 Poster: A snowHead
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Webcam shows a light dusting
of snow almost down to VC level which lifts the spirits a bit! |
More than a dusting now - the glacier looks very inviting.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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| mountainaddict wrote: |
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Webcam shows a light dusting
of snow almost down to VC level which lifts the spirits a bit! |
More than a dusting now - the glacier looks very inviting.
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Beware of 'Tourist Office' snowfalls.
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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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Didnt realise the webcams were faked....really? 
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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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Beware of 'Tourist Office' snowfalls.
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| Didnt realise the webcams were faked....really? |
The same people were behind the moon landings apparently 
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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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'Tourist Office snowfall' - seasonnaire slang for a light snowfall that makes the resort pretty & white (great for photos), but does nothing to improve the quality of the skiing.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Glacier opens to the public week tomorrow 8.30am to 3pm. French ski teams have been up there training this week.
Runs due to be open:- 3500, Glacier, Descente, Rimaye & Face.
Last edited by You'll need to Register first of course. on Sat 9-10-21 11:38; edited 1 time in total
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| Tourist Office snowfall' - seasonnaire slang for a light snowfall that makes the resort pretty & white (great for photos), but does nothing to improve the quality of the skiing. |
I see! A joke - albeit one that would be understood by a very small minority of 
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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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| That's a large part of being a seasonnaire |
That and the skiing presumably
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| mountainaddict wrote: |
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| That's a large part of being a seasonnaire |
That and the skiing presumably |
You'd be amazed (or perhaps not) at how many seasonnaires don't get up the mountain that often.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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| You'd be amazed (or perhaps not) at how many seasonnaires don't get up the mountain that often |
Yer wot?  I am beyond shocked! How, pray tell,
do they spend their days??
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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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@mountainaddict, when I went on a uni ski trip, one of the lads I skied with had done a season in Val D before going to uni. He said they got so lazy towards the end of the season, they'd look out the window in the morning, bluebird but with 1 cloud in the sky, and they'd decide the weather looked a bit iffy and not bother!
Having never done a season, it blows my mind that could be the case for some people!
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You know it makes sense.
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I had a mate that spent 4 months in Tignes with his wife one season - they were not working, just bumming about.
When we arrived in January, our other pal (who lives there permanently) said he hadnt seen him or his wife for 3 weeks, they had just gone bevvying every night and cba getting up to ski the next day 
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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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| ...said he hadnt seen him or his wife for 3 weeks, they had just gone bevvying every night and cba getting up to ski the next day |
Ah! I see! Were they the couple that founded the sister website to this one? ie P1$$heads...
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Poster: A snowHead
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@chocksaway, Quick question. Most of my skiing in Tignes has been in Jan or early Feb when its usually colder than a witches tit.
Been once in March, but cant quite remember what the weather was like (was definitely longer sunnier days) and what different or lighter gear I should be taking (we go in March next year).
Might seem a daft Q, but usually most of my late season skiing is in Scotland so its still quite cold
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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@GreenDay,
When in March?
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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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| Kenzie wrote: |
@GreenDay,
When in March? |
Yes, makes a diff of course - doh
Think its early, 5th ish?
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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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@GreenDay, generally the sun is stronger in March and higher in the sky, but equally you can still get very cold snowy spells, albeit not likely to be as cold or as prolonged a cold spell as in Jan. I'd generally be ok with 2 layers and a light shell in March, but also carry a fleece to add, or take one layer off on the warmer days!
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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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Just been looking at the webcams, there seems to be new buildings going up on the Tichots lift side of the road in Val Claret? Guess that knackers the view from the existing apartments & also seems to be taking a chunk of the car park? Apologies if this has been covered already.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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OK, forget that, found the answer earlier in the thread. Must look more closely next time (and check the webcam before booking The Diva)
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| GreenDay wrote: |
| Kenzie wrote: |
@GreenDay,
When in March? |
Yes, makes a diff of course - doh
Think its early, 5th ish? |
Your in luck - my birthday is that week, so of my 4 seasons in Tignes I had two bdays of cold mornings & warm afternoons under clear blue skies & two of heavy snow - skiing down Double M around noon in knee deep freshies as they'd only just opened it & got down it a few times before the (few) people out caught on - I think most people sacked the day off both times.
Does that answer your query?
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| kitenski wrote: |
| @GreenDay, generally the sun is stronger in March and higher in the sky, but equally you can still get very cold snowy spells, albeit not likely to be as cold or as prolonged a cold spell as in Jan. I'd generally be ok with 2 layers and a light shell in March, but also carry a fleece to add, or take one layer off on the warmer days! |
Thanks, that helps.
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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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| Kenzie wrote: |
| GreenDay wrote: |
| Kenzie wrote: |
@GreenDay,
When in March? |
Yes, makes a diff of course - doh
Think its early, 5th ish? |
Your in luck - my birthday is that week, so of my 4 seasons in Tignes I had two bdays of cold mornings & warm afternoons under clear blue skies & two of heavy snow - skiing down Double M around noon in knee deep freshies as they'd only just opened it & got down it a few times before the (few) people out caught on - I think most people sacked the day off both times.
Does that answer your query? |
Aye, cheers - so basically layer up which is kinda what I thought. Many thanks (and have a good birthday when it comes !!)
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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That’s awful - it looked like a well-ordered and compliant workplace/site.
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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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GM is open!!!! At last!
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Ah, but is the chutney nearly done yet @chocksaway?
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You know it makes sense.
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| GM is open!!!! At last! |
Blue sky, cold, fresh snow and virtually deserted. What's not to like about autumn skiing?
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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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@chocksaway, Shouldnt you be kicking off a new thread for the new season?
