Debunking 11 Skiing Myths!
This is a guest blog by Sara from New Generation Ski & Snowboard School
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Whether you're a beginner or have skied for years it's hard to know if what you're doing is right, with so much contrasting advice out there. Especially, as what we know to be correct now, is very different from what was advised back when skinny skis were the norm. So if, like me, your legs appear to be tied together, or you're wondering whether you really should be leaning back off piste, here are a few ski myths demystified by one of our Courchevel instructors.
Bend the knees – MYTH!
Actually you need to bend the ankles. If you bend your knees then you sit back and will be out of balance. The flex should actually start from the ankle which means your hips and knees will follow and you'll stay centred
Lean forward – MYTH!
Try to avoid leaning forward. Instead, aim to be central. This is so you can use the whole of the ski from tip to toe, and your pivot point for initiating the turn is right under your foot.
Ski boots should hurt – MYTH!
Ski boots are not meant to be tight or uncomfortable. They should be well fitted. No movement in your foot, but you should be able to wiggle your toes.
Wear thick ski socks to keep your feet warm – MYTH!
Wearing thin, non-cotton socks will give you a better feel for your boot and ski. Wearing two pairs, or socks to thick, will make you hot and sweaty, and then as you cool down will make you cold.
I'm too old / young to ski – MYTH! - probably not! It doesn't matter if you are three or 83. While learning to ski might be tiring, if you are physically active in everyday life, then you should be able to learn to ski. It’s like riding a bike.
I must ski with my feet as close together as possible – MYTH!
Having a wide, shoulder-width stance keeps you balanced and centred.
I need to dig my edges in when it's icy – MYTH!
Actually, you need less edge and more balance.
It's safe to ski off piste if there are tracks to follow – MYTH!
You don't know how experienced those skiers or boarders are, or what equipment they had. You might even be following parapent tracks! It’s best not to take that risk.
I have an airbag and transceiver. I am safe to go off piste – MYTH!
Unless you know the area and all your party have experience and training on how to use the equipment then you could be at risk. If in doubt, go with a guide or instructor.
When skiing off piste you should always lean back – MYTH!
You should try to maintain a centred balance to manipulate the skis under your feet. If you bring your skis closer together, bounce more and stay centred you’ll feel the joy of skiing powder.
I can ski black runs and fast so I don't need lessons – MYTH! Actually skiing in control and rate of descent is the challenging part. We can help you explore the mountain safely and improve your technique.
Hopefully that has cleared up some of those nagging questions you’ve always pondered as you your mind wanders on that cold chair lift. If you’ve got any other myths you’d like debunking then drop us a line to info@skinewgen.com and we’ll get one of our instructor team on the case.
Book early and take advantage of cheap flights and other ski deals!
Are you thinking of a ski holiday this year? The best advice is to book early if you want to save some money!
The flights are out now and you can pick up some bargains away from the peak weeks and can fly at odd times.
Lots of owners offer great early booking discounts especially for groups – I just landed a deal for half price lift passes for our holiday! Bargain! About £100 worth of après ski money there! 
Don’t hang around – check the accommodation first and think outside of the box, there are lots of people offering ski weekends now so look at those or even if you need to book a Saturday to Saturday ski holiday why not do that and then book cheap flights to go out on a Sunday or Monday and back on the Friday?
Skiing doesn’t need to be a really expensive holiday!
Ski Pass Price Comparison
This is a guest blog by Tim at The Tasty Ski Company
Tim has taken time out of the kitchen and been crunching his calculater!
The start of the ski season is fast approaching and already we are all scrambling to book our favourite resort for this winter. But what exactly makes a ski area a great ski area?
Value for money certainly comes into it, and the cost of the lift pass can sometimes be the deciding factor.
