 Poster: A snowHead
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Right,
I'm a numpty who wants to do the old james Bond in the Alps impersonation (minus the Union Jack parachute) and really need to know what will be the best option; board or ski?
I've done dry slope skiing before but that was when i was in short trousers and before the beer got the better of me! A guy I know works for K2 and he said both have their merits but that boarding may see less time spent on my back bottom and more time actually moving at more than a snail's pace.
I'm planning on going with my missus and three friends (two of whom have boarded before) to La Plagne in January. The two boarders are actually going to book everything seperate to save cash, instead of going through the likes of Crystal Ski and Neilson. I'm the only one who's undecided on what i want to do, as I was always crap at skateboarding (I'll most probably be crucified on here for making the comparison!) and only marginally better at standing on two feet.
Also, is the standard of kit you can rent any good? I have the chance to get some K2 kit at a knock-down price direct from my matey at K2 but don't want to fork out ony to wish I'd taken the other route.
We'll be booking everything ourselves and not through a company like Neilson or Crystal. The two boarders reckon we'll save cash doing it this way so I don't want to get crap kit from some local rental place.
Are the fitting services at rental places up to much? I'm 6' 3" and 14st so want to know that I have kit made for me and not for a dwarf! I'm really apprehensive aboiut getting everything right so a bit of piece of mind regarding the kit will help me no end.
Also, regardless of whether i opt for board or ski, I was told to invest in a decent pair of goggles of my own, instead of relying on some scratched rental pair - is this wise and would it be expensive?
Cheers
Spesh
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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First, congratulations on going off to the mountains.... Second, relax! You haven't said what your missus wants to do - whether you decide on one plank or two (and I do both so am less prejudiced than some!) you will need really good lessons, and it's more fun if there are two of you learning together. Don't, whatever you do, accept any suggestions from your mates that you just tag along with them.
I am too old ever to have skateboarded (and pavements are too hard) but there is a lot of crossover between the two. If you were hopeless at skateboarding you might struggle a bit at first - and don't believe anybody who tells you that as a beginner snowboarder you spend less time on your @rse than a beginner skier. That's totally rubbish. What you will do, if you do well, is get up the learning curve faster. Someone said that skiing is easy to learn but hard to master, but snowboarding was hard to learn and easy to master. A young, strong, fit, athletic beginner snowboarder with a high pain threshold can be swooping down red runs with some style at the end of a week, with no decent tuition (I should know, I took my skateboard-champion nephew boarding for the first time, and had him overtake me effortlessly by day 2.. by day 3 I was back on skis so I could stay ahead!). Most of us, even the young skateboarders, will learn faster and less painfully with good instruction but it is probably true that you need more lessons to become half-decent at skiing.
If you choose snowboarding, make no mistake about it, you will fall, repeatedly, in your first few days on a snowboard but you can get protective clothing of various kinds, to help. On the other hand an attentive beginner, even if not a natural super athlete, can learn to ski with a good instructor without a lot of falling over.
On equipment, you are going to La Plagne (saw your other thread) and there are lots of hire shops where you can get good gear. Best not to buy anything at this stage, especially if you haven't decided whether to ski or board. The most important item of gear is boots, especially if you are a skier as they can be extremely uncomfortable if you get it wrong. Even then, a decent hire shop will sort you out, unless you have specially difficult feet. If they don't fit right, you can go back and change them. If you decide you like sliding, and want to continue with skiing or boarding, then boots are the first item to buy for yourself. But not before you first holiday.
Generally people have their own clothing,googles etc but there are places (such as Filarinskis in Havant) where you can hire excellent jackets and trousers without spending a fortune. Get goggles, but don't forget that if you end up out there without something important there are loads of shops to fill the gaps. You could have a sunny, warm, January week when you need nothing but sunnies, or a cold, windy, snowy week when you couldn't be out for five minutes without goggles.
There are arguments for DIY holidays - I haven't used a tour operator for some years - and maybe your friends have lots of experience of arranging ski holidays, in which case, lucky you! However, it can be good fun to be part of a wider group of you, all going off to lessons together and comparing notes in the bar in the evening. That is more likely if you are in a hotel or catered chalet (loads of TO chalets in La Plagne, though a lot of them are in 1850 which is not the most convenient part of the domain).
