 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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@Edga, welcome to Snowheads! The best thing to do is find a free photo hosting site, then to post them you just need to use the [img] [/img] image tags..
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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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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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.... 1 apprentice asleep - ha ha! But thanks Edga - glad you enjoyed the trip and skiing. 'Super' tuition - ill use that! See you another time!
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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this coming Friday will be my last one of the season
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Wow, that's come around so quickly  . These updates have kept me going through this non-skiing season.
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| halfhand wrote: |
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this coming Friday will be my last one of the season
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Wow, that's come around so quickly . These updates have kept me going through this non-skiing season. |
Yea Friday 13th is a little earlier than normal but when I'm in VT for the EoSB then ill be busy enough with that and away from home turf to commentate and as soon as I get back from there I have my tax return and both Olivia and Clares birthday parties so it will be all systems go. But yes it has come round quickly - for some! For me it has been a mighty long season with interesting weather for most of the time! Have racked up a lotta hours on the slopes this year!
Get back on those slopes 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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@Steve Angus, do you reckon you’ll be traveling much around the 3V and are you in uniform? I’m skiing in la Tania until the 14th so will try and keep an eye out for you!!
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kitenski - still waiting to get confirmation on which lift pass Admin is getting me as to whether just VT or not but ill be in uniform yes - all purple! Hang on a minute if you leave on the 14th thats the day I arrive so no skiing for me that day!!!! 15th is my first day teaching so dont think you'll see me unfortunately!
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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@Steve Angus, shame, yes I leave late on the 14th. 
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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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@Steve Angus, do you know what weekend the season starts for 2018/2019?
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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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Poster: A snowHead
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@Steve Angus, holy moly. The power of those things scares me, even though there’s a lot of talk about avi risk and the dangers, seeing something like that is jaw dropping. Reminds me a lot of when the ocean is rough, another powerful thing that people underestimate.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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SnoodlesMcFlude - indeed - power!!!!!
Here we go again
The weather built all day long and we are expecting another 30cm or so of snow localised overnight. Perhaps more - who knows. To be honest the weather is once again so complicated in terms of weather patterns that it could go either way over the next few days - arghhh!
Anyway I had the same team this morning and we made the most of the pretty good weather and did an 'around the world' over to Tignes and back and work some more on what to do (or not) with the upper body and it was a jolly nice outing I thought! It was colder than yesterday but it really does feel like mid Winter still - I can't believe it is now nearly mod April - I think the resort can safely say that this is the snowiest Winter in more than a generation.... there is still so much of it out there!
I had the afternoon off and came home and had a really fun afternoon messing about at home with the kids and chilling out - some down time. It was much needed and appreciated! Tomorrow is going to be a busy day, likewise Friday and then of course I am not here for a week so getting some time with the kids and at home out of ski boots was welcome!
That avalanche I talked about yesterday and put the videos online of were pretty crazy eh... however I have been talking about the general dangers off piste out there and for some big releases to come on down. Anyway it turns out (not that they triggered it) that apparently there had been a group of 4 skiers skiing this slope shortly before this slide came down (well in the area of anyway) so they must be thanking their lucky starts on that front!
So with the weather really moving in again tonight we could be in for a quite a powder day tomorrow but if the sun comes out the temps go up it could be lethal out there again!
I have to be honest that I did forget to take a photo again today but I do have 'spare' photo from a couple of days back that could easily have been taken today!
Oh and my periscope from today:
https://www.pscp.tv/w/1RDGldmqMgMGL
TTFN
P.S. A reminder that I will be finishing my daily written blogs here this Friday (with the periscopes) and will be back for a once a month update over the Summer months!
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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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@Steve Angus,
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Gonna try and post some photos as often as possible so everyone can see what the conditions are in Val d'Isere and the Espace Killy... will try and do it as often as possible. So here goes.
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The end of your 7th season of blogs is nigh then Steve. Fair to say you've gone well above and beyond your original aim (above) from Nov 2011.