Below is a table comparing the price of an adult lift pass in some of France’s major ski areas relative to the amount of pisted slopes:
- Resort / Km of piste / Adult 6 day pass /Price per km
- Portes du Soleil 650km €237.50 €0.36
- Three Valleys 600km €277 €0.46
- Paradiski 425km €277 €0.65
- Four Valleys 412km €288 €0.69
- Grand Massif 265km €225 €0.84
- Espace Killy 300km €252.50 €0.84
- Chamonix Le Pass 113km €230 €2.03
But of course this doesn’t tell the whole doesn’t look like great value until you realise that you can spend a little bit more on the excellent ‘Mont-Blanc Unlimited’ pass. This pass gives you access to some additional skiing in not only Chamonix but also in Courmayeur (Italy) and Verbier (Switzerland).
The table does not take into account how well the ski areas are connected - in particular whether or not you can ski from one side of the piste map to the other. The Portes du Soleil tops the above list, but to enjoy the whole area you will have to get a bus at various points. This is in contrast to the Grand Massif and Espace Killy, where you can ski from one side of the map to the other without once taking off your skis.
And of course the sheer quantity of pisted slopes does not in itself equate to good skiing. If you are an experienced skier looking for the black mogul runs then you are probably not that interested in a 10km green run. Not to mention that the above table does not comment on the quality of off-piste skiing, which is often the No.1 factor in deciding certain people’s ski holidays.
Tim runs The Tasty Ski Company with catered chalets in Morzine and the Grand Massif.
WAY OF LIFE FILM PREMIERE
This is a guest blog from Emily at Sub Zero Events
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Sub Zero Events, in association with Teton Gravity Research presents 'Way of Life'
Thursday 7th November at the Clapham Grand, London.
Be the first to catch the film on the big screen, check out the sponsors, play some beer pong, do some shot skis and even get snowed on!
Ticket includes access to the onsite apres ski party hosted by Snowboxx festival!
“For some, embracing the mountains is not just part of life—it’s a way of life. The search for snow shapes not only how they approach these peaks, but also how they approach the world.”
TGR athlete Sage Cattabriga Alosa (flown in from the USA for the London premiere) will be at the Atomic skis tent signing posters and doing an interview on stage.
More info & tickets: www.subzeroevents.com
Join the facebook event: https://www.facebook.com/events/285028791636068/
WAY OF LIFE TRAILER LONDON PREMIERE
Flexible Catering for your Ski Accommodation!
This is a guest blog by Chez Toi.
So everyone who has ever skied knows about the traditional ‘Catered Chalet’ holiday which has been around for decades. You probably also know that you can stay in self-catered accommodation, be it an apartment or chalet which is rented as a whole. But did you know that you can have the best of both worlds? That’s right, in a few selected ski resorts you can now have the luxury of a catered chalet, combined with the freedom and flexibility of renting your own self-catered property. Morzine and Les Gets are two of the these ski resorts.
Why not just book a package holiday?
In recent years people have started to look at options to tailor make their own ski holidays. Of course this has been helped along by the advent of the ‘budget airline’. The likes of Easyjet and Ryanair now supply airports across the Alps and from many regional UK airports, making it easy and cheap to travel. Resorts such as Morzine, Les Gets and Chamonix benefit from being situated close to Geneva airport. This means short transfer times and plenty of well priced travel options available.
With more and more people booking their holidays piece by piece on the internet, there are now so many different types of holiday available in these resorts. Individuals based in these ski areas have answered the demand for more flexibility and it is now possible to book pretty much everything before you arrive in resort. From different catering options, to skis delivered to your chalet, to private ski lessons, childcare, pre-booked lift passes and so much more.
So how does flexible catering work?
Flexible catering has come about as the result of people demanding more choice between dining options in resort. Of course many people are happy with the six nights catering that you receive as standard during a one week chalet holiday. And some are still happy to go to the local supermarket and cook for themselves for the week. However a growing number of people are looking for a mixture of both. Perhaps you would like someone to cook for you on three evenings, eat out in a local restaurant for two and buy a frozen pizza for the other two. Well now this is not a problem.
