All posts by Tallington Lakes

My name is Chas; and time spent in the mountains, rivers, lakes and sea; is time well spent. I thought I would gather useful information, from our experts, for those who like outdoor activities such as water sports, snow sports, walking, climbing etc. Having 'had a go' at many of the sports, myself, I see things from the customer's perspective! I trust the articles help, enjoy!

Alpine Skiing

Salomon XDR Skis Review

March 6, 2017 Tallington Lakes Leave a comment

Salomon are replacing the X-Drive range of skis with the new range of Salomon XDR skis, next season, and let me tell you – its more than just a name change!

There will no doubt be plenty of articles explaining the technical merits of these skis; from the Snowsport Industries Great Britain (SIGB) Ski Test in March. This annual event is open to suppliers, retailers and the media; and provides them with an opportunity to thoroughly test next season’s skis. This year it’s in Kühtai, Austria.

They will no doubt explain the benefits of the full wood core, the single titanium laminate, the power zone, and the all terrain rocker – to name a few – and how these XDR skis meet Salomon’s desire to produce a ski that, in resort (or frontside as they like to call it) will handle a variety of snow conditions, such as carving groomed pistes, powering through crud or floating on fresh powder.

What I will say, “there isn’t an emoji with a big enough grin to express how much fun these skis are to ski”! I’m not going to explain the all mountain C/FX Shape; I’m going to say these are the best skis I have ever skied on; they are the skis for me!

So who am I? I’m the average recreational skier, who once a year travels to the mountains (Alps) to ski for six days. I like to ski on piste, and I’m extremely comfortable on red runs. I’m sure that ‘technically’ I could improve, but I’m on holiday, and my main focus is to have fun skiing in the mountains! I’m on the first lift and will ski all-day; so the ease with which I skied these skis, made them all the more delightful – and they look good too!

salomon xdr 80 Ti skis — I even ventured off-piste! Well a little area of ‘powder’ between the runs.

These skis took me where I wanted to go, on large carving turn, with excellent edge hold; even on the few ‘black’ runs these skis gave me the confidence to attack. The faster I went the more stable and confident I felt. I was having fun, run after run, and thanks to the lightweight construction I could – all day long!

I even ventured off-piste! Well a little area of ‘powder’ between the runs. I was awful, but the skis gave me plenty of float as I manoeuvred myself back to the haven of the neighbouring run. I tried it a few times, and marginally improved, however it only reinforced my love of the groomed ‘corduroy’ pistes – which is where I stayed!

So if reading this you’re thinking, “he sounds a bit like me”; there is a good chance that these Salomon XDR skis are the ones for you. Chad Blanc

But don’t just ‘take our word for it’; why not check out what the good people at Fall Line Skiing magazine have to say [Oct 2017]

General

Patagonia Outdoor Clothing

December 30, 2016 Tallington Lakes Leave a comment

Tallington Lakes are proud to announce the arrival of Patagonia Outdoor Clothing to the Pro Shop. Patagonia’s ethos is to “build the best product” and “cause no unnecessary harm” to the environment; which is important to us too!

Firstly we are keen to provide our customers with products that are fit for purpose; products we know will perform in the extreme environments we call our playground. Whether skiing or snowboarding; we have a selection of Patagonia clothing that will enable you to remain comfortable on the mountain. By layering a mixture of the breathable, insulating and waterproofing garments you can regulate your body temperature to the surrounding weather conditions; ensuring you can perform to your best.

The ladies and men’s specific fit are both made to the highest standards, and should last you for years. However if it doesn’t Patagonia are keen to repair it for you; check out their ‘Ironclad Guarantee’.

Secondly, like us and our customers, Patagonia care about the environment. We all love the ‘great outdoors’, so it’s important we take care of it. Patagonia, and many of the other brands we stock, is looking at ways to produce products of an environmentally friendly nature. They have gone to great length to ensure the sourcing and production of the garments has the least impact on the environment. And because Patagonia products are built to last, the impact is reduced further!

