I have the chance to try the Dynastar M-Pro W 92 skis at the Ski Press event at the Snow Centre in Hemel Hempstead. I have tried already another pair last year which I really liked, and was keen to see how this ski would do.
A freestyle ski, intended to be an all-mountain ski for advanced to expert skiers. Built with a wood core (hybrid core 2.0) – it is designed to be great on powder and forgiving in piste.
Getting my skis ready by Scott Dobson of Dynastar skis. Photo: The-Ski-Guru
It features a moderate waist width to ensure a smooth transition between groomers and fresh powder, and a dual rocker that enhances its manoeuvrability in soft snow while still giving you a grip on hard-pack, due to its traditional camber.
I’ve got the luck to get a Snow Finel’s merino jumper after attending the Ski Press Demo day. I am so lucky about it as I was eyeing them for a while!
Snow Finel Kitzbühel Jumper with its characteristic chevron.
The one I got is a Kitzbühel chevron stripe jumper in navy with orange chevron stripes. I love the softness of the wool, and the seamless construction. It is not bulky at all, as it sits well hugging your body. What I like of merino wool (which I use a lot), is that it is great for exercising, as it wickers the sweat very fast and the fabric dries without making you cold. The fabric also does not stink, thanks to its antibacterial qualities.
This is a perfect second layer under a ski jacket, as it is not bulky. I would use it year round, as it is pretty light to use when is chilly in summer too!
Valle Nevado is one of those ski resorts that you should go and visit. That is why I have put together this must-read guide to Valle Nevado. Located high in the Chilean Andes, to the west of Santiago, this is the centre of the Tres Valles de Chile (the 3 Valleys of Chile). Here you feel that you are definitely skiing in high mountain.
The ski season runs from late June till early October, but it can be movable depending on snowing conditions.
The Andes are majestic, from whichever side you see them. Valle Nevado counts with the best sunsets you will ever see on the mountains. The pinks, oranges and yellows of the sky are jaw-dropping. This is caused by the smog in Santiago (believe it or not!), but even if smog is awful, up in Valle Nevado you have a spectacle of light. Plus the smog gets stuck down in the valley!
Endless possibilities in Valle Nevado. Photo courtesy of Valle Nevado.
Location – The Must Read Guide to Valle Nevado
Valle Nevado is located 46 km west of Santiago. You need to take the road out of Santiago and the paved road to Farellones for 32 km until the diversion the last portion to Valle Nevado.
How to Get There – The Must Read Guide to Valle Nevado
You do have to be careful driving up (and down!)- the 59 hairpin turns to get to the resort. Read beforehand the timing of going up and down the road, as depending on the time of the year, and during all weekends during the ski season, there are early hours to go up and hours in the day to go down. The road is a bit thin, and when there is heavy traffic, when people finish their ski week, it could be too tricky to have traffic both ways.
As you will not be driving while in Valle Nevado, you might be better off taking a shared or private transfer to get up the mountain and back.
Aiguilles des Drus et Aiguille Verte. Soft Pastels, pan pastels and charcoal on La Carte Pastel. 65×50 cm (20″x26″) in my shop here.
This article may contain affiliate/compensated links. For full information, please see our disclaimer here.
Why am I making a guide of Morgex? Because this place is such a well-kept secret. Morgex is the place where all savvy Milanese, Torinese and Genovese buy their second home. It is the spot where I have my second home and where we go year-round, around six times a year! A great spot for all your year-round outdoor adventures!
Chatelard- the turret overlooking the valley of Morgex. Photo: The-Ski-Guru.
In winter, is a strategic place where to go and ski in different resorts. You have Courmayeur in 10’, La Thuile in 20’ and the parking lot of Pila in Aosta in 30’. If you want, you can stretch it to Cervinia in 1h14’. Amazing cross country is just above in Arpy and many more further afield… like Val Ferret, Rhêmes-Notre-Dame and Cogne.
In summer, you have amazing hiking trails from Morgex to all over – for all kinds of fitness; also mountain biking, road biking, rafting in the Dora Baltea river, amongst many other things!
It is starting to snow (and rain) in the Northern Hemisphere. This is a sign that the ski season is coming around the corner! This is a list I have done quickly of what you should think of getting, if you are planning to go skiing.
If you are a seasoned skier or boarder, you must have all your equipment, even though sometimes you want to upgrade something. If you are starting, this is a good guide of what to think to be warm in the mountains. And how to keep your family happy and warm…. Nothing is worst than having a crying kid because is cold!