When I took ski lessons in La Plagne it was with ESF. But I think there are some specialist ski schools there that would probably be better - someone will be along to tell you about that soon (and no doubt to disagree with what I have said above - you'll get lots of views and advice on here.) Enjoy 
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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.
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On a seperate note, is it the 'done thing' to carry a rucksack around while you're boarding. I'm one of life's worriers who always like to have a few bits 'n' bobs to hand (including loads of food and my camera)? I use one of those Camelback thingys when I'm flyfishing but I suppose simple logic dictates that water will freeze in a pack up on the slopes!!!...
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Hi,
As I'm not a great snowboarder and my girlfriend is a pretty decent skier she carries the sack when we're out. TBH the fiirst questio is to ask yourself do you really need to carry one? Learning to board you're going to fall over a lot and anything in a bag will get a bit squashed. You're better sticking a camera in a trouser or jacket pocket as it's sfer there. You'll probably be knackered so end up eating in the restaurants and having a rest rather than eating on the go. This may change later n the week as you get better/more confident and want to travel further over the mountain.
The point regarding camelbacks freezing is a good one and a major bugbear of winter mountaineers. The best advice I can offer is: 1 always blow back down the tube when you've had a swig water freezes here easiest due to the narrowness so get it all back, you could try adding some foam to insulate it but still blow back. 2 add some vodka to the water (seriously) it doesn't have to be much but it will help lower the freezing point. 3 instead of using just water or juice mix in a rehydration sachet, the salts in this will help prevent freezing.
I went boarding in La Plagne last year after a long layoff and it was great but watch out for the flat sections coming into Plagne Centre and sme in the middle of the blues off Grand Rochette and Roche de Mio. As a beginner I would say don't bother getting the full area pass but it might be cool (and cheaper) to get the one that gives you a day over in Les Arcs and head over towards the end off the week when confidence is high, the blues/reds down to Montalbert and off the back of Verdons will be good for this.
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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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Hi Specialman,
Should be a good trip!
I agree with pamw's points - here's a few more thoughts..
I sometimes take a camelbak, and if you've got one already, no need for a backpack. You can get a thermal sleeve for the bladder and tube. Bear in mind though, that you may well be falling on your back, and also make sure it fits when you have all your layers on. Some people find that they affect the balance, so might not be the best idea whan you're learning. Also, you have to remove them on the chairlift, which is a bit of a faff.
However, you can fit most of your bits and bobs in pockets. Those big cargo pockets on the sides of the pants are really useful.
I second the idea of impact shorts and other pads - it will make a huge difference to you when you're learning. Remember that you need to have room for the impact shorts, thermal long johns etc when you get the pants! I'd recommend a helmet, too.
We always go DIY and if you have friends going, I'm sure they can help you out with the organising.
"... might as well just have a siren on my head booming 'BEGINNER! I'M A BEGINNER!!!' "
Everyone was a beginner once! Good luck with it, you'll love it!
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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'm a slow typist, swirly beat me to it 
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Specialman, of the two, boarding is quicker though not necesarily the easiest to learn. There is a steep learning curve and by the end of day 1 it is likely you will be cursing the wooden benches popular in chalets. To this end bum protection is invaluable: Red and Dianese do excellent padding. Also be sure to invest fifteen quid in wrist guards as the most common injuries are neewbie wrist breaks/sprains.
If you have a local slope near you it would be worth investing in some lessons so you can get your head around the basics, e.g. standing in a board, side slipping, falling leaf and maybe even managing a turn or two. Rental kit will be absolutely fine but be sure to make sure it is the right size. A rough aproximation of board size is that it should come up to just under your chin and boots should be snug. Also, the boots shouldn't have any 'lift' whereby you can feel movement in the heel area.
