 Poster: A snowHead
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| JamesHJ wrote: |
| I have read elsewhere that it was about the same standard as achieving gold in the ESF school holiday races, which no longer seems to be true. |
What I've read is that if you are not getting a consistent gold in the Chamois you shouldn't think about TT. Slightly different. Gold standard in the ESF/FFS races is pretty quick.
The thing about the ESF races is anyone from snowheads can roll up, pay the entry fee and have a go and have an idea of how they will do. Courses vary a lot, if you get the chance try at Chamrousse which has a seriously steep Chamois course and seriously long Fleche... about twice as long as that set at Val d'Isere for example.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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ahh gotchya... good luck with the training and future attempts.
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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 think that nearly everyone there was a (French) club skier, and I would have thought that the majority would have been through the ESF system. It also sounds like there could be a variation between resorts, as the ESF piste at Villard de Lans is not steep at all. I am also curious about the comparison with the Chamois and will ask around at some point.
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JamesHJ, Which slope is she training on at VdL ? The first pitch of the slope they use for FIS slaloms is reasonably steep but it means you have to use the gondola to get back up.
Where will you be during the summer ?
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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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| rjs wrote: |
JamesHJ, Which slope is she training on at VdL ? The first pitch of the slope they use for FIS slaloms is reasonably steep but it means you have to use the gondola to get back up.
Where will you be during the summer ? |
The VSM train on the top part of the Chamois run, so they use the Cote 2000 cabin. Maybe the first wee bit is as steep as the ADH stad, but it is not as long. She did the 'Stage test technique' at ADH again to try to get used to slalom on the steeps, which is again highly recommended.
As for the rest of the summer, the plan was to have some fun! I have definitely got the bug (and did my first mini giant slalom this week!) and was considering the snoworks race carve course in June.
I say the plan 'was' to have some fun as she just said the doctor suspects a ruptured finger ligament from whacking a pole at some point : (
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Actually, perhaps the most important thing learned this season is... not to rush. She had not skied a competition since 1989 and only got her first carving skis last year, having barely skied in-between. Also having a baby apparently tends to coincide with a significant loss of shape!
We started late in December after I signed her up* for the ESF stage and the TT in January. We had a few weeks of absolutely epic training and she managed to at least compete with the others. Then came a chance conversation with an ESF chap and joining the VSM. Again a few months of epic training, finding of creches, buying of equipment etc and finally the TT again. Interestingly enough, the same people were there from January and no longer seemed to be such good skiers, nor in some cases much competition...
Was it the most successful program? No. And also not the most cost effective (I estimate >> €4500). Was it good fun? Absolutely the best time we have had together for years! Seeing the wife happy and fit after a few years as a stupidly overqualified house wife was worth every penny and every minute away from the office. Not to mention realising that she looks hot in a race suit 
*At some point she was bemoaning the fact of having had a pushy skiing father, and ending up with a pushy skiing husband!
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| JamesHJ wrote: |
| I am also curious about the comparison with the Chamois and will ask around at some point. |
I think it is a convenient marker, everyone does the Fleche/Chamois competitions so when someone says "I want to be be an instructor" and they are bronze level in the Chamois say, well they have a serious amount of training to do just to get near the TT standard whereas if they are scoring golds they are in the right area but are probably already a local ski racer. Ask your missus to do one (I don't think there are any left this season) and see how she does.
Last edited by Then you can post your own questions or snow reports... on Fri 4-04-14 10:59; edited 1 time in total
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Brilliant JamesHJ, please do keep us posted.
Quick ?: I had thought that TT was 24% of FIS 0, is it 20% of uncalibrated openers time?
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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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abd, pass time is +20% and 25 for women off the openers time, doesn't go back to FIS 0 like the ET
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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skimottaret, so what sort of FIS rating are the openers?
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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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I think, but don't know for sure that they would be similar in FIS to the ET openers, the guy in the red cat suit from James photo I think is a French ET opener.. 50ish pointers if you know what that means.
If I get a moment I will put up some video of GS openers at a Eurotest so you can see what 50 points looks like
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Ok, thanks. I've seen some vid of James C skiing.
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You know it makes sense.
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Who is James C ? Do you mean James B the brit ET opener or JamesHJ ??
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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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Yes, I mean James B
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Poster: A snowHead
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okay wont bother with video then, have you skied with him? very very talented and gives you a clear idea of just how good the openers are for the TT and ET..
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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No, not yet 
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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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Just for fun, here is a photo from her last race!
This was at the 'Pinocchio sugli sci' an FIS international event.
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JamesHJ, I'm guessing she would be old enough to do Masters races. There is a French circuit of them at weekends through the winter that could give her a bit more practice at race day stuff, there are other VSM racers that do them.
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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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| rjs wrote: |
| JamesHJ, I'm guessing she would be old enough to do Masters races. There is a French circuit of them at weekends through the winter that could give her a bit more practice at race day stuff, there are other VSM racers that do them. |
That was the plan this winter- we had a few problems at crucial moments though like ill babies etc. All part and parcel of life for those old enough to take part in the masters circuit! The VSM are indeed really good at taking part in everything from masters to FIS level stuff in the local area.
