Davos Daily Details:

• Timetable - 9:45 to 4:40
• Area(s) - Parsenn, Jakobshorn
  
• Equipment - Palmer
• Weather - Cloudy with snow showers
  
• Visibility - Total white out to bluebird
  
• Snow conditions - Sticky piste and snow-filled pipe
  
• Company - Music
  
• Fun factor - Amped
  

Started the day on Parsenn in a total white-out.  Snow showers, low cloud, zero viz, strong head wind and sticky snow on the pistes made the morning experiance total pants.  I made a few bolox runs before bailing out by riding to the village.

Transferred to Jakobshorn, hoping for better conditions.  Although better, conditions were far from good.  Very low cloud wiped out all visibility.  On the plus side, there was no one around.  I made a couple of dodgy runs before taking refuge in the Jatz Hutte.  I hung out as long as I could before taking what I thought would be a final look at the Hill when the clouds started to lift and the sun broke through.  I found the pipe, full of snow, but not totally useless.  I started to put a few turns in.  By 13:30 there were a handful of riders using the pipe, which smoothed out the new snow and made the riding pretty good, albeit a bit slower than the traditional icy pipe.

As the pipe was running slower than normal I was finding it hard to even reach the coping.  Then around 15:00 a light went on, the reason I lose speed on the wall is because I flex the front leg, which has the added disadvantage of bringing me physically closer to the wall as I ride up (an off-putting sort of ground-rush effect).  For the next few runs I concentrated on keeping the front leg extended to the top and I started to reach the coping with less effort and what felt like more control.

I then started to put a little hop in the initial entry to the pipe, to increase speed for the first transfer.  Then just as it was all about to come to an end at around 16:15, I finally managed two proper airs out of the pipe, back to back, toeside then healside.  I let out a huge screem, part fear, part delight.  The rest of the turns were just a little nose and tail air as I rode round the coping, but the job was done.  I finally got out of the pipe with back to back turns.

As the light faded again and the lifts started to shut I rode off the Hill with a feeling of real achievement.

Board off, shattered.

Davos Daily Details:

• Timetable - 10:00 to 4:35
• Area(s) - Jakobshorn
  
• Equipment - Palmer
• Weather - Warm
  
• Visibility - Bluebird
  
• Snow conditions - Smooth pipe, bullet-proof piste
  
• Company - DS
  
• Fun factor - Relaxed

Made a relaxed Saturday start with DS.  The Hill was puntered to hell!  We carried on regardless and made the best of the sketchy pistes.  Eventually, we drifted over to the pipe, which was still in reasonable conditions.  Rider numbers were up.  One punter dropped in on my run and nearly killed us both!  I just managed to avoid running him over - idiot!  Otherwise, the riding was pretty good.  Not as strong as yesterday, but it picked up.

Mountain kebab at the Jatz Hutte - wierd but strangely good - then a few more runs before DS downloaded.  I carried on in the pipe for the remaining two hours of the day.  The runs were not so bad by the end with a little nose and tail air by the end.  Overall, not bad for a day that was really only going to be a gentle coast around.

Quiet pizza tonight seems most likely.  I'm wiped!  Still, here are a few shots from earlier in the day...the riding did improve, I promise!

Roller:

Pipe - Heelside Wall:



Pipe - Heelside Wall

Davos Daily Details:

• Timetable - 9:30 to 4:35
• Area(s) - Jakobshorn
  
• Equipment - Palmer
• Weather - Warm
  
• Visibility - In and out
  
• Snow conditions - Freshly cut pipe, good piste
  
• Company - Tom
  
• Fun factor - Stoked
  

I met Tom for a day-long lesson in the Jakobshorn half pipe.  The warm up ride around was in the fog!  However, we were able to get into the pipe and Tom went straight to work on my technique.  Things to correct: entry from the highest point on the coping, jump start with nose down the wall, hip back and centre stance, pump the wall, let the board run flat on the vert, and just let go!

We stayed at it all day, taking just a few breaks for liquids and lunch, all at the Jatz Hut.  The gloom lifted midday and the light improved enough to allow full practice of the new technique.  By the end of the day I was running good.  I was riding into the pipe from the highest point and pressing the nose on to the vert for the first transfer.  I had the hip back and the weight centred, running up the wall to the coping and letting the board run flat on the vert.  Toe side turns tended to be a little smoother but I was reaching the coping on both side consistently with every turn.  In the last four runs of the day I started to get a little pump on the wall.  There was some tail air here and there and I managed a couple of half flights.

