Friday 25 February 2011

Try something different

If you've been following the snow conditions in the Alps this winter then you'll be aware that, until this last week at least, fresh snow fall has been somewhat lacking. With big dumps of snow in the lead in to the season pre-Christmas, once the new year settled in, the sun decided to come out... And stay out.

Certainly no lack of snow at the Grand Montets

On our most recent trip to Argentiere, we were a little nervous that the much coveted ski trip wouldn't be quite the same. After all, we do like our powder and the off piste. However, as it turned out, we ended up enjoying some of the best family skiing we've done, albeit lacking the steep and the deep.

How do ski conditions compare to the design of your skis?

Although the pistes were 'firm', they were also fast, and a dream to let loose on. It wasn't long before we got to thinking much more about our skis and the way they worked. And the natural progression followed...

Hard and fast - the Hearse piste at the Grand Montets

... I wonder what it would be like on some different skis..., these different skis are the absolute business, I can really blast the piste on these unlike my own..., I wonder what some top end performance skis would be like..., these performance skis are the absolute business, I must have a pair, etc...

Work those edges!

And so on it went. We had a blast and very soon I'll be several hundred Euros poorer, but have a big grin on my face. So the moral of the tail is that while no snow is definitely not good, different snow might just be the key to a whole new chapter of skiing.

Dynastar's youngest Factory Test Pilot

Head across to Sanglard Sports and hire some skis with 15% discount when you mention StayInChamonix, or better still, book online using our preferential rates. You can also ask Sanglard Sports for a voucher for the Dynastar Test Centre, based up at Lognan on the Grand Montets. With this, and for free, you can take any of their range of skis for a test ride for a couple of hours. (But remember, it'll cost you when you fall in love with them and have to buy a pair afterwards!)

And, by the way, plenty of new snow this week!