Hemel snow

A snowHead

I suspect that there isn't another fairly regularly posting snowHead who has a continued experience of both MK and Hemel equal to mine (though I'm prepared to be corrected on this). As I have said many times before, how good an experience you have at a snowdome is primarily related to how busy it is and how busy it has been on the day you visit. How much it has been used is the main determinant of resulting snow quality (though a part is obviously played by techniques and experience in relation to snow making and maintenance), and how busy it is (as well as how much of the slope is available for general recreational use) is the main determinant of how much you get out of the visit.

Now that Hemel is operational and rightfully very popular (as it's a well run, pleasantly modern facility, and most critically more easily accessible from London), and despite its privileged status on snowHeads (due to links with prominent snowHeads and important figures), it's unsurprising to see that the same complaints that used to be levied at MK are now being levied at Hemel. And of course this is the reality of snowdomes (all snowdomes, not just MK - which due to a few individuals has been disproportionately maligned on snowHeads) - that space is at a premium and artificial snow deteriorates with use (wet sugar at Hemel, flour/sand at MK!).

Imho however they're still miles better than dry slopes and I count myself very lucky to be within striking distance of 2 very good facilities.

Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?

slikedges, Yes, I think those of us who are 'within striking distance' (I live in MK and am 35 minutes drive from Hemel on a good day) can be inclined to get a little 'spoilt'. However, with (hopefully) improving technique, I find I usually enjoy being faced with more challenging conditions and the need to adapt to them - it could otherwise become boring fairly quickly. Personally, I find the ambience at Hemel better for me, but that may be because of the snowHeads links and the coaching I've received there.

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slikedges, I guess its disappointing because Hemel got off to such a good start, admittedly in the slow season, with staff who actually appeared to give a damn, no closure of half the slope for sledging and limited numbers of rails left on the slope (personally I don't mind these per se but they do have a severely detrimental effect on the traffic patterns of the average user). I've always thought they ought to properly police the left hand lift for low level skiers and boarders and kids because its simply too difficult a pick up.

The lesson is that indoor skiing is probably best done from May - October like alpine skiing is best outside Feb half term wink

Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.

Iski, Hemel bumps on a weekend evening, formed naturally due to how busy it gets, can indeed be good for learning on as they're well formed but much more forgiving than most real examples. Bumps don't ever really form naturally at MK for various reasons. The "ice" at either MK or Hemel is usually possible to get a proper edge on if attentive to your skiing, so again, good training. The deeper/softer stuff in both is a fair deal heavier than much you'd encounter on a real mountain but again is worth practising all your steering skills in. I agree about the ambience at Hemel, and coaching of the type you have is certainly more accessible at Hemel.

fatbob, I always expected it, so I'm not disappointed! You're right about the staff though - generally much better attitude at Hemel, I'm certain largely thanks to excellent leadership, ensuring staff feel valued etc. While the financially imperative but intensely irritating practice of closing one slope (and usually much earlier than necessary) for tobogganing that happens at MK doesn't need to happen at Hemel, lessons on the main slope with little kids come out early on a weekend at Hemel, and there isn't a second main slope for faster adults to ski on instead. You are of course right also about the best time to visit the domes!

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snowball, it may not be very deep but it is quite heavy. Not as heavy as what can be encountered on a mountain of course (the range is incomparable) but certainly heavier/denser/stickier on a daily basis than most of what is mostly encountered on or off piste on a daily basis. I think it has a quality of its own actually, different even from well used artificial snow in a resort. The bumps on a weekend evening after a busy day are bumps, plain and simple. I sometimes have to teach in them.

After all it is free

slikedges, I agree, it's an unusual texture to the snow. Often catches me out if I'm not paying attention.

We'll see what it's like tonight, with only half the slope in use and the place full of racers. I can feel a mogul lesson coming on.

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Noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo! Shocked

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slikedges, seems very easy to me compared to almost any off-piste. Not light new powder, perhaps, but you don't get that very often. Most off piste so-called powder is old and stiff with perhaps a thin crust on top and really grips the skis.

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I much prefer Hemel to MK. As people have touched upon, I've never seen any toboggoning at Hemel, so you get a wider track for the crowds to use instead of being funnelled down like you are at MK. The staff are more friendly, and as someone who is still hiring boots, the boots at Hemel are better than MK - I very rarely get boots in my size at MK as the size is apparently too popular.

Both are about 30 mins from me, so I'm a bit spoilt. I work in MK so it tends to get visited more often, the added advantage of MK is that there's a reasonable choice of shops and restaurants so it can be a combined trip where as the only reason to go to Hemel is for the snow.

