Oh joy to the jumps

The Chapelle park and the Pipe

As I sit here at the airport awaiting the arrival of our first freestyle campers, I'm pondering the parks available to us and wonder whether everyone realises just how lucky us snowboarders are here in Morzine/Avoriaz.

The Stash

In Avoriaz alone there are 3 parks (4th started construction this week), 2 stash runs, pipe and a boarder cross. There are further parks in Mont Cherie, Crozets and Chatel all a short slide away. and with spring sunshine starting to poke it's head out I'm looking forward to seeing if I can still keep up with the kids.

Take a run through the proline park in Lindaret.

Photos courtesy of Burton snowboards and Avoriaz

More snow than can shake your proverbials at.

A snowflake is one of God's most fragile creations, but look what they can do when they stick together!

We have been full on the last couple of weeks with training and getting the final preparations done before first guests next weekend.

In meantime Avoriaz has been opening it's lifts and the tales coming back from the hill have been almost unbelieveble. As we haven't been up, have not had chance to assertain for my self but here is a shot from out front of the chalet, just to give you an idea of how much snow there is right now.

I've been coming here for 10 years and never seen town so white, can't wait to get up the hill.

I love Pat Meurier

Purely platonically of course. Pat is K2 snowboards in the UK, and during my time working in the industry Pat and I spent many a late night discussing the geekier elements of snowboard technology. One of the more recent, developments is rocker, anti-camber or banana shapes, depending on which companies version. To me they look like boards that bend the wrong way and go against my inner understanding of how a board should work. Pat on the other hand had had the opportunity to ride the new boards and was completely converted, not only that it worked but was revloutionary in what it could do for your riding.

Because he is such s lovely guy, and partly probably to prove a point Pat very generously gave me a K2 Turbodream with rocker. Yesterday with the aforementioned opening of Avoriaz I was able to put it to the test for the first time.

Oh my god, how good is it. I rode a centered stance and charged the pow, being able to pressure my front foot without fear of sinking the nose. It was stable, fast, floaty and fun. I will now have to agree that rocker tech is as groundbreaking as the hype says. Funny for something that has been revived from some of the earliest boards.

Thank you so much Pat, for the first time in 15 years my board of choice is not a Burton.

Avoriaz opens it's lifts

In response to the great snow conditions Chatel, Les Get and Avoriaz all opened their lifts this weekend. The opportunity to get the season started pulled quite a crowd, for what turned out to be a glorious day of sunshine and fresh powder.

With a load more snow due for the end of this week we are off to a great start.

Sex & Snow

Snow is like sex,

you never know how many inches you'll get or how long it will last.

Another great night last night.

We found the Stash (Burtons new eco friendly jib run)

Burton snowboards has chosen Avoriaz as the place to build its first Stash run in Europe. The nature of the stash is to create a run taking elements of park riding and combining natural terrain and features that has so many lines everyone one will have their own favorite. It's a great honor for Avoriaz to be chosen, but as they have been at the forefront of freestyle riding and provision of parks in Europe since the beginning, it may not be any surprise.
As there has been a lot of hype about what will be created we went up to have a look after a little insider tip off as to where it will be. Can't wait for the snow to fall so we can all get our jib on.