 Poster: A snowHead
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| snowprincess wrote: |
| I reckon the only way things could be any worse would be if we lost the sunshine. |
Best not look at the forecast for Sun/Mon/Tues on meteoblue then.
FWIW Pierre a Ric at 4pm has been in as good a condition as it ever gets these last 2 days. I have been known to download on the cable car as the run is normally an accident waiting to happen (combo of cut up snow, ice patches, slow skiers, 'freeride' dudes & dudettes trying to ski fast through the gaps...)
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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| under a new name wrote: |
rockyrobin, I think it has been pretty balanced.
No-one is suggesting things are great, nor that it's been anything other than a poor start to the season, but I've seen it worse, much worse and my clients still had a good time.
It's far from crap. How many seasons have you skied? Have you ever really seen crap? |
Exactly
rockyrobin and snowprincess No one is pretending that conditions are amazing, but crap? That’s a bit strong, I still finish every day here (on the lift down) with a smile on my face. Home or Cham? Right now I know where I’d rather be and isn’t that some of the point of reading this thread? So that people worrying about their holidays get some perspective? You wouldn’t dream about these conditions, but crap it’s NOT.
I’m not some evangelical chalet owner, just a punter fortunate enough to spend a lot of time out here. I couldn’t careless if no one comes, more space for me, but come on, the sun is BEATING down, it’s been beautiful here today, I’ve skied all afternoon in shades, bare-headed and jacketless, just as if it were April. How crap is that? The sun is shining, the skiing is good enough to make you (me anyway) smile, the food is cheesy, the beer tastes just as good. What’s not to enjoy? It’s not our divine right to ski pow everyday (or even every season), as my learned friend Sideshow_Bob says, if you can’t enjoy what the OP offers then get some sharp edged race skis and make the most of the on-piste conditions, it could be worse, you could be at home!
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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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ww166no, I am at home!!!!  Unfortunately I decided to move here and not to Japan (where the snow actually falls on a regular basis).
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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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| Quote: |
I am at home!!!! Unfortunately I decided to move here
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You might just be losing the sympathy vote now rockyrobin, . . . . 
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rockyrobin, my friend, then you haven't seen crap... and this is not crap...
snowprincess, OK fair do's, it's not a boarding nor a (probably) inexperienced perspective. I am going to suggest though that you've been spoiled... 
Try skiing a few seasons in Scotland and then compare with what we have at the moment! I mean, Whistler (well. maybe not), Jackson, Verbier, Val d'espair, all presumably in recent years when snow has been plentiful. No wonder you think it's crap.
In my day, we were lucky to have a few snow fences to hold the drifts back, and you soon got used to pulling heather out of your teeth, or elsewhere if she'd had a drink, sharpening your edges on the last rocks for the next icy patch, etc. etc, in curmudgeonly fashion....
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jbob, looks OK to me, better than sitting at my desk rewriting contracts and cold calling, IMV
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under a new name, I've skied in Scotland more than i've skied mainland Europe, getting a good day there was a rare treat, but there you expect that. Here in a world class resort my expectations are a little higher. I'm actually curious as to why people come to Europe for skiing like this when the chance of good snow is so much higher in Western USA/Canada and Japan? I am here because I can work here, but if I was going on a holiday I would be elsewhere.
jbob, Nice pictures. I sharpen my edges daily too. The way conditions are going at the moment i'll have sharpened them away to nothing before long!
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rockyrobin, yeah, well, I'm not taking time off work to go skiing round here right now.
| Quote: |
I'm actually curious as to why people come to Europe for skiing like this when the chance of good snow is so much higher in Western USA/Canada and Japan
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I can't comment about Japan but that's not strictly true. Same old story trotted out in 1988-1991 but guess what the entire skiing public didn't up sticks and increase skiing rates in the US - most of the time European snow is actually generally pretty good.
Also, do bear in mind what the average holiday skier is looking for. Right now, as long as you have edges and know how to use them, it;s pretty ideal for many people: firm flat snow, no bumps, sunny, warm, etc, etc.
