Cake first, climbing second

There's only so much climbing you can do at Almscliffe in the wind and rain, so, once the leeward sides of the boulders were soaked through we were overdue with a date at Betty's and the Harrogate Climbing Centre.

Betty's - an institution, homemade, locally produced, mouth watering food, and that's not including the bakery!  Best visited the day after you receive your pay check, we ventured into the restaurant downstairs for a much needed treat.  I can recommend the treacle tart.

http://www.bettys.co.uk/

Next up was a visit to the Harrogate Climbing Centre for some bouldering.  Although a relatively small bouldering wall, there were plenty of problems at my grade and above to try of all angles and hold types.  The staff were super friendly, the cafe was good and there was a shower!  Our only small gripe was the sheer quantity of rockovers in the wall - not good if you have a dodgy knee.  The circuit board was ace and gave me a final pump before heading back out under the grey skies.

http://www.harrogateclimbingcentre.com/

New skis

With three months to go until the commute to the winter Alps begins I have finally got around to ordering my new skis.  The current quiver consists of mostly ski touring and telemark skis, with a token pair of 'vintage' Volkl supersports 5 stars - totally redundant in every way as I have no useable piste boots (on the kit list to buy), and they have no flex or edge left!  After much debate these lovely's will be arriving next week in the post for me:

Atomic Affinity Storms

 



Having loved skiing on my wider dynafits on all conditions from the piste to crud and moguls, I'm expecting these to be ace for my ISIA exams this coming season, and for teaching on.  The 167's are 84mm underfoot, have a small amount of rocker, female specific and have had rave reviews from the last few years.  Also, the graphics do not appear to have either diamonte's on them or are too girly - no matter how good the skis are I could not own a pair of black studded or flowery skis!

Review on skis to come later in the season.

Verbier Ski Conditions

Having noticed that there appear to be no blogs on the ski conditions around Verbier, and a copious amount based in Chamonix, I feel compelled to start one.  I live here during the winter ski season, and back in the UK for the summer to climb, work and explore (although I do work in the winter too - promise)

 A note of warning, I am not very good at writing, ok at taking photos, but I like to think I have a good knowledge of snow and what is a good ski!