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Sorry, you are right, my memory is from climbing in the valley about 20 years ago, must have been disorientated! We are staying just outside Peisey from Thursday for 6 days with a car. Planning Les Arcs for Thursday if forecast is correct, and need to pick someone up from Aime on Friday night, so keen to ski somewhere else, reckon there will still be freshies to be had at St Foy? Never been, is the good stuff obvious? Other option was La Rosiere. Keen to go to Espace Killy too, but the guy we are picking up on Friday wants to go too, so will save for later.
Maybe plan on Sainte Foy on the Tuesday/Wednesday when it is due to be dumping (20-30cm forecast by meteoblue), lots of skiing in or below the treeline. Also heavy avalanche control (for Europe) with a newish Catex cable system put in with the new lift (2020 i think). Would be intrested on a report back as i have only skiied here once 2 weeks after the last snow fall with a raging hangover!



This shows some of the tree skiing. Seems the trees are better spaced for skiing than many places in the alps...
 
Booked it! Was a bit of a faff with a couple of places being declined for spurious reasons but ended up with it not being too extortionate and Bourg St Maurice sounds like a way cheaper option to self cater than where we were last year - there's a Lidl 5 mins away!

Looks like it's shaping up to be an epic season already - hopefully it'll not get unseasonaby warm in the next month :eek:

Might treat meself to a hot wax (for me board - not a back, sack and crack! 😅)- anyone done this themselves or is it just better to get it done by a pro? Usually just get it done in resort when things slow up but Dicks in Sheff do it for £25 so might get it done there and hit the ground running....
 
I bought an iron and edge tools last year, but I always get it done in resort where it is invariably cheap and high quality. Plus you get to try to ask “fartage, monsieur?” and keep a straight face.

Dick’s usually has a long turnaround.
 
Booked it! Was a bit of a faff with a couple of places being declined for spurious reasons but ended up with it not being too extortionate and Bourg St Maurice sounds like a way cheaper option to self cater than where we were last year - there's a Lidl 5 mins away!

Looks like it's shaping up to be an epic season already - hopefully it'll not get unseasonaby warm in the next month :eek:

Might treat meself to a hot wax (for me board - not a back, sack and crack! 😅)- anyone done this themselves or is it just better to get it done by a pro? Usually just get it done in resort when things slow up but Dicks in Sheff do it for £25 so might get it done there and hit the ground running....
It's very easy to do yourself if you have the space. Just don't use the "good" household iron...
 
I mostly do my own waxing - I take a lot of risks with my board in order to find interesting stuff and the base and edges are always an absolute state. Techs are either impressed with the state of my repairs and new damage, or refuse to attempt the work.
 
in case anyone is interested - I am selling my Donek Twin ultrawide board. 165cm long 30.5cm waist. This is the forerunner of the Knapton Twin - not quite as stiff - a good introduction for anyone interested in that sort of riding. probably only an 8/10 or 9/10 stiffness compared to the 12/10 that Ryan rides. Full coercive controlling axe murderer camber - don't even think about relaxing.

You know who you are.

Yeah, I'm looking at you at the back.
 
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The juxtaposition of these two posts may not be the strongest marketing tactic Lagers... Haha.
 
The juxtaposition of these two posts may not be the strongest marketing tactic Lagers... Haha.
I did think that at the time.
Unusually, this niche board is in fantastic condition - it's hard enough riding it on rutted ice; I didn't feel inclined to take it anywhere rocky
 
I've been enjoying the new Cairngorms ski/board book. I didn't take many (almost none) pictures in the early 90s when I spent a lot of time sliding down those hills and it's been a real treat to see photos of the area.
I have to say that my favourite page so far is the one mentioning The Goat Track. One of my regular enjoyable descents and it turns out to be a Crowley route.
IMG_20250127_201355.jpg
 
what are people's recommendations for good split boarding boots?

my current boots are getting a bit battered and close to dying a death so starting to search for some replacements (note: not quite at full hard boot conversion stage just yet)
 
Having mountaineering aspirations, I got a very good deal on some Atomic Backlands last spring, then a not so good deal on Phantom bindings in Nov. Impressed with the whole setup which is the same weight as my resort rig. Boots are surprisingly soft, also spent the summer machining some link levers.

I’d stick with soft for Japan though. Don’t know how much very you’re doing, but maybe look for some with a ‘walk mode’, like the Jones X 32. The other split specific feature seems to be a heel welt for crampons but that would again push me to hard boots.

The setup I used last winter was Burton step-on. Based on Spark baseplate. Seems to be deeply uncool but has a lot of benefits particularly for splitting - obviously convenient in and out but also no flapping straps to get in the way, break and take up pack space, plus better board control without cranking straps tight. Boot choice is then Photon - medium or Ion - stiff.
 
Has anyone got any recomendations for small touring packs?

Not that I'll be touring on this trip (not gone down the splitty route yet!), just like to have a pack that can strap a board on, keep my Avy kit & butties in and can be used as a daypack on the plane... My old Salomon one has finally bit the dust!

Been looking at the Burton Day Hiker 22l and Dakine Heli Pro 20l but not looked that deeply so far....
 
Has anyone got any recomendations for small touring packs?

Not that I'll be touring on this trip (not gone down the splitty route yet!), just like to have a pack that can strap a board on, keep my Avy kit & butties in and can be used as a daypack on the plane... My old Salomon one has finally bit the dust!

