never see it advertised in any of the ski brochures. Why is that?

Back to the thread, Le Face - Val Di'Sere has to be up there if only because all of the skiing public in the village are watching as one comes down on ones backside. :oops:

Finn

The TO's only seem to go to the Plannibel hotel/apartments I have never stayed there but used the facilities a couple of times 8)

It was a ski club trip organised through Interski I was on, stayed in the Plannibel hotel.

Finn

Re:Top Ten Toughest Runs In The World

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 14:46:11 GMT

Yep I thought it was a nice place, the bar was a fun place, overall I liked La Thuile and will return at some time :mrgreen:

Re:Top Ten Toughest Runs In The World

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 15:14:05 GMT

Mike3000 wrote:I'm not joking. I don't expect everyone to believe me but I once saw a guy ski down the Matterhorn on the T.V.

I've looked for it on youtube but can't find it but I did see it...

Davenport (and others) did it for MSPs Claim! last year.

Re:Top Ten Toughest Runs In The World

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 15:18:46 GMT

Here you go, http://www.rockandice.com/inthemag.php?id=226&type=onlinenews, just an article, couldn't find the vid and not going to mess with copyright uploading one ;)

Re:Top Ten Toughest Runs In The World

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 15:38:22 GMT

As I started the thread suppose I should throw my bit in,

Lake chutes - Breckenridge

Anything on the Pally face - A Basin

Corbet's Couloir - Jackson

Three there that get the blood pumpinmg

Re:Top Ten Toughest Runs In The World

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 16:34:00 GMT

Comborciere in Les Arcs - long, long and very Black... with a pitch that steepens as you descend.

Glorious in fresh snow but when the snow is tired it sucks you in; almost always good at the top (which you can clearly see from the chair up) but the last quarter can be iced up moguls the size of small cars.

And you always seem to hit them at exactly that point when your legs are crying to give up and the adrenalin of the top section can no longer mask the pain in your thighs. :cry:

Absolutely love it though. :D

Re:Top Ten Toughest Runs In The World

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 18:29:22 GMT

Death Couloir, Meribel: Top of saulire, climb wobbly ladder adjacent to top of bubble lift, traverse ridge, down seriously steep 10ft wide couloir which ends halfway down and you have to enter parallel one.
Makes Grand Couloir on the Courchevel side seem like a green one (it is the easiest of the three on that side of Saulire mind). Sous Telepherique is the hardest of those three.

Re:Top Ten Toughest Runs In The World

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 18:33:34 GMT

Mike3000 wrote:I'm not joking. I don't expect everyone to believe me but I once saw a guy ski down the Matterhorn on the T.V.

I've looked for it on youtube but can't find it but I did see it...

its in the video "steep" i think or claim

Re:Top Ten Toughest Runs In The World

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 18:34:52 GMT

mattyc wrote:As I started the thread suppose I should throw my bit in,

Lake chutes - Breckenridge

Anything on the Pally face - A Basin

Corbet's Couloir - Jackson

Three there that get the blood pumpinmg

I have seen videos of corbets-looks MENTAL!

the best black run might also be the sache in Tignes

Re:Top Ten Toughest Runs In The World

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 18:44:41 GMT

Corbetts has two entry points i believe - the drop in route or an easier side route. Once in, the couloir isn't supposed to be that difficult. It's the drop in that makes it difficult and scary.

The Sache is a great fun run, but has in the deepest past been a red IIRC. The 'tunnel runs' off the top of the Pic Blanc in Alpe D'Huez are also great fun blacks.

Re:Top Ten Toughest Runs In The World

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 19:17:03 GMT

Admin wrote:Comborciere in Les Arcs - long, long and very Black... with a pitch that steepens as you descend.

Glorious in fresh snow but when the snow is tired it sucks you in; almost always good at the top (which you can clearly see from the chair up) but the last quarter can be iced up moguls the size of small cars.

And you always seem to hit them at exactly that point when your legs are crying to give up and the adrenalin of the top section can no longer mask the pain in your thighs. :cry:

Absolutely love it though. :D

Is that the black behind arc 1600,with the long slow chair to the side of it.definate leg burner if it is the one i'm thinking of,was there in march,and going back this march.

Re:Top Ten Toughest Ski Runs In The World

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 19:28:32 GMT

st anton rendl sector riffel 2 r8 on piste map was a challenge steep and very narrow.
Tunnel run alpe duez some very interesting sections(to the left after the 1st mogul field)
Highest run in les contamines,dont know the name,but you can bail out easily and its quite short.

Re:Top Ten Toughest Ski Runs In The World

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 19:56:46 GMT

Garganta in Portillo, un-prepared black from the mountain restaurant to hotel. Nice and wide when you are on it, but getting on it was hairy. Unfortunately I couldn't try the Roca Jack cos my collarbone was broken and you need your arms to ride the lift :(

Re:Top Ten Toughest Ski Runs In The World

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 20:01:26 GMT

The Headwall at Crested Butte, Colorado, commonly used as the WinterX resort. Steep doesn't normally bother me, but when I got off the drag and traversed across to the entry point and saw the only real way out, I had a moment....

Re:Top Ten Toughest Ski Runs In The World

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 20:12:35 GMT

There must be some toughies at La Grave.

Re:Top Ten Toughest Ski Runs In The World

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 20:14:11 GMT

I was thinking that!

Re:Top Ten Toughest Ski Runs In The World

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 20:28:04 GMT

La Grave is not that tough - the obstacle is that if you go wrong you go to your own Grave...

Re:Top Ten Toughest Ski Runs In The World

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 21:49:26 GMT

The Cucumele and Luc Alphand runs at Serre Che are lovely.
As is the Ahorn Abfahrt in mayrhofen in good conditions.
I also loved the long run off the top of Schindler at St Anton, but my most exhilerating experiences were the off piste around Tortin at Verbier where I had my first taste of this kind of action.

Re:Top Ten Toughest Ski Runs In The World

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 22:59:27 GMT

Anyone ever skied the Karine on the Nordpark, in Innsbruck?... supposed to be among the steepest bowl in Europe, though it is a very challenged title...

Re:Top Ten Toughest Ski Runs In The World

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 23:39:45 GMT

Nordpark is on my plan when I travel from St Anton to Niederau in January. I am still looking at the detail of of leaving a rucsac at Innsbruck station, and how to get the lift transfer up to Nordpark.

It was the steepness, and closeness to Innsbruck that made it attractive.