The only thing I didn't do was fully let go. I need to sleep on Tom's instructions and to build on these tomorrow, with a view to getting fully out, soon.

We rode down to meet DS at Bulgun and caught the last lift for a run in a slushy Bolgun pipe.  Boards off, beers on.  Thanks Tom for a top day out.

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

Started the day early.  Greatful for many hours sleep.  Started on the Jock, running the boarder-X before sessioning the runs above the Hutte.  Conditions were great.  The off-piste was heavily tracked, but not cooked, so there was plenty left for me.  Unlike me to sneak off-piste on my own, but this was too tempting, a gentle roll off one slope into a steep shute with a exit through a gully between runs.  I couldn't get enough of it.

Schnitzel brot at the Tot Alp then charged down the village run, which was empty and in the best condition I've experienced so far.

Transfered to Jakobshorn.  Got straight on with the kicker and the halfpipe.  Only took a couple of runs to recapture the form I'd reached last trip.  I was flying, particularly toeside.  I was having such a good time I even paused to run a few loops through the Bolgun pipe - bit slushy but no complaints.  Snow fun in the sun.  Awesome!

Man and snow-machine were in total harmony.  I had the best day.  Celebrated with the purchase of a new skycap in acid yellow!! (DoD: that's a R.E.D. Hi-Fi crash hat.)

Board off, brewskis on.  Pizza with the posse tonight...

Footnote: I got to play piano in the Egg bar.

Businesslike 10:00 start on Jakobshorn, riding the Palmer, accompanied by Patrick and H.

The mountain was less busy than yesterday, but still puntered to death.  Pretty much straight to the pipe, which was still in fantastic condition and hardly being used.

All three of us hit our stride and made the most of the conditions.  The vibe built until I was riding as confidently as I ever have in the pipe.  However, that crutial out-of-the-pipe air remain out of reach - too nervous to really let go and ride out.

Mountain kebab lunch; nice!  Few more runs then Patrick and H started filming before going their own way.  I stayed in the pipe until the close.  Conditions were too good to waste and I cannot really return tomorrow.  Patrick reappered and the vibe built again.  Then, after a few progressively smooth runs I made air.  Healside wall, third turn, now doubt about it, I was out of the pipe.  What's more, I didn't stack the rest of the run.

Carried on a while longer but was too tired to really push myself.  Still a real win.  Trick is to capture the technique so that I can pick-up where I leave off this time.  Stay tuned.

16:15 finish.  Swift cafe Bailey at Chalet Gougle with Patrick before zooming off Jakobshorn for the last time this trip.

Top day.

Relaxed 11:00 start on Jakobshorn riding the Palmer.  Conditions as before, albeit slightly warmer.  I took no chances and wore extra layers.  Toasty all day.

Hill was covered in punters.  Longest queues I've seen in Davos.  Mountain needs snow.  However, the half pipe was in amazing condition, and generally unused.  It was safer in the pipe than on the hill in general.

Built up quickly to some of my best ever runs.  Finally starting to push off the wall and ride the base without skidding off speed; result smoother, more consistent runs and more speed up the wall.

I was wondering how to push myself harder when Patrick rocked up.  After a couple of runs we were well into it.  I finally started to ride to the very top of the wall on every turn, seeing out of the pipe for the first time this season, which means there's some propper air to be had.

We carried on until they started to shut the parc.  Top day.  Just the one I'd been hoping for.  Celebrated with a cafe Baliey's at the top of the Hill before making a final charge to the village.

Top day!

 

9:50 start on Jakobshorn riding the Allian.  Yet another bluebird day and warmer, too.

Started the day riding with Patrick and H.  Warm-up blast around the hill then into the parc.  Nice and smooth over the kicker but rubbish in the pipe.

Patrick and H had to leave for work, which left me riding the parc on my own.  There were two kids being trained in the pipe, using markers at strategic places over the wall.  Took me ages to find any rhythm but lining-up on the training markers certainly helped me concentrate.  By the end of the day I was starting to ride much better.  Think I could do even better on the Palmer (something for tomorrow, perhaps).

