soft BRO in euro sauce

[verbier61]

first of all, I'm sort of biased
I've had just a pair of decent pow days in verb so far and still most of the turf is just stones and not snow
but there are my first soft BRO impressions:

ME: old (43) and light (70 kg). I've liked blue noodles, XX, B3, gotamas, and jaks (aka motherships) before. I've hated skies at far extremities such as stiff volkls (G4 family) and softy Zags before.
After 6 days on soft BROs, I think that
- confusion is sex ( hehehehe this has nothing to do with BROs but I like to mention this old sonic youth song)
- BROs are EXTREMELY light. Drilled with freerides, they are the best AT combo I could dream of. Forget about any other set, they rule.
- They're alive and kickin. Lot of snap.... and other good "rebound" effects I could better (or only) explain in my mother tongue.
- They're burly. I literally had to ride on a sea of rocks so many times that I was sure to have TOTALLY blasted BRO's bottom. To my surprise, I just had some minor carnage.
- They ask for speed. BROs feel totally different at slow (ie with my kids) speed or at autobahn pace. Must admit I still have to fully understand how to turn BROs on a dime at slow speed, but it's prolly just a matter of time and decent snow
- They're physical. For what I've learnt so far, BROs like an intense dialogue with your boots.

To PMGear staff: Thanks. These matos will make me a better skier, and will allow me to skin to better places

[INDY GS]

My soft Bros just arrived and will be mounted soon. would you reccomend taking the ski as a one ski quiver to europe. I have never ridden boards this fat, and am a bit concerned taking them as my only rides.

Yes they are amazingly light. Looking forward to skiing them.

[verbier61]

POSITIVELY.
drill freerides and you have a perfect one-ski quiver for old europe. You'll never miss a slimmer stick.
Problem here is the snow..... forecasts say we'll have at least another HOT week ahead

[INDY GS]

Verbier, you're in Milan? I arrive in Milan on Saturday morning around 8 am.

We plan on skiing in Val Gardena and surrounding areas, any suggestions on locations to stay, maybe meet up for some skiing on the miserly snowpack.
we will be around for 3 or 4 days, and then leave for Slovenia, for 3 days of skiing, and then to Yugolsavia to spend time with family.

[verbier61]

yeah I'm in Milan.... but up to Wednesday, cuz the 6th is national holiday here and I'll move to verbier. Drop me a PM if you're again in milan when back from your trip! Last time I was in valgardena was actually around mid '70 ..... but the spot is gorgeous. Not so many easy-to-get backcountry options, but a lot of always-groomed slopes around some of the most magnificient summits you can imagine. Have you been to the grand canyon or bryce canyon? the colour of the mountains is pretty similar. Also, it looks like there's more snow on that part of the alps compared to verb!
have a nice travel!

[INDY GS]

On return I will be in Milan on the 22 and leave the morning of the 23rd. If you are around and I have access to a PC we could catch up for a beer or coffee.

Very excited about skiing the area. I will be traveling with my pops, who much prefers the groomers, so i think he will be liking what we find in Valgardena. Definately psyched about the scenery. Hopefully I will be able to find some of the gnarlier terrain too.

Have fun in Verb.

INDY

[verbier61]

Indy, I've posted on an italian ski forum packed with dolomiti's people that you're coming and this is the first suggestions I got from a racer gal (obviously committed to groomed...)

una capatina alla saslong rossa e nera bisogna farla, poi, visto che è là, la 3 e la 4 del ciampinoi, un giretto al seceda se è bel tempo e non tira vento perchè altrimenti si ghiaccia (consiglio di fare la pista che scende ad ortisei, quella che scende al col raiser e la cisles, da fare la mattina presto quando non c'è gente), dal dantercepies andare al boè e poi anche alla vallon che è la pista sopra...l'alpe di siusi non la consiglio molto perchè sarà piena di gente, sia scuole sci che molti principianti.se vuoi qualche altre informazione sono qua!!!

yeah I know it's italian they suggest Sasslong, ciampinoi #3 and 4, seceda (only if there's no wind, otherwise there's too much of hardpack, dantercepies to boè, and the vallon. Stay away from alpe di siusi,nice but too much crowded wity beginners.
D'you need more info? Something about a place to stay?

[Hicks]

Just happened to see this.
If coverage is sufficient ride up to Sass Pordoi and do the Val Lasties run (off-piste), Val Mezdi (always tracked out though) or the Diretissima back down.
Make sure weather conditions are right when doing the mandatory Sella Ronda with family. I got stuck with my spouse in a distant valley when they shut down the last connection lift we needed for the home run. People ended up fighting for the cabs home and it was the most expensive ride of my entire life.

