Skiing 2014-2015

[DownhillGoat]

Originally Posted by DoubleK

What length and bindings did you go with

172 IIRC. Marker Dukes. Kind of a slackcountry / light AT setup that I can still use for resort skiing.

[wooohooo]

Anyone know where the best place to look for deals is? I'm looking for about 4-5 guys looking to ski for about 3 days and possibly lodging for 4-5.

I've seen those ski and stay deals which aren't bad at all, but we wouldn't mind mountain hopping either.

I took the magicbus last year to revelstoke. Oh my gosh. Worst bus ride. Wouldn't be so bad but the whole ride they were pumping party music for the whole 12 hour trip.

[GreenLantern2814]

For the first time since I was in high school, I'm excited for the ski season. I've finally got the means to get out on a regular basis, and the nature of my job is going to give me a fair few days off this winter.

I'd say better than half of my best memories of adolescence happen to do with skiing, and I literally cannot wait to get back into this glorious sport. I picked up a pair of Icelantic Shamans from a little place in Royal Oak called Mountain Cultures that's run by a former Canadian national free style team guy, and these things feel like they're going to be soooooo much fun.

I've also got a trip planned for this February between Kicking horse, Kimberley and fernie, which is setting up to be my first vacation in ~7 years.

All in all, if it can start snowing with a little more urgency, that'll be fine by me.

Any resort recommendations outside the obvious local stuff?

[undercoverbrother]

Just saw that Canyon opens in 4 days.


Looks like my girl and I will be out this coming weekend as she has no games!

[Northendzone]

Originally Posted by undercoverbrother

Just saw that Canyon opens in 4 days.


Looks like my girl and I will be out this coming weekend as she has no games!

u/cbro - i would not mind you postuing the odd update on conditions at canyon as my inlaws live in red deer and we are there for christmas and we were thinking of heading there for a few hours on boxing day as a tuneup before we go to panorama during new years

[Chingyul]

What's everyone's take on ski shop services these days?
Need to get some bindings mounted to new skis. I know the whole "buy local" thing, but it was a deal I couldn't pass up.
Sports Rent seems to have the best price so far, but wasn't my first idea (being a rental shop and all).

PS: 4Frnt Skis with 4Frnt/Tyrolia bindings

[fleuryisgod]

Originally Posted by Chingyul

What's everyone's take on ski shop services these days?
Need to get some bindings mounted to new skis. I know the whole "buy local" thing, but it was a deal I couldn't pass up.
Sports Rent seems to have the best price so far, but wasn't my first idea (being a rental shop and all).

PS: 4Frnt Skis with 4Frnt/Tyrolia bindings

By chance I do work at Sports Rent. I can let you know that we are one of the most experienced shops in Calgary. Only guys that touch binding mounts have been working at the shop for 10+ years. If you have any questions at all feel free to fire me a PM or just post on here.

[DownhillGoat]

Originally Posted by fleuryisgod

I can let you know that we are one of the most experienced shops in Calgary.

I'll vouch for Sports Rent too. I've been doing my pre-season tunes there for two years now (thanks to their sweet promo and this thread) and had a sidewall/topsheet epoxy job there this year and I have yet be disappointed. I would have zero hesitation having bindings installed there - to qualify that, in my younger days I worked as a hard goods/tech shop manager, and ski tuner for 5 years.

[dubc80]

Originally Posted by Chingyul

What's everyone's take on ski shop services these days?
Need to get some bindings mounted to new skis. I know the whole "buy local" thing, but it was a deal I couldn't pass up.
Sports Rent seems to have the best price so far, but wasn't my first idea (being a rental shop and all).

PS: 4Frnt Skis with 4Frnt/Tyrolia bindings

Anywhere but Sport Chek.
I'd think Ski Cellar would do a bang-up job too.

[DownhillGoat]

Originally Posted by dubc80

I'd think Ski Cellar would do a bang-up job too.

