The SIGB Ski Test took place last week with a well timed bit of a dusting of fresh snow just before the onslaught of the British ski industry.  We were pretty lucky with the weather with predominantly sunny skies throughout the week and the conditions weren’t bad either considering the general lack of snow across Europe so far this season. The pistes were in excellent condition, soft and grippy staying perfectly groomed from morning right through to the last runs of the day. Off-piste was a little choppy underneath the fresh but as long as you had the right skis (and there were plenty to choose from) then the mountain was thoroughly enjoyable.

The test which took place in the small Italian town of Bormio, attracted some top British skiers and professionals from the industry all coming from various points across Europe to try out all of next year’s kit. The range of skis on offer to scrutinize was massive, brands such as Salomon, K2, Atomic, Line, Volkl and Scott were all showcasing their full ranges as were smaller, lesser known brands in the UK such as Movement, Black Diamond and Zag.

Ski-in on one pair, ski-out on a different pair

The Two Seasons test team got through loads of different styles, makes and models and it has to be said that there will be some very fine skis on the market from September/October time, all brands fighting for the top reviews and awards in the run up to the 2011/2012 winter season. Favourites so far are the Fischer Watea, Atomic Nomad Savage, the Salomon BBR, various Nordicas and the Salomon 2012, all winners.

Pete from Salomon setting up the new Vamps

Bormio lies in the Lombardy region of the northern Italian Alps and is a bit of a mission from Milan Bergamo airport but hey, when you have Lake Como as a back drop, who cares? Tucked away, surrounded by mountains the village sits on the valley floor at 1250m above sea level but the highest lift goes up to an impressive 3150m.

The guys from Nordica fed us with bacon sarnies!

The town centre is quaint and old style Italian and the main ski area is serviced well with fast chair lifts, bubbles and a massive cable car. Skiing is possible down to village level via the well known home run the Pista Stelvio, the second longest downhill run on the World Cup circuit. The resort of Bormio has hosted the FIS Alpine World Ski Championships twice in 1985 and 2005.

Ski · Skiing

Dorey, Dumont and Rolland on the podium

Simon Dumont has won the first leg of the ski half pipe comp at this year’s Nike 6.0 Open Dew Tour in Breckenridge, Colorado. Conditions were less than perfect, it was dumping which is not ideal for a pipe competition although excellent news otherwise. Literally a whiteout as you can see from the pics, the day held the men’s and women’s half pipe finals but there was no deterring the competitors from pulling some serious tricks and the blokes particularly getting some BIG air as usual.

Simon Dumont goes higher by Majesty Photo

Salomon skier Simon Dumont was closely followed by Justin Dorey and Frenchman (and double X Games gold medallist) Kevin Roland who placed third. They beat the likes of  Jossi and Bryon Wells who were both habouring niggling injuries. The finals were dominated by technical tricks that are becoming much more of the norm in pipe finals these days, there were double’s flying everywhere and Dorey pulled his special double 12. Things, will only get bigger!

Competition · Ski · Skiing · Winter 2010

Winter has arrived and it’s Dew Tour season. The tour kicks off today in Breckenridge with the 6.0 Open and some of the biggest names in freestyle skiing and snowboarding competing in the Superpipe and Freestyle categories. Expect to see the likes of Nike 6.0 sponsored Simon Dumont who is stoked that the pipe has been regulated to a bigger size of 22ft! Also big names such as Jossi Wells, Andreas Hatveit and Tom Wallisch in the skiing fraternity and Billabong snowboarder Jamie Anderson, JJ Thomas and Danny Davis from the strange world of snowboarding…

Check out footage from last year’s superpipe final (and Simon Dumont was moaning about the pipe being small…)

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Competition · Ski · Skiing · Winter 2010

Kevin Rolland is all smiles after making history at last years event

After an awesome European debut in Tignes last year, the Winter X Games are returning to Europe and to the Espace Killy. The games came to Europe for the first time last March and attracted loads of big names in the skiing, snowboarding and snowmobiling world and with them they brought an uber impressive spectacle of tricks and style. The Men’s Ski Superpipe Final was unbelievable, skiers throwing down all sorts of huge tricks including two double flips and double cork 1260 mute grab from Frenchman Kevin Rolland who is from La Plagne just down the road. Rolland was the first skier ever to throw this in competition at Winter X Games 14 in Aspen which had taken place earlier than the European edition. His best friend and fellow local Frenchman Xavier Bertoni took second with Scott sponsored Canadian Justin Dorey in third place. Internationally renowned names such as Salomon’s Simon Dumont and the brothers Jossi and Byron Wells also featured as did Travis Rice in the Snowboard Slopestyle event.