Thanks again for a great season of EK pics, info, advice, expert insights and fascinating snippets of news. There'll never be another like 2017/18....or will there? 
Hope to see you at EOSB and buy you a celebratory drink.
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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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Wahhh can't believe the updates are nearly over already! So glad I got to see Val with the most snow I'll probably ever see. What a season it's been - and continues to be!
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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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@Steve Angus,
Just like to say thanks for the blog Steve, your broadcasts are genuinely informative and helpful. I picked up Edge mag last week in Val is that you in yellow on page 35 - the TDCski feature?
I wondered about your thoughts on the chair lift quality in EK? particularly compared to the 3V - I was surprised few have canopies and too many have no back rests and are fast pick up slow ascent arghhh...! I see The investment in Val centre (200m Euro) will improve slopeside village access - do you know of planned lift improvements at altitude?
BTW Skiing was superb and will plan to return with an aim of getting some improver lessons - did La Face @ 16:30 last Thursday not good so did it again 1st thing on Friday - much better 
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| Andy4467 wrote: |
I wondered about your thoughts on the chair lift quality in EK? particularly compared to the 3V - I was surprised few have canopies and too many have no back rests and are fast pick up slow ascent arghhh...! I see The investment in Val centre (200m Euro) will improve slopeside village access - do you know of planned lift improvements at altitude?
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We are getting a new €10m gondola out of La Daille this summer and the infrastructure expenditure by STVI and STGM over the last few years has been unrivalled any where in the world. We already have the world's largest snow making capacity and one of the fastest lift systems in the world. The fast new gondola's all have free wifi and heated seats.
All main lifts that I can think of are de-coupled but I can only think of one that has canopies over the seat. If the weather is so bad that I need a canopy, I'm really unlikely to get on the lift in the first place, so this is of little interest to me. That's not all, we have an extensive free bus service that runs to 3am, we host varoius FSI events including downhill and slalom world cup events, host the X Games and provide training facilities for many Team GB riders. Tignes will be the home of the new Team GB training camp, headed up by Sir Clive Woodward.
I can only really think of 4 lifts that could do with an upgrade, but have never seen a queue at any of these so I guess they cope fine with their demand.
I'm happy that the investment is going where it is needed... to ensure good pistes and fast uplift of customers.
I'm not sure what you mean by the back rests. All lift seats have seat backs.
Glad to see that you will be coming back.
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Do many lifts in 3V have canopies? I can't think of them being widespread in any resort that I've been to. I imagine they add quite a lot of drag to a lift, so a resort would only add them where they are needed. Espace Killy does have the slightly odd Fresse/Bollin chair out of Tignes towards Val. Both lifts share the same rope at the bottom, with Bollin basically being a fairly early mid-station to unload. The chairs for Bollin all have canopies, even though it is a short, sheltered lift. The Fresse chairs have a long journey over windy terrain, where you'd really benefit from having a canopy, but they don't.
Most of the heavily used lifts in 3V are detachable, are there any in particular that you think need an upgrade? The only area that springs to my mind is around Aiguille Percee, particularly the Marais lift because it is so long. It probably doesn't have enough traffic to justify being replaced, but it might be nice if they could add a magic carpet to the loading area so they could speed up the rope (which is what they've done to the Aiguille Percee or Grand Huit lift).
You can tell the detachable (fast) chairs on the piste map, because they have a round bar behind the chair icon. The fixed (slow) chairs have a straight bar.
Last edited by Then you can post your own questions or snow reports... on Thu 12-04-18 12:55; edited 1 time in total
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@bar shaker, Thanks. I should have said 'cushioned seat backs' rather than just 'back rests'.
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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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@thelem, About half a dozen have canopies in 3V, but as you say they are probably only there as needed. Borsat and Leissieres could have done with canopies on a couple of days last week..
