Verbier, Switzerland Resort Review

One of the resorts that I  had the chance of riding this season was Verbier. In fact, I got a chance to go twice and it would be very unfair to both the resort and you if I wait too long to write up this review. My first trip to Verbier was a quick 2 day experience in February as I was passing through Geneva on my way back to Toronto. My second trip to Verbier was a 5 day non-stop riding and partying bonanza with my closest friends, whom I hadn’t seen for almost 2 years!

60 Second Elevator Pitch

Everyone has heard about Verbier at one point or another. Whether it’s epic stories about their nightlife, their ‘drink till you pass out on the hills’ philosophy, or their slopes and backcountry offering, there’s a wicked time to be had at this popular Alps resort. If you’ve never been to Verbier, you have to go. Families, couples, and friends will have an insane time as there really is something for anyone. Everyone is pretty friendly and you’ll have a wicked time exploring the endless terrain – Verbier is part of the Les 4 Vallees ski are which includes the ski resorts of Verbier, Nendaz, Veysonnaz, La Tzoumaz, and Thyon with a total of 410 km marked runs. Just make sure you’re not wallet shy, because this place is not cheap, but well worth it!

What We Love

• Excellent lifts, on-piste and off-piste terrain – it’s endless!
• The nightlife, food, and parties
• It’s the Alps
• Powwwder
• Tuesday nights when the Chalet girls have their night out!
• Old school log/wood chalet and availability of cheaper accommodation close to the center of the resort
• Professional patrol and emergency rescue system
• Insane weather!

What We Didn’t Love

• Expensive (with that said, its worth it)
• The terrain is obviously not beginner/novice friendly
• Limited accommodation for trips less than 7 days

Best For

• Party lovers
• Off-piste and backcountry dare devils
• Anyone looking to marry rich

Worst For

• Inexperienced riders and skiers
• Park junkies (the current park is pretty decent, but nothing you can spend more than a few hours on)

Tips

• You can save money by staying down the mountain in Le Chable now thatthe new evening bus service which runs between it and Verbier is active.
• Make sure you are there at least on a Friday or Saturday night.
• Tuesday night is when the Chalet girls have their night out, so make sure you are ready to shred snow on Wednesday with no sleep at all!
• Wednesday nights are the quietest so plan for Wednesday to be your easy night in.
• Have the fondue at Le Caveau
• If you plan on going off-piste/backcountry, shell out the extra 4 CHF for insurance which includes a free helicopter emergency ride (we got stuck somewhere way off off-piste, and after about 90 minutes of endless exploring, we called ski patrol who sent us a helicopter to get us out from what they called the “late march melting snow trap”.)

Have you had a different or similar experience? Share it with us in the comments!

K2 Brigade 2010 Snowboard Review

According to the K2 team, the Brigade snowboard is an all-terrain exploration machine. I’m not one to fall for marketing gimmicks, but as my search for the ultimate all-terrain snowboard has not ended yet, it would be unwise of me to pass up a demo opportunity.

What: 2010 155 K2Brigade, $250-$300.

Where & When: Verbier, Swiss Alps in late March 2010.

Conditions: Sunny, clear as crystal skies, and packed powder/hard packed (some areas were hard pack while others were packed powder).

Setup: Burton C60 Bindings + Burton Ion Boots.

First Run: Verbier “Jumbo ” from the bottom of Mont Fort to the La Chaux peak for a combination of off-piste, groomed, corridors, and moguls in one go.

Technology Worth Mentioning

• Twin shape: This board is symmetrical in shape (equal length tip and tail), thus should feel the same whether riding regular or switch
• Dual Progressive sidecut: Sidecuts designed for any level of rider, K2′s DUAL PROGRESSIVE sidecut is a mistake-friendly, fun and forgiving sidecut, which allows for more consistent riding in all situations.
• Catch Free Camber: According to K2, the Catch Free Camber design translates into a small amount of Rocker in the tip and tail with a reduced camber for a ‘fun and easy’ ride. Basically, the tip and tail have been raised a bit while reducing how high the middle of the board archs (camber) upwards from the floor.

