 Poster: A snowHead
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Records of Whistler's monthly snow totals go back 25 years. January 2006 broke all those records.
All in all, 461cm of snow fell on Whistler last month, compared with the previous record of 459cm in January 1992.
This has come as very good news to the Canadian resort, because last winter's snow record was unusually poor.
This report from SkiPressWorld.
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| “I’ve lost track of all the great lines I’ve had this month; it has been outrageously good,” says Leslie Anthony, Editorial/Creative Director of SKIER Magazine and Whistler resident. “I’ve experienced this type of weather pattern before but in smaller spurts." |
And there's another 4 great lines!
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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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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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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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Robbie, I know!! But all that suspense and reports of rivers running down the slopes were awful.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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But can us skiers who dont like deep powder ski there. Do they groom daily?
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| Frosty the Snowman wrote: |
| But can us skiers who dont like deep powder ski there. Do they groom daily? |
Yes, some of them, though I suspect the grooming got buried under the 40cm of snow sunday night We were commenting the other day on how after snow they tend to groom one half on the wider green and blues, whilst leaving the other side ungroomed. I think this is a great idea so powder/bumps beginners can make a few turns in the powder/bumps then return to the groomer whenever, also good for mixed ability groups.
Last edited by Then you can post your own questions or snow reports... on Wed 1-02-06 12:03; edited 1 time in total
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Frosty the Snowman, no, it was actually really hard work, but good fun, and I didn't have any really deep stuff. I actually enjoyed our last day the best, glorious sunshine, good visibilty (It is often foggy), and the slopes on Blackcomb down to the gondola had been groomed well.
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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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Great news, I am off to Whistler on Friday !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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snowball, If you get chance, do some skiing with Extremely Canadian, they will certainly help make the most of the excellent conditions.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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stuarth, yes, I shall be skiing Monday and Tuesday with them. I take it you have done so? I'd welcome hearing what they were like. This is my first time in Canada.
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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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snowball,
yes, once or twice (or about 15 times I think)
Extremely Canadian is probably the best program in Whistler in my opinion. It most definitely isn't ski school, they ski you hard and push you behond what you think you really want to be doing as well as finding the best snow on the mountains. Instruction is more directed towards the strategic (ie how to approach certain types of runs, and pick entries and lines) with more technical stuff only where required. Not sure who'll be doing the coaching next week, but I've been skiing with Ricky, Nick, Ralph, and Steve (Clarke) over the last few weeks and all have been excellent (though all slightly crazy!).
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And to see exactly how that snow's been piling up, check out this thread on Epic:
http://forums.epicski.com/showthread.php?t=34486
Another 6 weeks before I head out. Lets hope it keeps on coming!!!
Frosty the Snowman,
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But can us skiers who dont like deep powder ski there. Do they groom daily?
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No. Do not go to Whistler. Do not pass go. Do not collect £200.
Grooming is a crime against skiing 
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You know it makes sense.
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Snowball - you're very lucky, and I'm very jealous that you're going on Friday while I go back to work! Just got back today after 10 days in Whistler and can confirm that the snow is brilliant at the moment. Certainly the best I have ever experienced.
We were lucky enough to have new snow most days of our trip - we spent our days enjoying all the powder, and our evenings looking out of the pub window giggling like school children at all the snow falling!! Our last day of skiing (Monday) was the icing on the cake - 40cm overnight and fresh powder all day long if you know where to look. We certainly got lucky catching the end of their snowiest January, but I think you're going to get it just as good if the amount of rain falling in Vancouver when we left 20 hours ago is anything to go by!!
I'm so depressed to be home....
Enjoy yourself
Billy M
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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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Thanks,Billy M and stuarth.
Just to make you even more jealous - after that I am going heli-skiing for the first (and probably last) time of my life, a bit further north beside that southern tongue of Alaska. It is a new lodge for 2 groups of 5 guests, each with a guide, They have 2.2 million acres of unoccupied, previously unskied mountains. Heh heh.
Now I just have to dodge too much snow so we can't fly.....
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Poster: A snowHead
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He he he
I can't stop grinning !!! Face shots all the way down catskinner, gearjammer, yesterday morning. All fresh!!
Woo hoo!!