Re:Top Ten Toughest Ski Runs In The World

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 00:45:51 GMT

:?:MMMmmmmm

A couple to throw in the mix

-Vallon de la Sache down into Tignes les Brevieres
-Le Face in Val D'isere
-The Wall in Tignes
-The whole of the Aiguille Rouge in Les Arcs top to bottom in one hit,no stops.....still haven't managed it :( ...need to be much fitter
-The black from the top of the Rendl section in St.Anton (buggered if i can remember the name)
-And a final one, the off-piste route from the Pissalais glacier and the Gorge du Malpassat down into Le Fornet over the frozen river( not so easy when the river isn't fully frozen in places,cave diving equipment would be needed if you slip :D)

Just a few to mention

jon.

Re:Top Ten Toughest Ski Runs In The World

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 00:46:51 GMT

Mind you the toughest one sometimes is the first run after the night before hic! :D :D

Re:Top Ten Toughest Ski Runs In The World

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 11:31:15 GMT

Piste wise, the black from the top of Mont Fort in Verbier is pretty steep for a marked run, seems to be rarely open these days. Off piste, the north face of Mont Fort. Very scary access but an awsome run. Hike to the cross, walk the ridge ,sounds easy but it scared the bejesus out of me :D , drop a little left then round the shoulder then an amazing descent down to the dam above Siviez.
There's also a couloir on the front of Mont Gele called Bouqetain (sometimes called chemical couloir) not too steep but has very high side walls and a big dogleg so when you start off it looks like you're skiing into a big hole that theres no way out of.

Re:Top Ten Toughest Runs In The World

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 11:41:38 GMT

rossyhead wrote:Best/hardest off piste would be grand colouir in courcheval-was pretty hairy as was the matafan face in la plagne.
Best on piste would either be the swiss wall in portes du solei or the hanenkahm (one week after the race and fresh powder = icy powder nightmare!)

The Grand Colouir is a piece of P*** once your actually on it its the 10 meters skiing along the ridge line to get to it that concentrates the mind. :)
Once you go there is no stoping and no turning back. lol

If you put a lump of coal up your bum you have a Diamond by the time you get to the Coulouir. :)

Re:Top Ten Toughest Runs In The World

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 11:50:54 GMT

jonah690 wrote:

rossyhead wrote:Best/hardest off piste would be grand colouir in courcheval-was pretty hairy as was the matafan face in la plagne.
Best on piste would either be the swiss wall in portes du solei or the hanenkahm (one week after the race and fresh powder = icy powder nightmare!)

The Grand Colouir is a piece of P*** once your actually on it its the 10 meters skiing along the ridge line to get to it that concentrates the mind. :)
Once you go there is no stoping and no turning back. lol

If you put a lump of coal up your bum you have a Diamond by the time you get to the Coulouir. :)

Just realised my Avatar is me comming out of the bottom of the Grand Colouir.

Re:Top Ten Toughest Ski Runs In The World

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 12:49:23 GMT

Boomerang at Fernie was bloody horrible. Steep, narrow entry, no defined piste as such, ungroomed, bushes and trees sticking up all over the place to trip the unwary, not terribly long, but with a reverse camber that continually throws you off balance. Bloody vile it was (and I did it three times in a row, but it didn't get any better!)

I like the tunnel runs at Alpe D'Huez - despite the religious icon in the tunnel just before you emerge above the mogul field. There's a horrid little black, steep and bumpy, at Saas Fee but the best blacks, and probably my favourite places to ski, are at Sierra at Tahoe and Kirkwood - look them up on the www!

Re:Top Ten Toughest Ski Runs In The World

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 12:54:32 GMT

I read up about the Tunnel runs, but cant seem to get any consensus of opinion as to what they are like. Some call it a piste, others off piste, othere a mogul field, others pure powder field.

What is is ACTUALLY like, as I think me and my Neo's might give it a go.....?

Re:Top Ten Toughest Ski Runs In The World

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 16:17:45 GMT

jonG wrote: :?:MMMmmmmm

A couple to throw in the mix

-Vallon de la Sache down into Tignes les Brevieres
-Le Face in Val D'isere
-The Wall in Tignes
-The whole of the Aiguille Rouge in Les Arcs top to bottom in one hit,no stops.....still haven't managed it :( ...need to be much fitter
-The black from the top of the Rendl section in St.Anton (buggered if i can remember the name)
-And a final one, the off-piste route from the Pissalais glacier and the Gorge du Malpassat down into Le Fornet over the frozen river( not so easy when the river isn't fully frozen in places,cave diving equipment would be needed if you slip :D)

dont suppose you happen to live in the espace killy area do you?!
Vallon de la Sache was the one I meant, never knew that was the full name-love the one to le fornet too-where is the wall?

Just a few to mention

jon.

dont suppose you happen to live in the espace killy area do you?!
Vallon de la Sache was the one I meant, never knew that was the full name-love the one to le fornet too-where is the wall?

Re:Top Ten Toughest Ski Runs In The World

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 16:30:58 GMT

Tony H: when I was in Alpe D'Huez it was definitely one serious mogul field with a really fun, fast run out at the end!

I was a with a ski club guide one day in Alpe D'Huez and we skied the whole day on black pistes only - without repeating a run - which takes some doing. Remember one where it said reservez pour tres bon skieurs seulement and ended up in ravine with trees blocking you in on either side - very tough.

Re:Top Ten Toughest Ski Runs In The World

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 19:38:49 GMT

The Walls at Tignes is down the end of the glacier - literally the glacier wall.

When I skied the tunnel runs it was powder galore, but it would quickly turn into a mogul field after a few days without snow.

Re:Top Ten Toughest Ski Runs In The World

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 20:27:31 GMT

rossyhead wrote:

jonG wrote: :?:MMMmmmmm

A couple to throw in the mix

-Vallon de la Sache down into Tignes les Brevieres
-Le Face in Val D'isere
-The Wall in Tignes
-The whole of the Aiguille Rouge in Les Arcs top to bottom in one hit,no stops.....still haven't managed it :( ...need to be much fitter
-The black from the top of the Rendl section in St.Anton (buggered if i can remember the name)
-And a final one, the off-piste route from the Pissalais glacier and the Gorge du Malpassat down into Le Fornet over the frozen river( not so easy when the river isn't fully frozen in places,cave diving equipment would be needed if you slip :D)

dont suppose you happen to live in the espace killy area do you?!
Vallon de la Sache was the one I meant, never knew that was the full name-love the one to le fornet too-where is the wall?