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| Quote: |
Absolutely the best time we have had together for years! Seeing the wife happy and fit after a few years as a stupidly overqualified house wife was worth every penny and every minute away from the office.
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That alone would mark it as a huge success in my book. Well done to all involved.
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| rjs wrote: |
| JamesHJ, I'm guessing she would be old enough to do Masters races |
Delicately put by the way  We now have children who are older than she was (13) in that photo!
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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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JamesHJ, VSM will probably be doing summer and autumn training on the glaciers, I see them in Tignes when I'm there in November.
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| rjs wrote: |
| JamesHJ, VSM will probably be doing summer and autumn training on the glaciers, I see them in Tignes when I'm there in November. |
Bob said yesterday that the club start in September. Both Emptaz-Colombs have a summer business teaching boat skippering!
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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JamesHJ,
Not really sure where you live but L2A will also be open in the summer if you fancy some training.
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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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My son at Alpe d'Huez TT 4 april - 2 clean runs with 4 / 5 seconds off (Given that he's only had 7 days slalom trg in total under his belt I'm proud of him) and he's seriously bitten by the racing bug!
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Aaaah The advantage of youth
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You know it makes sense.
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I have so enjoyed reading all of this...Argh - the passion of speed!!!!
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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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JamesHJ, We have a TT group this pre season, plan is to get on snow in Sept and then early november (saas fee). Have run july camps in the past but so much time passes between camps its less productive.
For anyone interested in the SL or GS exams we have a free fitness program. Feel free to pop us an email and we will send you one over.
Here our TT page: http://www.jjc-training.co.uk/Test_Technique.php
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Poster: A snowHead
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JamesHJ, the JJC boys know their onions... great camp..
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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@JamesHJ,
Hi, is your wife still training & considering the TT this season 
I really enjoyed your posts last season so please keep us updated.
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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| stewart woodward wrote: |
@JamesHJ,
Hi, is your wife still training & considering the TT this season
I really enjoyed your posts last season so please keep us updated.
Thanks |
Funnily enough, I just waved her off in the car to Tignes! More to follow, this time it's serious! ; )
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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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| JamesHJ wrote: |
| stewart woodward wrote: |
@JamesHJ,
Hi, is your wife still training & considering the TT this season
I really enjoyed your posts last season so please keep us updated.
Thanks |
Funnily enough, I just waved her off in the car to Tignes! More to follow, this time it's serious! ; ) |
Is she training with Podium?
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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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| stewart woodward wrote: |
| JamesHJ wrote: |
| stewart woodward wrote: |
@JamesHJ,
Hi, is your wife still training & considering the TT this season
I really enjoyed your posts last season so please keep us updated.
Thanks |
Funnily enough, I just waved her off in the car to Tignes! More to follow, this time it's serious! ; ) |
Is she training with Podium? |
With a UK based company- I don't want to get into the game of live reporting during her course!
Needless to say, the standard of (racing) instruction from UK companies so far has been outstanding. She did a week of mixed SL/GS with Emma/Snoworks in the summer which was revolutionary. Both in terms of learning to have fun while skiing, and also in terms of technical detail. It was a pleasant reminder of the teaching ethos which seems to prevail in the UK, having been exposed to the way things are in France (I am mainly talking about the schools, not skiing here btw...).
She met the VSM coaches this morning who are also on a race camp- should be able to catch up later in the week with them also.
Anyway- probably the number one big change this year is abandoning the family for three weeks! A certain young lady with strong and voluble opinions is quite incompatible with a good nights sleep for skiing...
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Hmm. Tignes closed for the whole day- 140-150 km/h winds it seems.
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@JamesHJ,
Well good luck to her and hope she enjoys the training.
P.S.
the original pic from 1989 looks as though she is wearing Lange ZX boots
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| speed098 wrote: |
@JamesHJ,
P.S.
the original pic from 1989 looks as though she is wearing Lange ZX boots |
Yup- they are still kicking around in a cupboard somewhere. They were worn for years and years until the plastic broke near the buckles. We also have a vast collection of straight skis. The Atomics from the year when she was 2nd in the slalom at the nationals are going on the living room wall in our house soon!
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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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p.s. I am BUSTED by the way!
Picture the scene, a ski course in Tignes, a pleasant evening in the hotel, perhaps drinks in hands etc....
participant 1:
"I think I know who your husband is...."
Wife (politely):
"Really, small world isn't it?"
participant 1:
"Yes, he is called James isn't he?"
Wife (puzzled):
"No..."
participant 1 (confused):
"But you live in Grenoble right?, and you ski with the VSM?"
Wife:
"Um..."
participant 1:
"He writes that thing on Snowheads"
Wife:
"What's snowheads????"
LOL!!
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FAQ