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under a new name,
Oh come on, the snow's crap, you know it, I know it, everyone knows it. It is the worst season for years. We've been lucky in some previous seasons where we've had lots of early snow followed by weeks of high pressure. This year just no decent early snow.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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zzz, blah blah blah
just cos you bought noo skeez
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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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I can't understand why folk can't just enjoy the snow, even if it may not be as good as it could be. Sitting here in the UK listening to those slating the conditions .... want to swap? Didn't think so ....
Kersh
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| Quote: |
It is the worst season for years.
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Not true, 2006/7 was far worse.
And now, this simply glorious, fantastic, orgasmic, weather does help make up for the lack of perfect snow. Have you ever had to ski in the pouring rain? Now that IS crap.
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You know it makes sense.
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pam w,
I'm loving the sun, not complaining. Just not skiing much. I'd like to see the stats re 2006/7 because I'm not convinced. I wouldn't ski in the pouring rain anymore.
Kersh,
I used to live in the UK, I chose to leave.
under a new name,
Have you been on the pop?
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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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zzz, Christmas 2006, and into New Year, the snow was very, very, thin. We arrived in Les Saisies on New Year's Eve and I've never seen such terrible conditions - all the pistes into the village were open, but were brownish white stripes down the hill. Truly grim. Our keen kids went out snowboarding, and we went to bed early after long drive. Then overnight there was a really good dump of snow that did us well for the next week or so. By 27 January the view from our apartment was like the picture on the left.
Christmas and New Year this season were pretty good - and two further small but welcome dumps in January kept things going (some places got a fair bit more than we did, I think). Even now, after the long snow drought and some blisteringly hot weather, we still have more snow than in Jan 2007 (picture on right). We're close to Chamonix and the PDS as the crow flies, and in much the same weather system.
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Poster: A snowHead
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| zzz wrote: |
| I used to live in the UK, I chose to leave. |
Good choice  ... but less reason to complain.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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zzz, you have to expect some seasons to be less good than others.
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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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zzz, disappointingly, while I have had a glass or two, we have mostly been drinking an unusually (for me) expensive Amarone that, err, one of the, errr, locals had for "sale" at a recent Italian excursion.
I think I have been had.
It wasn't one of her ladyship's locals I hasten to add, but nonetheless...
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| rockyrobin wrote: |
jbob, Nice pictures. I sharpen my edges daily too. The way conditions are going at the moment i'll have sharpened them away to nothing before long! |
Thanks.
We need to move on, thats my mate Jock (any guesses where he learned to ski) in the photos, he would welcome any hints or tips on his skiing style, the inner tip lead is a given.
Must get back to the filing, big day tomorrow.
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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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Sorry jbob, failing to move on . . . .
It does seem that (within this thread) it's only the saisonaires who think conditions here are unendurably bad. . . . .
pam w and Kersh, quite so
jbob, wouldn't presume to critique Jock's technique, but pm me if you'd like to see some bits of GM OP that don't suck.
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pam w,
Gosh piccies from 2007 really do paint a grim scene. I do remember that year being bad but time has clearly dulled my failing memory. The seasons all fade into one after a while. I'm very cool with the snow as it is and the sun we've had. It is nice to have had warm weather after the last two long cold seasons. I'm also fortunate to be into a bit of paragliding so I've simply taken to the skies for the last couple of weeks where conditions have been excellent for the time of year, so, Kersh, not complaining.
Now I don't want to be the harbinger of doom, BUT, whilst in Chamonix yesterday I bumped into a friend who is mates with one of the local weather gurus who does a little forecasting for some of the local climbing and touring expeditions. I know it's a bit of a tenuous link. His prediction was for no serious snowfall in February. The way the models are looking he may be right.
under a new name, disappointing. Don't worry about saving some for me.
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| Quote: |
I'm also fortunate to be into a bit of paragliding so I've simply taken to the skies for the last couple of weeks where conditions have been excellent for the time of year
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It must be fabulous up there zzz, what a great option, where're you flying from/to?
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ww166no, It is fabulous up there. Generally as far and high as possible.
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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zzz, Flegere seems popular. I saw a group of 6 or so paragliders go from the top of the Lavancher bowl a couple of times earlier in the week and fly all together, low, right down the bowl before heading off, i guess towards les Chosalets. V nice, enjoy your day
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zzz, you of all people should know how tenuous longer range forecasting is...