Honestly bindings are a simple job with very few caveats. IMO there's no bang-up job per say. They're either on and you didn't strip the holes or drill through the ski, or they're not and you did. Every tech has to go through a bit of a course to be certified to mount and adjust (and read the DIN chart), and that's for each binding brand. You should* never have an issue, unless of course someone picks the wrong drill bit and goes through the bottom of your bases.

Ski Cellar is free with ski and binding purchase, $30 with purchase of either or, and $60 if you buy them elsewhere. IIRC Fresh and other stores are par to that. So if you're going somewhere that sells or rents, personally I'd just go for the lower price point.

Now core shots, de-lams, epoxy jobs, major base repair, or edge replacement, that's when I'd absolutely be putting shop reputation ahead of cost. Bindings I wouldn't be too concerned.

[Northendzone]

i am planning on taking my daughter on a ski date on Sunday to Nakiska - i have her signed up for a lesson from 11 to 12.30 during which time i'll ski by myself and then hopefully she will feel comfortable enough to go on a bigger hill/chairlift for one or two slow runs....but if she wants to sstay on the magic carpet that is fine too as i just want her to feel comfortable on her skiis and go at her own pace.

i'll be interested to she her reaction the first time she crashes

[keratosis]

My kids couldn't wait to get on the bigger runs. They got bored of the bunny hills really fast. By the 3rd season I had a hard time keeping up.
15 years later it's not even close. Enjoy while you can.

[Chingyul]

Thanks guys. I'll take it down to Sports Rent sometime soon, and probably get some work done on my other pair too.

As for kid on skis. They have no fear once they're somewhat comfortable on skis. Make sure they know how to stop though! Seen enough kids run into snow fences!

[keratosis]

Originally Posted by Chingyul

Make sure they know how to stop though! Seen enough kids run into snow fences!

This.
Still remember chasing my youngest down the hill in Kimberly yelling FALL ON YOU'RE BOTTOM!
He made it down to the bottom in one piece , no broken bones and no one else killed.
When I asked if he didn't hear me, he said yes, but was having to much fun.
Kid looked like a crazy canuck.
Almost had a Homer/ Bart moment with him.

[Wormius]

My second time at Nakiska. I made the mistake of thinking that there was a continuous green run off the silver chair. There wasn't. It took me about 2 hours to coax my son down the blue run. Anyway, good times.

Related question, which ski hill has the best and longest green runs?

[DownhillGoat]

Originally Posted by Chingyul

Make sure they know how to stop though! Seen enough kids run into snow fences!

If they're small enough, leashes FTW.

Originally Posted by Wormius

Related question, which ski hill has the best and longest green runs?

Kicking Horse technically has the longest. But it's slooooooooow. Pano has some good green stuff, not sure if you want to drive that far though.

[keratosis]

Fernie pretty good too.

[MacDaddy77]

Originally Posted by kunkstyle

If they're small enough, leashes FTW.


Kicking Horse technically has the longest. But it's slooooooooow. Pano has some good green stuff, not sure if you want to drive that far though.

pano just installed a new chair this year to open up more area for beginners too.

I'm biased because we always ski there but for fall line skiing it's my favorite!

our run is as follows... Gunbarrel to Orca to last chance trees to tacky to champagne chair!! do 5 circuts of that run and your legs will feel the burn!!!

I really like sidewinder glades & Cauldron in Tayton as well, accessed off view of 1000 peaks so no hiking

[DownhillGoat]

Originally Posted by MacDaddy77

I really like sidewinder glades & Cauldron in Tayton as well, accessed off view of 1000 peaks so no hiking

Ssshhhhhhhhh.

I actually forgot that they installed the new lift over near Founder's Ridge. But I agree, I love that hill. Something for everyone there (and one of my best powder days ever last year).

[Northendzone]

just popped into ski cellar to pick up a lock, a bella clava for my daughter and a nakiska card....got looking at googles and bought a pair of oakley canopy prizm goggles......they feel comfortable, and they make the outside look great but i am having buyers remorse - i can return them as long as the tags are still on them.......