Davos Daily Details:

• Timetable - 8:30 to 12:10
• Area(s) - Parsenn
• Equipment - Palmer
• Weather - Constant snow
• Visibility - Poor
• Snow conditions - Excelent off piste
• Company - Patrick & H
• Fun factor - Moderate

Not the best weather for the last day, constant snow and poor light.  However, both on and off piste snow was great, which enabled some good quality riding on the final morning.  Nothing special, just a coast round Parsenn with P & H, with a stop in the Hutte for good measure.  Made the last run of the day to the village on my own.  Sadly bumpy, which meant is was less fun than most, but still a fair marker of the end of a good trip.

Thanks for hosting DS!  The trip home was a breeze.

End of season road-trip anybody...?!

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 - 8:20 to 4:05
• Area(s) - Parsenn Jock & Gipfel
  
• Equipment - Nidecker
• Weather - Warm, heavy snow showers
  
• Visibility - Generally good, mainly bluebird
  
• Snow conditions - Fresh powder
  
• Company - DS, Dave, Michelle, Patrick, Harriet, Julie & John
  
• Fun factor - Outstanding
  

DS's birthday and what a day for it!?  I managed to convince DS to get up in time for the 08:11 bus.  What a result, the first hour on the hill was one of the all time greats; blue sky, fresh powder and no punters.  We made fresh tracks on the Rapid, Ski School, Ferka, Tot Alp and round the lake before heading up the Gip for a memorable ride in the lightest powder I can remember since Park City, Utah.

Having reset the stance on the Nidie back one inch last night, the board floated like a dream.  I was really riding my arse off and making phat turns that are only a dream for most of the year.  We picked off some of the best off piste rides between the Gip and the Schifer mid station.

Snax in the Hutta where Dave, Michelle, Julie and John joined in.  The off piste powder hound posse grew again when Patrick and H showed.  The next hour was insane.  Patrick, H and I rode round the lake then off the left of the 'Hillary Clinton', sick!

Rapid lunch at the Jock Panorama, which was necessary even on a powder day.

Back up the Gipfel for more of the same.  It just didn't let us down all day.  However, as the posse started to split DS, Patrick, H and I took one off the left of the Ski School run in well cooked spring snow which made turns ten times more tricky.  We generally made out.  I had one tumble in the soft but the heavy snow held on to the board which resulted in a strained back - arse!  Still, as DS, P & H down-loaded from the Hoenweg, I returned for a few final runs on my own.  Conditions and light started to fade, along with me.  A full on day and one to remember.

Fondu tonight with Tom, P & H.  Possibly followed by a few brewskis...

From left: Harriet, Patrick, Julie, DS, Michelle, John, MDO (Camerman, Dave)

Davos Daily Details:

• Timetable - 9:20 to 2:45
• Area(s) - Parsenn Jock, Jakobshorn
• Equipment - Nidecker
• Weather - Warm, heavy snow showers
  
• Visibility - Rubbish
• Snow conditions - Fresh powder
  
• Company - DS, Andrew and Jude
  
• Fun factor -Limited

The new built-in headphones and there mute button were a major success.  The Nidie was the right choice of board.  Conditions were set to be superb.  Unfortunately, the light was so bad (riding in fog) that it made every run an extra special challenge.

The mountain was slow to open.  We made the best of the conditions around the Jock.  However, the snow was very wet, which made it extremely heavy.  Off piste powder turns were a major challenge.

We left Parsenn with a charge down the village run on some of the stickiest snow I've ridden.  It's like trying to ride with the hand brake on!

I transferred to Jakobshhorn on my own.  The light was better, but conditions were sketchy.  The piste was very choppy and the lifts were closing early.  I had one decent run in the off piste down towards the Clavadeler then bailed out.

Quiet night in is the bid.

Davos Daily Details:

• Timetable - 9:20 to 4:15
• Area(s) - Parsenn Jock, Gipfel & Schiffe
• Equipment - Palmer  (serviced)
• Weather - Mild, sunny spells, occasional light snow
  
• Visibility - Generally good
  
• Snow conditions - Fresh powder
  
• Company - Patrick & Harriet
  
• Fun factor - Top
  

Collected the Palmer from Ettinger, who had produced another of their top services.