Jenny Jones with her gold!

Women’s snowboarding at last year’s event was dominated by Billabong sponsored British rider Jenny Jones who won her third X Games Gold in the Slopestyle competition. She is the first British rider to win gold at an X Games competition after winning her first in Aspen back in 2009. She said after her winning run in Tignes, “It feels amazing to win so close to home, and there were so many fans from the UK out there. It was great to show my fans that the British can ride.”

This year’s event will be taking place between 16^th and 18^th March 2011 and is expected to be bigger and better than last year!

Billabong · Competition · Ski · Skiing · Snowboarding

Going on a winter holiday? Not a skier or a snowboarder? Maybe you’re going away with the family on a winter holiday but you don’t fancy sliding down the mountain on skis or a snowboard. Here are our pick of things to do in resort whilst everyone else is.

1. Snowshoeing

A great way to see the mountains in more of a peaceful way, snowshoeing involves racket shaped shoe type devices that strap to your boots which enable you to walk with relative ease through deep snow. It’s not quite as easy as that, you are in the mountains and there is likely to be some up hill walking involved but it is far less strenuous than skiing or snowboarding. Take in the scenery, fresh mountain air and local wildlife on a guided tour, no lift pass needed and all the equipment will be supplied by your guide. All you will need is a good pair of  walking or snow boots and a warm jacket. You could try hooking up with the local Tourist Office or a ski hire shop such as Evolution 2 who provide guided activity itinerary.

2. Soak up the Spa

Nowadays there many spa and treatment facilities in most ski resorts with some people specifically taking a spa holiday rather than a ski holiday. How about treating yourself to the luxury of a hot tub, massage or a swim with a view? Even if you do normally enjoy the slopes but fancy taking a day off you can unwind and give those muscles a break for the afternoon. Instantly relax and unwind, some of the best spas in the world can be found in ski resorts such as the Remede Spa in Aspen, Colorado, The Givenchy Spa in Courchevel or in Richard Branson’s Virgin Touch Spa in Verbier, Switzerland which is included in the price when you rent the chalet for a week, from only £42,000! Bargain.

3. Ice Diving – brrr!

Ice Diving

Apparently the experience of ice diving in minus temperatures (obviously) is meant to be like nothing else. You may think that there can’t be much to see down there seen as though you must plunge through a hole cut through a metre or more of thick ice to get in. Ice diving is supposed to be magical if you can get over the fact that there is only one entry and exit point and the water is -20°! The light that is reflected through the ice is a beautiful sight as are the ice formations under the water and if you can cope with looking like a beached seal  with three thermal layers, a giant baby grow and a dry suit to keep the cold out then maybe you should give it a go! Inexperienced divers will go one on one with an instructor and will normally be attached to a cable so you don’t drift off into the icy unknown… Try it in Tignes, Morzine or Meribel.

4. Bobsleigh

The Olympic Bobsleigh track in La Plagne

Yes it is as exhilarating as it sounds, well you do reach speeds of up to 120kmph! Choose from a variety of different ways to get down from snuggling up with five other people or going it alone on the Mono-Bob… Where better to try bobsleighing than on an Olympic course in La Plagne, built for the 1992 Albertville Olympic Games. Since 1992 the track has been open every winter for bobsleighing, luge and skeleton. It is the only track in France. Clubs and teams from all over the world come here to train and take part in the various competitions throughout the season. It’s a great thrill and the G-Force experience is something else, only problem is that it only lasts one minute.

5. Apres-Ski

You don’t have to ski or snowboard all day to qualify for après-ski! It’s almost worth going on holiday to one of the busier ski resorts just for the nightlife. Austria as a country on a whole is renowned for it’s nightlife and general drinking and dancing on tables vibe. Whistler in Canada is often talked out as a good place for après and shopping too for that matter! A bit closer to home in the French Alps, Meribel has a great young scene but also a more upmarket side too,  the Rond Point in particular can get pretty messy especially on live band night. Val d’Isere is a must for those that don’t mind spending £20 (or a lot, lot more if you want) on one drink, £10 to put their coat in the cloakroom and for those that want exclusive VIP partying. Val Thorens, Morzine and Les Arcs are lively, cheaper options.