So if you are looking for the ‘best product’ and ‘care about the environment’ why not pop in store, or go online, and check out our range Patagonia Outdoor Clothing – you won’t be disappointed!

General

Arbor Fish AC 39” Skateboard Review

September 19, 2016 Tallington Lakes Leave a comment

As an avid skateboarder, as a kid, I was looking to reviewing the Arbor Fish AC 39” Skateboard. Long gone are the days of kick flips and concrete half pipes, instead my board of choice is on the snow. However, in the summer months I need something to fill the gap left by the lack of snow on the hills, and I feel like I may have found that something.

Arbor Fish AC 39” Skateboard

The first difference between the Arbor Fish and my old trick skateboards is the length – measuring at 39”, in comparison with the 28” lengths of my old boards. Instantly the extra length gives a much more stable ride, and therefore an overall more enjoyable experience as I’m not in constant fear of falling onto concrete at high speeds.

The large Sucrose Initiative Mosh Series Wheels are super smooth, and give an effortless ride even on brick-laid pavements. They absorb all the small bumps and pebbles, and the bearings make one push last what seems forever. The wheels are softer than the trick skateboard’s, making your cruise silent, compared to the extremely loud trick wheels. This also means heads won’t be turning and pointing their annoyed expressions your way as you ride by.

arbor skateboard with lake in background — The Arbor Fish skateboards don’t have a nose or tail like a traditional skateboard, which can take some getting used to.

The Fish skateboards don’t have a nose or tail like a traditional skateboard, which can take some getting used to. Rather than using the tail to control direction, leaning from side to side changes the direction of the trucks and wheels. It gives your ride a much surfier, snowboarding feel, which would explain why I personally enjoy it so much.

The Arbor skateboards are available with a range of unique artwork – the Photo Collection, Artist Collection, and Bamboo Collection to name a few. A number of the boards have Lucid Grip in place of the traditional black grip tape. Lucid Grip is clear grip, made of crushed recycled glass which is sprayed on the board, giving a natural wood appearance. So basically they look awesome too, as well as being extremely well-made, solid skateboards.

Thanks Jake (Snowboard, Skiing and Climbing Instructor)

General

Oakley Fuel Cell Prizm Deep Water Polarised Sunglasses Review

July 26, 2016 Tallington Lakes Leave a comment

If you are wondering what the new Oakley Prizm Deep Blue Polarised lens is like then look no further. We were lucky enough to try a pair of Fuel Cell’s with the Prizm Deep Water Polarised lens out at the Waterski and Wakeboard School.

Oakley Fuel Cell Sunglasses

The Fuel Cell design has been around for a while. The frames have an wrap-around athletic feel, for full eye protection, whilst looking good for day-to-day wearing. The lightweight O Matter gives the glasses all day comfort and makes them durable. The unique Oakley Three-Point Fit ensures the glass frames only make contact with the bridge of your nose and behind the temple.

The Fuel Cell frame dimensions from Oakley are as follow:
Lens Width 60mm
Bridge Width 19mm
Lens Height 40mm
Temple Arm Length 130mm

So if you know your face dimensions you’ll know if they fit, if not why not pop in store to try them out?

Oakley Prizm Deep Water Polarised Lens

The Prizm Deep Water Polarised Lenses are perfect for use out on the water as well as walking around on land; unlike the ‘Shallow Water’ version which assumes you are under a canopy and therefore not as dark. Deep Water Prizm technology provide superior control of light transmission; where colours are manipulated to maximise contrast and enhance visibility, for those on the water, by filtering out the blue and enhancing the greens and reds. The Oakley Polaroid technology filters out 99% of reflective glare and haze, which can be a problem when looking at water, to improve clarity further and reduce eye strain from squinting.

As I was wearing them driving the water ski slalom course the water became a dark grey colour with the buoy colours popping into the forefront of my vision. This function not only works when the sun is bright, but also when there is a grey sky overhead. Which is perfect for our ‘British Summers’.

Looking into calm, flat water you almost lose the surface completely; it’s like putting your face into the water with goggles on! When the water was choppy or frequent ripples you could still see colours and outlines of objects deep down.

