Rocket Science

After doing damage to my Stockli's last month and getting bad news from my dealers I faced the challenge of finding some new skis head on. It should be really straightforward to buy new skis, walk into a ski shop, point at a pair and wave a credit card. Many retailers now only offer skis and bindings as a package, not much use if you need a flat ski, and a toe lift plate.

So I did some web surfing and thought I'd found a decent ski and binding pairing from Telemark-Pyrenees in France and placed an order. A few days later an email arrived to say that they were out of stock of both the ski and the binding. It would seem that their web store is not linked to their stock levels, which is a shame.

I can't find any other supplier that can get me the ski I want at other than daft prices, so my 2nd choice ski came from Sport-Conrad in Germany and the bindings from an Ebay trader, Winter Shack, in Scotland. Everything arrives, and it's all fine!

I'd already been in contact with a guy who mounts skis and does servicing, advised him what I'd got lined up, and as he'd done the mounting for my Black Roses I anticipated no problems with a straightforward mounting of some Dynastar Bindings on Dynastar Skis. That's where everything started to go pear shaped.

I sent him some photos of the skis and bindings and read his response with a certain amount of dismay. Apparently I'd need some Driller Killer Inserts, a Custom Made Toe Shim, Machine Screws, because my heel piece screws would be too long, toe piece screws too short and he can't make them shorter/longer, and he'd need the skis for a week as the glue for the inserts needs 48 hours to go off.  Most ski shops do this work in an hour, how hard can it be?

Hmmm, not good. I offered to get shorter screws, no response. These are only screws after all.

Time for Plan B which involves a second opinion. Luckily my bootfitter carries all the Dynastar binding spares nationally, and is very familiar with the bindings I want to fit, so I send him the photos. I then take in the skis and bindings, and he puts them in position, they will fit straight onto the ski. He can't see what the need would be for all the inserts and custom made stuff I'd been told about.

He finds a slightly shorter screw for the heel pieces because I'm not using the Heel Lifter Plate, and confirms that I don't need longer screws for the toe pieces, the ones Dynastar provide will do nicely. He was even able to offer me alternative Race Plates for the toe pieces. They would fit straight on as well.

So, now, all I have to do is cart the skis to Switzerland and ask my local ski shop to do the mounting. What could be simpler.........

The Slow Way Up At Least On Weekdays

Before Christmas when the lift was shut in Grimentz, it was the only way to get some skiing in locally. In earlier years nearby Zinal has opened during the week, and I've caught the bus over there, but for some reason this year they decided to shut. With Grimentz only open at the weekends, ascent on skins was where it was at.

I'd wanted to try out my new Fritschi Crampons, and my Salomon boots for ascent anyway, and both worked really well, though I did initially have a small problem getting the crampon off my binding rail due to ice, but I hammered it with a ski pole handle until it gave up!

I quite enjoy skinning up occasionally, as it's nice to hear the sounds of nature all around. I think I see so much more at a slower pace too.
The weekend arrived, the lifts started and there was powder to be had. I was a little late on the scene, but there seemed to be plenty to go around. I did end up falling into a Bisse at one point, but managed to dig myself out without too much trouble.

With the prospect of the lifts closed for 5 whole days, I packed a bag and headed for Zermatt!

Val D'Anniviers Season Finale

After heading back to Geneva Airport with my partner Andy, we parted company, as he caught a flight back to the UK, and I caught a train to Sierre, with the intention of getting the Postbus to Grimentz. Plans do sometimes go wrong, and faced with a three hour wait for a bus , another stranded traveller did a deal with a taxi driver and we shared a taxi to up Val D' Anniviers. The view next morning makes up for any travel related stress.








Met up with ise and his friends and family for a great sunshine day both on and off piste. Grimentz was surprisingly crowded and we encountered queues for the lifts ise found a nice little gulley to ski in, even I managed to cope on my "girly Stormriders" (to quote ise) !















13/4 Grimentz and Zinal

Started the day cruising empty pistes in Grimentz, then caught the bus to Zinal to meet up with ise and ski the Chamois piste back to Grimentz. an excellent run, though the snow cover on the itinerary back to Grimentz was rather patchy. I'm so glad I have a rucksack with a ski carrier! After a substantial lunch, it was straight onto the Bendolla telecabine to meet up with brian who managed to spot me from the description I had sent by text....short, fat, old, black kit, girly Stormriders We took a few off-piste runs in the slushy afternoon snow, where ise decided to check out the snow depth by lying down and resting his legs.





Because I'm a nice person I did not get out my camera . He claimed it was my fault, as I wanted to ski in the "nice" gully we were in yesterday, only the snow was a little less pleasant!

Grimentz 14/4

Skied around in lovely warm sunny weather. Met up with Brian and his family for lunch. Sent a message to ise, but he was not feeling well, perhaps I skied him too hard yesterday . Spent the afternoon on the black Lona piste, top section, which was in excellent condition and very quiet.


























Grimentz 15/4

Hot and sunny day. Met up with ise, who had been indulging in some retail therapy, and wanted to try out his Stockli Stormrider Pit Lights, and Garmont Megaride boots. He had some new skins to match as well, and just had to try them out.

The pisteurs were busy taking down the marker poles (perhaps they had heard about me), and safety netting, so the piste skiing was a little more interesting. A live band was playing in the Bendolla restaurant at lunchtime, where we met up with Brian and his family. The conditions held up pretty well through the day, I fell over three times, and ise liked his new skis and boots, so all in all a pretty good season finale.