Snow

Tweet.

As everyone should know by now, this is Europe’s winter for big snowfall and we have indeed been making the most of it! The latest off-piste snowboard adventure from the Mint team was a hike up the Tête du Géant (2228m), in Pré la Joux, Chȃtel, to ride a fantastic couloir starting just below the summit. The couloir, visible from the ‘Les Combes’ chairlift in Linga, is north facing, about 250 m in length, 45 – 50̊ steep & very narrow in parts… just what we like!

Here are some photos to tell the tale:

Tweet.

With the rebirth of splitboarding over the last few years we are getting more and more requests for splitboard backcountry guiding. And we are stoked with this! There have been great improvements in the equipment since the first splitboards were manufactured over a decade ago, making both the ascent easier and the ride down better.

Last Tuesday, Mint Snowboarding coach Tammy and Dev took the easier approach of getting to the summit of the Pointe de Chésery… by splitboard! The Pointe de Chésery, 2251 m, is a peak situated between the ski areas of Avoriaz and Chatel / Linga in the Portes du Soleil and makes for a great half day tour.

Both Dev and Tammy were on new boards, a K2 and a Jones, with Dev testing his out for a splitboarding trip to Norway later in the winter. They got fresh tracks down the narrower left-hand couloir on the NW facing slope into Pre la Joux.  Again a lack of riding shots due to too much fun, but they did get some cheesy summit shots!

Tweet.

We’ve had an epic start to the season out here in Morzine… after almost two weeks of non-stop snow, the sun is finally out today, 23rd December. This made for fun times on the December Just Snowboard camps.

Snow conditions were unquestionably fantastic, with everyday being a powder day, although the weather was certainly challenging at times. Strong winds and the huge quantities of snow caused some lift closures, but the team battled on with rosy windswept faces showing huge smiles at the end of run after run of epic powder. The one day that the lifts did shut completely, we were the only ones in town to battle against the elements, turning a potential down-day into a fun day up the mountain building a couple of backcountry kickers as well as doing some transceiver training.

Other than fantastic snow conditions, other highlights of the week included an exclusive showing of the much acclaimed Art of Flight at the Morzine cinema with after party in the Cavern and a great day tearing around the Avoriaz Stash park with James Stentiford, Jamie Trinder & Henry Shackleton of the Quiksilver UK team. Progression in everyones riding was impressive within the 4 coaching groups each headed by one of top qualified instructors from Mint Snowboard School.

Check out some photos from the week:

We have several more snowboard camp dates coming up in 2012:

21th – 28th January 2012 : Just Performance Lab
28th January – 4th February 2012 : ACME Off Piste Snowboard Camp
3rd March – 10th March 2012 : Just Freestyle Camp
31st March – 7th April 2012 : Just 4 Girls Snowboard Camp

Check out www.just-snowboard.com for more info.

Tweet 

We are happy to announce that as from this winter, Mint Snowboard School will be offering snowboard lessons in the resort of Chatel, part of the Portes du Soleil ski area.

The reputable Mint Snowboard School has been established in the resorts of Morzine, Avoriaz & Les Gets since 2006. This winter one our team of top qualified British snowboard instructors will be based out of Chatel, for the 2011 – 2012 winter season. Mint offers a range of tuition, including private lessons, group courses, freestyle coaching, off-piste guiding, avalanche safety & awareness and much more. We teach all levels, from total beginners to training instructors and advanced freestyle coaching. For more information on the range of instruction we offer check out our website on snowboard coaching in the Portes du Soleil.

If you are a local Chatel tour operator reading this, please get in touch for more information on Mint Snowboard School. We will be happy to meet you and bring around flyers etc.

Tweet.

As mentioned in our previous blog post, Mint Snowboarding instructor Tammy was at the Castleford Sno!zone last Saturday for the TSA Big Bang event to join in the coaching team. Here are a bunch of photos from the girls freestyle session she coached with Roxy rider Aimee Fuller.

Well done to all the girls who were there… great progression from all and some rad talent was shining through!

TweetSo, the lifts in the Portes du Soleil are still not open and after a few days at the computer (coupled with stresses involving office floods and uniform printing)… I decided I deserved to make the most of this first bluebird day since a week of snow. So back up Mt Chery in Les Gets it was, in the late afternoon sun. Perhaps for the first time ever I appreciated the work of the piste bashers, making the ascent so much easier than earlier in the week.

The views were awesome, especially from the top of Mt Chery over towards Mont Blanc (sorry no photos) and over towards Point Percée (which I climbed this summer).

The ride down… EPIC! Due to freezing cold temperatures it was just the best light, deep powder.

On a personal note; RIP Keith… days like today, I miss you big time buddy. x tammy

Tweet 

This is our morning view from Mint HQ… what an excellent start to the season!

Tweet We had a great day today riding pre-season freshies on Mt Chery in Les Gets. And yes, there is a LOT of snow up there! 

We started from the Col d’Encrenaz (around the back of Mt Chery) and then snowshoed up to the top… first hike of the winter so legs might be feeling it tomorrow! The snow was a little wind affected just at the top and then fantastic light powder all the way down. There were hardly any tracks (resort not open yet) and not a stone in sight. Hence all the photos are from the way up and not the ride down!

TweetIt’s confirmed, the snowpark will not be back in Lindarets this season! This park will return to its original location next to the boarder-cross on Arare where there is no dedicated lift… NOT GOOD AT ALL!

The rumours behind the decision to move the snowpark is that the snowpark wouldn’t be profitable, that the big kickers would get too dangerous and that some ski schools would petition for the park to be dismantled because it encroaches on their teaching area.

These might be acceptable excuses in many French resorts but not in Avoriaz. Avoriaz has always been at the forefront of the snowboarding scene and has always been successful, so what is the reason to change that now?

PLEASE SIGN THIS PETITION so that we can let the people at the top know that we’re not going to take this lying down. The Avoriaz snowparks are an important part of the success of the resort and they should be placed in the best possible place for their users, NOT in a valley that is cold and icy and has no lift!

Join the Facebook group -  Facebook group.
­­
Sign the petition on www.petitionbuzz.com.