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Yep, I remember Borsat being one that can get chilly. Also Cascade up on the val glacier. Were you cold on all of the Leissieres, or just as it goes over the top? IIRC that lift already gets closed when it's windy, I assume adding canopies would make that worse.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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On the lift front side. There are some upgrades planned for Tignes Brev side over the next few years. Including Marais, Aiguille Rouge and I think a complete new Gondola station coming out of Brev which (I think) will link up with the Boisse gondola removing the Brev free chair lift. But I can’t remember if that also meant they would remove the Sache gondola as well. I think more people would use Marais if it wasn’t so long and slow! So will probably get more use once upgraded. But I do agree with Steve, Tignes/Val D has some of the best lift infrastructure in Europe by quite a distance.
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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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Good point about the wind etc. Cascades wasn't nice either - it wasn't particularly windy or excessively cold, but snow being blown directly in your face over the Glacier side made it fairly unpleasant, good job it was only a short lift. I was interested because heated seats and free wifi suggest a very modern lift system which is true to a point, however the further you venture the (c)older they were. Don't get me wrong I think the skiing in EK is superb, I just found the mix of heated gondolas and cold chairs a bit odd.
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The only fixed chairs in Val D that I can think of are Grand Pre and Mont Blanc ( aside from the nursery slopes) Having skied it a fair bit in the last few years, and also Whistler, well, I know that EK for me knocks the spots of Whistler as far as lift provision goes.
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You know it makes sense.
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Mont Blanc is painfully slow for such a key lift. On the Tignes side, the Grand Huit and Aiguille Percee chairs are also slow (despite the rolling carpets) so good to hear that replacement is planned. Grand Huit in particular is key to travelling from Val Claret to Le Lac.
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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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@endoman, +Cugnai, Cema and Etroits (in its last days!)
I think most of the lifts don't have canopies to reduce wind resistance, so they can operate in higher wind speeds and reduce power consumption. When Vanoise was re-routed a few years ago the canopies went and it now runs more often.
Initially the plan was to replace the Sache Gondola this summer, but I note a public enquiry is being held that lasts till mid May so I wouldn't be surprised if it is delayed. There will be more bubbles on the Boisses Gondola. Marais and Aiguille Rouge will be replaced with detachables in the next 4 years.
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Poster: A snowHead
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Also consider that Les Lanches used to have canopies but they took them off as the lift had to close in quite light winds. Without them, it can run in a higher wind strength.
(just seen that Chocsaway said the same, as I was typing).
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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| chocksaway wrote: |
| @endoman, Marais and Aiguille Rouge will be replaced with detachables in the next 4 years. |
TBF we've been hearing this for over 10 years now.
I suspect that Marais may not get replaced any time soon as the top of the Aiguille Rouge can be crowded... as it is (it is also served by Aiguille Percée).
Etroits is being removed this summer. It's a nice alternative to the slow gondola, especially on a sunny day, but will be redundant when the new gondola opens.
The only really old lift is Col des Ves but none of us that use it really mind. It kind of adds to the mystique of getting into the bowl, for me. It's also slow enough to let you plan a great line.
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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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@bar shaker,
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the infrastructure expenditure by STVI and STGM over the last few years has been unrivalled any where in the world. We already have the world's largest snow making capacity and one of the fastest lift systems in the world.
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I'm a massive fan of EK but find this statement difficult to believe. The investment in the Sella Ronda (Dolomiti) lift system and snowmaking, in the last decade, seems much more impressive and effective to me. I also believe investment in major Austrian areas, such as Saalbach-Hinterglemm, has been more than in the French 'superski' areas during that time.
I think the EK lift system was definitely the best I'd used in the 90s and noughties. Better than 3V in my opinion. But my observations suggest it is beginning to fall behind, especially against those examples I quote.
Any reliable facts and figures? Any other snowHeads have thoughts on this?
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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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PeakyB / HoneyBunny / Andy4467 - thanks all... yes another season and what a 7 years it has been... still eyeing up the 1,000,000 page views 'target' though - ha ha!