Meanwhile, the tips and hints I passed on to H the other day set me thinking about my own riding, which I tidied-up today (more pressure on the nose from the leading leg).

Kept going until the last parc lift at 16:30.  Tells you something about how much fun I was having.

Final blast back to the village.  All in all, a good day.

Lazy start, 10:20 on Jakobshorn riding the Allian with tunes.  Solo today - everyone else was too battered!  Bluebird day, more like late March.  Reggee today.

Made my first visit to the snow parc this season.  Conditions were among the best I can remember.  Made good air over the top kicker all day and warmed-up in the half-pipe.  Sessioned the whole hill, riding switch, hitting lips and jibbing 180s of all forms between parc runs.

The pipe was superb.  After a few runs I started to find a little form.  I've certainly ridden better, but several elements of the later runs were encouraging.

Late ride out at 16:15, making it a fairly full-on day.  Lucky 13th.

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.

Spent the day on my own riding the Palmer in cold sunshine on Jakobshorn.  The hill was horrid, but the pipe was rad'!  The first few runs were typically tentative and a little sketchy.  However, I was in the mood, and with no one else around, I cranked the tunes are started to build up to a charge.  The top kicker was in good condition and I eventually managed to achieve a decent hight off the lip - less speed, more Ollie!

After four hours in the pipe, I finally started to fly, particularly on the toeside wall, which had a smoother transition (never really gets the sun).  Pretty certain this was my best ever halfpipe session.  I can still do a lot better but it felt like it was coming together.

Dismounted on a sluchy run to take one run in the Bolgun pipe - too slushy to ride.  Heigh-ho, I had my jollies at the top of the hill!  No prizes for guessing my plan for tomorrow...

Slightly later start, this time on Jakobshorn riding the Allian in warm bluebird conditions.

The parc posse consisted of DS, Sophia, H and me.  We made good use of the little kicker a ripped round the rest of the hill charging off piste-side lips and hits.  The fun refused to go out of the day.  It mainly consisted of simple riding and larking about, but sometimes that's all it takes.

We downloaded from the midstation and I refused to let the day end, taking four fun and fairly solid runs in a slushy Bolgun pipe.  My first pipe runs of this trip.  Big smile.

Too pleased with the day to feel tired.  Still, board off, brewskis on...

Started early, still on the Allian, on a cold and windswept Weissfluhjock.  Put in a few good runs, but weather was hideous; very high winds and flat light.  Was planning a run to Klosters but decided to abandon as the Shiferbhan closed due to high cross-winds, which means my only real way back would be by train.  Nevermind, another time!?

In a rare sunny moment, I took my chance to ride the front face of Parsenn all the way to Dorf for the first time this trip.  Quite a ride.  Wind-blown at the top, but much smoother than the normal mega-mogul-madness further down, so I had a good crack at it.

Snatched a Big Mac (trashy but effective) and made my way to Jakobshorn.  Same weather, but the pistes were less crowded and in better shape.  I made some promising runs with 180s a plenty, and managed to create a massive amount of pop from the tail of the Allian (probably because I am more used to the stiffer flex of the Palmer).  Whatever, the effect was some massive Ollies off the various rollers uner the Clavadeler Bubble.  Cannot explain why it has taken so long to perfect this simple trick but  I got it now!

Late afternoon the weather changed and the sun started to shine.  In good spirits I took to the parc.  Kept the jumps simple and smooth.  Halfpipe was fun.  Probably not quite as good as yesterday, but I still managed some more aggresive runs towards the end of my hour and a half session.

Rode off the Jakobshorn for the first time this trip, too.  Treated myself to a Cafe-Plaza and called time on this mountain for this trip.  Ciao Jakobshorn! 

Started late morning on Jakobshorn in bluebird conditions with bullet-proof parc, pipe and pistes!  Riding the Allian, I coasted around the hill until early afternoon, without stretching myself and without incident.  However, failed to generate any rhythm.  Took one cringeworthy run in the halfpipe on the hill, downloaded to Bolgun Plaza for lunch and had an equally pathetic run in the Bulgun pipe!