[verbier61]

more insight from friends. Sellaronda definitely. Also, check the Sella massif for a large selection of couloirs. Some STEEP & SCARY such as the Holtzer (did ya see jeremy and Micah there in a couple of movies?) some others much more easy but still with a heartbreaker view

[INDY GS]

Hicks, did you miss the final chair because your group was slow? or is the Sellaronda That long? from what I see the trip around is about 24 miles total distance traveled. I m just concerned that it may be too long for my dad, he wears out fairly easily.

Verbier, thanks for the heads up, I speak or read NO Italian, so I am glad you translated for me.

We don't have a place to stay as of yet, there seem to be so many options, that we figured we would just find a place. Would it be feasable to stay in Bolzano, or would the driving be too tedious, and we should just stay in one of the smaller towns right on the hill?

Thanks,

INDY

[Hicks]

Hicks, did you miss the final chair because your group was slow? or is the Sellaronda That long? from what I see the trip around is about 24 miles total distance traveled. I m just concerned that it may be too long for my dad, he wears out fairly easily.INDY

Neither, by the time we approached the last chair it was shut down due to storm and whiteout condition further up on the Sella(?) pass above Canazei. The lower lifts were still going although we spent a lot of time skiing around Corvara and Arabba en route.
The cab driver refused to go beyond the pass (he wanted to repeat the pricey tour as often as possible) and dropped us into that storm. We could barely see the road at zero visibility, sun glasses were frozen to my face in a way I couldn't get them off. Therefore check the weather forecast up front - conditions should be stable.
The slopes itself are flat and boring but just right for weaker skiers. Plus you spend most of the time riding chairs anyway so no worries there.

[verbier61]

Bolzano's too far (prolly 1h driving), there's plenty of nice spots in between but let me ask to some dolomiti's people. Hotels are usually booked by the week, though. When will you get in and out of valgardena? How many you are?

[INDY GS]

It will be 2 of us. and we will be staying in Val Gardena from the night of Saturday the 8th-11th or 12th depending on snow, etc.

Let me know what you find.

Thanks,

INDY

[verbier61]

they suggest to use
http://www.valgardena.net/
to book a place. Nice little hotels are called "garni". I got a recommend for a place called Garni Angelo, but it might be already fully booked
GOOD LUCK!

[INDY GS]

Thanks. Have a good time in Verb! Anything of note, besides the usual tourist spots, to see in Milan while we are there?

[verbier61]

Thanks. Have a good time in Verb! Anything of note, besides the usual tourist spots, to see in Milan while we are there?

heh... spent so many years in milan but I'm still easier with SF's or LA's best spots
what d'you like most?
- ancient buildings (besides the duomo, the castle, the last supper and last unfinished michelangelo's pity, we've the oldest hospital in europe, mid-1400, few walks from duomo place.... a jump back to middle-age europe, usually not adequately spotted on tourist guides)
- design (got to ask to my wife who is in interior design)
- exhibitions
- art
- nightlife (used to be restricted to 2-3 areas, now it's MUCH more spreaded)
Just let me know. I'll be in town up to tomorrow noon
ciao

[INDY GS]

design stuff is cool, ancient buildings are pretty sweet, obviously we have to see the last supper, etc, Just wanted to know if there were any other things that were must see.

Thanks again for your help.

[splat]

Glad to hear that, verb. The Bros teach me something new every day, especially that they love to just fukkin rip anything anytime. I just had three days on them in Utah. As designed, they are certainly the most heavenly pow ski I've ever ridden. But then, I'm biased, too.

[verbier61]

splat, you're totally right. I finally had a chance to use the BROs on a pow day..... I thought it was not possible to ride something easier than a blue noodle and more exciting than a gotama on a big pow day.... I was totally wrong. BROs
they're easy, but prompt you quickly to your limits and above...
they rock and rule. Thanks again

[BODOMINO]

i'm about to pull the trigger on the 183 Bros (soft) and want some feedback on binding choices with the ski...............thinking about Look PX12 Ti Lifter or JIB. Any comments?

[Tony]

This is a two year old thread.

Well done, you've won the Most Jongish Thread Resucitation Award of the day!!!














































































AND SEARCH, JONG!

[BODOMINO]

Jonged baby, totally fucking jonged