Davos Daily Details:

• Timetable - 8:50 to 4:20
• Area(s) - Parsenn Jock & Hutte,  Jakobshorn
• Equipment - Palmer
• Weather - Sunny spells, mild
• Visibility - generally good
• Snow conditions - Good
• Company - none
• Fun factor - Maxed out

8:20 start on Parsenn riding the Palmer.  Snow conditions were good, particularly compared to Jakobshorn.

Typical last day on the hill.  I stayed on the runs around the Jock and was joined by Patrick and H for a rip around at about 10:00.  We charged down to the Hutta and ran through the Boarder-X.  However, it was mainly a gentle morning for me, soaking-up the atmosphere and just enjoying being on board.

Patrick and H departed and I met DS for one final charge down the front face to the village.  We started at the Jock at 12:30 and were down in less than 10 minutes.  The final section was in the best condition I can remember - no moguls, no punters, just softening spring snow.  Just DS and me and a need for speed!  A great last run of the trip.

Express packing then a final brewski with DS at the station.

Trip home was uneventful.

Thanks DS for hosting yet another super trip.  Already looking forward to the next...

08:00 queue for lift tickets.  First train up the hill.  Clear skys, corduroy under board.  Not a punter in sight.  Welcome to Davos and have a nice day!  It's good to be back.

Quick to test as many old favs as possible.  Nose press on the track round the Jock, 180s on the run to the Haute, boarder-X and kicker, ollies off anything that looks like a lump, light-speed off the Jock in all directions.  All good.  Pretty solid start for first ride of the season.  SurfyMDO's a happy little camper.

Hooked-up with Colin and Doug for a general charge around the Hutte and down to Klosters.

Final charge down to Dorf.  Full eight hours on the hill.  Board off, Seehof beers on.

Took the Allian to Parsenn for my last day on the hill.  Lucky me, the sun was out and the pistes were in excellent condition.

Saw DS briefly, looking after his Scouts, and spent the day charging around the many runs between the Weissfluhjock and the Hutte.  The board performed well and the whole morning went in a flash.  Did a little Boarder-X then took a quick pitstop at the Hohenweg.

Time for the final charge down the front face.  Tough dismount.  Conditions were testing.  However, it's tough to beat the feeling of what is likely to be the last run of the season; swooshing down the slushy moguls on the vilage Black run, on your own, with tunes and a big smile.

Cheers DS for hosting another terrific trip!

Home time...

Started the day riding the Palmer on Jakobshorn.  Was looking for a last blast in the pipe for this season but lucked-out.  The pipe was poop and I was riding like a pussy!  I stayed with it for a couple of hours, hoping the light would change, my knee would stop hurting and the destablising ridge between the tranny and the vert on the healside wall would suddenly disappear.  No such luck!  However, about this time last year I was being dragged from the hill unconscious... at least I didn't need the hospital today!

Moan, moan, moan; so I bailed out and headed over to Parsenn.  Took a few runs round the Hutte but couldn't find any riding form so I ditched with a dismount down the front face.

Need some zzz tonight.

Rode the Palmer for the first time this trip.  Started on the trail to Klosters with Sophia.  Returned to cover Parsenn with H, Patrick and Nicol.  Boarder-X and general fast carving with a little instruction thrown in for good measure.

Met DS at the Hohenweg for pre dismount drinks.  Took the slushy mogul run to the villare for Fondue night.

Started out before ten riding the Allian on Parsenn.  Bluebird sky but cold.  Spent the morning alone with tunes.  Sessioned the Boarder-X for a couple of hours.  The track was in excellent condition, including the final jump.  Linking my runs with 180's and Ollies off any lip and hit I could find.  Stuck to the mountain like glue and had a real blast.

DS joined me early afternoon for more Boarder-X before a charge to Schifer.  The afternoon consisted of fast carving and beer!  We covered all the runs round the Weissfluhjock, including a little crunchy off-piste.  We too the last lift to enable a dismount down the front face.  Fast and sluchy and lost of fun.  All in all another good day on the hill.

Finished with a beer at the base, what else!?

Started the day early in warm conditions with bluebird skys, beautiful!  Riding the Nidy, it was a day for fast carving on piste, but with attention to technique and style.

Spent the day riding with Sophia and H, and together we tore-up Parsenn and the surrounding area.  We covered almost all the marked terrain around the Hutte; down to Schifer and towards Klosters before setting-up a few sessions through the Boarder-X and a speed trial thrown-in for good luck.  Also added some rotations and switch for good measure, in what turned out to be a very technical day.

Clouds attempted to come in: binding straps broke and needed to be replaced.  Skis kept pinging-off and needed a mid session service.  However, nothing was going to darken the day.  We negotiated the kit issues and carried on.  Finishing with a lightning run through the slushy moguls back to the village.

A full-on 7.5 hour day, with very little in the way of pitstops.  Totalled!  Board off, ZZZ's on!!!

Up early for the refreshed slopes.  Reached the top of the Jock before nine and managed a couple of runs completely on my own, fresh tracks, albeit only in dust not deep powder.  Still, the slopes were in the best condition during my trip, so far.  Tore around the Hutte area and down towards Schifer, mainly alone and able to take advantage of untracked dust at the margins.