Ski · Skiing · Snowboarding · Winter 2010

Rocker in the Park

This winter at Two Seasons we have a wide range of ‘rocker’ skis and no doubt this will increase again in years to come, it’s basically where technology of ski and snowboard construction is heading as a whole. But what does it mean exactly?

Generally, rocker elevates the traditional contact points out of the snow. A completely cambered ski only touches the snow once the boot is in the binding creating an increased base area of the ski on the snow. A rocker ski, depending on how much rocker goodness is incorporated, will

Rocker in the powder

touch the snow underfoot whether your boot is in the binding or not. It is best to think of it this way when trying to figure out what will be the best rocker ski for you. If you place a ski on the snow and it spins in circles then it is pretty rockered. This would probably be a ski such as the K2 Hell Bent which has K2’s ‘Powder Rocker’ technology, purely designed for floatation in the deep stuff. The rocker part of the ski though, does not necessarily have to be so extreme or positioned in the centre of the ski like it is with the Hell Bent, it can be specifically positioned in the tip and tail like with the All-Terrain Rocker technology from K2 which has been used to improve ski performance for all of their piste based ski range. Many ski manufacturers have different twists and combinations of the basic technology that is fundamentally just the opposite of the traditional cambered ski.

Here we have our pick of skis for winter 10/11 that feature a rocker of some degree.

1. Number one has to be the K2 Hell Bents. These bad boys are massive, a big 130mm underfoot. K2’s Powder Rocker Technology is 50% camber and 50% rocker and designed for deep snow, the tip has the most elevation and the longest measurement of rocker and offers skiers a ‘surfy’ feel for increased soft-snow performance. The reason why the Hell Bent has any camber at all is so that it can still be controlled on piste when on the way home after a long day in the backcountry.
2. OMG! Made by the number one worldwide selling ski brand, the Atomic Bent Chetlers are another big ski for the big mountain. They are definitely not your average looking ski but they do look amazing. Fall-Line Skiing & Snowboarding magazine reckon that they are one of the best powder skis on the market and it was also one of the biggest sellers last season. Rocker camber technology in the tip and the tail stops you from going over the front or the back on big landings off those huge cliffs they’re going to make you drop!
3. The Atomic Access won Fall-Line Freeride Ski of the Year and it is rockered! There is a lot less rocker applied to this one than the two previous, with a touch in the nose giving it floatation. The Access is an excellent lively all-mountain ski which is pushed into the freeride category because of its width and rocker.
4. The Salomon Twenty Twelve has been much talked about in the run up to winter 10/11. A rocker at both ends = twice the fun. A fatter version of the Salomon Suspect, it seems to work well with those who like to ski both park and the backcountry and who set out not knowing where they will end up. The increased stability works off kickers and gives its rider the option to go anywhere on the mountain.
5. We’ve just managed to get our hands on the K2 Revival skis which are the factory teams comp ski of choice. These skis sound (and look) like FUN. They have a Jib Rocker which is a combo of camber and rocker so they are stable but also quite soft and nearly symmetrical. Classed as an advanced/expert ski these brightly coloured beauties are a weapon!

Ski · Skiing · Winter 2010

The pistes of the Grande Motte glacier during the winter

Things are off to a good start in the mountainous regions of Europe with heavy snow falls and cold temperatures over the last couple of weeks. Although freezing levels are still high compared to January time, the glaciers of Tignes and Les Deux Alpes are well equipped with the white stuff, the latter having had a metre already! Local skiers and snowboarders are making use of the few runs that are open in those resorts, getting in a bit more practise before the rest of us…

The glaciers at Hintertux and Stubai offer some of the best skiing. There were sixteen lifts operating at Stubai on Thursday 28th October and Hintertux have beaten Les Deux Alpes with 155cm of snow. In Switzerland and Italy some glaciers have almost two metres of snow, that’s a lot for this time of the year.

