HelperElfMissy

spot on onehunga! And not all of us sit down to strap in! One particular lift gave me conniptions on approach EVERY time in France because great hordes of skiers would stand in front of it, and it was a reasonably steep ramp to get away from the fast moving fixed fully loaded quad. The snowboarders couldn't stop as easily in front of it, so there weren't many of them. But granted here ... It's the boarders more often. I'd add..whatever the device you choose to slide on, if you stack it, your #1 priority should be getting OUT of the way. Sideways. Not slowly dragging yourself forward

Yes it is. And in many other sports besides. We had a situation of a guy who had 2 concussions playing for another water polo team 2 days apart in the October (few years ago) - coming around from the 2nd one he told the ambos it was 1977....he wasn't even born then! The following year he had moved to our club and was preparing for an April competition when he got a head knock and became unconscious at training again. Coach called his parents in and explained why he wouldn't be playing him the following week. He still went with the team, but it is just too dangerous to be continuing to

Sorry to come late to this thread. Regarding glasses ... Papa and the littlest bear cub both need glasses. It has been quite the obsession at times to find the right goggles. OTG goggles are usually much much better with glasses than non OTG goggles - SURPRISE! Occasionally you can jag a pair that are not designed for the purpose that work well though. But they do not enjoy riding with glasses under goggles for a number of reasons - sometimes they feel visibility is compromised with the glasses frame and the goggle frame getting in the way. Sometimes the fogging is ballistic. Yo

why not from all capitals?

Surprise honey. I just got our perverted private life plastered not only all over our town, or all over our country....but internationally. Turned on yet?

No difference.

I'd go further. Treadlies are commuter bikes. Deadly Treadlies are old banger commuter bikes.

treadlies and helmets is a whole other discussion. IMHO the legislation in Aus for bike helmet use has resulted in a large demographic of people NOT riding bikes. Of course the Lycra brigade still get out there, and probably a whole lot of families, but a heap of people who would use bikes for local doddle commutes now don't. In some cities (not Perth) you can rent bikes from one station and drop them back at another, what a great initiative! But most don't have bike helmets with them and if they do, they aren't the right size. So...you are a tourist (local or otherwise) you hire a bike

It does sound strange for a guy in his position (ie: wealthy, owned a chalet at that resort, regular etc) Not impossible - maybe he was demo-ing skis, or due to light cover got some rentals to protect his own equipment...

interesting. I took note of a Japanese Ski School class of little tots at Hanazono the other day. You know the little pre-school or early school kiddies that you can't help but coo about and say stuff like 'nawwwww!' and 'Kawaii!!!'. I would say there were 10 littlies with a female instructor. All except for one very cute little girl in a very cute pink beanie was in a helmet. Due to these discussions and my own offsprings refusal to wear the helmets they brought with them I've been taking note. Lots of helmets up here in Niseko - unsurprising as there are a lot of foreigners and qui

I heard friend. First time I've seen child mentioned.

Michael Schumacher, an extremely wealthy man amongst wealthy men; an expert skier; a regular at the ski resort, where he owns his own chalet....... was using rental skis? that does seem bizarre.

US is consistently cheaper than anywhere else in the world for snowboards.

Update. We haven't locked anything. Although I did stay and watch the boards while the guys spent about 20 minutes in the shop at the base. I was with a friend in Thredbo when her rental board was taken in the same way as your example MIJ. We lost half a day riding until lifts closed to find the similar board (same rental company), then just changed the bindings to goofy and used that for the last 2 days. They said it happens all the time. Good reason to lock rental equipment if you ask me

morning beer

Which is why this statement surprises me... Personally I've been avoiding the piste the last couple of days because it is soooo busy, soooo many people not really in control, so many not really aware of their surroundings. You've more chance of being hit and going down badly on a crowded piste than off in some side country that's within your technical ability, out there with a handful of others also being aware and skiing within their ability... It was an accident. A sad accident. Not sure it could've been avoided.

Would suck it be that Indian guy..'excuse me Miss lovely pharmacy assistant...can you tell me where the itty bitty condoms are located'.... It wouldn't happen. Need to sell them in an assorted sizes pack, and there would be a fair bit of wastage

nothing wrong with discussion.The conclusions will probably be the same, but there's always someone new to the sport reading it for the first time

Sad accident. As a parent I keep thinking about the effect it had/will have on his 14 yr old son who was with him at the time. In the last week I've been informed that one of the 12 boys in my youngest's team (that I manage) is in hospital in an induced coma with a head injury after falling out of a tree, another broke his leg on a wave simulator, a friends family skiing in the US are returning home with one broken wrist and one broken finger. The ambulance is in and out of the village here all day long. And my kids think they are too cool for helmets. I think it's pretty clear

I'm just jealous that you got to ride Mt Granview!! One day....one day!

Was there ever a cool factor? Today more than other days this week there were large crowds, so I'd suggest a fair few local riders today. The people I have been meeting mostly have been from Hong Kong and Jakarta. Few Aussies, few English accents, caught a lift more than once with people speaking French - quite the United Nations up here! About a 50/50 mix of skiers and boarders but lots of wide skis. Also seen more telemark skiers than I have anywhere before. Oh, and two snowbladers - they made me giggle - they were battling hard! The reds and greens were swarming today, even the

hmmmm...maybe last season. Not too sure the gf would approve of that kind of 'wombat' lifestyle! Nice car Goz. Get the car danchi started!

Not over the lunch hour But yes, pretty long this morning! Being a Sunday and all.... It was pretty good . Can't wipe the smile off my face! Crowds stuck to the main piste, we didn't happy days

Been a LOT of those! I've got one down with a chest infection, so spent more time than usual in the apartment and am shocked at how often the ambulance makes the trip up to collect someone. Especially since I've heard there is an ambulance shortage this year....

Pfftt it's the mountains. Changes in a flash. I'd be sending a daily 'sunny, occasional clouds, epic pow, rainbows and unicorns'.