AS FAR AS LIFTS ETC ARE CONCERNED - I have read what everyone has said above... my tuppence worth but much has been said about it. 1) I think the lift system is very good in Val / Tignes 2) 'old and slow lifts' (which interestingly and on another note are GOOD in many ways as it reduces injuries as pours fewer people onto the slopes at any given time AND allows more rest (which is needed) between runs) - are being upgraded little by little WHERE they are warranted - there is complex planning that goes into deciding where lifts should be built / replaced! Options such as replacing the Mont Blanc are part of longer term plans.... yes the Etroits Chair in La Daille is going this year. New lifts cost a fortune therefore feasibility studies are undertaken and time is taken to 'get it right' in the correct order etc.... for example Datcha was replaced this year WHEN it was deemed that the old rope was needed to become defunct - now the lift is way better than that old rope and you have a nice ski to get to the magic carpet now. 3) hoods - problem is that they would catch the wind therefore as others have said they needed to be removed... in due course those lifts might get replaced by something else.
There are LOTS of fascinating stats that show up... for example if you analyse lift movement numbers you'll see that the MOST efficient lifts in terms of how many people they ACTUALLY move up the mountain would be your typical 6 seater lift - Tommeuse at 8 seats actually moves LESS people most of the time APART from peak time at the day end... why because people a) want to sit with friends therefore wait until everyone is all lined up and in doing so a lift goes past (thats why there is a revolving carpet to stop someone at the end of the line going forward and then stopping because another friend at the other end of the line doesn't go through the turnstile) and b) people often ski in groups of 6 / 8 and with lines of kids that need to be loaded with an adult (can't be bothered to explain the reasons here) they HAVE to split up anyway when it is a 6 seater lift but in their minds when it is 8 seats they faff around trying to get 8 people on the seats. Lifts such as the Olympic lift are massively under utilised too.
Anyway...
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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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All the lifts at Fornet are pretty old except pyramids. Interesting to see that there is a plan to reinstate the 3000 (tunnel) poma ?
One of the downsides of more chairlifts seems to have been more lift closures in strong winds.
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| Peter S wrote: |
All the lifts at Fornet are pretty old except pyramids. Interesting to see that there is a plan to reinstate the 3000 (tunnel) poma ?
One of the downsides of more chairlifts seems to have been more lift closures in strong winds. |
Yea the Fornet is... but that also keeps it quieter up there and great skiing! However the town council ratified plans towards the next stage of the Fornet cable car and Valon gondola replacement for 2021 earlier this season which I talked about in my blog at the time too! So hopefully that will come to fruition!
The plans for the 3000 tunnel poma - yea that keeps on being talked about and dropped again so not sure what is actually happening on that front!
T - Bars and Poma's - bring em back - they never close in the wind - ha ha - but then again the paying public in this day and age want heated gondolas with WIFI etc - now they are susceptible to the weather - you can't win!
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@Steve Angus, good point about the rest time on the lifts, we've not skied this week before and its noticeable how much more slope time I've gets in when nor having to queue. I think we've stood in only 2 proper queues all week, marvelous.
Regarding Marais lift, it's so old that modern humans don't fit, my 14yo couldn't get his skis on the rest with the bar down. Admittedly he's 6 foot and mostly legs, but he's not unusual these days.
Yes, Fornet is a different land from here in Tignes. Had lunch there yesterday in continuous snowfall but hardly anything fell here. Chunking it down now though, already as much has fallen as did last night, and that have lively conditions this morning. Gonna be busy tomorrow with most folks on their last 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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| bar shaker wrote: |
Also consider that Les Lanches used to have canopies but they took them off as the lift had to close in quite light winds. Without them, it can run in a higher wind strength.
(just seen that Chocsaway said the same, as I was typing). |
I'm pretty sure that Les Lanches still has a cover ....
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[quote="MontyP"]
| bar shaker wrote: |
I'm pretty sure that Les Lanches still has a cover .... |
Yup, Lanches is the only covered lift I've seen here. Very useful it was in the howling gale on Tuesday.
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