Just a few to mention

jon.

dont suppose you happen to live in the espace killy area do you?!
Vallon de la Sache was the one I meant, never knew that was the full name-love the one to le fornet too-where is the wall?

Hi,

I have an apartment in Bourg-St-Maurice,so know the area pretty well, The Wall in Tignes is located off to the right adjacent to the chairlift that takes you from Val Claret up to the restaurant on the Grande Motte ,from the top ski off to the left (off piste to the edge of the glacier) and it drops off over the edge,after about 80 yards you ski between/by some rocks and then take the rest of the run(off piste) back down to the bottom of the Val Claret chairllift. Its quite a doozy especially as the drop over the top is inverted during high snowfall.

Another good off piste run in Espace Killy is the Tour du Charvet, which you start at the top of the Le Face chairlft and it takes you the back way into Val D'Isere....there is a very good moguled black on the way round aswell, but cannot remember the name.

jon.

Re:Top Ten Toughest Ski Runs In The World

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 20:29:36 GMT

Sorry brains gone,

In the last post from the top of the chair to get to the wall, ski to the right once at the top (skiing to the left is when you are heading down hill already....doh!)

jon

Re:Top Ten Toughest Ski Runs In The World

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 22:53:25 GMT

Assuming we're talking about marked runs…

The Tunnel - Alpe D'Huez
Schindle Kar - St Anton
La Face - Val D'Isere
The Wall - Avoriaz (Only just makes my list, I was a little disappointed, didn't live up to it's fearsome reputation imo)
Genepy - Les Arcs
The Hobacks - Jackson Hole.

Can't comment on Corbet's Couloir as it was closed for the duration of our trip, due to low snowall.

Re:Top Ten Toughest Ski Runs In The World

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 23:03:30 GMT

Don't know about toughest in the world but the back bowls at Lake Louise are pretty awesome...

Scared myself a couple of times

http://lakelouiselowdown.files.wordpress.com/2009/02/eagle-ridge-2a.jpg

http://lakelouiselowdown.files.wordpress.com/2008/11/the-wall4.jpg

Skied everything but ER5 which has never been open (lower ER5 is just kinda meadow skipping terrain and not totally worth a mention) and Big 7 for no other reason that I didn't really know it was there between a load of the other Wall runs and ER6.

Whitehorn...

http://lakelouiselowdown.files.wordpress.com/2009/01/img_3974.jpg

Re:Top Ten Toughest Ski Runs In The World

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 07:57:24 GMT

Pablo,
I felt quite sick just looking at those photos! They look like something out of a James Bond movie. I'd have said they were all pretty impossible to ski. And they have horribly frightening names, like 'mine shaft' and 'wounded knee'.

They also all look off piste to me. Are they patrolled off piste, or what?

Ally

Re:Top Ten Toughest Ski Runs In The World

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 09:05:16 GMT

I whole heartedly agree with Ally. Put me at the top of one of those and I will look like this: :shock:

Re:Top Ten Toughest Ski Runs In The World

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 10:05:06 GMT

AllyG wrote:They also all look off piste to me. Are they patrolled off piste, or what?

At Canadian ski hills there are 2 types of skiable terrain, 'in bounds' and 'out of bounds'. 'In bounds' is everything within the hills boundary line and it is all skiable unless it is an avalanche closure, all patrolled and avalanche controlled. 'out of bounds' is anything outside that line and is generally not patrolled/avalanche controlled unless a potential slide could impact the ski area.

Re:Top Ten Toughest Ski Runs In The World

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 10:07:32 GMT

So are the runs in the pictures 'in bounds'?

Re:Top Ten Toughest Ski Runs In The World

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 10:09:55 GMT

They look amazing. A little out of my ability probably, but I have started to enjoy exploring more of the mountain including off piste and unpisted itinery runs.
Snowbandit - I look forward to seeing your face like :shock: when we hit the top of Pic Blanc!

Re:Top Ten Toughest Ski Runs In The World

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 10:10:15 GMT

Everything you can see is 'in bounds' apart from the mountains you can see behind ER1 and ER2 in this photo ;)

Tony_H wrote:They look amazing. A little out of my ability probably, but I have started to enjoy exploring more of the mountain including off piste and unpisted itinery runs.
Snowbandit - I look forward to seeing your face like :shock: when we hit the top of Pic Blanc!

There is a lot of mellow terrain to be had, I just picked the most difficult ;)

Re:Top Ten Toughest Ski Runs In The World

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 10:35:11 GMT

Tony_H wrote:They look amazing. A little out of my ability probably,

I breath a sigh of relief!

Snowbandit - I look forward to seeing your face like :shock: when we hit the top of Pic Blanc!

...and you will :lol: but I'll give it a go! Apparently the Sarenne is not that difficult.

Re:Top Ten Toughest Ski Runs In The World

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 11:33:48 GMT

The Sarenne has two steep pitches, but not that narrow to begin with, that are tricky.

However, it peters out into one of the blandest, flattest tracks in the Alps. Its reputation is greater than its sum parts, but it is redeemed by spectacular scenery and total relaxation as you pole along!

Re:Top Ten Toughest Ski Runs In The World

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 11:40:00 GMT

Pablo Escobar wrote:Don't know about toughest in the world but the back bowls at Lake Louise are pretty awesome...

Scared myself a couple of times

http://lakelouiselowdown.files.wordpress.com/2009/02/eagle-ridge-2a.jpg

http://lakelouiselowdown.files.wordpress.com/2008/11/the-wall4.jpg

Skied everything but ER5 which has never been open (lower ER5 is just kinda meadow skipping terrain and not totally worth a mention) and Big 7 for no other reason that I didn't really know it was there between a load of the other Wall runs and ER6.

Whitehorn...

http://lakelouiselowdown.files.wordpress.com/2009/01/img_3974.jpg

They look absolutely brilliant-I have never been across to USA or canada, is that all off pitse or are they marked trials but just unpisted?

EDIT:

just read the rest of the thread! :oops:

Re:Top Ten Toughest Ski Runs In The World

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 11:43:04 GMT

Pablo Escobar wrote:Everything you can see is 'in bounds' apart from the mountains you can see behind ER1 and ER2 in this photo ;)

Tony_H wrote:They look amazing. A little out of my ability probably, but I have started to enjoy exploring more of the mountain including off piste and unpisted itinery runs.
Snowbandit - I look forward to seeing your face like :shock: when we hit the top of Pic Blanc!

