 Poster: A snowHead
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Sorry, kevducky, I didn't answer your question there.
If you're hiring a car from the Swiss side of Geneva airport then you'll get a car with snow tyres and snow chains included. They have to give you chains and tyres by law.
If you're hiring from the French side then it'll be pot luck as they don't have to give you snow tyres / chains. Personally, I've only ever needed chains once in four years. But when I needed them I really needed them.
My advice would always be to get snow tyres and snow chains.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Got back on Sunday and despite having a really bad cold that means my right ear still hasn’t popped after the flight, feel sort of spaced out after the great boarding we had.
Arrived on the 23rd. Felt totally bushed after no sleep on the Saturday and driving to Gatwick at midnight but perked up when we arrived at Geneva. Temp was nice and chilly and there was loads of snow all the way up to Les Gets so thought it would be rude not to make use of the afternoon. Left the missus to recoup in the bar while I took the Chavannes lift up above LG to do some of the blues. Did Bruyere and Gentiane a few times, headed down into the bowl and just messed around finding my ‘groove’ after so long away from snow.
Met a guy from Scarborough (Dan) and a guy from London (Ken) at dinner that evening and we all decided to head out together as company. Dan was on his first holiday after doing lessons at Castleford and Ken was a skier who was on his second week doing boarding. Managed to lose both of them on the first day but after that, we just hung around together, which made the week enjoyable.
Monday night is absolutely dumped with snow so Tuesday headed straight up to Mt Chery, where there must have been us and about 10 other people on the whole mountain – sweet! The powder was totally amazing and just helped no end to help us speed up and crack red runs at full pelt. Never thought I’d be dismissing blues as easy but after that day, we only used blues when we had no other option.
Even when Mt Chery got tracked out, the powder retained its fluffiness and even on the LG and Morzine sides, the powder was superb.
Wednesday we headed over to Morzine to do the Pleney runs but were severely disappointed by the poor snow that was rock-hard in places. The fact that there was mud and grass coming through on some runs, and the way the ski schools monopolised these lower slopes really dampened our enthusiasm for Morzine, especially when the Les gets sector was so much more fun. That was the last bit of Morzine we did.
Thursday we were achy but looking forward to some serious action in the bowl so after a few hours on Mt Chery again (Epiviere and Livre are just amazingly good runs for boarders) we took the Chavannes lift up and then boarded down to the main lifts to get the Ranfolly lift so we could do Tulipe – what a run. Soft, soft powder and just great carving territory. It’s a shame that all the red runs became mogully too quickly though, as flattened down they were great to board down.
Friday we spent an hour on Chery again before doing Pont Du Nyon and Chamosserie in blizzard conditions. These are by far he best runs in the area; steep reds that retain good, soft snow thanks to their height and direction. The chairlifts getting up are small and a bit slow and when the weather is poor they’re really hairy red runs that really do get the adrenaline pumping. The Arbis off Chamosserie is particularly good but was hard to navigate in whiteout conditions.
Saturday saw rising temps and more slush, but it was good slush that held nicely and allows for amazing turns at high-speed that we couldn’t have done on the hard pack mid-week. We were up for the first lift, firstly into the bowl and then over to PDN and Chamosserie again, before lunch and an afternoon at the snowpark on Mt Chery to finish the week nicely. They had the airbag set up for a €1 a go and it was good to do some proper jumps without feeling like you’d end up in traction. Managed a few of the blue and red jumps afterwards and even tried a big black jump - did it but only just!!
It seem LG is a skiing resort and not one that has an affinity for boarders. Nonetheless, we were never eyed up by skiers as a load of punks and the skiers never seemed bothered about getting on a chairlift with several of us.
There is a big problem with the resort in that there too many skiers lack bottle, even on easy runs. I say this because on pisted runs that were beautifully flattened, within minutes of the first bunch of skiers going down, the moguls started – the skiers, even the experienced ones, just didn’t have the ability to go in a straight line!! I don’t mind some bumps but trying to carve in between huge lumps of snow isn’t fun all the time and you could see that there were only a few skiers who went flat out down a hill. Most seemed to do that poncy side-to-side thing that really ruined some of the runs and made them a chore rather than a pleasure to ride.
