Snowboarding!

Post by **Hippy** » Thu Mar 01, 2007 4:48 pm

Off snowboarding for a week <a href="http://www.lesarcs.com/The-Paradiski-area#b" target="_blank">here</a>

Can't wait

Heading out saturday morning, will have broken both my legs by sunday i reckon. Never had a snowboard lesson in my life, having a quick 2 hours when we get there, then gonna hit the snowpark!
I've bought all my kit this year, so i'd better take to boarding or i'm knackered!

Anyone else been this year?

Thu Mar 01, 2007 5:18 pm

Is their any snow their ?

Alot of my mates who've been have been very disapointed with the lack of snow in some places.

Post by **Jase** » Thu Mar 01, 2007 5:54 pm

Hope you got the premium travel insurance

Post by **Hippy** » Thu Mar 01, 2007 10:22 pm

Yes, got full travel insurance. And there's 220cm of fresh powder on the top slopes, 89% of lifts open (it's a massive resort), has been snowing all week!

All snow reports are excellent now but yes, it was a bit slow at the start of the season

Post by **Jase** » Fri Mar 02, 2007 8:16 am

Speak to Clingy, I'm sure he can give you the lowdown on how to avoid holiday accidents, IIRC he has suffered them all

Snowing holidays and travel insurance are second nature to him now

Post by **Hippy** » Fri Mar 02, 2007 9:38 am

Last year we only had 2 injuries, one guy fell on his wrist guard and broke a rib the other was an unrelated beer injury.
Out stood around in a group in a bar (as you do), some french monkey decided to take a full run up into the back of one of the guys, who in turn headbutted someone else. Tooth straight through the scalp and stubbly chin in eye. Scratched cornea and the rest of the holiday ski free

There's 17 of us this year, so hopefully some nice injuries

Post by **ryanside** » Fri Mar 02, 2007 10:36 am

Ive always wanted to have a go at snowboarding but never got around to doing it. I think it looks cooler than skiing

Im hopefully gonna get a chance to go next year since ill have a little bit of money left from workin this year, how long is the optimum time to go for, because i can imagine your gonna be aching a hell of a lot after a while, especially after all the falling over

Post by **mcmav** » Fri Mar 02, 2007 11:13 am

Hippy wrote:

There's 17 of us this year, so hopefully some nice injuries

you are so gonna break something now after that post

Post by **Hippy** » Fri Mar 02, 2007 11:53 am

Hehe, yep.

Ski season is end of november to april in the alps, although you can ski all year round in places like north america and canada, even some places in austria.

Yes, a week of 9am - 7pm skiing does make you ache a bit, just cant beat it for adrenalin and scenery though. You only get tired when you stop.
Plus you burn around 3000 calories a day!

Post by **Rasputin** » Fri Mar 02, 2007 12:43 pm

Hope you have a great time Hippy and don't hurt yourself to badly.

Post by **Clingy** » Mon Mar 05, 2007 1:13 pm

Nice one m8!

Me and the missis have been skiing for 20 years sometimes several times in a year. Only injury suffered to us was when she tried snowboarding and broke a wrist! So she promptly went back to skiing. DONT FORGET THE WRISTGUARDS...lol. The daughter did tear here medial(?) knee ligament last year which was pretty nasty (crappy hire skis).

Paradski is a fantastic area although we have only ever stayed in the La Plagne area (about 5 times). It's massive area far better than anything offered in North America. They have had a hooooge dump of snow recently and conditions are nigh on perfect....so much so we are now looking to book up a late deal for Easter.

You'll absolutely love it Hippy, I'm sure, but you'll want more than 2 hours lesson me thinks

.

Post by **Hatticus** » Thu Mar 08, 2007 4:01 am

I recokon learning to snowboard ( or in my case trying to learn) is the most knackering thing I have ever done in my life,.. seriously. I shan't bother again...

Post by **Trig** » Thu Mar 08, 2007 8:21 am

Your just old the G, Clingy's old and stubborn so he has the edge

Post by **Hippy** » Mon Mar 12, 2007 10:19 am

I'm back, and all in one piece!

I have to say, snowboarding is soooo much easier to learn to do than ski. I've been skiing for over 10 years and boarding for 7 days. I'm a better boarder now than skier.

Went up the mountain on the first evening, took me 2 hours to get down, but at the start i couldn't turn, by the bottom i could link turns and glide down nicely. By the 3rd day i was getting down the runs without falling at all and did my first black on the 5th day. Off pisting on powder all week!

Anyone trying boarding, just dont give up, it's fantastic and well worth the near broken back and knees from learning!

Went Parapending too, a tandem parchute jump on skis off a cliff. Very difficult on a board, and landing was amusing.
Will post up some pics later

Paradiski area is nice, second time i've been there. Had a trip over to la plagne which was a long way but worth it, la plagne seems nicer than les arcs, awesome runs on both resorts though!

Hippy out (boarder convert!)

Post by **Clingy** » Mon Mar 12, 2007 10:57 am

Glad to hear you had a good time m8.

Following your post we went in seach for a late deal. Because the snow has been falling they were going fast, but we managed to get a deal to a chalet in La Plagne 1800 in less than 2 weeks time....yippppeeeeee.

Only down side is I HAVE to lose at least a stone, if not more, in 2 weeks

and get a level of fitness slightly above my present Lard A***

.