 Poster: A snowHead
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@Beegee, depends on the discount - who are you travelling with? We got a deal through our TO that meant it was cheaper to preorder EK passes than to buy a Tignes or VDI pass in resort. No idea how, as they are almost legendary for their reluctance to discount passes even to large operators.
Does anyone know a bar in Tignes Le Lac that will definitely be showing the Saracens vs Sale game on Saturday? If any local snowheads want to meet up we will (assuming flight and transfers go to plan) be in that bar at 4pm local time, ideal to have a pint, watch the game, and be back in the chalet for dinner  Game is on Sky Sports 2, not sure if French TV will have it on?
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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The Alpaka (up the hill pass the Vallee Blanche ski shop) has sky and the ability to show 2 channels (or they did last year). Usually Ok. Check with them night before or lunchtime. Buying beer usually does the trick
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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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Mistress Panda, It could still be cheaper to buy in resort, last week they were charging the 'interseason' price if you went to the ticket office but the 'winter' one if you bought online.
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@Mistress Panda, the deal is through the people we are renting with - copied below:
2 children's passes (12 & 13 yr olds) = 170 euros per person
4 adult's passes = 200 euros per person
Grand Total = 1140 euros instead of 1456 euros.
So if the Tignes pass is 175 alone, it seems like a pretty good deal to me?
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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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@Beegee, from memory we effectively paid £150 each through TO for EK, buy one get one half price (though of course that is based on their standard price, not actual cost in resort). That said, I think they are doing deals on the passes to try and get bookings for the accommodation, sounds like your deal is what is available in resort, I'd just buy in resort at that price as there is a chance of cheaper deals if the conditions don't improve significantly.
@Mark1863, cool, we know the Alpaka and I have vague memories of jugs of beer
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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| Quote: |
No idea how, as they are almost legendary for their reluctance to discount passes even to large operators.
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Don't think that's right - even the small operators are very keen to sell you a pass, so definitely something in it for them.
Sunny morning this morning so as I was not aching too much Tigski and I set off a bit earlier, to find that Tignes has opened the free Bollin Lift in VC, so we took it just to get round the dozens of beginners and then skinned from there to the top of the Toviere (you can just see us on the Toviere webcam at 1310 via the archive- we are just by the Tommeuse Lifties hut). The trip up was uneventful, then after a short break for a cereal bar we set off down through great new snow to the top of the Paquis, after that there was a mixture of frozen crust from the cannons, grass and rocks - the less said the better.
However from our vantage point we could see that both resorts have been putting a lot of effort into preparation. Carline has been pisted until the last corner where the blowers were going to top up the last 100m. Piste Henri has a lot of artificial snow and now needs grooming. Down in the Toviere valley Creux looked ready for pisting and Val had already piste the top of OK Orange and the run down the middle of the valley. However, there are no piste markers as yet on any of the above and therefore legally no pistes. However, I could see that various circuits could be opened up providing people can be corralled into not skiing unprepared slopes with enugh signage. Fingers crossed 
Mixed weather over the next week with a series of weak fronts - most of the forecast snow should be arriving on Saturday night. Hang on to your hat tomorrow, its going to be quite windy especially in the afternoon as it clouds over with the chance of a few flocons.
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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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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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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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Great news that there is more white stuff around... now the question is: which skis to bring??
Choice between:
- Kneissl black stars (like pistes and ice)
- K2 Lotta luv (like pistes and a bit of messing around in powder)
- Whitedot preachers (not exactly a piste ski...)
So, what's it to be? Need to pack tonight so suggestions please!
Ta muchly,
Ms P.
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| Mistress Panda wrote: |
Great news that there is more white stuff around... now the question is: which skis to bring??
Choice between:
- Kneissl black stars (like pistes and ice)
- K2 Lotta luv (like pistes and a bit of messing around in powder)
- Whitedot preachers (not exactly a piste ski...)
So, what's it to be? Need to pack tonight so suggestions please!
Ta muchly,
Ms P. |
Whichever ones are your 'sacrifice skis' - the pistes are going to be thinly covered. 
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You know it makes sense.
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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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| stewart woodward wrote: |
@chocksaway, more lifts/pistes are opening Saturday so hopefully next week will be a quieter  |
Suspect there may be a few more students arriving Sat ie 1 x Retrobod jnr!!
