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 #65 Re: Riksgransen??? 30/07/2008 @ 22:42:35 |
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| In reply to post #64 ... |
| This place sounds pretty sweet, thanks for the report chip board. Any idea of the total cost? Anyone any plans to go next spring? |
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| #64 Re: Riksgransen??? 17/05/2008 @ 15:45:57 |
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| In reply to post #63 ... |
So, we had a great 3 days up there.. the hill is small but not limited.. for noobs any number of long cruisy ways down the back of the hill either on piste or weaving between rock outcrops between - only drag being the looooooooong drags back up but they're really friendly mellow poma's - not your French spine-wrenching VTOL pomas.. for good intermediates some good reds down the side of the hill back towards base with loads of hits, lips, etc for arsing about on, and for more advanced riders a whole face of 'off-piste' routes below them back to base with any number of routes down dodging between rock and dropping ledges.. then on top of that you've got an entire off-piste hillside behind for hiking... all the lifts end up pretty much at the same spot so really easy for a mixed group to ride different stuff but meet up regularly..
The snow was properly 'spring' so soft but really wet.. couple that with sleety snow, cloud on the top and wind and it got pretty grim at times... odd thing was finding that because the sun only goes down for a couple of hours the temp stays pretty much the same night and day so if it is warm (+ degrees) it doesn't freeze solid at night...
The hotel is super-cool and comfortable, bunks in the rooms but immaculately and stylishly appointed, comfy beds and crisp sheets.. breakfast 'smorgasbord' was unbelievable - just about every international breakfast item you can imagine (other than bacon oddly, just cold meats) with just dim sum being the notable exception.. £25 a night is a bargain compared to some of the dumps I've stayed in in Courchevel..
The bar/club is really cool but super-expensive and could be busier - we were there Sun-Thurs and it only started filling up on Tuesday night but that might have been just because a Big air/moguls comp was scheduled for Weds - weather put paid to that in the end. I got the impression that the w/e nights would be a lot busier..
Worth checking out when the FIS events are on.. an hour or 2 of kerazy eeedjuts hoiking themselves off the jump woulda broken the day up nicely..
More practical stuff - Bus route 91 daily takes you back to Kiruna for a flight back down to Stockholm leaving at 9.55am and getting there JUST in time to check in.. If you really wanna fly up then the K-R bus leaves at 14.15.. cost was 170-odd Kr - around £15..
Also do the train on down to Narvik one evening too.. just spectacular views as you descend into Norway along a fjord - nice little 2 hour round trip and about £8.. |
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The piste-artist formerly known as a_noodler
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| #63 Re: Riksgransen??? 05/05/2008 @ 18:16:08 |
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| Revision #1 (Last edited: 05/05/2008 @ 19:12:29) |
| In reply to post #62 ... |
Yeah, I was wondering Phil.. It's cheaper than I remember a day in Golden was but then I thought you got more drops..
Translation of 'heavy' - thawed to ground level.. spring snow I guess you call it.. was good fun by this arvo in-bounds but VERY wet..
It's not ALL about the riding anyway hey?.. the scenery up here is STUNNING in an arctic big rounded glaciated hills kinda way and would love to see it from the air.. Just met some guys coming in from an afternoon who said conditions were great and they'd been 40-odd miles distant to Sweden's biggest mountain so it sounds like they make sure you get a good experience..
Another way of looking at it is that a pint costs £8 here in the evening (Sweden's most expensive bar apparently) and in that respect it IS cheap!.. :o)
It's all weather deciding it at the mo tho.. this afternoon after 3 was the first good vis we've had and it was forecast to close in tomorrow again, maybe clearing on Weds.. fingers crossed.. |
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The piste-artist formerly known as a_noodler
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| #62 Re: Riksgransen??? 05/05/2008 @ 16:15:10 |
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| In reply to post #61 ... |
QUOTE (chip_board - 04/05/2008 @ 17:42:23) ...forecast is fine tomorrow and the conditions are unfrozen so it'll be heavy but apparently ok.. 900m vertical drop 3 times for £180..
(does a quick translation...) That's kind of expensive in pure vert terms, but if you do the three-drop deal elsewhere (eg whistler or golden etc) then it'll cost more than that, so it's a good deal in that sense. You may want to check the charges for extra vert and your bank balance before you fly, just in case it's good.
