 Poster: A snowHead
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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That snow slope wouldn't be a black run, would it PG? 
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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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Coald well be!
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Case of pitting yourself against the elements??
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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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When I was in Leeds a couple of weeks ago with a French colleague we popped in to have a look. We didn't ski as we had to take clients out for dinner that evening. The French bloke I was with is a very good skier from Annecy. He thought it was a great idea but thought we were mad to pay £20 per hour for such a short slope.
I have to return to the Leeds area today and intend to get a couple hours skiing in this evening. I'll let you know how I get on, if your interested.
Skiing aside the place is pretty awesome esp. the assault course which is suspended from the ceiling and about 30 foot off the floor. The Ice climbing looked quite good also.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Please do. I'm sure you'll be a mine of information on your return.... 
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He'll just slag it off 
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If he fancies a drink after all that exercise he might be advised to give the coke a miss.... especially if it's "the real thing"...
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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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Did you make it to Xscape, Boardski? Don't tell me, was it the pits? Or did it fuel the desire to get back over to the Alps for some more of the real thing?
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PG, haven't you mined this rich seam of black humour enough yet?
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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[disappears in a puff of smoke.......]
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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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This could be a carbon copy of the electric ski thread.
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No - I get the feeling it's already beginning to fizzle out....
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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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We were getting a bit carried away with all the coal references...... black run, mine, coke, pits, seam, slag .... then it 'fizzled out' as we ran out of inspiration
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Poster: A snowHead
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Boardski, First time I went, I payed for an hour and wished I'd payed for 2 (2 hours is £30...better value). The second time I took the full 2 hours and got very bored! Admittedly it was a Saturday and was difficult to let rip, partly due to the lower half of the slope almost totally being taken over by lessons.
I know what you mean about the exposed carpet under the lift...It had the added bonus of knocking all the beginners over, bringing one of the lifts constantly to a halt! 
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Sounds like they're not very good on the piste maitenance side of things, icy in the middle and carpet on the lift doesn't sound great 
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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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My session was the last one prior to the basher grooming the slope so I may have turned up at a bad time w.r.t. slope condition.
The exposed matting under the lift was particularly annoying and got even more so when I saw how it was caused. I spent most of my time on the lift with my skis at 60 deg's to the direction of travel in an attempt to redistribute the snow at the side of the track back to where it was needed. I did have a pop at the Kevin and Perry type lift attendants about it but they just shrugged their shoulders and went back to looking miserable. 
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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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My other half, who can acutally ski, fell off the lift twice before she realised that it was the carpet pulling her over. Teach her a lesson to look where she's going, even on a tow 
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Hey Boardski, I went for the first time myself on Monday, quite enjoyed it as well for a couple of hours.
Your spot on with the review, especially the lift attendants
I found the snow to be a little 'sticky' in places for want of a better word, and the drag was far too slow. I'm assuming the one on the other side would be quicker for the more experienced drag lift user.
Only paid 25 pounds for two hours which I thought wasn't bad seeing as though there we're only a few people there for most of the time.
D G Orf, Its not icy in the middle. I'd just call it hard snow. I took my own skis which have a decent tune and it was fine.
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markP, Oh ok, fair enough then, but you would think with the amount they charge per hour and the short length of the slope that they would do slightly better piste and lift maintainance. That and only running one lift would spoil it for me, min you I'm not likely to get there any time in the future anyway so I don't know why I'm moaning
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When we went to MK last year they had the piste basher out at the end of the night. I guess it's a hassle to clear the slope and do it on a regular basis throughout the day.
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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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Heheh. I guess they we're slack because it was a Monday afternoon and there was only a dozen people there.
I know Tamworth bash the slope a couple of times a day, and I expect Castleford do the same. Especially before the evening price change I would expect.
Interesting to note though that the good snow in the midddle dissapeared off to the sides when it got busy with snowboarders.
oooohh, controversial...
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MarkP, This was "peak rate" time (5-6pm). I do find it odd that they have an hour at peak rate then close the slope for an hour to bash it then reopen at 7. It would make more sense to bash it right before the peak rate starts.
Next trip is in 3 weeks and I'll book 7-9pm this time and get on right after the piste is prepared.
Re the snowboarders comment - statements of fact are never controversial
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Its a shame the slope isn't just that little bit steeper, It would have been so much better.
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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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It would be nice to have somewhere with a nice long slope as well
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I've always resisted the temptation to do XScape as I'm sure it would leave me desperate for the real thing. A bit like going to the pub when you can have only one pint...
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You know it makes sense.
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I wouldn't mind giving it a go. If anyones planning a visit, let me know and I'll try and join you.
For those worried about internet stalkers, I'll be wearing a full face ski mask and swinging a chainsaw, so I'll be easy to spot. 
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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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Xscape is quite good if the alternative is dendrix, but slope conditions can be changeable to say the least... I've been a few times & experienced everything from sheet ice to mashed potato. Some times it's been excellent, though.
Other than that, facilities are good (lots of lockers, free kit hire if you need it) and the slope is a decent length for this sort of thing.
I just wish people there wouldn't laugh at my bicorne hat, it's very unkind. Grrr.
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Poster: A snowHead
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How come in a controlled environment they can't manage to maintain a constant temperature and snow conditions?
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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I would guess that possibly they are affected by ambient humidity and maybe the roof and walls are not as well insulated as they could be
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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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marc gledhill, I'm probably going the week after next - if you can bear to be seen with 4 really bad boarders (we're really skiers in disguise ). Will let you know if we nail a time/date.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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The temperature is always constant as far as I'm aware. The snow seems to vary in consistence from time to time. I think it has more to do with the mixture of whatever chemicals they put in. I'm not sure though.
I'd be mighty suprised if insulation was at fault. The damn things brand new! Surely they designed it right. Right?
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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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markP yes of course they must have, I mean no civil engineer in recent history has made mistakes, that footbridge over the River Thames was supposed to make people seasick wasn't it
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You'll need to Register first of course.
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Elizabeth B, Ok let me know and I'll try t get there. If you're all boarding I'll bring my old one piece dayglo
markP, What chemicals? I'd just presumed it was hard water. Also it's structure will change as it's skiied on (won't it?) as that will melt the snow.
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Going back a little, but markP, they do run both lifts at busy times, allegedly one fast one for experienced users only.
In practice, the ski school uses both lifts and consequently both lift run very slowly and grind to a halt on regular occasions! 
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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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Thats good to hear Paul, Thanks.
Marc I'd read that chemicals are used. Don't know what, don't know how much.
I think its one of the reasons that Milton Keynes xscape has had alot of problems with slow running snow. I believe they had to shut down once and let most of the snow melt and start from scratch again.
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FAQ
I'd say £500- £600 pa would be a good investment. Particularly if it can be combined with a ski club of some sort.