Crowds weren’t too much of an issue and because there was brilliant snow, there was so much room to board so you rarely felt you were being crowded in.
LG lived up to the hype that fellow  s had given it and it’ll definitely be a resort I’ll be going back to, if only for the amazing number of good red runs.
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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Specialman, interesting report. Sounds like you had a great time.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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Thanks for the update, I am off next week to Morzine/Avoraiz. hope it doesn't rain...
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davejsy, amazing place. Would love to be there now, it was awesome 
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| Specialman wrote: |
.......too many skiers lack bottle, even on easy runs. ...the skiers .... just didn’t have the ability to go in a straight line!! ...there were only a few skiers who went flat out down a hill. Most seemed to do that poncy side-to-side thing that really ruined some of the runs and made them a chore rather than a pleasure to ride.
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If only we all had your talent. After all, you're able to do red runs now. 
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| Red Leon wrote: |
| Specialman wrote: |
.......too many skiers lack bottle, even on easy runs. ...the skiers .... just didn’t have the ability to go in a straight line!! ...there were only a few skiers who went flat out down a hill. Most seemed to do that poncy side-to-side thing that really ruined some of the runs and made them a chore rather than a pleasure to ride.
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If only we all had your talent. After all, you're able to do red runs now. |
Must admit I yawned a bit at the comment, boarders hurtling straight from top to bottom with little or no skill, I don't call that being able to board, telling when boarders complain about moguls too, oh well, at least there's something to dangle their legs off when sat in the way.
Did "The Wall" when we were in Morzine for Christmas, amazing how many boarders were walking down, it's taken me years to get the "poncey side to side" thing right!
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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Red Leon, Standee, so i'm not allowed to have my own opinion of the situation? Jeez, it's like an old boys club in here sometimes when you happen to criticize skiers who may get a little more enjoyment out of a slope if only they didn't stop dead every time the put some pressure into a carve.
So, the ability to do red runs is not an achievement? I take it you're the types who are jumping of helicopters and doing the Valle Blanche just for fun because red and blacks have become too passe?
I take back my enthusiasm and won't darken your door again with all this talk of enjoying a piste as a smooth, snowy incline just as the snow gods intended...
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| Specialman wrote: |
Red Leon, Standee, so i'm not allowed to have my own opinion of the situation? Jeez, it's like an old boys club in here sometimes when you happen to criticize skiers who may get a little more enjoyment out of a slope if only they didn't stop dead every time the put some pressure into a carve.
So, the ability to do red runs is not an achievement? I take it you're the types who are jumping of helicopters and doing the Valle Blanche just for fun because red and blacks have become too passe?
I take back my enthusiasm and won't darken your door again with all this talk of enjoying a piste as a smooth, snowy incline just as the snow gods intended... |
You will find the snow gods intended slopes to be skied well, not with a constant scraping noise as boarders remove the snow from the top of the slope, only to sit in the middle of the slope in as inconvenient a place as possible, not to mention dragging their boards behind them getting off lifts and sitting in the spot where everyone else starts their runs.
But hey, we're poncey because we don't just hurtle top to bottom all the time.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Blimey - handbags are out this afternoon 
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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| Standee wrote: |
You will find the snow gods intended slopes to be skied well, not with a constant scraping noise as boarders remove the snow from the top of the slope, only to sit in the middle of the slope in as inconvenient a place as possible, not to mention dragging their boards behind them getting off lifts and sitting in the spot where everyone else starts their runs.
But hey, we're poncey because we don't just hurtle top to bottom all the time. |
I take it that you're not the biggest fan of snowboarding? I bet you were out of the same mould as one of the Hooray Henrys staying at our hotel who had a never-ending repertoire of insults he could throw at 'boarders for being blights on the mountainside? Get over yourself - snowboarders exist and there's little you can do to change that.