Started on my own riding the off piste powder on the 'Hilary Clinton' run in superb conditions.  I was making fresh tracks all over Parsenn when Patrick and H joined me later morning.

We charged round the lake, behind the boarder-X, then all over the place on the way down to Schiffe.  Made some fantastic turns in some of the best conditions I can remember.

Lightning lunch at the Alto Schwendi, then we rode from the top of the Gipfel back to Schiffe taking in as much off piste as possible.

As the day drew to a close the light faded, the snow restarted and we took a big one down to the village at warp speed.

Top day out.  I celebrated with a purchase of the bespoke headphones that fit my new Skycap.

Supper plans with Patrick and H.  It's still snowing.  Time to get the powder gun out of the cellar.  Stay tuned...

FOOTNOTE: supper at Pauliner was super.  We then transferred to the Egg, where I played piano in exchange for booze!  This is becoming a good little gig!

Davos Daily Details:

• Timetable - 8:50 to 3:20
• Area(s) - Parsenn Jock & Grubenalp, Klosters, Wolfgang, Jakobshorn
• Equipment - Palmer
• Weather - Extreme wind
  
• Visibility - generally good
• Snow conditions - Fair
• Company - Patrick
• Fun factor - Pants

Decided to explore more of the Grubenalp area.  Unlucky for me, the wind was so strong it made riding difficult, and not much fun.  New skycap was comfortable though.

Met Patrick on the Hill with ten punters (he was guiding).  I tagged along.  In an attempt to find a sheltered area we cut through the rope just as the Schifer bubble closed because of the weather.  This put us on the slushy route to Klosters as the only way down that didn't involve a walk!

Remounted on the Gotchna and made our way via the Grubenalp to the Parsenn Hutte.  Lucked-out again, the chair to the Jock was closed and the queue for the cable car was massive.  Patrick left most of his punters at the Hutte and we headed down to Wolfgang - my first trip, not bad, best bit of the day.

In a desperate attempt to make something more out of the day we transferred to Jakobshorn, which was every bit as horrid.  I lunched at the Jatz then took just one ride to Bolgun.

Not much of a day, despite all the effort.  Dropped the Palmer off at Etinger's for a service.  Quiet evening of recovery ahead.

FOOTNOTE: made a late appearance at the Egg and was invited to play piano in exchange for wine - we've all made easier decisions than that!

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.

Davos Daily Details:

• Timetable - 9:15 to 4:00
• Area(s) - Parsenn Jock, Bunda
• Equipment - Palmer
• Weather - Cold, low cloud, light snow
• Visability - Poor, flat light
• Snow conditions - Fair
• Company - DS (couple of runs) 
• Fun factor - Limited

Started the day on Parsenn.  Very poor viz, which meant everything was more effort.  Stayed on the slopes from the Jock, to tricky to try anything more adventourous. The hill was also puntered to hell.  Busiest I've seen it this year.  Still, I'm riding, so this is only a limited complaint.  One edgy run down the village run!

DS joined me at midday - not impressed with the white-out.  We lunched; saved by the schnitzel brot.

We bailed out around 2:00, but I decided to head over to the Bunda, which being low and tree lined was good viz and fair conditions, including limited punters.  Made a number of better runs, mainly switch with sundry 180s and nose-presses.  I then noticed a home-made kicker, which could be reached from the lift!  Good run in, decent run out (so nothing like a George & Michael kicker).  Hit that a few times, which was an unexpected bonus.

Bailed at 4:00, shattered.  Quiet night in...

 

Journey worked.  My kit arrived in the same place as me, at the same time.  Odd how this is the minimum expectation and yet somehow I feel lucky!

All local admin taken care of.  Supper and brewskis with DS, Partick and H in prospect.  Conditions look spot on.  And there's a world cup big air comp this evening for entertainment: perfect.

