HelperElfMissy 42 Posted August 30, 2011 Share Posted August 30, 2011 Hurro Peeps I am back from my long weekend at Thredbo. Was great to catch up with TJ for a drink while there too It was definitely spring conditions. There were a number of groomers that were no go zones as a result of patchy or gone snow, but the ones that remained were in really great condition for the most part. We arrived Friday just as they belatedly opened the lifts due to ice that needed to be regroomed, but we found the cover fine - no really hairy spots of concrete ice on piste. The slush got a bit wet in some places that were low on Friday and Saturday just after lunch, but up high maintained condition remarkably well in the glorious sunshine. By the time we headed down (lift close) it had firmed up quite a bit again. Sunday and Monday it was much dryer 'slush' very sugary and not wet to fall on. I think the only thing better on a board would have been a decent dump of powder (but that was never going to happen). The new electronic ticketing worked well at Thredbo, but we witnessed a few "fails" that held up the lift lines. Of the 8 of us that went, none experienced a fail. One thing that did make me laugh though - the sensor area was level with the top of my left arm - a card arm band bought in Niseko a few years ago made getting through the gates a breeze for me... However when I commented on how cute the little girl with a party hat taped to her helmet looked, her father rolled his eyes and said "it has her lift pass taped to the inside". She needed the extra height from a kiddies cardboard hat to get tall enough to register. That is SOME oversight! The odd eye roll moment of numptie behaviour, but all in all a FANTASTIC weekend of boarding all day and apres all evening. The Bear Clan have returned home happy as, and with big plans for our future boarding exploits Link to post Share on other sites
HelperElfMissy 42 Posted August 30, 2011 Share Posted August 30, 2011 Originally Posted By: Mamabear Was great to catch up with TJ for a drink while there too Actually...while on that topic! Geez, snow sports is a small community! The morning after our drink with TJ, we were waiting at the river inn deck for our youngest to get sorted with his school mate (another surprise that he was there) to go out for a freeride lesson when we spied a Dad and son that were staying at White Horse at the same time as us in January!! So we had a catch up with them too!! Link to post Share on other sites
muikabochi 208 Posted August 30, 2011 Share Posted August 30, 2011 Cool. A fantastic weekend sounds good. Despite the slush! Link to post Share on other sites
SKI 15 Posted August 30, 2011 Share Posted August 30, 2011 Makes Japan snow seem all the better. Link to post Share on other sites
lin 0 Posted August 30, 2011 Share Posted August 30, 2011 10 days in Niseko/Rusutsu in late January Link to post Share on other sites
Go Native 70 Posted August 30, 2011 Share Posted August 30, 2011 Well we just had the warmest August on record here in the SE of Aus which of course hasn't been good for the snow. Things had started out reasonably well but it's more like the end of September than the end of August in terms of snow conditions now. I went up for some x-country a couple of times but certainly didn't waste my money at any of the downhill resorts (and never will). Looking forward to getting back to Niseko next winter! Link to post Share on other sites
charlotte 0 Posted August 30, 2011 Share Posted August 30, 2011 Sounds great Mamabear. How far from Thredbo do you live? Link to post Share on other sites
HelperElfMissy 42 Posted August 30, 2011 Share Posted August 30, 2011 Originally Posted By: charlotte Sounds great Mamabear. How far from Thredbo do you live? 3798km's by the quickest route by road Thursday 4.30pm flight Perth to Canberra (10pm early arrival). Hire Car: Drive to Cooma (about an hour) - stay overnight. Up early, drive another hour to Jindabyne - quick shop to get #2 son some new snowboard pants, seeing as his old ones had holes in them. Final half hour or so up to Thredbo. Arrive as the lifts were opening (they were delayed due to icy conditions). That is my 'local' mountain. Sad. I know. Link to post Share on other sites
BagOfCrisps 24 Posted August 30, 2011 Share Posted August 30, 2011 Whoah! Link to post Share on other sites
HelperElfMissy 42 Posted August 30, 2011 Share Posted August 30, 2011 I know. Tragic huh?! Next snow fix is Zermatt in January. That is about 14,000km's away. Link to post Share on other sites
muikabochi 208 Posted August 30, 2011 Share Posted August 30, 2011 Next time I decide that the long-haul over to my nearest skijo of about 3km is just too far and too much effort, I'll remember you Mamabear and it will poke me into going out more! Link to post Share on other sites