I was saying that during my week I noticed how the constant short carves that many skiers made were making a lot of moguls that made it difficult (at times) to make long, smooth carves across the slope. I followed some very classy skiers who were really making the most of the piste, putting large carves across the piste that looked mightily impressive and going hell for leather to boot.
So what if snowboards make a bit of noise, who cares? I'd hazard a guess that a set of skis will make the same noise on hard packed bit of snow.
Yep, there are a few snowboarders I've seen that just plonk themselves in random spots on the piste but I've seen just as many skiers do this – whoever they are and whatever they're into, they're being dangerous full stop. As for getting off lifts, I forget how many times skiers have rudely tried to push me out of the way because I'm not as mobile as they'd like me to be. Lift etiquette is pretty much non-existent anyway so a few snowboarders doing their bindings up shouldn't be a problem to such an experienced skier as yourself?
My god, I was making a comment about something that myself, the missus and several other people I talked to (some were skiers) pointed out. Your comments are just a bit playground and outdated, especially the inference that pistes should only be skied...
... next you'll be saying "my dad's hard than your dad"!!
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norris, maybe, but it just bugs me when you make a comment and then everyone starts get shitty about boarders being the scum of the earth...
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You know it makes sense.
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| Quote: |
Monday night is absolutely dumped with snow so Tuesday headed straight up to Mt Chery, where there must have been us and about 10 other people on the whole mountain – sweet! The powder was totally amazing and just helped no end to help us speed up and crack red runs at full pelt. Never thought I’d be dismissing blues as easy but after that day, we only used blues when we had no other option.
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You went to Mt Chery and went on runs?? Ah well I suppose that leaves the powder off piste in good condition for us poncy skiers.
Now I like a good blast on piste as much as the next person but I am also quite happy trying to perfect turns both on and off the piste.
The left side of Tulip normally keeps it's shape better as it is under used, watch out for the rollers though.
If you want real speed try the bottom of the black under the Chamossiere , wait until no one on the run back to the chair and let go as high as you dare. On poncy skis you should get up to 60mph if you let go high enough but on a board it will of course be slower.
Been reading the forum for a long time so thanks to all the contributors. I was out last week in what were fab conditions for the time of year.
Edge
Last edited by You know it makes sense. on Tue 1-04-08 16:25; edited 1 time in total
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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Poster: A snowHead
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| norris wrote: |
| Blimey - handbags are out this afternoon |
Lol, wasn't intended like that, I can both board and ski but prefer the speed available to me on skis, winds me up when boarders criticise skiers for going "side to side", it all depends on how you prefer to ski I guess.
I dread to think what speed we where doing when we (unintentionally) schussed the last third of Face in VDI two seasons ago, I rarely get off my skis and say I am never doing that run again, but Face is a definate no no, unless I wake up one morning and it is absolutley perfect.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Get yourself a little Navman sat nav and frighten yourself to death! When I went down the Face I was not that good on my skis but I do remember it being steep and with moguls the size of VW Beetles.
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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Specialman, eh, didn't maker any comments about snowboarding? I am a snowboarder!!!
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edge, the only way to tell you were on runs was by the little bits of the poles sticking up - the whole place was just one whole powder field. Amazing yet it always felt safe. Soon got tracked out but there was still plebnty of little untouched patches to have a go at.
There were loads of skiers doing the trees, which looked fun if you have the balls to do it. I wasn't prepared to impale myself on an evergreen at that point though...
Tulipe was great, a fantastic run that actually benefitted from the modula because it made you really investigate the off piste. The black under Cham' looked mental but we only headed up there lkate int he week so didn't really make the most if it. If we go back that will deffo be the first port of call...
Standee, was seriously impressed by some of the 'off-duty' ESF instructors and a few guys who we thought might be locals - the way they just care their way through some of those moguls on skis is serioulsy ipressive. The black under the Chamosserie chairlift was being mullered by them, total respect to those guys who just were plummetting at a rate of knots down the face!!