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Poster: A snowHead
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| Kenzie wrote: |
Whichever ones are your 'sacrifice skis' - the pistes are going to be thinly covered. |
Hmm. Hmm indeed.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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@Mistress Panda, hire. That's what I'm doing.
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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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Its been a real shame & Tignes have done exactly what we thought they would do this week
Not open the lifts to good pistes for the week of the Varscity trip. So for those customers who were here in the massive queues all week had plenty of time to admire the piste areas they could have opened up.
They could have doubled the ski area by Wednesday this week by opening the already bashed & prepped pistes, instead they left us in the lift queues to fight over the dangerously busy & overcrowded pistes.
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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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That's just nonsense.
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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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+1. The mountains are not a theme park ride, they can only blow so much snow at a time and safety has to be paramount to protect the unwary (I'm am being polite this morning) there are only so many pisteurs to prepare things. This is a cut and paste from the Val skiplan site this morning:
PISTES FERMEES = DANGER ! NE PASSEZ PAS SOUS LES BARRAGES DE CORDES
DESCENDEZ EN REMONTEES
I suspect that this tells a story.......
I know its frustrating but the resort has no interest in delaying opening as they will sell more passes - the queues put off a lot of the locals from coming and there money is as good as ours!
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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@Mistress Panda, - Kneissl black stars (like pistes and ice) I reckon
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The Tichot lift & connecting pistes have been prepped & ready to go since Wednesday, they are not opening the lift until Saturday, that simply is a poor show for those already here.
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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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@Cptsideways, Yes a lot of work has been put into that area this week and I have been up there a few times during the week. In my view though, the Carline piste back into Val Claret has not been ready for opening yet. Having skied down it a few hours ago I would say more work is still needed on the last section. Especially where we skied over the stream at the bottom via wooden pallets  Another night of snowmaking should sort it out.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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@Tigski, zip wire?
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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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Le Dauphine has just announced that the Espace Killy will open this weekend - which will make it a lot easier for folks to spread out. (nothing on the official websites/FB yet)
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@Tigski, New way to download rather than waiting in the queues?? 
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You know it makes sense.
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Yes. A zip wire ski jump is shown on the tignes website for this season.
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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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@chocksaway, Yep, Radio Val d'Isere has tweeted to say the Tommeuse chair will open tomorrow and return the other way will be via the Mont Blanc chair.
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Poster: A snowHead
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From Tignes.net here's the plan for the E-K tomorrow:
ESPACE KILLY: OPEN
From Saturday, December 13th, by the Tommeuses area (possibility to go to Val d'Isère by the Daille gondola only)
TIGNES
Grande Motte area
- Funicular / access to the Double M & glacier pistes
- TSD Lanches / access to the Double M piste
- TSD Vanoise / access to the Rimaye, Dahu and Face pistes
- TSF Leisse / access to the Leisse piste
- Cable car
- TSF Panoramique
- Tow rope for beginners
- TK Rosolin
Tovière area
- TSD Bollin / access to the Bollin piste
- TSD Tufs / access to the Henri piste
- TSD Tommeuses / access to the Creux piste
- TC Tovière, to access the skiing area without using the free shuttle
- Rosset : might open
Secteur Palet
- TSD Tichot / access to the Carline piste
- TSD Grattalu / access to the Grattalu piste
- TSD Merles / access to the Merles and Lac piste
VAL D’ISERE
Possibility to ski on the following areas (high part of the skiing area only, no possibility to ski back to the resort):
- Bellevarde (TSD Marmottes, TSD Borsat, TSF Grand Pré, TSD Fontaine Froide, TC Daille, TSF Mont Blanc, Funival, TPH Olympique)
- Solaise ( TPH Solaise, TSD Solaise Express, TSD Madeleine, TSD Glaciers, TSF Datcha, fil neige tête de Solaise, Rope Tow, TK Terrasse, TSD Leissières)
- Iseran (TSD Leissières, TPH Fornet, TC Vallons, TSF Cema, TSD Cascade, TK Montet).
Still no way down to VDI (The ladies downhill course prep takes precedence) but I guess the FD can open as La Daille Gondy opens as well.
Enjoy
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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On cue - the large playground opened! Thee was certainly a release of cabin fever this morning with folks charging here and there on and off piste. As it was Saturday there were no queues (other than when the Marmottes broke down) and plenty of room on the piste. Only time will tell as to how busy it will get as one of the imponderables will be the number of locals who come up high or whether they stay at home and wait. The pistes that are open above 2200m are in good condition, below 2600 there is a lot of artificial snow - so a big round of applause to the snowmakers and groomers (sounds like an old northern club!).