HelperElfMissy 42 Posted August 30, 2011 Share Posted August 30, 2011 Glad to be of service Muika! Link to post Share on other sites
muikabochi 208 Posted August 30, 2011 Share Posted August 30, 2011 Promise to take pics! Link to post Share on other sites
HelperElfMissy 42 Posted August 30, 2011 Share Posted August 30, 2011 I will! Took two crap photo's on my phone of my boys this trip, that was IT! But Zermatt is different. The camera will be out! Link to post Share on other sites
muikabochi 208 Posted August 30, 2011 Share Posted August 30, 2011 Actually, what I meant was.... I promise to take pictures! But I will certainly look forward to Zermatt. Would love to go there. Link to post Share on other sites
HelperElfMissy 42 Posted August 30, 2011 Share Posted August 30, 2011 I didn't expect anything less of YOU Muika! I love your photographic record of the places you visit The angles, the light... just delightful. Link to post Share on other sites
pie-eater 207 Posted August 30, 2011 Share Posted August 30, 2011 Don' forget the trees! Link to post Share on other sites
muikabochi 208 Posted August 30, 2011 Share Posted August 30, 2011 More trees coming this season! Sorry, we are going off topic. Link to post Share on other sites
charlotte 0 Posted August 31, 2011 Share Posted August 31, 2011 Full marks for continued effort Mamabear. You really must love it all. Great stuff. Have you been to Zermatt before, I really want to go there. Link to post Share on other sites
HelperElfMissy 42 Posted September 1, 2011 Share Posted September 1, 2011 Yes charlotte, we have. It is the only Euro resort we have been to, and it will be 3 yrs between trips. The destination was chosen by our companions - he was a ski instructor there for years, so it is important to them to go there. However, to assuage our need to see new places we will spend the middle week of our 3 weeks traveling and will visit Verbier and Chamonix (fingers crossed that all goes to plan!) We most certainly do love it. Incredible strike rate of 6 from 6 too - there is not a single family member who does not love a ski trip. It is awesome to see so many amazing ski resorts around the world. But I have to say, dodgy snow or not, there is nothing like riding the mountain in your home country. Link to post Share on other sites
Mantas 3 Posted September 1, 2011 Share Posted September 1, 2011 Originally Posted By: Go Native I went up for some x-country a couple of times but certainly didn't waste my money at any of the downhill resorts (and never will). Looking forward to getting back to Niseko next winter! GN, I doubt that I would ever go to an Aussie resort again either if it wasn't for the kids. They don't care what the conditions are like so long as they have some white stuff to slide on (and a thousand jumps) and the fact that I can drive them there from my house, with everthing I need, and not have to deal with Jet lag, visas, passports, airport parking..etc, makes it not a bad deal. Link to post Share on other sites
Go Native 70 Posted September 2, 2011 Share Posted September 2, 2011 Mantas I'm not really a fan of ski resorts anywhere. I come from a backcountry background. Prior to living in the Niseko region I only rarely skied at resorts. I have never spent a night in paid accommodation at an Australian ski resort and never will. Only reason I skied at Niseko resort so much was because I got a lift pass as part of my renumeration package and so much of the skiing there was like lift serviced backcountry. Generally only skied at Rusutsu or Moiwa when I got free lift passes. I've always had issues with paying for skiing since I generally prefer the backcontry anyway. If I can't get free passes I'll generally just go backcountry. None of this will change when my daughter is old enough to ski. I reckon she'll be telemarking like a champ in the backcountry with me by the time she's 5 (hope so anyway) Link to post Share on other sites
Mantas 3 Posted September 2, 2011 Share Posted September 2, 2011 If I did that I'd have to build some grinds and boxes and lug them up into the back country. Link to post Share on other sites
HelperElfMissy 42 Posted September 2, 2011 Share Posted September 2, 2011 Originally Posted By: Mantas If I did that I'd have to build some grinds and boxes and lug them up into the back country. Oh I pay that! And I think I would have to also lug up a full stocked bar with girls dressed in Austrian costumes plying schnapps to make Mr Bear happy too. LOL Link to post Share on other sites
Mantas 3 Posted September 2, 2011 Share Posted September 2, 2011 MB We just got back from 4 days down there. I doubt I'll ever see anyone milk as much out of a lift ticket as this bunch of 9 year old boys. Even conning the lifty for an extra ride after last run. Link to post Share on other sites
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