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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| Specialman wrote: |
| Standee, was seriously impressed by some of the 'off-duty' ESF instructors and a few guys who we thought might be locals - the way they just care their way through some of those moguls on skis is serioulsy ipressive. The black under the Chamosserie chairlift was being mullered by them, total respect to those guys who just were plummetting at a rate of knots down the face!! |
The ESF guys are amazing, our guid from the Chalet was also really good, and then here mum came out with us and pasted us all over the mountain, she's pushing 60 and makes us all look like amateurs (which, to be fair, we are compared to the locals). I'd never describe myself as anything more than a "solid intermediate" after seeing instructors in both France and Austria destroy the slopes!
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| Quote: |
| the skiers, even the experienced ones, just didn’t have the ability to go in a straight line |
Specialman, it's all very well saying that you are just voicing your own opinion but it would be interesting to know why you are of the opinion that any skier with the ability to do so would go down pistes "in a straight line". That has to be the most boring way of getting down a piste, unless it's so flat you can't get down it any other way. Interesting also that you noted that in LG you were not "eyed up by skiers as a load of punks". Eh? Has this been your experience elsewhere? What a shame.
Any value judgements which lump all skiers, or all boarders, together in any category (good or bad) probably tell us more about the judge than the judged.
As it seems obligatory to "come out" in this thread, I might add that I both ski and board.
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| Quote: |
| If you're hiring a car from the Swiss side of Geneva airport then you'll get a car with snow tyres and snow chains included. They have to give you chains and tyres by law. |
not always the case, actually. Some people staying here (who had contacted us through Snowheads) had two vehicles from Swiss side Geneva, and only one had chains. They only found out when we warned them of upcoming big snow on the morning they left. They were able to buy another set locally and the car hire company (I think it was Avis) reimbursed them. There is no way they could have got back to Geneva without them. It's always worth checking before you leave the airport.
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pam w, I'm not saying they should go down in a straight line, as it's been inferred us snowboarder like to, but rather than make one turn, carve and then practiclaly stop before continuing on doesn't seem a great way to maximise energy and it's not exactly keeping the piste good for ALL users.
In La Plagne I was eyed up as if I had the plague. Totally different in LG - the skiers got on the same chairlifts and even chatted. Never experienced that before.
I'm not 'lumping' anyone into a catagory, just commenting plainly on what I saw with my own two eyes. Skiers create moguls, it's as simple as that. If you want to deny it then by all means do so, but it won't change the facts.
I've never skied on snow so can't comment about the ease/difficulty of going down a hill but I have enough of a brain to work out that a lot of skiers aren't exactly making life easy or enjoyable for themselves.
Apologies to all if I've unknowingly allowed this thread to be diverted from its intended course...
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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Skiers may create moguls specialman. But they also created the environment you currently are enjoying. Without skiers in the past there would be no lift system or infrastructure.
Our party is mixed, we have a light hearted dig at each others disciplines but do not take it seriously. Chill, enjoy the mountain, you are welcome. But remember who was there first before having a go at the impact of skiers on the slopes.
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| pam w wrote: |
| As it seems obligatory to "come out" in this thread |
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Wherever I've been skiing then boarders seem well accepted (Grands Massif, Deux Alpes, Portes Du Soleil, Courcheval). I've yet to ski Les Gets - I got as far as Avoriaz from the Swiss side this year.
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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And La Plagne never seen or heard any bad mouthing -regularly ski with booarders ...........................................as long as you can do the hills who cares
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| Specialman wrote: |
| [Skiers create moguls, it's as simple as that. If you want to deny it then by all means do so, but it won't change the facts. |
You make it sound as if it's a bad thing
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You know it makes sense.
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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| Quote: |
We all know it's the cows who are asleep under the snow
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and then they pop out in the summer and keep the grass short. Of course everyone knows that the bigger moguls are actually old VW Beetles that get shipped in for the winter and are placed strategically just before the first snows fall.
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Poster: A snowHead
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| PhillipStanton wrote: |
| you're right in your assessment that Les Gets has a lot more skiers than boarders. I'm not sure why, but it's something I've observed. It's actually pretty much a live and let live place. Even those stupid ski bike things are tolerated. |
The bias towards skiing might be because it seemed very, very family oriented. Suppose the skiing thing is the easiest route for kiddies to get into wintersports (apart from snowball fighting) – am I right in thinking kids have to be a certain age before they're allowed to learn snowboarding but are allowed on skis pretty much as soon as they can walk?