So things are looking promising for this coming winter season. Predictions show that there will be a relatively slow start as far as snow is concerned although it looks like things will pick up through January and into February. Better get your winter warmers sorted!

Ski · Skiing · Snowboarding · Snowboards · Winter 2010

The Atomic Access Freeride Ski of the Year

Fall Line Skiing & (now mysteriously) Snowboarding Magazines All-Mountain Ski of the Year has been named as the Atomic Nomad Blackeye Ti, a ski for the intermediate skier that likes all the mountain has to offer and is looking for a ski to do it all on, and get better at the same time! What more could you possibly want? Well, Two Seasons are not only stocking the Blackeye Ti but also another ski of the year in the Atomic Access which is the winner in the Freeride category. It’s another ski that goes everywhere on the mountain with a waist width of 100mm and new rocker technology. You have a difficult choice to make!

Ski · Skiing · Snowboarding · Winter 2010

We are pleased as punch to introduce our winter 10/11 range of new Salomon gear. Salomon has long been established as one of the best ski manufacturers in the world and they have also built up an excellent reputation for their soft goods too, they are an all round reliable brand that just keeps getting better. No wonder, they use all of the latest technologies and materials across their whole winter range from head to toe, or helmet to boot should we say! Check out our top products from Salomon below and find out what makes them so special.

The Salomon Custom Air helmet range is a concept that has been developed further for this coming season, now there is a style available wherever your preferred place on the mountain is. The Custom Air adjustable air system combines maximum protection with the perfect fit is kind of an airbag and helmet combination. Salomon describes the system as an ‘air bladder’ within the lining of the helmet where the air inside can be evenly distributed to achieve that perfect, movement free fit. The feature is so easy that you can use it with or without your Salomon gloves on, anywhere at all.

Click the Quest boot into hike or ride mode

Not everybody realizes (at least until it’s too late) that ski boots are the most important piece of kit. Get it right and you can spend all day on the slopes without even thinking about your feet. Get it wrong and after five minutes you may be in excruciating pain. Bad times. Ski boot technology is pretty complicated; so many different concepts combine to create Salomon’s huge range of boots. A patented system called the Custom Shell is certainly a step in the right direction when it comes to finding the right ski boots. Find a boot that fits such as the Impact 10 for blokes or the women’s Idol 8 and the and get your nearest Two Seasons shop assistant to heat mould that liner. The specially developed plastic is designed for comfort and precision but it keeps its strength through the heating process. When the plastic is heated it takes the exact shape of your foot whilst it is in the boot and then hardens to that shape. There is no doubt that a pair of boots that fit correctly will be worth their weight in gold when it comes to comfort but they will also improve skiing technique and progression no end.

Salomon have also brought us the Quest range (available for both men and women) which is a super high spec selection of boots that are designed for backcountry enthusiasts who want to get away from it all. If you are willing to hike in order to find those freshies, click the v-shaped shell of the boot into hike mode and when you’re ready to descend click back to ride mode in order to secure the boot for the quality precision fit that you would expect from a performance ski boot.

All the latest technologies make up the XW Enduro ski which comes with Salomon B90 bindings

Of course you need some skis too. The Salomon Enduro is the ultimate piece equipment for the more advanced skier who enjoys a variety of terrain in a variety of conditions. Basically it will go everywhere, wider under foot than Salomon’s other all-mountain skis and featuring all-mountain rocker technology it is a beast in the powder. This ski also features Salomon Race Technology, Powerline, for awesome performance, edge grip and therefore fun on the piste too. Enjoy!

Ski · Skiing · Winter 2010

Jamie Pierre has long been a big name in freeskiing, his antics attracted wide attention when he broke the world record for the highest recorded cliff drop at a whopping 75m. I won’t spoil the video (see it here) for you.
Recently, Norwegian Fred Syversen was filming and accidently hit a 105m cliff drop right in the middle of his line. Well, that is everywhere is claiming so far that it’s accidental – if you’ve seen Fred’s history, we wouldn’t put it past him to bomb a hit like that just to outstrip Jamie Pierre.

The drop’s been questioned several places and there are arguments left right and center as to whether it can really be a world record attempt if it was an accident… we’d love to hear your thoughts!

Cliff · Ski · Skiing · Video · World Record