For my first trip away I didn't bother with goggles, a decent pair of shades did the job and still do under certain light conditions. I always carry a backpack and have never had one freeze on me in the Alps, a camelpack is perfect. TK Maxx have plenty of budget clothing in at present and you should be able to pick up jacket and pants for around £65. However, if you have Berghaus gear and the like you'll be absolutely fine although you might want to think a breathable base layer and a fleeze. Oh, and don't forget gloves; the aforementioned TK Maxx have some gorgeous Rossignol gloves in at the mo' (Cardiff) which I considered buying just to flog on eBay!
Have fun and be sure to report back!
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On a seperate note, is it the 'done thing' to carry a rucksack around while you're boarding.
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Absolutely, loads of boarders have backpacks (especially the hard core who strap their boards on their pack to hike miles off piste to reach the best snow, and they all wear helmets too, this is not just something for soft newcomers). But you definitely don't want to be falling on a camera, for your sake, if not the camera's. I prefer, like Swirly, to have less stuff to fall on - and you can catapult flat onto your back (catch back edge) or onto your front (catch front edge).
At any given moment a high proportion of the people around you on the pistes are going to be beginners, and if you are learning with two friends that will make it a lot more fun, mucking round after lessons (if you still have the energy). It's hard work and utterly absorbing; you will be too focussed on what you are doing to worry about what others might be thinking!
If you want to find out how you get on with snowboarding without waiting till January, I can recommend the "learn to snowboard in a day" course at Milton Keynes. The day was knackering but enjoyable and the tuition good. Unless you are really hard you might prefer to give the dry slopes a miss.
Incidentally, if you do a DIY holiday, you don't have to wait till you're there for the ski packages. Equipment rental can be arranged on line if you like (but make sure the shop is convenient for your accommodation - La Plagne is a big place with different centres) and you would be wise to book into ski school in advance (can also be done on line) especially if you want to be sure of being in the same group as your friends. You need to get to the resort early enough to get your equipment and lift pass sorted out ready to hit the ground running (or at least, hit the ground, preferably not on top of your camera) first thing in the morning.
There's a new Andy McNab book and DVD on snowboarding being published early November which looks as though it would help a lot. It's on Amazon. And don't forget - don't go in the first week of Jan. There'll be more snow, and fewer people, later.
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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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If you briuse easily, don't put anything in either trouser pockets, or pockets low down on the jacket.
You'll spend most of the first few days falling with no control (as oppose to learning to fall with some control after that!) and anything you land on will hurt!
I spent a couple of years with badly bruised thighs before I worked out that it was what was in my pockets that was causing the problems.
Now I take the minimum I need with me. Cash in a small purse and a small camara.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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You'll spend most of the first few days falling with no control (as oppose to learning to fall with some control after that!) and anything you land on will hurt!
I spent a couple of years with badly bruised thighs
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Specialman, you must be wondering why we do it, it all sounds so unpleasant. Just try, and you'll see....
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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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SnowboardVicky, Now if you carried wads of notes instead... 
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Normally already parted with the wads of notes buying whatever new kit I deemed necessary (or just wanted!).
Forgot to say the other thing I always carry with me is a small snowboard tool kit.
I did board with a rucksack a couple of days last time we were out, but I decided it was more hassle than it was worth.
This year the building at the bottom piste has lockers than can be used for the day. I think I'll probably get one of these. It saves carting all the extra stuff around (glasses for us at lunchtime, since I use goggles for boarding in, hat to use when I've finished for the day, since I use a helmet during the day, book to read in the bar when I'm waiting on everyone else etc).
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You know it makes sense.
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Specialman, just a thought - I don't know what size feet you have (I know you are over 6 feet), but some of my larger footed friends have sometimes struggled to get either size 12+ boots or wide snowboards from rental shops.
Might be worth pre-ordering your hire kit (or buying your own).
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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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Stephen,
I'm a size 11.5. I take it that those of us stricken with gigantic feet aren't that well catered for? The all-in package deal is sounding more appealoing by the minute and a lot less hassle than a DIY holiday
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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, I was suggesting you order your hire kit direct with a rental shop in your destination resort - that way you should be able to ask for equipment tht meets your requirements.
I wouldn't recommend that you hire your gear through any tour op - the shops they use don't usually have any decent snowboard kit (in my experience).
I would try to find a specialist snowboard shop and rent from them instead.
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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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FAQ
not to mention the bruises.