I don’t usually wear sunglasses because I become aware I’m wearing them and they then feel uncomfortable. These glasses are the complete opposite. I found I could wear them all day and forget they are on my face because your vision isn’t impaired by them in any way.

Thanks Stephen (Water Ski & Wakeboard Boat Driver)

Open Water Swimming

Aqua Sphere Vista Swim Goggle Review

July 16, 2016 Tallington Lakes Leave a comment

As a recreational open water swimmer, I dived in at the chance to see what the Aqua Sphere Vista Swim Goggles were like. I was off to Cornwall for a week, and therefore thought the Atlantic was a suitable piece of open water in which to test them!

Aqua Sphere Vista Swim Goggle

Firstly, I have to say, the goggle case is excellent. It’s a hard plastic, goggle shaped case which protects the goggles – so even if you are the sort to chuck them into the bottom of your kit bag the goggles are protected! The goggles, themselves, have a large sealing skirt around the lenses; which I assume is inherited from their sister company’s diving history. The skirt is extremely comfortable and produces a very effective seal; with no leakage. The strap adjustment is simplicity itself, thanks to Aqua Sphere’s Quick-Fit™ one-touch adjustment. The button allows you to easy extend strap, and once in place, the strap can be tightened; with a reassuring click. If over tightened a simple press of the button releases the strap; a click at a time if your quick!

In the water the visibility was excellent (I had clear lenses), as expected from Aqua Sphere’s ‘Wraparound’ 180-degree visibility design. I had no issues with fogging whilst I was in the water, which was about 30 minutes, thanks to the anti-fog coating. The durable polycarbonate lenses have a scratch resistant coating, too, and over the week the lenses stayed clear. They also provide 100% UVA & UVB protection.

As for drag, there is plenty of other aspects of my swimming that need attention before claiming: “my goggles are slowing me down”, so no comment!

Conclusion

I was impressed with the goggles. I was able to adjust the goggles for a perfectly comfortable fit. As I was swimming in the sea, and on a few occasions was caught by a couple of waves, I was pleased to find the goggles stayed in place and did not leak! Upon leaving the water, and removing the goggles, I was please to find I did not have the red marks associated with having to tighten swim goggles too much to prevent leakage. So if you looking for some open water swim goggles, I recommend trying Aqua Sphere’s Vista Swim Goggles; and at £26.99 they are great value for money!

Kneeboarding

A Guide To Kneeboards

June 4, 2016 Tallington Lakes Leave a comment

A guide to kneeboards. Kneeboarding is considered the ideal towed watersport for beginners. You are on your knees, so it is easier to balance. If you should fall, how close you are to the water along with the lower speed reduces the risk of injury.

That said, it is not a watersport for only beginners, it is a fun way to enjoy yourself out on the water, regardless of your previous watersport experience.

A beginner on a kneeboard should always look for a board that has an integrated hook on the front. This allows the rider to be pulled out of the water by the boat without having to hold onto the rope. Once the boat is up to speed, and they are strapped in, they can take the rope into their hands and begin to ride. The foam padded kneeling area is shaped, so absolute beginner to do have to be strapped in tight.

Beginner Intermediate Kneeboard

A beginner, or a recreational boarder, should use a rotary molded board. They have a softer board, with wider edges. This design lets even the less experienced knee boarders turn smoothly and control the board. This reduces the risk of falling, and if you do fall, reduces the chance of injury. The material and thickness of the kneeboard will allow for user knocks (a little more robust) and can act as a flotation device after a fall.

Advanced Expert Kneeboard

However a competitive boarder should consider using compression molded boards. These are thinner, lighter boards, with sharper edges allowing the rider to generate more speed and offer quicker turns and tricks.

A trick kneeboard should have a lot of rocker, and the rails of the board should be thick. However a slalom board should have a flat bottom and sharp rails, this makes turning easier and allows a rider to hold the edge through a turn.