Expectations: I was told this was a more intermediate snowboard, so I’ve kept that in mind – though I knew I wouldn’t be able to resist speeding on this board. At one point I was going so fast on this thing, I knew I wouldn’t be able to make the corridor turn I was zooming towards, so I just went off the edge. Luckily, there was enough powder to soften my landing.

First Impressions: The K2 Brigade was most certainly a fun and laid back board and the Catch Free Camber was surprisingly evident. I didn’t think the Catch Free Camber design would have any impact but while preserving the feel of a camber, the reduced arch in the middle led to less edge catching.

Flex/Pop/Stability: K2 made sure the flex of this board was forgiving and fun. It wasn’t too soft, but it definitely wasn’t too stiff. If you’ve ever tried a Burton Custom, you’ll notice that they feel very similar. Popping the board was easy and soft on the knees (but just like any other board, make sure you land smoothly lest you hurt your knee). While a fun board, I didn’t feel too comfortable bombing down Verbier’s slopes aggressively. Chatter isn’t a problem under high speeds, but the board will give out if you need to stop quickly or turn sharply.

Park/Jumps: Don’t worry about taking this thing into the park every now and then, but you should be spending more time shredding groomed runs with the Brigade than making a fool of yourself on the rails. However, this board was a ton of fun taking off jumps and landing the m. 180′s and 360′s for anyone!

Carving/Switching: Any beginner and intermediate will find carving and turning with this board pretty easy to do. However, if you start picking up speeds, you’ll notice the board giving out more often than not. Moreover, K2 was successful at maintaining the board’s playfulness by doing a good job with the boards twin design. Long story short, switches feel as natural as possible.

Pros/Best for:

• Fun and forgiving all-mountain board.
• Jumping and on-mountain features.
• Good Value for Money.

Cons/Worst for:

• Not as stable under high speeds and increased riding aggressiveness.
• Rails and boxes.

Conclusion: If you’re more a beginner looking for a fun board that isn’t too expensive to take your riding to the next level, this might just do it. If you’re an intermediate (looking to progress), an expert, a park junkie, or an aggressive rider, this will not be a good board for you.

Mont Tremblant Resort Review

I’ve raked in at least 45-50 days on Tremblant in the past 5 years or so. Having gone up there so many times with all kinds of riders and skiers, I think it’s time for a good ol’ review for those considering Tremblant as a destination.

As one of the largest snowboarding areas in Canada and being backed by the same guys running the show at Whistler Blackcomb, one can only expect great things. The mountain’s layout is excellent and well planned, covering two main sides, the South and the North in addition to two edge sides. The South side gives initial access to the runs which are all carved out of thick forest. The North side is a little smaller, but offers the same degree of cool riding.

Our Elevator Pitch

Mont Tremblant is definitely our favorite North American east coast resort. Very few resorts on the East Coast come close to the variety of the slopes and runs available at Mont Tremblant. The apres-ski atmosphere is pretty good on the weekends, but not so much midweek. For those on a budget, staying at a nearby hotel/hostel is an excellent option as they are all a 3-7 minute bus ride away. The village itself offers all kinds of things to do for just about anyone. Tremblant is definitely a must visit, especially for the family types.

What We Love

• The excellent and well planned slopes and runs. Bombing down from the top to the base as quick as you possibly can will take you about 5-8 minutes. On average it’ll take you about 10-15 minutes to make it down.
• Snowboard/Ski valet right next to the Gondola so you don’t have to worry about carrying your gear to and from the main lift.
• Great village with many dining and leisure options to choose from.
• Excellent line up of accommodation choices. “En plus”, budget trips need not shy away as cheap accommodation is available minutes away from the village. Combine that with Mont Tremblant’s T-Pack offer for 2 day lift tickets for ~$70 total.

