Fantastic last day.

Full details to be posted!

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 mid morning on Jakobshorn.  Bluebird day and warmer, but the pistes were bullet-proof!  Managed a few sketchy runs before George showed-up.  Made our way around the mountain, some runs better than others, but rather crowded and somewhat dangerous considering the state of the piste.  I aborted one over-cautious run through the pipe.  Otherwise nothing happened.  Heigh-ho, it'll have to be another time for the George-Michael snowboarding circus!

Bailed early to enable George to pack ahead of his journey home.  Consolation beers and pizza await... 

Always good to be snowboarding.  Not so good to be doing it in high winds with a chill factor of around minue fifteen!  Totally kills any enthusiasm to try anything fancy, let alone new stuff.

Started early on my own, riding the Jock for about an hour before George joined me at eleven.  Coasted down to Klosters in an attempt to hide from the wind.  Looking back this was fairly successful, and probably the best run of the day.

Returned to the Jock mid afternoon, lunching at the the Hohenweg before taking in a few more circuits.  The light improved, which facilitated a couple of very good runs down the left side of the front face.  Other than that, the day was long but a bit of a bust.  Snowboarding may be the source, but conditions like those experienced today reduce the fun somewhat.

Boards off, consolation beers on!  Hoping for better conditions tomorrow.

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.

Started earlier on a grey morning.  Flat light, but around eleven o-clock it started to snow for the first time in ten days.  Spent the morning riding the Allian round Parsenn and down to Schifer, which was all a little sketchy at speed with so many bumps and bad viz.  However, an enjoyable morning.

Lunched with George and Dave at the Parsenn Hutte before going for a rip around with Dave, covering most of the same terrain as the morning.  The weather deteriorated, Dave headed down, I cut a few more trails on the front face then joined George for drinks at the mid-station.

Snow continued into the evening.  Looking for big Wednesday!  Stay tuned...

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! 

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...

Late start on a sunny Parsenn.  Charged a few runs on the front face, switched to the back and reached midway to Schifer.  Lunched with George at the mid-station before heading over to ride the Bulgen pipe.  Conditions were running to slush so I caved-in early.  Might have been a light day riding but I had fun doing what I did.

Beers with Dave and George before heading off via the shops on the main street.

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 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!