Feeling like I should have left town with George this morning, I took what I expected to be a last ditched run at the hill.  Unexpectedly, everything started to come together.  General riding was smoother, so I took to the parc.  The kicker starter well and continued in the same vien all afternoon.  The pipe was a slower start, very sketchy at first, but I refused to cave-in.  After a handful of runs I started to find a fair flow and more courage.  Eventually, I was brave enough to change my technique (acquired by watching the better riders) and start riding from edge to edge with each turn on the wall.  This proved to be the making of the day.  The pipe was icy but smooth enough not to put me off.  My speed down the pipe was slower but the pay-off was more control.  By the end of the session, I was just starting to get out of the pipe in the last couple or so turns of each run.

Just when you think it will never get any better, it does!  Difficult to say whether I've ever ridden better in the pipe, but this was certainly my best day in the pipe this trip, and feels as though I can take this somewhere in future.

Downloaded after the last parc lift.  Tired but very happy.

Started out earlier on a bluebird day with considerably fewer people.  Spent the morning riding the Jakobshorn park, doing fairly well over the jump and in the pipe on the Allian.  Apart from one skid-out on the steep, the board performed very well; fast and steady with plenty of grip in the turn.

Lunched at Bolgen Plaza with George before going on to ride the super-pipe, which was in good shape and quiet.  With everything going smoothly I upped the anti and started to ride a little fast and loose.  This paid dividends, going bigger with each run, until I made a bad decision at the top of the heelside wall, lost my gip and slammed, arse-first - aeooow!  Thank heavens for impact shorts.  I was able to carry on, albeit less aggressively.  Finished the days riding with a few pleasing runs before going off to shop with George.

Board off, beers on and Fondue! 

Bluebird day.

Late start.  Spent the morning in the park at the top Jakobshorn.  Nasty little jump, but the pipe was in fairly good condition.  Started very carefully.  Slowly built-up a little rythm but failed to really nail the healside wall.

Lunch with George and Dave at Bolgun Plaza.  Returned to the park directly after.  Performed slightly better but bailed mid afternoon to return to the Plaza.  Just about to call time when George suggested I tried the Super Pipe in the stadum.  Lucky me!  I put in a bunch of the best runs so far.  More committed, more efective.  Did the last couple with Dave, which upped the fun.

slow start but a happy finsh!  Top day.

Tried to collect the Allien, but the boyz had failed to do their stuff this time!  Looks like I need to wait until Sunday...  Heigh-ho!

The news is there's only good news!

BA called-off the strike, the airport was empty, as was the flight - shame about the carbon footprint.

Hooked-up with Dave and George.

Put the Palmer in for a service and took the Allian up the hill.  Bit sketchy!  Decided to draw the line after a shakey run through a bullet-proof pipe.  I haven't been on this board for 4 years; it desperately needs a service and feels very small!

No excuses realy, I'll get the Allian serviced tomorrow and go harder.  It was great to be back on the hill, in the late afternoon sun.

Board off, beer and pizza on!

Stay tuned...

Another bluebird day in Davos.

Dave and I took the big camera to Jakobshorn.  We spent the day shooting in the park, ripping around the mountain looking for untracked spring snow and drinking beers in the sun.  It's tough at the top of the hill!

The spring snow was awesome.  The North aspects had untracked slopes of soft snow, which was a joy to ride - in April!

The park provided some good photo opportunities, particularly with me back on the fun box.  No slams this time.

Several halfpipe runs and a few kickers later are we were just about done.  Charged down to the mid-station and downloaded by cable car.  Left the hill feeling as though we'd given it our best.  Nice way to be leaving Jakobshorn this season.

Boots off, beers on...

Blue lens, T-shirt wearing, bluebird day in surf paradise.  Sun's out, surf's up, solo iPod mountain session.

Ian headed home, Dave took an off-piste trail round the back of Madrisa.  I opted for the Jalobshorn halfpipe.  Spent the whole day there, riding the entry kicker and the pipe.  Conditions were perfect.  The pipe was smooth and empty!  Had a really mellow day.  Slowly built confidence through the day, which ended in what I left as my final run becuase it was a solid run with air on both walls.  Stoked!

Left the hill and met Dave for a catch-up beer...

Woke to discover significant overnight snowfall and Davos in a thick cloud.