What We Don’t Love

• Gets pretty damn cold up there.
• The crowd… but then again this is a problem at most of the popular resorts.
• Subdued night life especially for the younger crowds.
• Terrain park has very limited features and the half pipe is not always available.

Best For

• Families who want that European/French ‘alps’ village feel.
• Groups/families looking to spend and those on a budget.
• Intermediates looking to up their game

Worst For

• Party animals, unless you go during college break week or in big groups
• Backcountry/off-piste lovers – there just isn’t any.
• People who really detest the cold.

Trail Map

Click the above image for an interactive trail map.

Resort Statistics

• Resort Type: Alpine
• Winter: Nov to May
• Summer: None
• Board Leashes required: Yes
• Night Riding: No

Lifts

• Total Lifts: 12
• Gondolas: 2
• Chair lifts: 9
• Drag lifts: 1
• Max people per hour: 27,230

Mountain

• Total pistes/trails: 94
• Total ride area: 602 acres
• Longest run: 3.75miles (6km)
• Top lift: 875m
• Vertical drop: 694m
• First lift: 181m

Pistes Difficulty

• Green runs: 17%
• Red runs: 33%
• Black runs: 50%

Lift Passes

• Half-day ~$50
• Full-Day ~$80
• Lift times:8.30am to 4.00pm

Snowfall

• Average annual snowfall: 3.82 metres
• Artificial snowmaking coverage: 70%

Facilities/Misc

• Snowboard/Ski Schools: Excellent
• Snowboard/Ski Rentals: Yes
• Snowboard/Ski Valet: Yes, about $5 for overnight – right next to the main gondola
• Heliboarding: Not available
• Snowmobiles: Yes

2010 Ride Machete Review

A guest post by David Zemens, snowboarder from Metro-Detroit and author of Shredding Gnar Snowboarding Blog.

2010 is the first year for the RIDE Machete, and it’s been getting rave reviews just about everywhere. I jumped on the bandwagon and bought one over the weekend, so I’m throwing my review out there for all the world to read, hopefully this helps you out!

Conditions: very-hard pack, light dusting of man-made + real snow, some ice, ~22F and windy

Length: 161cm Wide

Tech Specs:

• Available Sizes: 52, 55, 57W, 58, 60, 61W, 62, 64
• Sidecut: LowRize rocker
• Shape: Twin
• Stance: Center
• Flex: 6.5ish/10 stiff
• Retail price: $429

First Impressions: The Machete is flat between bindings and reverses from foot to tip/tail, a very mild rocker. I thought adjusting to this from camber was pretty much effortless. The edges are beveled 1 degree, and I’m pretty sure this saved me once or twice on the icy.

Switch/Pop: Rode switch nicely, but this is to be expected on true twin. It had a good amount of pop and was awesome stable landing ollies off rollers & small park jump (I didn’t go big).

Stability/Handling: The Machete handled speed very well (thank you, slimewalls!!!), landed jumps effortlessly, and pressed with the best of them.really suits me; even though I want a “park” board I’m really more of an “all mountain” rider who sometimes hits park jumps and very occasionally wipes his ass on boxes & rails. The Machete held its edge well on the very-very-hardpack, didn’t wash out on icy patches. The “slimewall” has an amazing ability to absorb chatter. I’d ride over frozen snowmobile tracks expected to get that chop-chop-chop-chop but nothing. Smooth sailing broseph.

Flex: RIDE says the flex on the Machete is 6/10 but I thought it had waaaay more flex than the most recent park board I’ve ridden (’09 Burton X8)—I was able to practically double the height on my tail presses. This flex lends to the overall playful feel of this deck, but don’t be put-off by that if you’re looking for a charger.