2016 HO Sports Kneeboard Collection © HO Sports

Some boards will come with built in fins, retractable fins, or no fins at all. Trick kneeboards have no fins, as they would catch in the water, making tricks harder. Slalom kneeboards will have fins as it makes them easier to steer and carve through the water. Beginners may also want fins to give them more control of the board.

Wakeskating

A Guide To Wakeskates

June 4, 2016 Tallington Lakes Leave a comment

When buying a wake skate, there are three main types to consider; the wood-deck with foam pad, the wood-deck with a concave foam pad and the fibreglass with grip tape. A final variation to these wakeskates is the double deck.

The wood-deck with the foam pad is probably the most common board amongst beginners as it is the cheapest. The foam offers protection to the rider so if they fall it won’t hurt as much.

The wood-deck with the concave foam pad is the next step up. The pad will offer protection, but the concave design will offer a rider more stability, and is ideal for learning wake skating tricks.

The fibreglass with grip tape is a more durable wakeskates. The wooden deck of the other two Skates means damage is unavoidable over time, due to the effect water has on wood, where as the fibreglass should last longer.

Double Deck Wakeskate

The double deck wakeskate, is made up of two parts. The bottom deck is the same construction of a regular wake skate. The difference comes from the top deck. It is curved in shape similar to a skateboard, and is only attached to the bottom deck at certain points. The attachment points are where the upward curves begin from the straighter middle part of the board.

This design leads to greater acceleration across the water and leading up to tricks. It also causes the board to stay closer to your feet, becoming more similar to a skateboard than a single decked wake skate.

The grip tape is designed to help a rider keep their balance on top of the board, but falling onto it can lead to grazed legs, which is why foam is more suitable for a beginner.

Wakeskate Size

Wakeskate size ranges from about 40 inches, to 45, with the most common boards being about 42/43 inches.

Like most watersports, a larger board is better for a beginner as it offers a larger surface area, to help them on the water.However a smaller board will be more manoeuvrable and is better for tricks, so suitable for intermediate and above.

Wakeskate Shoes

Wearing shoes whilst wake skating is not essential, but can be beneficial. Shoes offer an extra layer of protection as well as giving more grip. If you plan on riding on grip tape we’d recommend wearing some sort of footwear.

The shoes do not have to be sport-specific. They just have to have thin material, so as not to get heavy, and preferably dry quickly, to avoid smelling.

Wakeskate shoes are made from a hydrophobic material, so don’t absorb water, which means no weight is added to your feet, making tricks easier.

Wakeboarding

What Size Wakeboard Should I Buy?

April 13, 2016 Tallington Lakes Leave a comment

What size wakeboard should I buy? Is a common question in the Pro Shop

But there is more to consider when buying a wakeboard than just the way it looks. Of course you want a board that looks good, but much like a car, looks aren’t everything. You wouldn’t buy a Ferrari without an engine, so why would you buy a wakeboard that doesn’t fit your needs?

The first, and probably most important, thing to consider is the size of the board. A board that is too small will lead to you sinking whilst riding; however a board that is too big can be difficult to maneuver, and weigh the rider down.

Wakeboard Size Guide

Length (cm)	Weight (stone)
<130	7
130 – 134	7 – 10.5
135 – 139	9 – 13
140 – 144	12 – 18
>144	14 – 19.5

If you are sharing the wakeboard, then pick the dimensions that suit the heaviest user. It is easier for a smaller rider to cope with a large board, than a larger rider to deal with a smaller board.

Shorter Wakeboards:
Easier to spin and maneuver in the air
Harder landings
Require more energy to cut through the water

Longer Wakeboards:
Easier to ride on
Rider has more control
Heavier, so hard to maneuver in the air
Good for learning tricks for the first time
Offer softer landings

When considering a weight that overlaps a category, it will depend what ‘type’ of rider you are.

A beginner/intermediate rider should use a larger board, as they are unlikely to need to maneuver it too much, and the large surface are will result in a more comfortable ride.

Intermediate/advanced riders should look at slightly shorter boards, this will allow them to maneuver the board easier in the air, than a longer board, but still provide a large enough surface area to stick the landing.