Heavy... well you get that a lot in Whistler too. If I was there and they're flying I'd get a seat: it's a long way to go back if you don't and, well, ya have to get it whilst you can and all that. |
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| #61 Re: Riksgransen??? 04/05/2008 @ 17:42:23 |
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| In reply to post #60 ... |
I'll take that back.. forecast is fine tomorrow and the conditions are unfrozen so it'll be heavy but apparently ok.. 900m vertical drop 3 times for £180..
oh, and there's a big air comp on Weds, our last day, so all good!.. |
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The piste-artist formerly known as a_noodler
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| #60 Re: Riksgransen??? 04/05/2008 @ 13:59:14 |
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| In reply to post #59 ... |
Just arrived... light rain at base :o( = light snow on top :o)
Train was great - really comfortable, and spotless.. stunning scenery, changing from full on 16 degree spring in Stockholm to winter in Riks, cheap as chips - £59.. 3 a day so you don't have to do sleeper..
Get the bus into town from the airport - half the price of the train or if there are 4 of you get a taxi
Make time for a night in Stockholm before the train up - the city is really chilled, stylish & elegant, the old town is beautiful and stunning girls are everywhere - yet still friendly and smiley as is everyone we've met so far..
Beer is expensive but not stupid - £5 a pint approx for strong stuff.. 3.5% and less is cheaper.. food is a bit more than home but way better quality/value - haven't had a duff meal yet and that included rocking up at a cheap bar after the kitchen had closed and getting meatballs, pots and salad thrown together as the poor girl tried to serve bar on her own - £6 and delicious..
Riks really is just a railway station, a ski hill and a hotel (ok there is one small private chalet dev' and a caravan park).. good general store in the hotel, a restaurant, an apres bar and a hire shop with reasonable gear for ok prices (£20 board+boots/day) but that does mean that nothing is more than 3 minutes walk apart.. got a nice vibe.. only gripe is having to wait for 2.5 hours to get into our room at 3pm..
Will report back when we've been up..think heli is out of the window now considering conditions.. looks like I picked the wrong 3 days to come!.. |
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The piste-artist formerly known as a_noodler
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| #59 Re: Riksgransen??? 07/04/2008 @ 13:50:37 |
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Just got a new agent for Sweden. Think that will be my account.  |
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Mountain Surf Bandit
Fatbobfilms
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| #58 Re: Riksgransen??? 07/04/2008 @ 13:47:41 |
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| #57 Re: Riksgransen??? 07/04/2008 @ 13:16:46 |
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| In reply to post #55 ... |
| is this trip still on the cards? |
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| #56 Re: Riksgransen??? 23/01/2008 @ 12:51:34 |
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| In reply to post #55 ... |
lol ok PB, pinch of salt eh  |
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| #55 Re: Riksgransen??? 22/01/2008 @ 22:45:56 |
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| In reply to post #53 ... |
| Col, Wilde is like the Sun newspaper, you shouldn't believe all you read |
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I am in shape! Round is a shape!!
Myspace
The facebook of powder |
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| #54 Re: Riksgransen??? 22/01/2008 @ 21:29:43 |
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| In reply to post #53 ... |
I’m still interested in doing this trip but its way to early for me to decide. I’ll probably start looking into it end of February. It would be good if we could get a GB trip organized.  |
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| #53 Re: Riksgransen??? 22/01/2008 @ 19:54:18 |
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| In reply to post #52 ... |
| Chip have a great one man. Wildebeest - congratulations. |
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| #52 Re: Riksgransen??? 22/01/2008 @ 19:09:37 |
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| In reply to post #51 ... |
| No need to be sorry. Have fun! |
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I don't need to shout about what qualifications I have got and haven't got, I know I'm good!
Txt spk trnslayshns a spshlty. |
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| #51 Re: Riksgransen??? 22/01/2008 @ 19:05:29 |
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| In reply to post #50 ... |
Sorry fella.. I wasn't aware that was how things are usually done..
I don't mind if no-one comes with us so feel free to start compiling alternative dates.. no-one had done anything up to this point but express interest so, realising I could combine it with another trip I'm making, I took the initiative.. |
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The piste-artist formerly known as a_noodler
CASI Level 2 instructor |
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