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Off Piste With EdSkiTherapy
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Poster:
A snowHead
Poster:
A snowHead
Just back from a week long beginners off piste course with
Ed
based at the Skiers Lodge in La Grave.
At first sight its seems a strange place to go to learn how to ski off piste, La Grave is a place thats got a big reputation for steep deep and dangerous routes, no pistes (its actually got two blues), no patrols and guides recommended just to get in the lift. In fact there's terrain of all types on La Meije, its not all 55 degree couloirs with an abseil entry, and if something different is needed the position makes access to other resorts easy in the hotels minibuses and of course there's HUGE kudos in just being there
We had a group of 4 + our instructor/therapist Ed for 6 days with an additional guide on the longer off piste routes. We were all of similar skiing standard, able to comfortably ski anything pisted and relatively fit. Ages ranged from 27 to 42 (guess who wasn't the spring chicken)
We spent the two days initially doing piste based work in Serre Chevalier and Montgenevre with some videoing while our technique was given a good going over, braking the turn right down to components and putting it back together again, then moving on to how the on piste technique needs to change to become effective in varying snow conditions. Lots of skidding/flat turning/pivoting/stem turning/side slipping followed and our first stumbling taste (literally) of powder in Montgenevre.
The instruction after the intensive first couple of days was more low key and was interspersed in off piste itineries in La Grave and Alpe d'Huez.
Those final two days were the best fun on skis I can remenber having had, powder/moguls/cut up crud all made no difference. We weren't ski gods by any means but were full of confidence in being able to handle whatever was round the next corner.
The week we did was something of an experiment for the both Skiers Lodge and Ed. Skiers Lodge is well known for guided off piste of the more hardcore variety and Ed operates in Chamonix most of the time but hopes to shift more of his time to La Grave if these weeks take off.
For anyone serious about getting to grips with off piste skiing add who wants to have a damn good time doing time doing it I can thoroughly recommend
Ed
and
Skierslodge
Obviously
A snowHead
isn't a real person
Obviously
A snowHead
isn't a real person
Sounds like you had a great time
I think all you have to be is comfortable and safe in these conditions and you can go from there. We all like to think we can leave great tracks but it ain't always so...
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?
Interesting and not surprising that the first two days were on piste to correct basic faults with the turns etc. It all comes down to basics - pity he doesn't actually give his name on his website though!
Glad you had a good time Rich.
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Poster: A snowHead
Glad you had a good time Rich. 