 Poster: A snowHead
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| gav_in59 wrote: |
Hi Steve(or anyone else who could help),
Three of us are in resort from Sunday for one week. We are looking to book some lessons but dont want a full weeks worth, we have seen one company offering three mornings which sounds good.
Do you know what options we have. We are a mixed group so will end up in seperate classes but all want only 2-3 days lessons, not the full week. We have one beginner snowboarder, one intermediate snowboarder and one intermediate skiier.
Any advice would be helpful.
Thanks |
Hi and thanks for the query... firstly not wanting a whole weeks worth of lessons is quite common.... the company that you are likely to have seen offering 3 mornings in the small group 'clinic' format is most likely to be the ski school I work for. www.tdcski.com. Not that many schools offer something between a weeks worth of group lessons and one off private lessons at the other end of the spectrum.
Finding options for the snowboarders is slightly more tricky though.... try Pro Snowboarding as a starter and see how you get on.
Hope that helps. Good luck!
Steve
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Hi, Thanks for the reply, ive passed the ski details on to my friend. Pro Snowboarding replied and have space for a beginer on a 3 day group lesson but are not offering an intermediate class next week. Also contacted Freedom but no reply yet, i think they only offer 5 days but quite reasonable for £189.
If there are any other Val related pointers I'm all ears, first time to Val this year, although have skied across while staying in Tignes.
Appreciate you help.
Thanks
Gav
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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| gav_in59 wrote: |
Hi, Thanks for the reply, ive passed the ski details on to my friend. Pro Snowboarding replied and have space for a beginer on a 3 day group lesson but are not offering an intermediate class next week. Also contacted Freedom but no reply yet, i think they only offer 5 days but quite reasonable for £189.
If there are any other Val related pointers I'm all ears, first time to Val this year, although have skied across while staying in Tignes.
Appreciate you help.
Thanks
Gav |
Thats cool... sounds like you are well on your way to look at options.... just mention me so people know where the referral came from - not that I get anything from it but nice for people to know thats all!
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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Sorry meant to post this interesting picture from Radio Val d'Isere showing weekly bookings in terms of number of bed nights week by week this season versus last season.... now whilst the overall % this season is (somehow) up about 6% I wanted to share it with you to see how different weeks vary in popularity e.g. Xmas week is not that busy a week in reality compared to half term weeks for example!
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St Jacques / Col de la Madeleine ?
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Is that near the bottom of Cairn?
For your cable car vs gondola question: A cable car has two cabins, one goes up with the other goes down and both come to a stop at the ends at the same time (the cable stops too). The cable reverses direction for them to return, and each cabin has it's own loading position in the station.
With a gondola there are usually many cabins, and they go around the vertical axle so they cable always moves in the same direction.
Cable cars are often used in windy places because when the winds get particularly high both cabins can be held in the station so there is little for the wind to catch.
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steveangus we are making another return trip to Val and i have a couple of quick questions for you .
1) We have some beginners joining us this year , which is the FOC run in the center , is it Village
2) We have boarded the valle perdue many times , but i dont think i have ever been able to locate the Trifollet run , I know its below Tommeuses , but is it easy to find ? and is it usually open
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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I think I can answer both of those:
1) There are a few, marked with dotted lines on the piste map. Village is a chair for the first day green slopes, Rogoney goes a bit higher for a short blue at the bottom of Plan M.
2) It branches off Verte shortly below Tommeuses and was shut last time I was there. According to https://www.valdinet.com/lifts/status it's shut at the moment too (Bellevarde area)
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mrkn - darn it - thought that was quite a hard one... obviously not. Its St Jacques just before it merges onto the CdlM
thelem - welcome to Snowheads!!!!.... yup that really sums up the difference between the two (gondolas and cable cars) nicely thanks. However also a cable car (in the same way as a funicular train) has the cabin going down used to help pull the other cabin up the hill to counterbalance (to an extent) each other.... so a cable car is (age allowance) quite power efficient.
It just gets under my skin a little when people talk about (for example) the Olympic cable car - it doesnt exist! Minor silly annoyance but it is still an annoyance! grumpyoldman.com!
gwatts10 and thelem - to clarify the Village and the poma (Savonnettes) lifts yes are FOC... however the Rogoney and Rogoney Stade poma (I think this one too now) are no longer totally FOC as they are included in the 'Solaise' only lift pass that was brought in this year to allow people to get up to the new magic carpet learner slopes up top of Solaise.... so there are fewer options now totally FOC! Also the Trifollet run you can get to in two different ways.... down the Valle Perdue then as it opens out and before the 'lower' part of the Perdue peel off left and it is there OR you can head down the Verte piste below the Folie Douce.... after about 500 yards as you 'enter' the tree line there is a bridge on the left as the piste gradually flattens off and bears right... head left over the bridge. And yes it is still closed for the time being!