At Chez Toi we aim to provide the catering package to suit you, in Morzine and Les Gets. We can provide a one off evening meal- maybe for a special occasion, or up to a full week fully catered package. Our chefs are flexible in what they offer and we will liaise with you before arrival in resort to agree menus. We will come to your chalet or apartment at a pre-agreed time to prepare and serve your meal. And the best part is we will clean up the kitchen and do the dishes afterwards so you won’t need to lift a finger!
For more information about the different packages on offer please take a look at our website or contact us by email.
Altitude Holidays Review of Into The Mind
Usually sat on the end of telephone speaking to ski accommodation providers discussing our website we released Charlie from his desk and sent him along to the Premiere of Into The Mind.
This is what he thought......
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On October 2nd, I found myself delighted to be en-route to Clapham Grand to watch the Ski/Snowboard film premiere of the year – Into The Mind. A few months ago I had watched the thought-provoking trailer and it clearly set this one apart from the rest. This film was going to be different from the usual pro team edits that crop up through out the year and I was ready!
“Into the Mind” is from the same creators that bought us the movie “All I Can”. This brings with it a certain element of expectation. The film ticked the boxes with some awesome cinematography alongside timelapses, slow-mo and dramatic landscape shots so frequently associated with big-budget ski films. However, it also brought a lot more that the audience probably didn’t expect!
When interviewed by National Geographic “Into the Mind” Director, Dave Mossop described the concept of his latest project;
“Into the Mind satisfies two of my deep-seated goals. One of them is that I’ve always been fascinated with dreams.
The second goal deals with death. I’ve lost a lot of friends in mountains over the years due to avalanches and head injuries. It’s very powerful. The incredible thing about using skiing or snowboarding as the centerpiece of your movie is that you can live and die doing these sports. You can have the greatest single moment you can ever possibly have on Earth, or you could die. The film is really a meditation on the moment of choice you have before you potentially kill yourself in the mountains. It plays out three scenarios that are the outcome of that decision. “
My advice? When you watch this film put your creative head on. It’s unquestionably deep. It questions the life-death choice that skiers and boarders make when stood at the top of a mountain about to drop and it looks into the dreams that encourage us to achieve our wildest of aspirations. Basically, it tries to capture what makes us tick.
At times you are presented with the epic shots of in-your face downright rad-iculous steaze. This is mostly when the film depicts “dreams”. Then you jump back to “reality”, to the more down-to-earth storyline that glues the whole film together. Yes it can be confusing at times but with your creative head on you will need to just accept this.
So appreciate the artiness of the film, the soundtrack that has been chosen to accompany the chapters and the ride it takes you on! Perhaps Into the Mind isn’t the ski movie I personally hoped it would be but it certainly is a ski movie and it’s pretty bloody epic then you have your ‘creative head’ on.
We want to see it again as it’s definitely gotten into our mind…. See what you think! You can see it again or for the first time in Edinburgh on Monday 14th October (Ed.)
Big thanks go to Emily Millns from Sub Zero Events, for organising the event and inviting Altitude Holidays along to the Premiere. A great night was had by all and it’s always good to see so many heads from around the industry… especially in the U.K!
INTO THE MIND UK PREMIERE
Mint Snowboarding’s Guide to the Snowparks of the Portes du Soleil
This is a guest blog by Mint Snowboarding
The Portes du Soleil not only has an abundance of snowparks, but also some of the best snowparks in Europe. These parks cater for all levels of rider; from complete freestyle novices to world class pros. Local snowboard school, Mint Snowboarding, provide you with this guide to the best parks in the Portes du Soleil:
Avoriaz itself has a huge selection of snow parks sponsored by Burton and these are tiered to allow for rider development. The Avoriaz parks provide all you need; from short ride-on boxes, to little rollers, riders can get the feel of the terrain under them before stepping up to the medium size hits and rails off the ground. And once someone’s got the taste for air, they can light it up with gasoline and laser shows on the big jumps and in the Superpipe. Start small and learn big!
The Burton Parkway is the perfect entry level park for freestyle newbees. It has low-lying, wide boxes, very small jumps & rollers and is tucked away in a totally intimidation free zone!