Dave, George and I met up for elevenses and then went on tour.  The George-Michael finally took to the mountains again for the first time in around eighteen months!  Rounded the Hutte then rode round the Gotschnagrat and down to Klosters.  Remounted and made the trip to Schifer.  Dave bailed as George and I assended the Gipfel.  Wild ride down from the highest peak.  Decided to turn left at the Round hut, taking an unpatrolled off-piste trail.  First few KMs were fantastic.  However, boarders need to cut the corner, and in doing this George took a couple of tumbles and tweaked his already busted shoulder!  Regaining composure, we managed a dignified exit via the Chelsetta.  After remounting the Jock we took a couple of runs through the Boarder-X before a last lift to the front face for the final download.  A very big day indeed.  Over seven hours for me without lunch!

Hyped by such a sucessful day riding I caved-in a bought a Peak Performance Gillet - nice!

Three for supper - Fondue stylie.

Too buzy!

Started early but the crowds were massive.  Busiest I've seen Davos. Punters everywhere.  Took an early run towards Schifer, picking up the bubble at the mid-station.  Second run started well, but the mid-station was so packed-out I made a bad choice and carried on to Schifer.  The bubble was empty but only because the ride down was among the worst possible.  Massive, bullet-proof moguls - miles of the swines.  Exhausted, I changed direction and rode the baorder-X and the hill above the Parsenn Hutta.  Bluebird day and fairly smooth piste conditions but totally crowded-out.

Bailed around two and headed to Bulgen to meet George.  Collected the Allian on the way.  They couldn't effect a full repair as the base is too thin!  However, the job they have done seems good.  Swapped bindings at Bulgen and took a couple of test runs.  Very slick  and stable.  Feels good.  Would have entered the pipe but a formal comp was in full swing so I caved-in and went for beer with George and Dave.

So so sort of day.  However, looking forwards to becoming reacquainted with the Allian.  Should be quieter tomorrow.  Stay tuned...

The Ettinger boyz did their stuff with the Palmer, handing it back in superb condition.  I swaped it for the Allian.  Interesting to see if they are able to effect a reliable repair to this trashy stick!

Spent a good morning riding a fog-bound front face of Parsenn.  Timidly at first before building to a couple of rapid runs when the light lifted just before lunch.

Lunched with George half way uo the hill, before going on to ride the back of the mountain towards Parsenn Hutta, taking a cheeky through the boarder-X, which seems better arranged this season.

Exhausting but very enjoyable first full day.

Board off, beers on!

Dave and I rode Parsenn in relatively good snow conditions but flat light.  We made a speedy trip to Klosters before taking-in a couple of mountain pit-stops.

I made one fast and edgy pass of through Boarder-X trail before heading-up for a last mountain brew this trip.

Dave and I finished in style, climbing over the barriers outside the top station bar to access the left-hand slope on the front face; to the interest of casual on-lookers.  The slushy moguls in the lower sections made the final dismount a fair challenge.  However, it's always good to ride-it-out on the last day.

Quick turn around and off to the station.  Final beer and Ciao Dave.  Thanks for hosting another great trip.

Long but uneventful journey home.

Stay tuned for future trips...

Bluebird day.  Warm sun and fresh powder to ride.  Good start?

Dave, Ian and I took-off on Parsenn.  A real return to form.  Feeling good, riding strongly.  Conditions were among the best I've ever experienced.

Shot severall off-piste powder lines, including wind-lips and the odd gully.  Video evidence to follow.

Spent the early afternoon shooting the Boarder-X trail which ends in a natural half-pipe, before stealing a few late powder lines off the front face of Parsenn.  Stayed-up until last lift.  Finished the day with a wild slush mogul black run race with Dave back to the village.  Dead heat! One of the most full-on rides I've attempted for some time.  Very happy with my day.

Board off, brewski time!

Good to be back.

Hit by bird poo on the way to the lift.  That's gotta be good luck, right!?

Few runs with Dave and a couple of his clients, both cald Dave!  It's like someone was taking the Mick; phnar, phnar!

Set-up felt good.  Conditions were superb: bluebird and warm. Snow under board was bullet-proof, but very well groomed.

Left the guys to their day.  Took a couple of runs through the boarder-cross.  The whole course has been developed since February.  The banking turns are big.

The sun was so bright my Pink Iridium lenses were struggling to give me enough protection, so I bought a replacement Blue Iridium for the afternoon session.

Spent the late morning in the park at the top of Jakobshorn.  Made a number of good runs.  It felt as though I was picking-up from February without a break.  Very happy with the way things were going.  The jump at the top and the box were both going well.

Lunched at Bolgen Place then returned to the park at the top.  Had a couple of good runs - Jump, box, pipe - then...

...I lost it on the box!  somehow I went head-first over the end.  Drop at then end was a metre or so had hard packed.

AIR-TO-FACE.  SCHEISSE!  Nee-nor, nee-nor...

At least that's what I think happened.  Hit my face (brow, cheek, chin). Must have been quite hard.  Not sure if I blacked-out.  Whatever, I was really disorientated at the next point I remember anything.  Aparently, I called Dave, who was on another mountain at the time, to ask where I was staying!  Soon, a Pisteur - Frederich - arrived and took me off the mountain on a blood-wagon. Davos has a hospital, so the journey at the bottom was short.  My mind was all over the place.  Guess this is how a computer feels when it crashes!? Two and a half hours after crashing; blood-wagon trip off the mountain, ambulance journey, examinations by two doctors, several X-rays and a tetinus jab later, I was good to go.  Face looks a bit rough though and everything is starting to hurt.

Picked-up prescription pain killers on the way back to the appartment.  Quiet night in me thinks.

Stay tuned!