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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snowball,
That's hardly fair is it? There's me sitting here back in the UK depressed and unable to sleep as my body tells me it's 6.45pm and I should be in the hot tub planning which pub to head to tonight and which mountain to ski tomorrow, and you're talking about heli-skiing!!!
Funnily enough, over a couple of beers on our last night we were discussing how we could possibly top this holiday next year, and we agreed that it probably couldn't be topped as it was so good. The only thing we could think of that would beat it was heli-skiing in Alaska, alas a little out of our price range. So yes, you've made me even more jealous!!
Inspired by our Whistler holiday, we're now trying to think of a way we can leave the UK and our jobs behind and make a life of skiing...... If only!!
Have a good one.
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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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wee hee, 21 sleeps ...
keep on snowing...
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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I chose "Last Frontier" (their Ripley Creek lodge) as a compromise between the high number of no-fly days in Alaska and the slightly lesser excitement of Canadian skiing compared to Alaska (ie less steep slopes). I am told they are nearly as exciting and with rather more fly days. Last year all the Ripley guests got to ski routes that no group had ever skied before (and were invited to name them). I'm told they hope to still do it this year.
I'll report when I get back but yes, it is very, very expensive (once in a lifetime - before I get too old to get the best out of it !).
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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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Frosty the Snowman, I would have to say, that if putting strain on your knees is a problem, then Whistler is probably not for you. Both times I've been there it's had heavy snowfalls (too heavy for the piste bashers to keep up with), and it also tends to be quite wet snow, rather than fluffy light powder, so it can be quite heavy going.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Kramer, thats what I found, the snow was hard work to ski, not nice light fluffy stuff at all.
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We're out there for the 25th Feb and it's half-price on ski lessons that week! We've booked the Atomic Dave Murray 3-day camp. Can't wait.
We've booked top-end rental skis, so how good a selection does Whistler have? We were in Alpe D'huez over Christmas and the selection of skis was poor, though we were lucky to both get brand-new Atomic M10s (which didn't look so good at the end of the week after we found EVERY exposed rock in the resort).
Assuming that great snow continues, what skis are recommended? I'm an upper intermediate (5'10"/178cm height, 86kg) who wants to venture more off-piste, but I'd still expect to be spending more than 50% of my time on the groomed.
Never skiied anything that would be considered wide. I did enjoy the Dynastar Legend 4800 last year, which was recommended to me by the shop after I'd said I would 100% on-piste. I later learned that the 4800 was more a 50/50 on-piste/off-piste ski. Not complaining - best ski I'd been on up till then.
hbunny
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hbunny, might see you on the camp then, we're out 25th feb - I'm planning to book the camp for the second week (3rd march?). must get round to it!
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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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I'll be on DM camp that week too hbunny,
20 sleeps and counting...
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Smallzookeeper's constant praise of the Volkl Karma has seeped into my brain and I was contemplating that as a potential ski.
Having enjoyed the Dynastar Legend 4800 last season, the Legend 8000 is also on my list, along with the Head Monster IM 72, Volkl AC3, Nordica Hot Rod Nitrous - though these are all skinnier than the Karma.
Maybe I need to re-visit this list if the good snow continues. Head IM 88 looks good - ski of the year over at www.readskiers.com.
Then it's the question of what length.
And what model for the girlfriend.
My head aches (in a good way)!
hbunny
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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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Fat skis fat skis fat skis
Another 30-40 cm forecast for tonight.......... 
I seem to be on my Mojo90's almost permanently these days
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hbunny,
Hey! Good choice! The Dave Murray guys ( Tom Pro & Co ) are sponsered by Atomic, and have Metrons to demo, grab a pair (free of charge I believe for the camp). They are really great all round sks.
I'm skiing a pair of Metrons ( I took the Atomic binding and race riser plate off) with tour bindings on them and they are the best all round ski I have found, wide enough to float happily off piste and in the crud, yet with enough sidecut to carve cleanly on hardpack... My recomendation too!
Have fun!
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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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Since we can test-drive some Atomics with the Dave Murray camp we're planning on trying some different manufacturers for our main hire skis for the week.
I really liked the M10s I tried over Christmas, so I'd be interested in trying the M11, B5, M:EX or Sweet Daddy. Any chance of the 2007 models being available for testing with Dave Murray?
hbunny
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FAQ
Glad you're having fun though Stuart !!! 