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Can you help? Are yo looking for intermediate snowboard lessons in Val D'isere next week?
I am wanting to book an intermediate group snowboard lesson for next week but no companies in the whole of Val D'isere can offer an intermediate group lesson unless there is a minimum of 2 or 3 people wanting to join. Currently I seem to be the only one looking for intermediate lessons in Val D'isere but this cant be true!?
If anybody is looking for group snowboarding lessons, 3-5 days starting 16/17th Jan please let me know and we can conctact the same company and get a group set up. I have found one company offering 3 days, 3 hrs per day for 190 Euros, if a second person signs up they will run the group.
Fingers crossed.
Thanks
Gav
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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| Steve Angus wrote: |
| a cable car (in the same way as a funicular train) has the cabin going down used to help pull the other cabin up the hill to counterbalance (to an extent) each other.... so a cable car is (age allowance) quite power efficient. |
Doesn't the same apply to any lift? The gondolas going down hill will counterbalance the unladen weight of the gondolas going up hill. I'd have thought a much bigger difference would be the air resistance of two large cabins vs a lot of small cabins. The Olympic probably gets called a cable car more than most gondolas because it has such large cabins (although they have seats in them, which cable cars don't usually get for some reason).
That's a shame about the change to Rogoney, I've used that in the past when I've arrived in resort shortly before the lifts have closed and I've wanted to get a feel for the snow under my skis but it's not worth a whole day pass.
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You know it makes sense.
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| Steve Angus wrote: |
The inside hand dropping down and back means the left shoulder is going to be used to 'pull' the skis around so there is insufficient seperation. This will again mean issues on steeper slopes!
TTFN |
It must be interesting seeing how everyone skis and thinking how you'd get them to improve. One of these days I will have to book a lesson with you!!
Last edited by You know it makes sense. on Fri 13-01-17 2:19; edited 1 time in total
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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The Olympic is almost a hybrid between a gondola and a cable car. It's set up as a continuous ropeway like a gondola with cabins that detach from the line but it is also hung from suspension ropes with a separate haul rope like a cable car. Nor is it a DMC where the haul rope and suspension ropes are combined and live.
No doubt there is a good reason for that particular design ?
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Poster: A snowHead
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| gwatts10 wrote: |
| 2) We have boarded the valle perdue many times , but i dont think i have ever been able to locate the Trifollet run , I know its below Tommeuses , but is it easy to find ? and is it usually open |
Closed the whole week the last 2 times I've been in Val d'Isere. I think it's in often in avalanche risk from slopes on the left. People ski it anyway, I guess they think they are immortal. If you descend from the flatish area near the Tommeuses base and keep left you will find it.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Peter S - think you are now the inhouse technical expert on the 'runnings' of ski lifts... It replaced a cable car and certainly has cabins that are cable car'esque size! It is a good Dopplemayr 'ropeway' design - they make the best lifts in the world these days id say!
dogwatch - yea keep left as you say and you'll find it - defy gravity after you do the famial and stay left and your on it. But yes it can be avalanche prone but more often than not it catches a lot of sun therefore (as it is rocky underneath) the conditions on the slope are often less than ideal so you need good coverage and when you dont get that it has to be closed for people safety as well as the avalanche danger from above yes!
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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You'll need to try much harder with your quizzes to catch us Tignards out Mr Angus !
Back in the uk for a couple of weeks but will be in touch for a session w/c 30th Jan, your diary permitting.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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@Steve Angus, thanks for a fantastic four days of great skiing/learning. We so enjoyed it- lots to work on for the coming weeks. We are snowed in here in Val Claret (actually strong winds are the issue) with only Bollin and Tichot open- also we both have bad colds so we couldn't have planned the week better. Great teaching, great weather and great pistes- what more can we say?
BTW- Brian was thrilled to swap skis- I think it was a highlight for him!
Back under the duvet now...hopefully out early tomorrow to enjoy the new snow.
Thanks so much again, will be back to demonstrate our progress in a few months!