There is a lot of mellow terrain to be had, I just picked the most difficult ;)

look at the mogul field in the bottom right of the pic in that link!!

Re:Top Ten Toughest Ski Runs In The World

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 13:09:34 GMT

LOTA wrote:The Sarenne has two steep pitches, but not that narrow to begin with, that are tricky.

However, it peters out into one of the blandest, flattest tracks in the Alps. Its reputation is greater than its sum parts, but it is redeemed by spectacular scenery and total relaxation as you pole along!

Even if the whole run was the same gradient at the two steep bits, it still wouldn't come in the top 10 toughest runs. The run could easily be reclassified as red.

It's one of my favourite runs, but it's not because it presents a challenge.

Re:Top Ten Toughest Ski Runs In The World

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 14:11:52 GMT

I should work for tourism Canada. Everyone should go once before they decide that they never want to ski in Europe again :twisted:

Re:Top Ten Toughest Ski Runs In The World

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 14:27:12 GMT

Pablo Escobar wrote:I should work for tourism Canada. Everyone should go once before they decide that they never want to ski in Europe again :twisted:

I would wholeheartedly agree with you there, the only spanner in the works is the dang cost of getting there :(

We had intended doing a 10 day trip to Whistler just after the Olympics, but the prices have made us stick to Europe for all our trips this season.

Re:Top Ten Toughest Ski Runs In The World

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 14:32:12 GMT

Far Queue wrote:

Pablo Escobar wrote:I should work for tourism Canada. Everyone should go once before they decide that they never want to ski in Europe again :twisted:

I would wholeheartedly agree with you there, the only spanner in the works is the dang cost of getting there :(

We had intended doing a 10 day trip to Whistler just after the Olympics, but the prices have made us stick to Europe for all our trips this season.

Think you just need to luck out with a deal, Whistler is a load more expensive than a lot of the Rockies.

Re:Top Ten Toughest Ski Runs In The World

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 19:19:32 GMT

A couple of shot of first part of The Tunnel:

Re:Top Ten Toughest Ski Runs In The World

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 19:29:04 GMT

The entrance looks a little sketch but the view straight down the face makes it look pretty reasonable to me!

Re:Top Ten Toughest Ski Runs In The World

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 23:00:20 GMT

A Shot of one of my top runs in Brekenridge the Lake Chutes

First time i've posted a pic hope it works

Matt

Re:Top Ten Toughest Ski Runs In The World

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 07:41:12 GMT

OMG Mattyc,
How could you even THINK of ski-ing down something like that? It makes me quite sick just LOOKING at it :shock:

I think I shall stick to green runs in future :D

Ally

Re:Top Ten Toughest Ski Runs In The World

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 08:52:17 GMT

Looks cool but I don't think that one is for me :shock:

Re:Top Ten Toughest Ski Runs In The World

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 19:42:21 GMT

It is an enjoyable run, (well, afterwards anyway!), not least because, due to the local verticals, it has a really steep feeling.

What does provide the scare factor for me, on this degree of slope isn't the fear of falling, but the risk of avalanche.

Re:Top Ten Toughest Ski Runs In The World

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 20:05:23 GMT

Hari Kari in the Zillertall, its the steepest Black in Europe

Re:Top Ten Toughest Ski Runs In The World

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 20:08:08 GMT

MarcusAOB wrote:Hari Kari in the Zillertall, its the steepest Black in Europe

Everytime I have been at the top of that I have stopped myself, due to the fact the lift up to it rides directly overhead and fully exposes the steepness, the patches of rock and ice as well as the odd person using their face as a brake over a long distance. It is one of my goals for this season.

Re:Top Ten Toughest Ski Runs In The World

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 23:57:23 GMT

MarcusAOB wrote:Hari Kari in the Zillertall, its the steepest Black in Europe

Austria, not Europe

Re:Top Ten Toughest Ski Runs In The World

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 08:15:03 GMT

Anybody know the steepest piste in Europe ?

Re:Top Ten Toughest Ski Runs In The World

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 08:51:20 GMT

Ian,
It's anywhere, apart from a green, that I am just about to ski down :lol:

Ally

Re:Top Ten Toughest Ski Runs In The World

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 09:47:04 GMT

This one defeated me last year, got half way down and had to slide on my rear the rest of the way. Its not long, not high but just felt so steep. I need to conquer this next year.

Re:Top Ten Toughest Ski Runs In The World

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 09:59:45 GMT

Rose, for the future, you will be safer and more in control on your feet, as you have the edges on the board or skis to stop you. Clothing cannot stop you sliding. If you feel that you want to sit down, if a run is too steep, then it would be good to learn a Self Arrest Technique if you start to accelerate down an icy pitch out of control.
The easiest way to do this is to turn over to face the snow and do a press up, either on your elbows or hands, and dig your toes in. This action will slow you down.

Re:Top Ten Toughest Ski Runs In The World

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 10:04:53 GMT

Where is this slope, Rose?

Re:Top Ten Toughest Ski Runs In The World

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 10:07:20 GMT

Thanks for that Bandit. What that pic does not show is the sharp corner at the end of run. This is where the trouble was, I could'nt turn, I could only go straight. We had watched people coming down the day before and most stopped at the corner and then slid down.

Re:Top Ten Toughest Ski Runs In The World

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 10:08:03 GMT

LOTA wrote:Where is this slope, Rose?

Its the Battery run in Ruka.

Re:Top Ten Toughest Ski Runs In The World

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 10:16:25 GMT

Rose,
We got stuck on a slope as well, at Tignes, at the top of the red one in the late afternoon. The snow had all gone on quite a large section at the top, all the way across, and all that was left was the hard green glacial ice.

I did wonder a bit about what to do. I slithered across to the other side and found a tiny patch of snow right at the edge of the piste to stop on, and then I 'talked' my daughter across to me.

I wasn't sure what to do. Had I been in a boat I'd have let off a flare for the life-boat! I did think about phoning for a skidoo to come and rescue us, but I couldn't remember the number :cry: and I don't know that even a skidoo would have managed on that ice. There was no-one else there apart from one of the ski teams, and even they had a bit of job - one of them fell over :shock:

I decided to side-slip down the very edge of the piste to where the snow started again, and managed to persuade my daughter to follow me. We did manage it okay, and then we could ski again.