Overall: I probably wouldn’t use this for my “powder” board, and I might not prefer it for bombing black diamonds and steeps, but for an all-around board that’ll cruise the groomers and be equally comfortable rocking out in the park for a few hours, you can’t go wrong.

It’s almost February, and if you’ve been considering a new deck and you want to be able to use it for the remainder of this shred season, try and find one of these, but do it quick. Sources tell me that RIDE is selling out of the Machetes and quickly, so when they’re gone from the shelves, they’re gone for good.

2010 Burton Custom V-Rocker Review: It’s Not What You Think

There’s no better known snowboarding stick out there than the Burton Custom. And if there’s a snowboard that Burton is known for, it’s the Custom board.

In line with all the improvements, redesigns, reintroductions, etc… Burton added their own version of the reverse camber technology to their most popular snowboard and I finally got a chance to try it out over the weekend. Here’s my review:

Conditions: Very cold and icy.
Setup: Burton Mission Bindings.

Technology Worth Mentioning

Expectations - Given Burton’s Custom snowboard great track record, the rocker design, and more importantly the hype I’ve heard and read, I was expecting this thing to rock the mountain.

First Impression - Burton’s Custom V-rocker is a fun board to muck about and butter the snow with as the rocker shape nicely lifts up the tips and gives you a center base to pivot on. Unfortunately this meant the board did not hold any edge on icy/somewhat icy surfaces. I felt uncomfortable bombing down the mountain, and the V-rocker does take some getting used to. But boy did I have a blast switching and doing spins with the board.

Flex – The Custom V-rocker is a truly flexible board and you’ll feel it right away under your feet. Obviously this is where the rocker design comes in play.

Feel/Turning – The board feels light and steady through straight lines, but it’s when you start going faster that things get ‘iffy’. Although the board is stable under higher speeds, making turns is not the most natural thing with the Custom V-rocker. My guess is that the lifted tips make it extra hard to grab an edge if there isn’t enough snow on the surface. You’ll find yourself feeling somewhat off balance when making turns, so make sure you have enough space.

Park Riding - Naturally this board would fare well in the park and the reality is very close to that. Although I’m not a park person, I found myself wanting to spend more time in the park, because it’s a fun board for the park. Once again, the rocker design really helps as it softens the landings and makes spins easier to pull off. I highly recommend that you take this on boxes, but be careful with rails. The rocker shape will take some getting used to, but once you settle into it, you’ll enjoy the park very much. Unfortunately the half pipe was in bad shape so I couldn’t test this thing properly, but I felt a lot potential fun to be had from the few half pipe runs I got.

Stopping/Switching – Stopping with the Burton Custom V-rocker required more effort and space than expected. Like I said, the rocker design lifts up the tips so much that, unless there’s enough snow, holding an edge was more frustrating than expected. Switching on the other hand was SO MUCH fun. Given my disappointment with the turns and stops, I was stoked at how much fun this board was at switches. If it means anything to anyone, I’ve (un)officially renamed this board the Burton Buttertom V-rocker.

Pros

• Rocker design is a lot of fun
• Fun in the park
• Amazing for buttering/switching and overall mucking about

Cons

• Does not hold or grab as much edge as advertised/hyped

Overall Impression – Despite what Burton says about the Custom V-rocker being a “mountain monopolizer”, I regret to inform you that it isn’t. Unless snow conditions are great all over, you’ll find yourself frustrated with its stopping/turning abilities. Admittedly, snow conditions were (annoyingly) mostly icy, I still don’t think this stick is meant for all-mountain freestylers. But at the same time, if you’re going to stick around the park, you’re better off getting a park board. I feel the biggest culprit behind this is the imbalance between the traditional Custom feel and the V-rocker design. Needless to say, I’ve changed my mind about buying this board.

Who is this board for? If I really had to describe the ideal rider for this board, I’d say it’s for the intermediate freestyle rider that wants a bit more speed and more mountain ride time without sacrificing the goodness of effortless buttering, switching, and spinning.