Tut tut..........
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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@GreenDay, Can you wait till Monday?
Laptop is in my pad, I'm out in the wilds with a small phone. I suspect there will be a lot of checking to do......
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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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Can anyone tell me the format of the pass number on the Tignes ski card? I understand that there are two different numbering systems across France (and beyond). I've got lots of ski passes from other resorts but can't find my Tignes ones and would like to reuse rather than buy yet more of them. If I've got the format, I should be able to work out which ski cards are compatible.... thanks!
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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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Here's as good as anywhere I guess.
My Australian family will be heading somewhere in the Tarentaise at late March 2022 with a view of getting familiar with a largish ski hill as we intend to spend 7 weeks there December and January the next season. My French loving daughter will then do a working season the following year (she'll be 18 by then).
I understand this is the Tignes thread but all things considered which area would be most suitable for our needs. I guess we're not wedded to anywhere in particular as costs 'seem' to be pretty much the same between Les Arcs, La Plagne, and Tignes. I've not looked too hard at the 3 Valleys. We can all get around most ski hills but as we've never had any lessons we're probably not good skiers technically. We have done most of our skiing in the US and Canada and are comfortable skiing off the trails and in fresh snow.
Paradiski seems to have an advantage over Tignes given there seems to be more trees and hence better visibility on snow days. Would that assessment be correct?
Would supermarket food prices be the same in all areas?
The idea for the seven week break is to chill out so nightlife etc isn't important but a brew or two at the local pubs and the odd night out would be great.
Would all the resorts mentioned be equally as busy? To be honest we would take a diversion to Paris the new year week.
Which area might host Snowheads the most? Having someone to ski with is always nice.
Any help would be appreciated.
I'll put something similar in the Les Arcs thread too.
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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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Hi @rachelharrisonsmith, I'm about to renew my Tignes pass and like you will use the same actual piece of plastic, the website offering the option to simply 'top it up' to make it valid to use this winter.
The Tignes plastic card has: 01-1614 2029 1648 1234 5678-9 but being a public forum, I have changed the last 9 digits...
The one from Val Cenis has: 01-1614 2029 1648 9876 5432-1 but being a public forum, I have changed the last 9 digits...
Hope that helps. From memory I think the plastic card has to be registered with the Tignes skipass website but let us all know how you get on. When, in the past, there has been a glitch and the pass has not worked on arrival, a brief visit to the STGM office sorted it out in a few moments.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Hmmm a lot to cover there @sbooker... I've skied extensively in both Tignes-Val-d'Isere and in Les Arcs-La Plagne, though skimped a bit in La Plagne as I had everything I wanted in Les Arcs. I'll try to go through your questions as methodically as I can.
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| which area would be most suitable for our needs |
You will have to decide depending on the feedback you get...! But given your self-assessment of skiing level bear in mind that the 'grading' of runs is a bit more mellow in Paradiski; T-VdI's pistes tend to be a little harder, steeper, for the same colour on the piste map.
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| Paradiski seems to have an advantage over Tignes given there seems to be more trees and hence better visibility on snow days. Would that assessment be correct? |
Broadly, yes. It was something I really missed when I moved from Les Arcs to Tignes. On stormy days, you can spend all day in the trees in Les Arcs. In Tignes, there is some tree skiing around Les Brevieres but the sector is very cliffy, so you have to learn your routes carefully. A little better in this respect in Val'dIsere, where lapping the La Daille bubble is a serious and really fun option on foggy/snowy days, whether on the piste or in the trees. You won't ski the same route twice if you don't want to. Another option for tree skiing is Le Fornet but these are a little denser and steeper.
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| Would supermarket food prices be the same in all areas? |
It's very much a classic case of paying a premium if shopping in the resort villages but more normal prices in the valley. So if this is a consideration, you could consider living in Bourg St Maurice - where you have at least three big and fairly-priced supermarkets - and riding up in the funicular to ski. It's a popular way to do it for seasonnaires and accomodation is much more affordable in BSM too.
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| nightlife etc isn't important but a brew or two at the local pubs and the odd night out would be great |
No shortage of places in any of the resort villages in either ski area save for the furthest outposts (eg Nancroix). A little quieter in that respect in BSM.
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| Would all the resorts mentioned be equally as busy? |
Ermm, yes, at peak times neither is pleasant. There is a separate thread on school holidays which is best to refer to, with a view to avoiding those dates if you can.
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| Which area might host Snowheads the most? |
I think it's finely balanced but possibly more head to Tignes, as I think the 'bash' gives folk a taster and they come back. Others may be better qualified to comment.
Hope that all helps. I seriously doubt you will be disappointed with your choice, whichever way it goes. Nice dilemma to have!
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Thanks for the detailed reply.
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| sbooker wrote: |
| We have done most of our skiing in the US and Canada and are comfortable skiing off the trails and in fresh snow. |
Bear in mind that skiing "off the trails" in North America is very different to off-piste skiing in Europe. In North America there's typically an outer boundary of the ski area and some roped off areas inside that. Anything inside the boundary and not roped off is monitored for avalanche risk and is safe to ski. In Europe only the marked pistes are monitored for avalanche risk. If you want to ski anywhere else it's advisable to pay a qualified local guide to lead your group.
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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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@sbooker,
An alternative on snow days is to try to get above the weather - sometimes you get lucky and ski in sunshine looking down on the clouds.
Re how busy the various areas are. The busiest times of year are the French half term (a moveable feast in February & March), followed by Christmas/New Year. Another factor is 'weekend warriors' - the closer to the big cities a resort is the more of these there are likely to be.
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FAQ