It seemed a very live & let live place. Very refreshing and there didn't seem to be none of that snobbery, looking down noses at boarders that I did experience at times on my two trips to La Plagne.
The ski bike things for the disabled - jesus, how they manage to stay upright I don't know! Must have arms like Schwartzenegger!!!
Edge, sorry, but the days have passed since skiers 'owned' the mounrains. Skis may have been the first bits of wood to be used to slide down the mountain but not everyone goes to the mountains to ski thses days - Parapenting, Skidooing or Snowshoeing anyone? Oh yeah, and there's also a little know sport called snowboarding...
I digress....
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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| Specialman wrote: |
am I right in thinking kids have to be a certain age before they're allowed to learn snowboarding but are allowed on skis pretty much as soon as they can walk?
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Yes
By the way, what's wrong with moguls? (not that I'm an expert in skiing them of course)
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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Sorry to change the subject...snowing big fat wet flakes down here in LG village. Foggy low cloud. Assume/hope good snow is falling higher up. Temp is 5.4 deg so melting on roads as it falls at the moment.
Specialman, thanks for the report and ensuing debate - I think snowshoeing was the traditional way of getting around here even before skiing, having read a bit about Savoie recently..
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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snowzebra, finally back on track! thanks.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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The earlier starting age for skiing goes some way toi explaining why there were a lot of skier in LG - so many kiddies. Some of them totally fearless too
I don't have a problem with all moguls, just those that are detrimental to a run's enjoyment factor.
Put it this way, I boarded Tulipe in Les Gets and although mogully, it was a joy to carve down because the moguls weren't too tight and the piste didn't become a mass of unavoidable bumps. That's a good combo of mogul and pisted slope in my book.
Did the bit of Bruyere/Crocus just above the tunnel though and it was a chore after just an hour of being open, and this is a blue run, supposedly easier and more enjoyable for a wider audience. The moguls got tighter and tighter as skier after skier halted and decided to go down the slope slower and more tentatively, not doing carves as the first few had done, instead doing those side to side start/stop turns (is there a technical name for them?) because the the run went from flat to steep. This made it hard for the skiers and boarders who came afterwards and basially ruined the 'flow' of the run.
Some of the runs (Arbid, Belle Moulle) really benefitted from moguls in my eyes. They were big, really helped you turn and didn't throw you around too much as you carved across the face, adding to the enjoyment of going down them. I just got fed up of seeing moguls in places were they shouldn't really be.
With far more skiers than boarders in LG the math is simple as to why moguls appear - that's all i was trying to point out.
snowzebra, well done for getting us back on track
Last edited by Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do. on Wed 2-04-08 11:32; edited 1 time in total
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You'll need to Register first of course.
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| Specialman wrote: |
| This made it hard for the skiers and boarders who came afterwards and basially ruined the 'flow' of the run. |
Changed the flow of the run I think, rather than ruined it. You can ski slowly with lots of short radius turns and still have great flow. Is this possible on a board?
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Anyone got an update on conditions in Morzine,LG and Avoriaz then?
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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| Quote: |
Edge, sorry, but the days have passed since skiers 'owned' the mounrains. Skis may have been the first bits of wood to be used to slide down the mountain but not everyone goes to the mountains to ski thses days - Parapenting, Skidooing or Snowshoeing anyone? Oh yeah, and there's also a little know sport called snowboarding...
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Agree specialman that is why the past tense was used. The point was that without skiers in the past the infrastructure would not be there so do you think it is right to have a go at them, or do boarders now own the mountain.
There are now more boarders in my family that skiers, I have had a go at boarding and may have another. Let all who use the mountain enjoy it together!
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Others in family went to Avoriaz yesterday and said conditions excellent, good snow etc. Was getting wet and slushy here in Les Gets. Now it is still snowing in LG village, 2 degs, so hope/presume is settling up top, meant to be freezing at 1600m today.
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FAQ