Next is the Chapelle Park which is the perfect arena to learn, progress and hone your skills. Features vary every year, and throughout the season, but generally the Chapelle park has two blue jump lines, two jib lines as well as two green jump lines. Each line consists of 4 – 5 jumps or features. The jump lines range from tiny jumps to 10m table tops again with Burton’s Progression Park aim in mind. The jib lines include flat, wide boxes, a range or rails and other features.
The Arare Park contains much bigger features and there is a high level of riding to be seen here. There are usually a couple of smaller jumps at the top of the park which then lead into larger jumps ranging from 12m to 20+. There is usually a hip at the bottom of the park as well as an airbag which is free to use as well as a great way to learn tricks. The Arare park stays in the shade a lot of the day so landings can remain pretty solid mid winter.
Avoriaz also has a Superpipe which is well maintained on a daily basis. Avoriaz’s halfpipe is one of the best in Europe, yet it isn’t too imposing. Not only is the halfpipe right in the centre of the resort, but it is also serviced by its very own button lift so you can lap the pipe without unstrapping!
Avoriaz is also home to The Stash, a creative & organic snowpark invention by Burton. The Stash is a wooded tree run in the Lindarets bowl which is scattered with natural jibs, gaps, features & transitions. In this park there are rails, wall rides, logs, picnic tables all made out of natural materials. It is a great place to head in bad light / low visibility and is great fun to loop with friends, connecting hits and getting creative.
Les Crosets
Les Crosets, on the Swiss side of the Portes du Soleil, is home to a great in park for intermediate to expert level riders and is in a wonderful sunny location.
Jumps in Les Crosets range from 6m to 20m+ tabletops as well as a whole host of cool features. The line of about 6 smaller jumps are down the left hand side (skiers left) and the big jumps and jibs are in the centre and down the right hand side. At the bottom of the park there is a great natural halfpipe for boosting out of on the way down 8 man Express chairlift servicing the park.
The Chatel SmoothPark, located in the Super Chatel area, is a fun park with a wide range of jumps and jib features. It is generally quieter than the Avoriaz & Croset parks. In 2012 the Smoothpark hosted the French leg of the ‘Nike Chosen Series', giving proof that Chatel’s park shapers definitely know what they’re doing. At the bottom of the park is an airbag, free of charge and open from 12h to 15h. The park is service by two button lifts and also has a boardercross track down the length of it.
The park at Les Gets is on the Mont Chery area, which is south facing and in the sun all day. The park is serviced by an old two man chair and is always pretty quite so a good place to head to get away from the crowds during the holiday periods. The Mt Chery park has a number of features; from jumps, rails, boxes and often a wall ride at the bottom.
Les Gets is also home to a decent sized and well maintained boardercross course which runs under the Chavannes lifts. This is definitely the best of the board-cross courses in the Portes du Soleil and great fun for racing against friends.
There is a small park on the Nyon area of Morzine slopes, although not very well shaped and often full of ski schools. It does, however, have a fun boardercross course (although much smaller than the one in Les Gets).
Mint Snowboarding offers freestyle lessons, courses and snowboard camps for all levels in throughout the Portes du Soleil. They also offer group and private lessons, off piste sessions, instructor courses & much more!
For more information contact Mint here:
www.mintsnowboarding.com or 0033 680 77 66 09.
Edinburgh’s turn for Into The Mind
This is a guest blog from Emily Millns from www.subzeroevents.com
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After the success of the UK premiere of Into the Mind last week we are looking at a sellout at the Edinburgh premiere!
On the evening of Monday 14th October, Sub Zero Events in association with Sherpas Cinemas will be taking over the Pleasance Theatre in Edinburgh. Joining us are some great sponsors; Freeze Pro Shop, Syndicate, Sno Limit, Snow Camp & Hillend just to name a few.
