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.

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!

 

10:00 start on Jakobshorn riding the Palmer.  Would have been earlier if I'd cought the right bus.  The one I took haired-off in the wrong direction and left me with a fair walk back!

Sun was shining, but it was considerably colder than yesterday, which caught me out - I was underdressed and consequently cold all day.

The mountain desparately needs snow.  It was also covered in idiot punters, hurtling out of control in all directions.  They closed the half pipe at midday.  I was pathetic anyway so maybe they did me a favour!

Left Jakobshorn around 15:30 and headed over to Parsenn, in a desparate attempt to salvage something from the day.  Caught the last train to the top of the Jock.  Conditions were slightly better.  Other than the two key bottlenecks on the key run to the village this was the best run of the day.

Despite all this, it beats being at work!

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.

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!