My Gear | My Gear |
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 Equipment choice, especially boots & skis, is really a personal choice but for gear geeks here's what I use & can recommend in terms of quality, function, reliability, durability and manufacturer's support etc: Skis High Society 07/08 FR's in 187cm with VIST 816 Free bindings. Edges tuned to 1,3 degrees. 136/104/126 sidecut. 23.7m turn radius. 1590mm effective edge length. Total weight per pair is 6880g. These are again superb all mountain skis with a deeper snow bias than the 179's. High Society 07/08 FR's in 179cm with VIST 816 Free bindings. Edges tuned to 1,3 degrees. 124/92/114 sidecut. 21.7m turn radius. 1530mm effective edge length. Total weight per pair is 6065g. Simply superb all mountain skis. VIST 08/09 Superfront Two's in 174cm with VIST Speedlock Pro Light 16mm plates & 614 Speedlock bindings. Edges tuned to 0.5,3 degrees. 116-66-101 sidecut. 16.5m turn radius. These pro level skierX skis are the ultimate piste rippers. They'e basically VIST's factory GS ski but a bit shorter & turnier making them more manageable on open pistes compared to the GS ski. Luckily my weight compensates for my technique so I'm able to bend 'em! Poles
Scott Series C Element 5 carbon poles fitted with Scott's larger powder baskets. I really like Scott's great ‘hold open' strap for easy in'n'out. At two years old I snapped a tip off one pole in Utah & Scott replaced both poles with brand new ones foc! Mega sharp four point carbide tip is great on ice. Boots Atomic M110's with custom footbeds & a Booster strap. Fitting & alignment work by Colin Martin & Andi McCann at http://solutions4feet.co.uk Protection Helmet: Giro 9 Armour: Dainese Nextwave back protector & Dainese Impact Plus shorts. Eye Wear Oakley A Frame goggles with Fire Iridium lens for mid-bright light. Oakley A Frames goggles with Hi Blue lens for low-mid light. Oakley M Frame sunnies with Black Iridium, Fire Iridium & Persimmon interchangeable lenses. Yes Oakley are expensive but their lens quality & customer service is second to none. Backpack Arc'teryx Silo 30. I have the Regular size so it's actually 27 litre capacity but with great compression straps that really flatten the pack to the extent that I've never had to remove it on a lift. Easy internal access with a really useful external top pocket for spare goggles etc plus an internal valuables pocket. Excellent strap locating points which, when combined with the hip & sternum straps, really stabilises the pack & ensures that it's carried high on the back. Framelss but has external padding to add stiffness & protect the user's back. Seperate front shovel blade pocket & internal slots for shovel handle & probe storage. My Camelback StoAway hydration system drops straight in it's seperate bladder pocket. The vertical/diagonal/A frame carry system on this pack did a superb job hauling my 187cm FR's when hiking out of the Unnamed Valley in Val Thoren's recently. Avalanche Gear DTS Tracker digital transceiver, Black Diamond carbon probe & BCA shovel. Tools In my backpack I carry a Leatherman ‘Wave' tool c/w ‘bit kit' to include the no.3 pozi bit for binding screws, plus a Moonflex minituner c/w a mini alu-oxide stone & a Moonflex 200grit mini diamond file. Back at the chalet I have a tuppaware box containing all the bits you'd expect a tuning geek to carry! Clothing Arc'teryx Sidewinder SV hard shell jacket. Simply the mutts nuts.
Arc'teryx Minuteman XTR shell pants. As above!
Decathlon's own wicking base layer tops that have 90% of the function of the top brands for 25% of the price of the top brands! Boot Dryers
Thermic electric warmers. A pair for boots & a pair for gloves. A brilliant piece of kit. Luggage
Snow & Rock Deluxe holdall c/w boot compartment at each end, retractable handle & wheels. |