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mrkn - dont temp me - will have to make it impossible! Only have Monday 30th Jan pm and Wednesday 1st Feb pm free by the looks of things... possible the Fri / Sat too but might also be having to head back to the UK then... not sure.
lynnecha - MY PLEASURE. THANK YOU. Boo re being snowed in... pretty full on over here too. Not too many options for lessons out there! Get better soon!. Yea swapping skis is fun. Yea hopefully tomorrow will be a pow day for you. Yup send me some video of the progress you make!!!! TTFN
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Hold on tight
Well the snow and wind (not too bad initially started rolling in late yesterday) and by this morning there was a good 30cm out there although the wind was creating havoc so in some places it was drifting a lot more.
I was heartened at breakfast time to hear the Gasex's going off (remotely activated from down in town) but the pisteurs (it soon back apparent) could not make it to the catex stations because of the wind was so intense. I heard that there had been 250km/h winds at the top of the Grand Motte so obviously it was less windy lower down but still it was raging out there.
I had fluked the morning off anyway (working later in the day) so I caught up on lots of bits and pieces and had a relatively peaceful few hours. Clare took Olivia to creche and she too had the morning off so it was nice to actually spend some time together!
There was very little open initially and the wind was going from OK to dreadful within the space of a few seconds. Anyway by mid morning I was gearing up to meet my seasonnaires - the first session with my first group and we battled as best we could for the lesson. There is always something you can work on no matter what terrain is available to any level of skier e.g. one legged skiing on the nursery slopes for racers etc so I was not too phased that we only had the savonettes.
I have been in this industry and teaching for over 20 Winter seasons now and 11 winters teaching in Val and I have NEVER been in the situation where, at times (it did vary) we were confined to just the savonettes as not even the Rogoney or the Village could open. If I had had a stronger group then I could have taken them up to Fornet as the cable car there was running and skied the Mangard but it was not an option. Anyway ce la vie we managed our best.
I came home and warmed up with a nice cuppa before Lou and her daughter (a few months older than Olivia and as she was born in 2013 she has started school already) Mea popped around for a play date.
And that pretty much sums the day up.
The good news was that the internet finally came back online after Orange and SFR had had a technical problem for over 24 hours with most of the lines in resort which reaped havoc.
So the snow has continued all day long and should continue all night tonight although less intently and throughout tomorrow so I suspect that the roads will be less than ideal tomorrow but thank goodness it is not a busy one.
There is a jolly good chance that everyone will need to have chains on to go down as well as up the hill tomorrow so be prepared and allow plenty of extra time!
Talking of tomorrow I have to head back to the UK for a few days in relation to sorting things out for my mum so will NOT be posting tomorrow through to Tuesday inclusive.... sorry!
I did however manage today to fit in my Periscope before the battery on my phone died (bearing in mind I have a second back up battery attached to the back of my phone the cold eats the power up!) about 90% the way through my broadcast but you get the drift!
https://www.periscope.tv/SteveAngusSnow/1eaKbRVDknkKX?autoplay&t=26
This image REALLY doesnt do it 'justice' to what it was like out there today but there you go!
So there you go - see you all in a few days time.
P.S. The PIDA is starting at 7am tomorrow but nevertheless expect it to take quite a while tomorrow for everything to get going (if at all) with this wind.
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Battery dying? Sounds like an excuse to get out of doing a snow angel. 😂😂😂👍
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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| smagsmith wrote: |
| Battery dying? Sounds like an excuse to get out of doing a snow angel. 😂😂😂👍 |
Ha ha - ill give you a snow angel... well maybe send you to a place you'll see angels - ha ha!
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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| Steve Angus wrote: |
| So it was a cold but sunny start to the day.... however at altitude there was a stiff wind blowing... not quite enough to shut lifts down (I dont think) but a pain in the backside non the less. |
Cold seats on the chairlifts? 
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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Catch up
Well it was a very rare morning when both Clare and I did not have to get up at the crack of dawn.... I was just down to work this pm with seasonnaires but I filled up my morning with a whole host of jobs that needed doing and catching up with emails etc. It was a jolly successful morning at that.
I could have gone to watch the Europa Cup on the Joseray piste (the red run that goes down the side of the Face) but I didnt... perhaps ill see some tomorrow as there is another GS tomorrow.
I fitted in my periscope at lunchtime and also got my photo jig going... I thought it was a rather nice photo even if I do say so myself!
https://www.periscope.tv/SteveAngusSnow/1gqxvZgOeXzxB?autoplay&t=1
The afternoon I took out my 2nd seasonnaires group and they were a jolly nice lot... solid certainly on greens and blues to an extent but there were a few jitters around when it got a little scraped off. One girl had taken a big fall the other day and was very scared that is for sure. However I like to think that I set a climate that got everyone set up and we had a fun session and as usual my 'trick of the day' always puts a smile on their faces. It was relatively chilly up there but no / little wind (certainly up the Bellevarde side) which was cool!