I don't think, in our situation, it would have been safe to either take our skis off or slide on our bottoms - it looked very slippery and dangerous to me.

Well done Rose, for even contemplating going back to your particular nightmare. Several people from our chalet spent their 3 days at Tignes when we were there sliding down icy pistes on their bottoms :D. You're certainly not the only one to try that technique!

We were back on that red piste on the morning, after they'd put some snow back on it :D

Ally

Re:Top Ten Toughest Ski Runs In The World

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 10:49:11 GMT

Ian Wickham wrote:Anybody know the steepest piste in Europe ?

pretty sure its in kitzbuhel-not the hannekham but another one that was very short but had warning of 70-degree in parts. Think it was called the Diretissima

Re:Top Ten Toughest Ski Runs In The World

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 12:34:04 GMT

rossyhead wrote:

Ian Wickham wrote:Anybody know the steepest piste in Europe ?

pretty sure its in kitzbuhel-not the hannekham but another one that was very short but had warning of 70-degree in parts. Think it was called the Diretissima

How about this one in Mayrhofner????

Re:Top Ten Toughest Ski Runs In The World

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 13:01:58 GMT

no_snow_in_swindon wrote:

rossyhead wrote:

Ian Wickham wrote:Anybody know the steepest piste in Europe ?

pretty sure its in kitzbuhel-not the hannekham but another one that was very short but had warning of 70-degree in parts. Think it was called the Diretissima

How about this one in Mayrhofner????

Hari Kari??

Re:Top Ten Toughest Ski Runs In The World

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 15:35:12 GMT

Yes thats the Hari Kiri in Mayrhofen, which is as I have previously pointed out is the steepst piste in Austria. Therefore, the steepest piste in Europe cannot also be in Austria. I am sorry, I dont know where the steepest in Europe is, and there seems to be some debate over which actually is.

Re:Top Ten Toughest Ski Runs In The World

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 20:49:11 GMT

Looking at that thinking "airbrush" it never ever looks like that in my experience.

That used to scare me to bits, I don't think I would blink now before attempting it. I might revise my opinion at the bottom however.

Only 41km today, was down by 3pm. 96km in two short days, 40 lifts and over 13km of veritical.

Re:Top Ten Toughest Ski Runs In The World

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 21:50:21 GMT

rossyhead wrote:

Ian Wickham wrote:Anybody know the steepest piste in Europe ?

pretty sure its in kitzbuhel-not the hannekham but another one that was very short but had warning of 70-degree in parts. Think it was called the Diretissima

70 Degrees????? Have you any idea how steep 70 degrees is? Its a cliff.
You can only talk about the average steepness of a slope, otherwise every slope with a cut off mogul has places where the slope is 90 degrees. )

Edit: It just dawned on me that that should be 70% which would be ever so slightly different! Its about 38 degrees from what I can figure from on line equations (maths was never my strong point!) and I think there would be plenty of black runs that steep.

Re:Top Ten Toughest Ski Runs In The World

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 22:15:38 GMT

ahhh fair enough, i want sure but i know it wasnt that steep-although i was pretty much skidding my turns the entire way down!

it had signs further down the run too which warned it was steep but again may have not been that steep

Re:Top Ten Toughest Ski Runs In The World

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 22:46:33 GMT

You are right NielToo - it does read 70% but the very fact there is a warning worries you when it really is not too bad. Snow cannot stick to a 70 degree slope I was told by my son - think of church spires...

Enjoy your skiing trip :mrgreen:

Re:Top Ten Toughest Ski Runs In The World

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 22:50:05 GMT

what about the Le Mur aka The Wall, Avoriaz.

Re:Top Ten Toughest Ski Runs In The World

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 07:03:46 GMT

Quote from the Hari Kiri page for Mayrhofen. Never skied it, not likely to but thought the info may be of interest.

Sportive skiers and snowboarders can prove their skills on Austria's steepest ski slope here in Mayrhofen. This steep slope has an average incline of unbelievable 78 per cent(!) making a jack and special groomers indispensable for grooming.

Re:Top Ten Toughest Ski Runs In The World

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 08:25:09 GMT

getjim, any resort will use anchored piste bashers if a slope is 30 degrees+. Most of the extreme skiers tackling open mountain faces did not get much grip beyond 55 degrees. Folks such as Patrick Vallencant, and Sylvain Saudain, who were at the top of their game. Degrees and percent are different animals, and get muddled up.

Theobane, Le Mur (aka Chavanette) in the Portes du Soleil is about 37 to 38 degrees, which felt steep enough to me when I skied it. It's the moguls that make it hard work.

http://www.champery.com/Images/Chavanette_small.jpg

Re:Top Ten Toughest Ski Runs In The World

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 09:51:44 GMT

what a picture-I have a photo of me after doing that for the first time leaning on my poles absolutely shattered with the lift and bumps behind-unfortunately it is an actual kodak and I dont have a scanner

Re:Top Ten Toughest Ski Runs In The World

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 10:05:17 GMT

If anyone wants to go and have a look at the Hari Kiri (from a safe distance preferably), Inghams have a cheap holiday to Mayrhofen over Christmas, if you don't mind staying in a 2 star B&B snow house - GBP312-50 each for the week, for 2 people flying from Gatwick on the 19th December.

And, I don't 'get' this percent and degree of slope business. Presumably 100% slope means totally vertical, but what is it in degrees - 180 degrees?

http://www.hixoxih.com/skiing/SkiSlopeRatingSystem.htm

Edit - Had another look - vertical is 90 degrees?

Ally

Re:Top Ten Toughest Ski Runs In The World

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 11:49:46 GMT

I went to Maryhofen last season and I skied down this.
When you pass it in the lift you appreciate how steep it is.
That and seeing someone fall over and then slide all the way to the bottom of the steep part minus skis and poles.

It was our last day and the weather wasn't that great (They closed a lot of the lifts about 5 minutes after I got down).
I was the only one that did it but it was really busy.
I got tired of waiting for the many people who were falling and hanging around and just went for it.
The first couple of turns were a bit hairy but asfter that I really enjoyed it.
it was probably the best I'd skied a black run.

If you're confident enough to go down most runs and capable of control and stopping quickly if needed then I'd say go for it.
If you're not sure then DON'T DO IT.

