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!