Been looking at the Burton Day Hiker 22l and Dakine Heli Pro 20l but not looked that deeply so far....
I may have mentioned before, but I haven't got on with bags with board carrying straps. I find them too wobbly. I have ended up sticking with the same system I used in the 90s. Works on any pack.
Bottom strap goes right round the bottom of the rucksack, but inside the shoulder straps, just above the waist belt- tail of board is slid down until the rear binding touches the strap.
Second strap is passed through the front binding (done up obviously) and then through the top of both rucksack shoulder straps. You will get a feeling for how tight they need to be.
I'll have a look for some pics - this description is shit

1676884202577~2.jpgIMG_20210210_073409.jpgIMG_20210210_073416.jpgIMG_20210210_073433.jpg
 
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Bottom strap can be anything, but I use a cut down luggage strap with metal buckle - useful for repairs to anything.
The top strap works best with a strong fastex clip - that blue strap of mine is sling tape - means I can use it as ab tat
 
Has anyone got any recomendations for small touring packs?

Not that I'll be touring on this trip (not gone down the splitty route yet!), just like to have a pack that can strap a board on, keep my Avy kit & butties in and can be used as a daypack on the plane... My old Salomon one has finally bit the dust!

Been looking at the Burton Day Hiker 22l and Dakine Heli Pro 20l but not looked that deeply so far....
I bought my lad a used Deuter AC lite SL 14 (women's/teen size). I'm really impressed with the lightweight frame and would consider the bigger AC lite sacs, 24 I think? (with the board carrying system above) .
I use a Lowe Alpine Ascent 32. In the top photo above. Can be compressed and clamped tightly when needed and has enough space for extra clothes, food, beer etc. I like a narrower pack (I can't remember why)
 
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I got an Ortovox one off sport pursuit a few years ago. Tour rider 30, shape is designed more for the riding than a typical sac ( I have plenty of more trad shaped packs). It’s great, hugs your body nicely and is quite flat even when rammed full of stuff. Board straps on fine and all the straps tuck away in little pockets. Have since bought Avabag version of the Cross rider 18 which is similar design but with the bag and canister a bit tight on space for touring, but any similar in that 18-30 range 😜 should be ideal for resort + off piste daypack.
 
Having mountaineering aspirations, I got a very good deal on some Atomic Backlands last spring, then a not so good deal on Phantom bindings in Nov. Impressed with the whole setup which is the same weight as my resort rig. Boots are surprisingly soft, also spent the summer machining some link levers.

I’d stick with soft for Japan though. Don’t know how much very you’re doing, but maybe look for some with a ‘walk mode’, like the Jones X 32. The other split specific feature seems to be a heel welt for crampons but that would again push me to hard boots.

The setup I used last winter was Burton step-on. Based on Spark baseplate. Seems to be deeply uncool but has a lot of benefits particularly for splitting - obviously convenient in and out but also no flapping straps to get in the way, break and take up pack space, plus better board control without cranking straps tight. Boot choice is then Photon - medium or Ion - stiff.
Was looking at the Jones 32 as current boots are 32, but saw some really bad reviews on their durability (which is the issue I’m having with my current resort boots)
 
Some other options here: https://sickandwrong.co.uk/product-category/splitboarding/splitboard-boots

Most seem to have the walk mode and crampon lug. I would tend towards a narrower more mountaineering style toe shape. Reddit r/Spliddit seems to be the best forum for user reviews.

The more bombproof options do tend to be heavier. I would try to be realistic about how much use they are likely to get and how much you will be side-hilling/ step kicking etc. Then worry about stiffness and durability based on that. Some people in NA do seem to hammer kit with hundreds of days a year, whereas you can read rumours about how the kit is designed to last 10 weeks or so, i.e. 5 years x 2 weeks for the typical user.
 
Maybe plan on Sainte Foy on the Tuesday/Wednesday when it is due to be dumping (20-30cm forecast by meteoblue), lots of skiing in or below the treeline. Also heavy avalanche control (for Europe) with a newish Catex cable system put in with the new lift (2020 i think). Would be intrested on a report back as i have only skiied here once 2 weeks after the last snow fall with a raging hangover!
We ended up going to La Rosiere on Friday, any fresh snow from the day before had been very wet and heavy, so off piste was porridge. Nice resort though, but glad i was on skis for the longest poma I've ever been on. Worth trip to La Thuile for cheap coffee! Would like to do a day in St Foy sometime to know the score before hitting it on a powder day. Scored unexpected powder day at La Plagne on Sunday, way more had fallen than forecast so did laps on the off piste below Crozats lift, then Inversens, then below the new upgraded Glaciers Gondola, then below the Chalet Chair. Would have liked to quest onto the terrain around the Rochu/ Bellecote runs we did last year, but was a bit twitchy in that terrain without avi gear and mate we were with was sticking to pistes. Has a great morning yesterday with more snow, got first lifts and lapped fresh powder about Peisey Vallandry for 4 hours before mad dash back to Geneva in the pouring rain.
 
Booked it! Was a bit of a faff with a couple of places being declined for spurious reasons but ended up with it not being too extortionate and Bourg St Maurice sounds like a way cheaper option to self cater than where we were last year - there's a Lidl 5 mins away!
We drove through BSM on the way to La Rosiere and it seemed a nice little place with a bit going on. Prep yourself for the Glaciers aux Pommiers run from Aiguille Rouge to Villaroger in Les Arcs, it's 2,000m of continuous descent on black then red runs, icy and very icy at the bottom just when you are knackered. One of the longest piste descents in the Alps. Save it for a sunny day when the AR is running, and don't leave it too late in the day as you will need 4 lifts ( 2 very slow) to get back to 1600.
 

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