Re:Top Ten Toughest Ski Runs In The World

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 14:06:37 GMT

bandit wrote:

I have a number of photos similar to this of slopes I skied in Verbier. I have to say that the very first time I got to the top (too late to turn back) I really wondered what my purpose on this planet was, but when I got to the bottom I realised what it was. Technically difficult in terms of never having been taught to ski on this kind of terrain but a massive sense of achievement having done so. I promptly went back to the top and did it again.
Verbier has lots of linked runs and itinery routes like this, very much the same in St Anton. My wife nearly killed me when I persuaded her to tackle some runs like this, but I knew she was competent enough to handle it and she was better than me!
I think this kind of stuff is why I bought fatter skis.....

Re:Top Ten Toughest Ski Runs In The World

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 14:13:37 GMT

Tony_H wrote:

bandit wrote:

I have a number of photos similar to this of slopes I skied in Verbier. I have to say that the very first time I got to the top (too late to turn back) I really wondered what my purpose on this planet was, but when I got to the bottom I realised what it was. Technically difficult in terms of never having been taught to ski on this kind of terrain but a massive sense of achievement having done so. I promptly went back to the top and did it again.
Verbier has lots of linked runs and itinery routes like this, very much the same in St Anton. My wife nearly killed me when I persuaded her to tackle some runs like this, but I knew she was competent enough to handle it and she was better than me!
I think this kind of stuff is why I bought fatter skis.....

I'd give it a go. :D

Re:Top Ten Toughest Ski Runs In The World

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 14:14:09 GMT

You will be in January....... or something similar anyway )

Re:Top Ten Toughest Ski Runs In The World

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 14:17:06 GMT

I'm not a lover of Moguls they take too much out of my knee's so I tend to steer clear 8)

Re:Top Ten Toughest Ski Runs In The World

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 14:19:09 GMT

Tony_H wrote:You will be in January....... or something similar anyway )

Re:Top Ten Toughest Ski Runs In The World

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 14:21:51 GMT

Ian Wickham wrote:I'm not a lover of Moguls they take too much out of my knee's so I tend to steer clear 8)

I'm ok as long as I don't over do it and am wearing my knee support.

Re:Top Ten Toughest Ski Runs In The World

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 14:21:52 GMT

snowb4ndit wrote:

Tony_H wrote:You will be in January....... or something similar anyway )

You'll be begging for more of that by the end of the week. Oo er.

Re:Top Ten Toughest Ski Runs In The World

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 14:27:18 GMT

snowb4ndit wrote:

Ian Wickham wrote:I'm not a lover of Moguls they take too much out of my knee's so I tend to steer clear 8)

I'm ok as long as I don't over do it and am wearing my knee support.

But you are old ...... I'm only young :oops: :oops:

Re:Top Ten Toughest Ski Runs In The World

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 14:35:18 GMT

Ian Wickham wrote:

snowb4ndit wrote:

Ian Wickham wrote:I'm not a lover of Moguls they take too much out of my knee's so I tend to steer clear 8)

I'm ok as long as I don't over do it and am wearing my knee support.

But you are old ...... I'm only young :oops: :oops:

I suffer with ankylosing spondilitis...google that old man!

Re:Top Ten Toughest Ski Runs In The World

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 15:42:43 GMT

I've also skied the Hahnenkamm in Kitzbuhel.
Unfortunately it was about a month and a half later than the race and the size of the moguls was scary.
I was bricking it as I looked down and what awaited me and it was only that another group was going down that I followed.
We stayed together most of the way down which was good as otherwise I'd have done it on my own (probably not a wise choice!).

Felt elated once I'd reached the bottom in once piece.
I'll always remember stopping by the TV gantry near the top and seeing the ridiculous sight in front of me.

I hope to go to America or Canada one year but it is a lot more expensive.
Also the lift passes are so much dearer than in Europe and they're bad enough!

Maybe I'll give myself a treat in a year or so.
:)

Re:Top Ten Toughest Ski Runs In The World

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 21:18:29 GMT

Just for you Snowbandit, heres what to expect in January:

When I first looked at these pictures, I wondered how I had got down there, but once you are there adrenalin kicks in and you just get on with it. I love doing some of this kind of stuff now and then.

Re:Top Ten Toughest Ski Runs In The World

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 21:30:37 GMT

I'm so excited...The first one looks like it needs to be done on an empty stomach! :lol:

Edit: Is the last pic a close up of the first pic?

Re:Top Ten Toughest Ski Runs In The World

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 21:31:20 GMT

Following on from an earlier post...

La Garganta in Portillo.

Fun once you are on.....

Frightening at the top....

Safe to say, with a fractured skull and colarbone, I did a fair bit of slip-sliding down this one :)

and to illustrate what I was not doing on it...

:shock:

Re:Top Ten Toughest Ski Runs In The World

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 21:33:57 GMT

Tino, here is the full photo set from that image if you haven't already got it:

www.flickr.com/photos/skiportillochile/

Re:Top Ten Toughest Ski Runs In The World

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 21:40:14 GMT

Pablo Escobar wrote:Tino, here is the full photo set from that image if you haven't already got it:

www.flickr.com/photos/skiportillochile/

Cheers Pabs, had not seen the whole set.... It is an awesome resort, not a huge area or a great amount of vertical, but it is steep.

This is the best road in the world, and it is the main highway between Santiago in Chile and Mendoza in Argentina. when riding at lunchtime it is logjammed with trucks.

Re:Top Ten Toughest Ski Runs In The World

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 23:36:08 GMT

snowb4ndit wrote:I'm so excited...The first one looks like it needs to be done on an empty stomach! :lol:

Edit: Is the last pic a close up of the first pic?

1,2 and 5 are the same slope.

Re:Top Ten Toughest Ski Runs In The World

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 23:42:05 GMT

Re:Top Ten Toughest Ski Runs In The World

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 03:25:30 GMT

Tony_H wrote:Just for you Snowbandit, heres what to expect in January:

When I first looked at these pictures, I wondered how I had got down there, but once you are there adrenalin kicks in and you just get on with it. I love doing some of this kind of stuff now and then.

Is that first picture somewhere in Tignes, after going up a "tres difficile" poma lift? If not, it looks an awful lot like something I skied this year, with solid ice moguls that had in some places formed into simple steps. Tried the aggressive approach for the whole of 5 seconds, at which my point my feet starter to hurt lots.

It's a ridiculous hour of the morning, so I'll add my bit another time.