There’s a raffle prize for everyone (almost) including:
- Salomon Jackets, pants & helmets,
- Fall line magazine subscription & gloves,
- Black Diamond back packs and hats,
- Syndicate goodies,
- Freeze pro shop - Oakley goggles
- Planks hats,
- John Mogul t shirt & leather gloves,
- Beginner lesson for 2 at Hillend,
- Coloud headphones,
- Arc'teryx Quintic 28 pack & hats,
- Recco t-shirts & avalanche DVDs,
- The North Face pack,
- Teva pack & boots,
- Blues 40% off voucher for Fischer vacuum boots,
- Stupid clothing goodies.
With stunning cinematography and groundbreaking storytelling techniques, the Sherpas (based out in Whistler, BC) blur the lines between dream state and reality, and immerse you into the mind of a common skier as he attempts to climb and ski the ultimate mountain.
Be the first to catch the film on the big screen, check out the sponsors, enter the raffle and do some shot skis. The event kicks off at 7pm and we will be partying apres ski style until 1am.
Tickets are £12 in advance from www.subzeroevents.com
See you Monday for a snow sports filled evening!
INTO THE MIND TRAILER EDINBURGH
New Ski Lift in Morzine
This is a guest blog from Tim Maitland from The Tasty Ski Company
The New Le Pleney Lift
With less than two months to go before the ski season begins we are all waiting with baited breath for resort life to kick back into action. Lots of holiday makers are looking forward to returning to their favourite spots, and also to see what is new in their top resorts. This has never been more true for Morzine with the construction of the new Le Pleney lift. The old gondola has been completely changed with a brand spanking new cable car that accesses both the Morzine and Les Gets ski areas. So how does this change the Portes du Soleil skiing for winter 2013/14?
Firstly the new gondola will provide an improved capacity and greater speed for anyone who uses it. Le Pleney lift is the main lift going out of Morzine towards Les Gets and also for all the skiing that heads back into Morzine town from Le Pleney side. It is possibly the busiest lift in the whole of the Portes du Soleil, particularly for holiday makers staying in Morzine who do not purchase a ski pass for Avoriaz and beyond. This is good news for families staying in Morzine, as the short trip over to the Les Gets skiing is often very popular.
Secondly the construction of the new gondola is an example of the continued development of Morzine as a skiing destination. It is one of the few established french ski resorts that still has a lot of area that can still be developed. This is in contrast to other large french resorts like Val d’Isere, Chamonix and The Three Valleys that are increasingly short of space. This results in lots of new accommodation popping up every year, and allows Morzine to be consistently more affordable than the other large alpine ski resorts.
And finally we don’t want to forget the mountain bikers! Le Pleney gondola was not in use for summer 2013 much to the frustration of downhill mountain bikers and walkers. However from 2014 there will be a faster service and larger capacity during the summer which can only be a good thing for the MTB enthusiasts!
The Tasty Ski Company run chalets in Morzine and Morillon and Tim will be writing some guest blogs through the season about food and will include some recipes! Yum! Looking forward to those!
Film Premiere - Into The Mind!
This is a guest blog from Emily Millns from www.subzeroevents.com
Sub Zero Events will be taking over the Clapham Grand in London on the evening of Wednesday 2nd October and hosting the UK premiere of Into the Mind. The ski movie recently won Film of the Year and Best Editing at IF3 International Freeski Film Festival in Montreal!
With stunning cinematography and groundbreaking storytelling techniques, the Sherpas (based out in Whistler, BC) blur the lines between dream state and reality, and immerse you into the mind of a common skier as he attempts to climb and ski the ultimate mountain.
Be the first to catch the film on the big screen, check out the sponsors, play some beer pong, do some shot skis and even get snowed on. We have a raffle with awesome prizes such as, ski jackets, ski pants and helmets from Salomon, the Quintic 28 backpack from Arc’teryx, hats from Planks and the amazing Z10 blackberry smart phone.
The event kicks off at 7pm and we will be partying apres ski style until 3am.
Tickets are £12 in advance from www.subzeroevents.com
See you on the 2nd for a snow sports filled evening!