It had warmed up on the thermometer today (+3 at the top of the Tov at lunchtime) so there was little snowmaking even at height, however, it felt a lot chillier than that with Mr Lombarde blowing quite hard.
We skied the Toviere valley and up to Grand Pre - all great piste snow and then down Henri into VC which was a whole different experience to our escapade last Wednesday. There was a lot of folk venturing off piste (including us) and frankly it was the 'curates egg'. Most of the snow is wind drift so in little depressions there was some nice turns to be had; however, there are a LOT OF HAZARDS. The snow depth is very low in general, so we had grass, rocks and even the odd cable and wire to avoid (its amazing what clutters the mountain when its not a couple of metres under the snow). I think the best way to sum up the off piste - there was more falls than usual and there was a lot of checking of bases of skis as people regained the piste. So, as it is mostly tracked out now, I shall probably be staying between the poles until it snows or a high wind redistributes what is there.
So, if you are coming out on holiday you will have a great time in the E-K which is the largest skiable area in France at the moment or so they claim. However, I wouldn't waste any money on booking an off piste course - go for a technique one.
The weather over the next few days is going to be a mix of sun, cloud and light snow flurries. There may be some snow on Wednesday especially if the ridge of high pressure over our part of the world collapses a bit. Beyond that who knows.
Air Traffic Control abacuses willing there is little in the forecast to affect flying tomorrow.
Last edited by Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person on Sat 13-12-14 18:30; edited 1 time in total
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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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I'm beginning to think about booking fro the 3rd Jan week for me and a mate, we're both low end 50's, given the current snow conditions I'm focussing on Espace Killy. Whilst I've stopped in Tignes many times, I've never stopped in Val d'Isere, even been slightly sniffy about it, what with all the Henry's around
However some of options that are coming up are in La Daille and whilst I know access is good etc. My question is are there any decent bars etc. down there to keep a couple of blokes who want a few drinks after skiing and maybe a couple after dinner happy. Thanks in advance for any responses.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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There's a couple of quiet bars in La Daille commercial centre, but the Train Rouge bus runs regularly enough and it hardly kills to walk back if Dicks keeps you beyond last bus
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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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Well for somewhere that's not fully open there's quite a lot of decent skiing to be had
The ski tranquille at the top of Borsat (aka Tellytubby land) is in nice condition and good for remembering how to do this skiing malarkey. Went up Lanches this afternoon which was nice with a good bit off to the side for playing around in.
Hopefully a little more snow is incoming soon...
Ms P.
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Admin day today which may have had more to do with dinner at Mr and Mrs Tigskis last night than admin! Oh and that was after a fleeting visit to La Queue de Cochon in Lavachet. Sarah and Duncan have done a great job in renovating the old Scotties bar - a much more modern look together with a 20's Jazz theme. There's also a much bigger kitchen for Duncan to work his magic in. The Restaurant opens tomorrow night and we are the first guests in. Review available here on Wed.
There was a dusting of new snow overnight but it soon melted off the roads and sunny slopes around the village as it has warmed up (6 deg at 1000 this morning). We had a few sunny spells and tomorrow will be similar. There is then a significant chance of snow late Wed into Thu, initially the snow level is forecast to be around 1800m but sadly rising to 2300m on Thursday morning which will be great for the glacier but a nightmare for the lower resorts down the valley. The temps today mean there has been no snowmaking around the village. Standby for some further postponements in resort opening.
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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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Well, it is snowing and has been for a while, just need a few more lifts and pistes open. It is obvious skiing around the resort that a lot of companies have moved people to tignes, and there are some very average skiers on the limit of their skills, not normal for tignes in December.
In other news I have done something fairly bad to my back, feels like I have jarred it or something. Any suggestions on who to talk to? Assume pharmacy can do hardcore painkillers, but wondering if there is someone in town who is good with back problems?
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@Mistress Panda, PM @stewart woodward, as his wife is the 'Flying Therapist', and does a whole range of things for aches and pains.
Edit- you can PM her direct at Mrs W
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FAQ
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) then the capital of the Azores would be a good place to release the wrath of Thor. Later next week will also see it warm up - but it will still freeze overnight so the cannons can keep going.
- its basically across the bowl between the Merles and lac pistes; free entertainment on the chairlift any way.