Re:Top Ten Toughest Ski Runs In The World

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 09:14:57 GMT

Gooseh wrote:

Tony_H wrote:Just for you Snowbandit, heres what to expect in January:

When I first looked at these pictures, I wondered how I had got down there, but once you are there adrenalin kicks in and you just get on with it. I love doing some of this kind of stuff now and then.

Is that first picture somewhere in Tignes, after going up a "tres difficile" poma lift? If not, it looks an awful lot like something I skied this year, with solid ice moguls that had in some places formed into simple steps. Tried the aggressive approach for the whole of 5 seconds, at which my point my feet starter to hurt lots.

It's a ridiculous hour of the morning, so I'll add my bit another time.

Nope, I've never skied Tignes. These were all taken at Verbier between Chassoure and Tortin and Siviez and it wasn't at all icy, in fact quite a nice soft snow.

Re:Top Ten Toughest Ski Runs In The World

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 09:42:22 GMT

Tony,
Those moguls look really horrible :shock: Well done for getting down in one piece. I think I'd have gone back down in the lift :D

Ally

Re:Top Ten Toughest Ski Runs In The World

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 09:42:43 GMT

Here's another one that can be a bit sketchy depending on the conditions, " Devils Crotch "

Caught the edge of a rock on this one and slid for part of it which was intersting :lol:

Re:Top Ten Toughest Ski Runs In The World

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 13:48:32 GMT

Where's that, Scotland by the look of the snow.....?

Re:Top Ten Toughest Ski Runs In The World

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 13:53:08 GMT

AllyG wrote:Tony,
Those moguls look really horrible :shock: Well done for getting down in one piece. I think I'd have gone back down in the lift :D

Ally

Non possible madame. Once you get over the ridge to this point, in order to be able to see whats ahead, you are there and theres no turning back. To get back to the lift would be a horrible treck on foot and the snow was so deep then that it would have been nigh on impossible.
I have to confess the first time I got to the top, I looked over and thought it was simply not possible for someone of my experience to do, but my mate and I egged each other on and eventually made it down the first and steepest bit. As you can see from the other photo, the moguls go on for miles but eventually when you realise you are not going to die, you get into a rhythm although I have not been taught how to ski moguls TBH. I headed away to the edges to find the deeper stuff and had a bit of a laugh in that, which took us into the meadows you can see in one of the other pictures.
What I enjoyed about it was the varying terrain, all stuff I'd never have considered before but now I tend to go looking for it.
I could really do with some powder and mogul lessons though.

Re:Top Ten Toughest Ski Runs In The World

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 14:58:17 GMT

I've had powder and mogul lessons...I'm still crap though! :D

Re:Top Ten Toughest Ski Runs In The World

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 15:03:54 GMT

Easy moguls are... easy, if they aren't too big and on a relatively shallow pitch you just need to be handy with your short turns and know where to use them.

Re:Top Ten Toughest Ski Runs In The World

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 15:04:24 GMT

Tony_H wrote:Where's that, Scotland by the look of the snow.....?

Snow was very sketchy, it was pretty much the end of march in Brekenridge though so cant complain

Re:Top Ten Toughest Ski Runs In The World

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 15:10:13 GMT

Pablo Escobar wrote:Easy moguls are... easy, if they aren't too big and on a relatively shallow pitch you just need to be handy with your short turns and know where to use them.

I'm ok'ish on moguls it's the deep powder that does me in.

Re:Top Ten Toughest Ski Runs In The World

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 15:21:57 GMT

snowb4ndit wrote:

Pablo Escobar wrote:Easy moguls are... easy, if they aren't too big and on a relatively shallow pitch you just need to be handy with your short turns and know where to use them.

I'm ok'ish on moguls it's the deep powder that does me in.

Powder is the most enjoyable 'type' of snow to ski when you have it dialed. 2 things will help you, balance and fat skis )

Re:Top Ten Toughest Ski Runs In The World

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 15:42:02 GMT

Do I need fatter than these?

Rossi bandits B78's

Re:Top Ten Toughest Ski Runs In The World

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 15:45:53 GMT

snowb4ndit wrote:Do I need fatter than these?

Rossi bandits B78's

Uh Ohhh you shouldn't have asked Pablo that question !

Re:Top Ten Toughest Ski Runs In The World

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 15:51:02 GMT

snowb4ndit wrote:Do I need fatter than these?

Rossi bandits B78's

No, now all you need is balance ;)

Re:Top Ten Toughest Ski Runs In The World

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 15:53:18 GMT

Pablo Escobar wrote:

snowb4ndit wrote:Do I need fatter than these?

Rossi bandits B78's

No, now all you need is balance ;)

You should see me whizz across a tight rope! :lol:

Re:Top Ten Toughest Ski Runs In The World

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 16:28:07 GMT

A ski instructor told me that being able to ski with your skis close together helps when trying to get through moguls - which explains why I'm rubbish at it because I tend to ski with my skis further apart.

I would have thought very short skis would also be good - the kids seem to have no problem getting through them. I had to get through a mogul field in a lesson last holiday, and the moguls were huge - about the height of a kitchen worktop and really steep! The only thing I could do was sit on them and swing my legs and skis round (which is obviously not the recommended technique!).

It is another of the many things I need to get better at.

Ally

Re:Top Ten Toughest Ski Runs In The World

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 16:38:08 GMT

snowb4ndit wrote:Do I need fatter than these?

Rossi bandits B78's

They'll get you around ADH. We won't be going heli skiing into 4 metres of freshies but they're a good all mountain ski. Didn't know you had those????

Re:Top Ten Toughest Ski Runs In The World

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 16:53:39 GMT

AllyG wrote:A ski instructor told me that being able to ski with your skis close together helps when trying to get through moguls - which explains why I'm rubbish at it because I tend to ski with my skis further apart.

I would have thought very short skis would also be good - the kids seem to have no problem getting through them. I had to get through a mogul field in a lesson last holiday, and the moguls were huge - about the height of a kitchen worktop and really steep! The only thing I could do was sit on them and swing my legs and skis round (which is obviously not the recommended technique!).

It is another of the many things I need to get better at.

Ally

for moguls im pretty sure you are right that short skis are better but for powder its def longer=better (and fatter of course!)

Re:Top Ten Toughest Ski Runs In The World

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 16:55:50 GMT

To a point, it will get to the stage where you are sacrificing manoeuvrability for stability you don't really need.