Stop winding people up.
Me most of all.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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under a new name,  sorry
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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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freeheelskier, thats quite a gloomy picture they are painting...
Interestingly, the 6 people I skied with in & around the Chamonix valley last week all commented on how good conditions were compared to the reports in the press... ( And before you start, my winter is pretty much full so I have no need to talk up the snow for business reasons (neither do I own an expensive apartment (cf 'most snow in europe' thread..)))
No there isn't powder everywhere, yes cover is thin low down, but what snow there is is actually quite skiable and taking the Grands Montets for example, the only run /off piste closed is the very bottom of the Lavancher bowl area (and even then the offpiste is quite skiable down to the bottom, for those happy to skin for 20 mins).
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You know it makes sense.
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| pam w wrote: |
| Quote: |
It is the worst season for years.
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Not true, 2006/7 was far worse.
And now, this simply glorious, fantastic, orgasmic, weather does help make up for the lack of perfect snow. Have you ever had to ski in the pouring rain? Now that IS crap. |
Snowfall across the European Alps was above-average in the early season from Nov to mid-Dec 2010.
Snowfall has been way below-average since mid-Dec 2010 through mid-Feb 2011.
Global warming has not gone away.
Total snowfall in the European Alps has been declining by about 5% a decade since the 1980s. That trend is clearly continuing.
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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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offpisteskiing, U dont now about good skiing,, its skiable,, stupid coments,
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Poster: A snowHead
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freeheelskier,
You been at the Genepi again?
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Skier that go to chamonix to ski Grand Montets, they are very good skier, not alot go there to ski the slopes, for pistskiing there is many better place to ski, all over te alps, to Chamonix skier coming from all over the world to ski offpist, can someone here recomended to a australian skier Chamonix now if U know that he want to ski offpist  Today there is a blue sky here ,, I have a work 2 days from monday in Passy, but my skis still is in the car, I will see if the snow coming, and I will ski on wednesday
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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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| freeheelskier wrote: |
| offpisteskiing, U dont now about good skiing,, its skiable,, stupid coments, |
Wind your neck in freeheelskier,,,,,,,,,,,, you obviously know nothing about me so I would suggest you keep your 'stupid comments' to yourself,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
| freeheelskier wrote: |
| Skier that go to chamonix to ski Grand Montets, they are very good skier, |
Questionable at times,,,,,,,,
| Quote: |
| not alot go there to ski the slopes, for pistskiing there is many better place to ski, all over te alps, to Chamonix skier coming from all over the world to ski offpist, |
Well,,, thanks for clearing that up,,,,, I really had no idea about that. Obviously you have much to teach me,,,, oh wise one,,,,,,,
| Quote: |
| can someone here recomended to a australian skier Chamonix now if U know that he want to ski offpist |
Not quite sure of your exact meaning, but South side of Col D'Entreves, Couloir Caché (if you have to ask you don't know), SW of the Passon, Col des Autannes have all given very good skiing in the last week (first hand reports). Maybe not powder everywhere (apart from Caché), but there is more to life than powder.
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| I have a work 2 days from monday in Passy |
Thats a shame, I was staying with friends in Passy last week. Maybe we could have met up for a comma-fuelled drink to sort things out! 
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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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| freeheelskier wrote: |
| offpisteskiing, U dont now about good skiing,, its skiable,, stupid coments, |
I suspect that since English is not your native language that your posts can sometimes be read the wrong way but you may want to rephrase that one.
You only have to watch some of offpisteskiing's videos to see that not only does he know about good skiing but he also skis some extreme terrain. So, when the man says something is skiable I trust that he knows what he's talking about (and he has friends who like to hike up the mountain in Brikenstocks but that's another story...)
http://vimeo.com/14539845
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Zero-G, I must say, nice video, with good skier
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Fantastic, Crusty the Fire Juggler should put things right, earth child that he is, TW@t
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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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freeheelskier, so you HAD been at the Genepi then?
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Zero-G quite handy that they waited until there was some snow in the forecast to do a snowdance 
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