Footnote: the big air was sick!  The skiers were throwing ridiculous tricks (triple back flip with quadruple twist - mental).  Very entertaining, including the Russian who somewhat exploded on landing (Pistures scooped him up and he seemed to be up and about later).

We're on for next month.  Flights in the bag.  The excitement mounts.  Planning to have Tom give me a lesson in the half-pipe.  Only question at this time is whether it will snow!?

Stay tuned...

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...

 

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!

 

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!

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.

9:30 start on Jakobshorn for the first time this season.  Bluebird day - just for a change.  Completely cloudless but not warm.  Pistes were slick.

Hooked-up with Patrick, H and Christina.  Spent the early morning ripping around on the Allian.  Then spent a couple of hours instructing H, who made great progress and bought me lunch for my trouble.  As H was taking it slowly, I took the opportunity to jib the hits and ride switch between handing out tips.  I didn't make it to the parc, but still had a decent day of it.  One of the side effects of passing-on tips to another rider is that it makes you reconsider your own style and technique.  So today was a bit of a school day.

After a late lunch, I returned to tearing around until after 4 o-clock.  Another full day of it, albeit slightly less full-on than the previous two.  Treated myself to a new slimline mid-layer ('Burton AK' for kit wonks).

Quiet evening in prospect.

9:15 lift.  Bluebird sky.  Took to Parsenn with DS, Colin and Doug.

General rip around.  Lunch at the Hutte with Sholto and Louis.  Riding high spots were two runs off the back of the Gipfel and the final charge down the Jock at 16:00.

Another very full day.  Managed to keep going despite everything hurting.  Took a couple of snow-baths!  One while cutting the corner on the way to the Alto Schwendi, the other off piste on the way down the Schwarzseealp.  Felt more like day three than two.  Need to take it easy tomorrow.

Apres reebs at the Parsenn.  Toast!

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.

 

What a bunch of ar5e!

So the bag was left in London.  Okay, it reached Zurich around 19:30 last night.  Great.  They're gonna send it on.  Perfect.  Why didn't they do it there and then!?  The trains run up to Davos until late in the evening.  No, why not keep it in Zurich until the morning, then wait to call me after the first train has gone and the next one carrying baggage isn't until 14:00.  'Most people are reunited with their luggage within 24 hrs, Sir.'  Bolox.  I landed Nearly 30 hours ago and still no bag...

So far, BA has cost me a day and a half of precious snowboarding time.  Thanks a lot.  Better have your wallet ready 'cos my hand's goin' in, British Ar5eways, this has gone on too long.

Stay tuned!

IT'S HERE!  Pathetic display of joy and relief on seeing the bag through the window of the baggage-car.  Good news is it has arrived in one piece, all items accounted for.

BA has cost me a whole day for sure.  Claim coming.

On the up, I found a pair of abandoned Prada sunnies.  I did wave them around to see if anyone wanted to claim them.  No one did.  Haven't found anything like that since I recovered a pair of original Ray-Ban Wayfarer sunnies in a bar on the Hollywood Road.  These are not really guy-sunnies.  However, sure I can find a good home for them...

With a bit of luck, I should be able to type about snowboarding tomorow!  Stay with it...

Well I'm here.  Shame about all my kit.

Thanks BA. "Ba***rd Airways"!?

Real shame, too, as it is a bluebird day with good lookin' sno.

Hope the bag will appear tomorrow, but there are no guarantees.  Best case is they just left the bag at Gatwick and it makes the afternoon flight.  Not so good case, they've sent it to Austrailia - could take a while to come back from there.  Worst cast, it's lost altogether!

So, sittin' here, twidling keyboard.  Nice!

NEWS:

They claim to have found the bag and are sending it on.  Not expected to arive before at least midday Saturday though!  Fingers crossed.

Too much work makes Surfy a dull boy!

Davos it is this Feb.  Tops to DS again for helping to make this happen!

All the best for Japan, DoD.  Good to see you the other week.

Hard luck Rodriguez, maybe later this season!?

Stay tuned...

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.