I am putting all items you can find on Amazon, for a fast easy shop.
Nothing helps you better to stay warm than a thermal layer. I love merino as it keeps you warm and dry, and it does not stink as quickly as other materials. It is also cool for summer, so a great material!
Another thing to think, to keep happy feet, is to get at least two or three pairs of ski socks – so you can alternate during the week (more if you do not have a washing machine!)
You also want to have a warm head. Heat leaves you fast through your head and your extremities (feet and hands). So here is a selection of beanies – I prefer wool to synthetic ones, but that goes with taste. A beanie is also useful if you wear a ski helmet (it is obligatory for kids to wear helmets while skiing). If it is very cold, you can add the beanie under the helmet.
On our recent trip to our home in Morgex, we have to use the Grand Saint Bernard Tunnel, instead of the Mont Blanc Tunnel. This is because the latter has closed for repairments. It will be doing so for many more years to come. The Mont Blanc Tunnel will open in the night of 18th December 2023, in time for Christmas.
Grand St Bernard Tunnel, another option into the Aosta Valley. Photo: The-Ski-Guru. Using the Grand St Bernard Tunnel as the Mont Blanc Tunnel is closed till 18th December.
Coming from Britain, the way to come into the Aosta Valley is then via the Grand Saint Bernard Tunnel. That implies driving through Switzerland.
Martina Diez-Routh with her painting of the Maroon Bells in Aspen, Colorado. Soft Pastels on paper, 60 x 80 cm (24″x31″) You can check it out in the shop here.
Indy Pass: SkiWelt, Austria; Big White, BC; and Kiroro, Japan, join Montana Snowbowl to lead the 23/24 class of new resorts totaling 183 worldwide.
The Indy Pass announced today that 54 new partner resorts (see below) have signed on for the 23/24 season, including some of the biggest in Europe, Japan, and Western Canada, and dozens of independent Alpine and Nordic resorts across North America.
SkiWelt, the largest resort in Austria with 88 lifts, paves the way for European resorts seeking to tap into Indy’s passionate passholders. Similarly, Kiroro Resort in Northernmost Hokkaido, Japan, and Big White in British Columbia, both major destination resorts in their respective countries, have joined the alliance, now numbering 183 resorts worldwide.
Big White photo. Courtesy of Indy Pass. INDY PASS ADDS PREMIER INTERNATIONAL RESORTS – PASS SALES RESUME TODAY
Along with these notable international destinations, Indy Pass has added 30 total Alpine resorts, including Montana Snowbowl, and 24 cross-country resorts, including Whistler Olympic Village, British Columbia, and Trapp Family Lodge in Stowe, Vermont.
I’ve had the chance to try some ski apparel and equipment on my last trip to the Snow Centre in Hemel Hempstead. This is the indoors ski slope north of London. This review is of the pair of Maier Sports Vroni Slim Pants I have used there.
I’ve put together a new mountain art trail in Courmayeur and Morgex of my soft pastels paintings.
You can go up and down the valley, enjoying seeing different hotels and bars. At the same time, you can see my paintings. They are in permanent exhibition there. Please note that the hotels close in the low season, and you might have to contact them before going.
Art Trail Map – Mountain Art of Martina Diez-Routh – A New Mountain Art Trail in Courmayeur and Morgex. See the paintings here.
The Melanoma Fund has teamed up with the UK’s leading snow sports organisations to get those heading to the slopes this season to improve their sun protection habits, to avoid the risk of sun damage and skin cancer. During summer sports, we know that sunscreen sweats, washes, and rubs off easily, meaning we must reapply more often. However, snow and strong winds erode sunscreen even faster, exposing skin to the intense UV rays, found at high altitudes.
Courchevel photo. Snow sport practitioners advised to adopt the ‘reapply rule’Le Vieux Grenier with Monte Bianco- 80 cm x 60 cm. In my shop.
To provide the best experiences, we use technologies like cookies to store and/or access device information. Consenting to these technologies will allow us to process data such as browsing behavior or unique IDs on this site. Not consenting or withdrawing consent, may adversely affect certain features and functions.
Functional
Always active
The technical storage or access is strictly necessary for the legitimate purpose of enabling the use of a specific service explicitly requested by the subscriber or user, or for the sole purpose of carrying out the transmission of a communication over an electronic communications network.
Preferences
The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user.
Statistics
The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes.The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you.
Marketing
The technical storage or access is required to create user profiles to send advertising, or to track the user on a website or across several websites for similar marketing purposes.
You must be logged in to post a comment.