Advanced/expert riders should consider a shorter wakeboard as they are light and by that stage they will be adept at landing a trick.

Wakebaord Rocker

The type of rocker may also influence your decision. There are two main types of rocker, the continuous rocker, and the 3-stage rocker. Continuous rockers allow a rider to travel across the wake further and faster. These boards are ideal to help improve your skills on the water.

The 3-stage rocker, on the other hand, will help a rider improve their skills in the air. The shape of the board allows the rider to jump higher. This comes at a cost; the board is not as fast across the water.

To find out more, why not read our post about wakeboard rocker!

Alpine Skiing

Salomon Q90 2014 Ski Review

February 15, 2016 Tallington Lakes Leave a comment

Why I purchased the Salomon Q90 skis. In the past I have just gone with the flow and hired my skis, but now I’m at a skill level to know what I want ‘performance wise’ from a set of skis! At first the shear amount of choice was overwhelming but after reading reviews and watching videos I chose the Q90 2014 model; mainly for its all mountain performance and being aimed at intermediate to advanced level riders. I class myself at an intermediate level, consequently, these skis will be suitable as my skills progress.

Key Ski Facts:
Full wood core
Semi sandwich construction
Hook free taper
Pulse pad
Gentle rise tail (partial twin tip)
Wide edges
Carve zone
Total edge reinforcement
Utility rocker
169cm (130mm tip + 88mm waist + 116mm tail)
Turn radius 15.5m
Awards (skiing magazine official selection)
2014 Model
1510g (per ski)
Intermediate – Advanced

After picking the Q90 skis I wanted a binding suited to a mix of riding styles. The best one available at the time was the Marker Griffon 13, which is geared towards the ‘freeride’ market! This binding not only looks amazing but has the performance to match. My recent trip to Les Arc 1800 was the first time I tested these bindings and all I can say is amazing, they didn’t ejected when riding hard and no matter how much snow built up on my boots or skis these always engaged correctly unlike previous bindings I’ve used.

marker griffon ski binding — Marker Griffon 13 ski binding.

Next seasons Marker Griffon 13 ID bindings recently achieved the ISPO Segment Award for its compatibility with not just alpine but touring boots too which just shows the quality and advancement Marker has made in the past few years! So what is ISPO you ask?

Now back to the skis! The Salomon Q90 is a fantastic all mountain ski its full wood core made it extremely responsive on piste and helped to reduce chatter at high speeds giving me the confidence to push myself further.

Due to the wide design of this ski I thought the skis would struggle on piste when it came to carving, but no, it handled short and long carve turns extremely well; probably due to the integrated ‘carve zones’ which increases power and edge grip along the traditional cambered section. Unfortunately most of the off Piste was tracked and therefore only got to ride powder in a few places where it floated effortlessly due to the wide tip and tail.

Overall this whole set up is perfect for those wanting to explore new terrain giving the option for a mix of both on and off piste when the conditions are there. I give both the Q90 and Marker Griffon 13 five stars!

Here at Tallington Lakes Pro Shop we stock a range of the Q83, Q85, Q98 and other Salomon skis; so why not pop down to the shop or look online and view these skis in more detail!

General

ISPO

February 12, 2016 Tallington Lakes Leave a comment

So what is ISPO you might be asking yourself. Basically it’s an international exhibition displaying some of the world’s most exclusive and innovative sporting goods.

It all started way back in 1970 with the first exhibition of its type opening its doors on March 8th with 816 exhibitors from 25 countries covering a huge 45,000 square meter space. Over the three day event 10,777 industry professionals visited catching the attention of both the events management and world media.

people looking at skis — The latest ski products on show at ISPO!

The event grew year on year and 2010 saw the 70th event and ISPO’s 40th birthday which had a record breaking 175,000 square meters of exhibition space fully booked! So if you’re interested in reading about the most innovative products for next season, click here.

Finally remember to save the date February 5-8 2017 for the next ISPO exhibition!