By 4pm it was time to head home for a cuppa.
Not much else to report this end.
TTFN
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You know it makes sense.
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A quiet day
It was a swift start to the day but then slowed down again. Olivia awoke quite early and came into our bedroom for a nice wake up call and in doing so woke Clares mum who has been staying with us all week and has been utilising the sofa bed. Anyway that in itself was not too bad as it was around about 7am but once awake I remembered that it was my turn to get breakfast sorted so I rapidly threw on some clothes so I could pick up some yummy chevallot goodies for breakfast.... pain au chocolats, pat d'ours, brioche choc chip to name but a few. Needless to say we had a nice family breakfast.
After a lazy hour or so we headed out to have a family ski on the Village lift... it was nice as both Clare and I could ski with Olivia and Clares mum could get some photos etc...
My periscope was taken on the Village lift today and then after some family time at home we all went for a walk around town and a nice family dinner before Clares mum has just left on the train back to the UK.... farewell and thanks for all your help!
Apart from that it has been a very quiet day it really has! For once I am totally stuck for things to think about to talk about. Tomorrow I have another day off (as is often the way in January - plenty of down time before we start ramping up again for Feb HT) so shall be taking Olivia swimming and then I think we are going to have a family roast dinner tomorrow night - yum yum!
So I shall sign off for now!
TTFN
https://www.periscope.tv/SteveAngusSnow/1MnxnrQgDekxO?autoplay&t=3
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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Poster: A snowHead
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Hi Steve, just wanted to pop on to say thanks for the great lesson on Wednesday, you gauged it just right in terms of what i was looking to get out of it. Spent the rest of the week thinking about putting it all into practice. Can't say I've done many superman jumps since though  It was also great to know what i am doing right as well which is equally as valuable as knowing where to improve.
I did manage to ski down something much tougher than le face, i went down sache (i think?) i think that run has every type of terrain and condition in one single piste! Hard work but glad i did it, its all experience as they say.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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@ Steve, wonder if you could assist please?
Over in Val for half term week again and unfortunately my wife needs to video conference back to the UK for work meeting one day. Unbelievably, we are being advised that the apartment booked does not have wi-fi (although trying to confirm if we can pay to access it), but in the event that we cannot, could you advise of somewhere my wife could go to access a robust wi-fi (payment is not a concern) in a bit of a quiet location? Will save her having to fly home early if we can get this set-up. She has contacted a number of hotels and the Tourist Office but with limited success...
Thanks
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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Why not just tether off your phone? @Robbarber, There's 4g in a lot of spots in Val and worst case 3G.. 4G will be better than any hotel wifi anyway probable. Not sure on her / your phone package but I get 2G a month roaming included.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Apparently the Solaise gondola has wifi - that would make a great video conference!
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Dear collective,
We are out to Val in March as two families each with one 4 year old and two nearly 3 year olds (at the time of going).
This will be their second ski trip this season and they all went to village des enfants in Avoriaz.
Are there any such ski schools/instructors that will take children under 3?
Thanks in advance for any help!
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| Page23 wrote: |
Dear collective,
We are out to Val in March as two families each with one 4 year old and two nearly 3 year olds (at the time of going).
This will be their second ski trip this season and they all went to village des enfants in Avoriaz.
Are there any such ski schools/instructors that will take children under 3?
Thanks in advance for any help! |
Hmmm the short answer is no im afraid..... we only take our daughter (who is also coming up 3) out as a) we are both instructors b) live here and c) can do VERY short low intensity 'fun sessions' at a time! At age three you can get private lessons but that is about all im afraid! If I were you I would do 'snowplay' with them - e.g. snowmen building and the 'learning' at that age is them getting used to getting around in the cold and snowy environment more than anything! Good luck!
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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@Steve Angus is that the top of the Solaise in the picture, with the old top station for the Solaise Express in the middle? If so, it looks like the new top station is further along, so you don't have to get that annoying rope lift any more?
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| thelem wrote: |
| @Steve Angus is that the top of the Solaise in the picture, with the old top station for the Solaise Express in the middle? If so, it looks like the new top station is further along, so you don't have to get that annoying rope lift any more? |
yes it is, and yes it is, and (again) yes it is and that rope has now gone.... to reply to your points!
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FAQ
