Snowboard Wax

I have just back from a short break at the french Alps resort Val D’isere. The holiday was just a week long, no seasons for me this year , and it was certainly a strange week in regards to the conditions. When I arrived (26th Dec) they had pretty much no snow, runs were icy and rocky in many places and powder off-piste simply didn’t exist. This had to be the worst state I had seen a resort in at this time of year ever! I have to say that I was majorly disappointed because this could be the only week I get away this season. This icy zero-snow situation lasted for 4 days and then bam it started to snow furiously, so furiously we had about 3 feet of snow over night and it even kept on snowing! What a relief, when there is no snow in a resort at the start of a season there isn’t much to do except just ride about on ice fast… they don’t have enough snow to build decent snowparks and off piste isn’t an option so things can be a bit limiting. This new snowfall was just what was needed, in fact the quantity of snow was so huge in such a short space of time it simply transformed the place to a powder heaven! I had some of the best off-piste powder runs I have had in a long time, very surprising judging by the previous few days. Anyone still yet to travel to Val D’isere should be very happy as they should now have a good base for any new snow and the snowparks that looked like they were ‘on hold’ should be now well under way… I think I might have to squeeze in a trip around Easter!!

If anyone goes to Val D’isere and gets a load of new snow providing good off piste I highly recommend checking out the off piste to the left (when looking down from the top) of the solaise express chair. You have to go on-piste for a short while and cut off to the left. You get choice of a wide & clear valley to the far left, great for long cruising turns, or slightly nearer to the piste you get some great tree runs which are fantastic if they are not yet tracked out. I know this run is low down but if it is a foggy day and/or the resort is still avalanche blasting then this is a good bet early on in the day.

Visit the Val D’isere website for webcams and up to date weather reports: Val D’isere Website

I’d love to hear what anyone else is experiencing this winter where ever you are or are going. Share with us your holiday/season resort experiences. Which parts of resorts are best, which resorts have good parks, anything you like. Just click the ‘Comments‘ link below and submit your own words to appear on this site so we can all benefit from each others experiences and knowledge.. go on don’t be shy

Till I write again have fun this season!