I think many people are forgetting what it was like before we had these fridges popping up everywhere - I had to learn to ski on a muddy dry slope in the back bottom end of Birmingham, got some really nasty rashes from even minor falls, and the bar was a Coke machine that never had anything in it and just stole your money.

The Hemel slope does get busy, and to some extent will be a victim of its own success. I find with people being inconsiderate a fairly short sharp response soon has them in line and behaving themselves. Failing that, walking into reception and asking for a refund as a result of their behaviour will get action from someone.

The snow does get a bit heavy and chopped up, but there is a limit to what is possible. You are making snow indoors and it's 10 degrees outside, with hundreds of people punting down it every day. If you want better snow, go at a different time. Once the season is over things will be much quieter, we found in August you can have the place to yourself on a weeknight sometimes, and even at weekends you can wait your turn and have the slope to yourself fairly easily early or late.

You know it makes sense.

I was at Bowls ski centre for the weekend. They've got a dendix slope there, and I have to say, I got really nostalgic when the water jets came on to wet the plastic. Oh, for the good old days!!!! Laughing

Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:

snowqueen11, water jets and walking your skis over a bit of carpet covered in traffic wax, HEAVEN !

A snowHead

A snowHead

Interesting thread to read!

Lets face it all the domes have times when the snow is less perfect and more challenging particularly in busy periods but should this be only seen as a problem?

Forgive me for being candid but on the whole but what it appears some people want is what's often called 'hero snow', as in snow that makes you feel like you're a skiing hero (put unkindly it flatters you and makes you think you're better than you really are). We've had loads of that stuff this year in Scotland (in fact it sounds like there's more 'hero snow' in Scotland than Hemel lol Wink

) but usually there's not so much and conditions aren't so consistent and some people who hit the more challenging stuff will tend to blame the snow rather than see it as a challenge to up their ability.

Now, rob@rar and spyderman have been kind enough to explain why the situation is as it is, which has enlightened me because I didn't know that stuff about having to wait after grooming - is it the same on non-artificial snow? So we have a choice, we can make sure we only use the slope when it's less busy and hasn't had high traffic before we get there, which covers most of the low season that's coming up, or we can see it as a challenge to our skiing and grab some lessons to improve our abilities to cope with the ice and the sugar. Personally I suspect the latter would be of more general benefit and there are two extremely tallented and friendly fellows at the dome who I am sure would be more than happy to help you ski the 'non-hero snow' better - see if you can guess who they are Wink

Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?

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I suspect that the number of people going into an indoor slope makes a big difference to the humidity whatever they do once they are inside. I have been involved in running races at all the indoor slopes in the UK from when each one opened and it seems to take the staff quite a long time to get to know how to fine tune the system. All the buildings are different so there is the same learning curve for each one.

Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.

What is the quietest time at Hemel? I would have to drive a fair way around the M25 so a quiet time on both the roads and slope would be nice.

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tiffin, weekday mornings, the earlier the better, with the exception of Wednesdays (Ladies Morning) and Fridays (freestyle equipment on the main slope). Weekdays evenings you should aim for Tuesday or Thursday. If you are restricted to weekends the later in the day the better.

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rob@rar, ta

After all it is free

roga, You've hit the nail on the head perfectly.

If the snow quality relies on the humidity caused by the volume of people, can you not adjust the de humdifier to suit and also make the snow a tad colder?

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skidmarks, Hemel does that. Some days it is noticeably colder than others, although I don't know how quickly this has an impact on snow quality. I once asked for the temperature to be lowered as it felt a bit warm (much to the disgust of my clients who were skiing there all day and got quite cold Embarassed

). In my experience the management at Hemel are extremely focused on making sure snow quality is as good as it can be. They understand that it is one of the most important factors in keeping people happy, and deciding whether they will ski again at The Snow Centre.

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rob@rar. It defenitly felt warmer than normal last wednesday. Sad

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skidmarks, lots of ladies generating hot air?

[rapid exit, stage left]

looks like the winter manic period is coming to an end. Snow quality tonight at Hemel is much improved, with reports of the slope being much quieter than recently. Bring on the Summer. Very Happy

You know it makes sense.

Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:

fishslice, Just so we dont get tarred with a big brush the wednesday session isnt kids from Hemel Race Club, it is a private session for Kandahar Race Club

other than general arrogance, do you have any specific instances of bad or unsafe behaviour you could share, i would be happy to speak with their coaches who i know quite well and see on a regular basis... The only thing i have seen on a wednesday is kids jumping on the poma from above the bottom station which is a no no (except for coaches wink

)

A snowHead

Thanks for the clarification Skimottaret Smile

I would hate to tar an innocent set of kids with a wide brush, and apologise to any kids in the Hemel race team. This is obviously just the Kandahar club.
The confusion arose because some of them wear the black zippered tops with blue Hemel club logos on them.

1) Pushing in to the lift queue on the left (faster) lift by skiing around the queue and blaming speed for being unable to top and just pushing in.
2) Stopping in the lift queue if they are in front and leaving gaps for their mates (multiples of) to ski into (after skiing around the queue) and then simply ignoring comments
3) Gathering at the top of the slope, just on the tip of the slope taking approx ~40% of the top of the slope out !.
4) When they do the single ski slalom exercises they leave their ALL of the other skis at the top of the slope where they were standing, thus forcing people to navigate around them, rather than stacking them up at the back/out of the way by the netting at the top of their run.
5) Not content with taking up 20% of the slope with their (impressive) slalom/mogul run, then they expect to have clear runs down the next 20-30% when doing exercises and practices not in the course on the left.
6) General awareness of the Skiers code. When I teach kids (including my own), part of our training is the Skiers code and safety. These kids show no awareness of this code, specifically
Choice of route - The skier/snowboarder in front has priority - leave enough space. - The kids generally ski where they want, when they want, as close to anyone else (beginner or not) as they see fit. If someone else further down the slope makes a turn where the kid was planning on turning... well wo betide that skier !
Overtaking - Leave plenty of space when overtaking a slower skier/snowboarder. same as above.

Blimey, I'm starting to sound like a right grumpy git Smile

Si

A snowHead

fishslice

Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?

fishslice, hmmmm... a few Hemel kids do train with kandahar as well and if they are wearing the jacket that isnt acceptable and a bit of tar is right!!... i will keep an eye on this and mention it to the kandahar coaches.

not an excuse but what may be happening is that on our monday sessions with HSRC we take over the whole slope and they do barge in on each other at the bottom and a bit of jockeying to stay with their mates happens so bad habits are forming.... when the public also has access to the slope that is completely unacceptable and i will get an email sent to all members reminding that when wearing club colours they need to be extra vigilant and respect other skiers when on shared with public training nights...

strewing skis around drives me nuts as well and this normally happens at the bottom of the slope when they go in for breaks, again not acceptable.

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Did anybody raise the issues with the kids with the coaches or other responsible adults around? They must have had somebody running the sessions, I've never known an adult ignore a complaint about kids in their charge behaving like hooligans, but it can happen.

Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.

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sbirring, jumping the poma midway is not allowed as it tends to trip the sensors on the columns and shuts down the poma, a major pain as the lifty has to check each sensor individually and either climb up the column to reset it or use a special pole they have... if you know what your doing and enter at the right points it is okay but as a general rule snowboarders who just want to hit the jumps are the major culprits of jumping in at the wrong point hitting the button spring hard and tripping the sensors, the racers are usually to slight to cause a trip....

Monium, i agree with that, it is pretty obvious who the coaches are during race training and a quiet word with a coach would always get a result...

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Snowdomes have all the annoyances present in a resort concentrated on a tiny 180m slope, I don't know how people put up with the shitshow these places are.

I might go once or twice a year on a sunday morning in august just to remember how to ski but that is it.

After all it is free

narc, people put up with them because evidently, they don't find the inconveniences as irksome as you or their need to ski is greater than yours. Most go to learn to slide. Many go to improve. Many also go to have a bit of fun or to socialise. The first group go at the most convenient time for them that the lesson they need is on. The latter two groups soon learn that there are better and worse times to go and find their own compromise between convenient time and better sliding conditions. It's certainly more difficult for experienced sliders to get much out of going unless they are trying to improve in a systematic way, go to have fun doing something specific or just have a slide with friends, but experienced sliders who attend domes on a regular basis range from the less skilled to the very skilled indeed and they wouldn't do so unless they were getting something worthwhile from it.

Spyderman, not sure i agree with you about slope use during race training sessions, If a race club rents a lane for gates they should have access to the rest of the slope... In the same way freestylers can use the area outside of the jumps... what drills and freeskiing they do outside the gates is their business and as long as skiing with control and consideration for others is fine.

i get a lot more "terrorized" by out of control skiers and boarders, not racers who although occasionally ski quick tend to at least be able to ski in control.

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