Re:Top Ten Toughest Ski Runs In The World

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 16:57:46 GMT

Pablo,
You mean, don't try going on powder using skis more than about 2 foot (60 cms for our younger members) wide :lol:

Ally

Re:Top Ten Toughest Ski Runs In The World

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 17:00:33 GMT

AllyG wrote:Pablo,
You mean, don't try going on powder using skis more than about 2 foot (60 cms for our younger members) wide :lol:

Ally

You got it!

Re:Top Ten Toughest Ski Runs In The World

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 17:53:30 GMT

snowb4ndit wrote:

Pablo Escobar wrote:Easy moguls are... easy, if they aren't too big and on a relatively shallow pitch you just need to be handy with your short turns and know where to use them.

I'm ok'ish on moguls it's the deep powder that does me in.

Just because you don't do well in powder, doesn't mean you're not a good skier. The same people on powder and the race course.

Trencher

Re:Top Ten Toughest Ski Runs In The World

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 17:57:49 GMT

To me, it just looks like they are trying to ski powder like they would ski a set course. Different tactics are required for all different conditions/slopes.

Re:Top Ten Toughest Ski Runs In The World

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 18:04:22 GMT

Trencher wrote:

snowb4ndit wrote:

Pablo Escobar wrote:Easy moguls are... easy, if they aren't too big and on a relatively shallow pitch you just need to be handy with your short turns and know where to use them.

I'm ok'ish on moguls it's the deep powder that does me in.

Just because you don't do well in powder, doesn't mean you're not a good skier. The same people on powder and the race course.

Trencher

that is a brilliant clip-they did not look comfortable off the piste there at all!!

first guy was good though and they look so smooth round the gates!

Re:Top Ten Toughest Ski Runs In The World

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 18:07:18 GMT

Trencher,
Thanks very much for that - it was great. It made me laugh watching them doing the jump at the beginning - if that was me I'd have been flat on my face just doing the jump! I hope they were all okay after falling like that.

Is it compulsory to whack the slalom gates with your pole as you go past? They were definitely much better at doing that. They looked like they'd never been in deep powder before.

Ally

Re:Top Ten Toughest Ski Runs In The World

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 18:08:45 GMT

its the natural fastest line around the gate for the ski but it leaves the body to cut across the pole-bloody hurts so it does!

Re:Top Ten Toughest Ski Runs In The World

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 18:22:02 GMT

Tony_H wrote:Didn't know you had those????

Yep, got them in Whistler two years ago...I love 'em!

You probably didn't know because I didn't post a photo of them in my bed like some nutters do! :lol:

Re:Top Ten Toughest Ski Runs In The World

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 18:25:11 GMT

Trencher wrote:

snowb4ndit wrote:

Pablo Escobar wrote:Easy moguls are... easy, if they aren't too big and on a relatively shallow pitch you just need to be handy with your short turns and know where to use them.

I'm ok'ish on moguls it's the deep powder that does me in.

Just because you don't do well in powder, doesn't mean you're not a good skier. The same people on powder and the race course.

Trencher

Great video, it made me laugh...that's exactly what happens to me when I venture into deep powder. I don't get quite as far as they did before falling over though. :roll:

Re:Top Ten Toughest Ski Runs In The World

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 18:25:13 GMT

snowb4ndit wrote:

Tony_H wrote:Didn't know you had those????

Yep, got them in Whistler two years ago...I love 'em!

You probably didn't know because I didn't post a photo of them in my bed like some nutters do! :lol:

You're not denying you had them in your bed though, are you?

Re:Top Ten Toughest Ski Runs In The World

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 18:29:57 GMT

Tony_H wrote:

snowb4ndit wrote:

Tony_H wrote:Didn't know you had those????

Yep, got them in Whistler two years ago...I love 'em!

You probably didn't know because I didn't post a photo of them in my bed like some nutters do! :lol:

You're not denying you had them in your bed though, are you?

No I didn't but I did name myself after them! :lol:

Re:Top Ten Toughest Ski Runs In The World

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 18:32:00 GMT

snowb4ndit wrote:

Tony_H wrote:

snowb4ndit wrote:

Tony_H wrote:Didn't know you had those????

Yep, got them in Whistler two years ago...I love 'em!

You probably didn't know because I didn't post a photo of them in my bed like some nutters do! :lol:

You're not denying you had them in your bed though, are you?

No I didn't but I did name myself after them! :lol:

I dont think you are the only one on here to have done that....

Re:Top Ten Toughest Ski Runs In The World

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 19:31:43 GMT

AllyG wrote:
Is it compulsory to whack the slalom gates with your pole as you go past? They were definitely much better at doing that. They looked like they'd never been in deep powder before.

Ally

It's slalom, where the skiers cross block with the pole to push the gate out of the way. Those guys were on a GS course, Where it's normally the arm/shoulder area that hits the gate. The worst part is not hitting the gate, but occasionally the inside pole of the gate whips around, and hits you across the back. It's like some black belt at kendo just took a whack at you.

Ally, when you are doing that slalom class this winter, I'm sure that you won't be expected to touch the gates, just go around them.

Trencher

Re:Top Ten Toughest Ski Runs In The World

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 19:39:20 GMT

Thanks Trencher,
That's very sweet of you. How did you know that's what I was worrying about?

My left arm still isn't 100% after I injured it in March dragging a giant flower pot out of the way while painting for our holidaymakers, and I'm not at all sure I could whack a slalom gate with my pole. Funnily enough, my right arm and shoulder, the one I broke on the dry ski slope, is actually stronger now than the one I injured with the flower pot. Just shows that building/painting/gardening is more dangerous than ski-ing.

I have paid now for that course, if you were wondering, but they're not promising it will go ahead, or the off-piste my daughter's booked in to - apparently it depends on the snow conditions in Feb, but there will be a substitute course.

Ally

Re:Top Ten Toughest Ski Runs In The World

Mon, 30 Nov 2009 17:31:24 GMT

I've found a YouTube clip of a brave soul carrying a camcorder down the Swiss Wall :D

Enjoy :D

Re:Top Ten Toughest Ski Runs In The World

Mon, 30 Nov 2009 18:03:58 GMT

good god at around 1.00 there it look horrific!! no way it was that icy or windy when i did it-i quite enjoyed it i remember!

Re:Top Ten Toughest Ski Runs In The World

Mon, 30 Nov 2009 18:48:08 GMT

I enjoyed that for 2 reasons. 1 the mogul fields I did in Verbier look a lot harder than that and 2 it made me feel a lot better about my own mogul skiing!