Took Ian to Jakobshorn.  Conditions under board were superb.  Sadly, the visibility was all bust zero.  Spent the morning jibbing 180s off moguls on piste, riding switch and coasting into the freshies between the runs.

Dave joined us at lunch.  Snowed-in for an hour or so in a bar at the top of the hill.  Returned to ride floating on a cloud of beer at 2,500m.

Light lifted, a little.  Shot a few runs through the park.  Pipe was in good condition.  Camera call was enough to encourage me back onto the Fun-Box that was the scene of my undoing last week!  Needless to say, the journey was uneventful.  Disappointed the photo was out of focus, doh!  Still, I'm back on the box.

Quiet night in prospect.  However, may be tempted to try a sun dance!

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!

Snowy skies, poor viz but good slope conditions.

Started the day riding the Jakobshorn park.  Main kicker landing was in a bad way and the light was poor, so I diverted my attention to the box and rails.  First real jibbing this trip.  Went well.  50-50 on each rail was solid, mostly!  Nose slide to fakie on the box was better.  The pipe was a challenge with zero viz.  Real properceptive test.  Felt more confident than I expected to but quit the mountin at lunchtime in a total white-out.

Was about to cave-in.  However, despite the weather, I managed to amuse myself for a couple of hours riding switch, hucking an unofficial kicker and taking tree lines in an underused area close to the appartment.  Had a lot of fun.  The main run was almost empty, consistent in gradient and width, and covered in fresh snow.  Conditions were perfect for experimenting with nose presses and pivots.

All together, a really worthwhile day on the mountain.

Low cloud and snow.  Poor visability but relatively warm.  Slopes were very quiet.

Started my day riding the powder on the Parsenn piste margines, which was light, fluffy and untracked.

iPod on random, I sessioned the whoops and toplander jump.  Landed a clean 360 before coming-up short the next time with a 270, toe edge, scorpion air to face!  Knee pads did their job.  Conditions were perfect to cushion a few slams.  Sadly, the weather closed-in bringing viz down to about 10m, which finished-off any chance of further spin practice today.

Crossed town to ride super-pipe, which was in terrific condition.  The walls remained icy, but light snow at village level meant the base was softer, which helped control between trannies.  There were no queues and the sun broke through a couple of times, which lifted the mood.  All the runs felt solid.  Heelside flys most times.  Toe side is less consistent, but smoothing-out nicely.

Board off, pizza on.  Beers later!

Woke from the best sleep I've had in ages.

Another bluebird day.

Scrambled up Jakobshorn and started the day riding pipe, which I had to myself.  Felt as though I was making an effort but the results were unsatisfactory.  I shaded everything.  Changed tack, turned-up the tunes and took a blast round the Horn.

Goofy riders need iron thighs to ride this mountain (steel calves for normal riders I guess), it's a heelside nightmare.  None of the runs follow the fall line, they all run right to left and were bullet-proof this morning.

Searching for my mojo, I tweaked my set-up.  Moved the rear binding a half inch from heelside to toeside (giving it a centered position), then moved it a half ince towards the middle of the board, thereby closing my stance slightly (the front binding has been centered and a full inch back for some time).  The results were stunning.  The toeside turns came into balance with the heelside, and overall grip seemed to have increased.  Can't say how much of the change was just in my mind, but imaginary or not the results were real.

Returned to the park.  Managed to really boost off the main kicker and felt confident to experement with Method grabs, some of which came off.  Then into the pipe.  The board gripped better on both walls, so I kept at it for a couple of hours, just finding a rythm.

Met Dave for lunch at the bottom of the hill, then returned to ride the pipe, again!  First run was typical post-lunch fatboy sketchy.  However, the next couple of hours built up to a new story.  There were a few riders around but the park remained quiet, so runs were uninterupted from initial kicker to final quarter-pooper.  I slowly put my moves together - and started fly. I got it, at last!  Some runs were better than others.  Some turns were better than others.  The impact shorts, knee guards, back protector and helmet all earnt their keep.  But at 15:50 I made my first clear run getting out of the pipe at every turn.  Stoked!  Not bothered by 'one more'.  I decided to leave it on a high.

Dod, Rodriguez, I wish you were here!  All those pipeless winters!  This is a winter wonderland.

Back to base, board off, beers on!