Poster: A snowHead
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hi , I am hoping to get to la grave for a week this winter. likely to in the company of a group of skiers and to be the sole boarder. we have guides provisionally arranged. Would there be a big advantage to learning to use a splitboard to keep up with the skiers whilst accessing runs?or could just plought through the snow , or use snowshoes. I have been briefly to la grave but cant really remember how much hiking involved to reach most lines. Any words of wisdom appreciated . cheers
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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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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Have you ever used a splitboard before? It's not all that easy or intuitive - going up gets better with experience and they ride differently coming down too. Do you have the option of a few days' training beforehand?
How experienced are your skier buddies? If the answer is very then I'd take the snowshoes/boot pack and traversing option.
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@anthonymoore, Most of the riding at LG is lift served -- very little walking or skinning needed. There are some places you walk too - Traversing back to the lift can be tedious. So -- unless you are specifically going to tour (i.e. your skiing buddies are all packing skins) then you'll be fine with your stock board.
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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 prompt replies. It will be a fairly mixed group of off piste skiers , no doubt some will be skinning machines , hopefully others less so. I have never used a splitboard before , and will try to organise some tuition and split board hire in serre chevalier the week before if it seems worthwhile learning for the la grave week. If anyone has suggestions for a source of tuition or split board kit hire in serre chevalier that would be very helpful too. I am currently trying to decide if splitboarding and all its attendant expense and hassle is enough of an advantage over good old fashioned walking and maybe snowshoes. I am interested in nice long powder descents and accessing them , rather than ski touring per se.thanks again .Ps was hoping to come to the off piste bash again this year , having really enjoyed it a few years back , but looks like its all full now.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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I'd disagree with @jiagedaping, using a splitboard really isn't hard. Just make sure you're familiar with splitting / assembling before you go out and don't try to do some monster day as your first ever tour.
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Wouldn't say it's easy stevo... The assembly/disassembly part of it is straightforward, if fiddly, but the actual skinning takes some getting used to. Certainly edging, negotiating downhill sections, steeper/icier terrain, picking your way through anything rocky - I was a bit like Bambi on ice my first few sessions!
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@anthonymoore, Check with your mates/guide what they are planning to do ... you don't need to skin to get to any of the "nice long powder descents"...
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