 Poster: A snowHead
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| sharon1953 wrote: |
| veeeight, How come you two got to use the slope before anyone else??? |
Influence? 
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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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've just got back and loved every minute of it. Was dead good fun. Would be good if they keep all the mounds and stuff it makes it more interesting and not yet another flat boring slope. Whether i get work or not i'll be back with my friends quite regular.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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veeeight, but don't you grab on at the end where the buttons come round in a circle to go back up, so appoach is from the bottom, where there aren't any to have to ski under? Or do you pick them up part way up?
As for the right people...lol 
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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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| veeeight wrote: |
The upward pomas are against the wall, so to get to these, you have to cross under the descending pomas.... last night the buttons of the descending pomas were at the height of your cheekbone......... I'm sure it'll sort itself out in time...... 
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What an odd system. All the other indoor slopes, and the dry slopes with pomas I have seen, you go around the bottom drivewheel, so you never go under the cables on the way to picking up a poma.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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sharon1953,
It was instructor training.
You are right the pomas are same as Cas - but they don't really have a queuing system yet so we were coming at them from the side. I expect once they open we will queue from below.
Oh, and there'll be another 20 cms or so snow, so the pomas won't be head height anymore!
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nbt, Just seen it. The slope they are showing looks quite long and very empty 
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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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just moved and not get PC set up yet so not been able to get on here.
i am however going sking tomorrow!! First time with lots of people, will be interesting to see how busy it gets.
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been watching all morning, place looks great!
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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beanie1, were you around last night? I was there 5-8pm.
Will probably be there Sunday as well.
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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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Is it open to the public this weekend then?
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Official opening is the 16th November according to the website.
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You know it makes sense.
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veeeight,
So you got a job then?! No i wasn't there, unfortunately i now live in london so will not be working there 
jonm, no this weekend is for family and friends, so staff can practice, check everything runs smoothly etc...
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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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Right, I changed my mind already!! Decided I am gonna work at CFe, if I arrange well in advance I can book a cheap rail ticket and work both the Sat and Sun. The instructor jackets are just too cool not to!
There was a great atmosphere today - the first time all the facilities have been used by the public, albeit invited guests. First time the food venues were open too, a few teething problems, but on the whole excellent. I found it so cool (and if I'm honest, a little moving!) to think back to what the site was like this time last year, still on the ground works, then watching the steel structure go up, started walking up the slope when showing people round in March this year, watching the interior fit take shape and finally seeing it all come together now... When you all go down there for the first time you will see that everything has been finished to a really high standard, nothing purely functional about it, it's an outstanding overall leisure experience. Not long to go now!!
There are a few extremely stressed people running around there at the moment, day and night...
(edited for typo!)
Last edited by Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name: on Sat 3-11-07 20:59; edited 1 time in total
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Poster: A snowHead
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beanie1, now that is dedication to teaching, commuting from South London to Manchester to teach 
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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skimottaret,
Ha ha, I won't do it that often for sure, but it's only 2.5 hrs on the train.
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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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veeeight,
I'm going again tomorrow, might see you there!!
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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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| beanie1 wrote: |
skimottaret,
Ha ha, I won't do it that often for sure, but it's only 2.5 hrs on the train. |
Serious question: How do you get to CFe by train? There's a train direct from my village to Manchester airport, which I know is near-ish, but then........?
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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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Train from Manchester Airport to Piccadilly station, tram to Stretford, shuttle bus to Trafford Centre and CFe.
There may be buses from airport direct to Trafford Centre - I'm not sure.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Ta - will investigate!
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Well we just blagged the security bloke at the car part entrance on our way to the JJB gym this morning, and had a look round the place, as it was open to “Friends and Family”. The slope looks fantastic, snow looks really good too, and it’s really wide, but I have to say standing on the balcony, it doesn't appear too much longer than Castleford, but that could be an illusion from high up.
I can't see the shops being finished in time for the 9th, most are still shells, although the workmen were working hard, but Snow and Rock were putting stock in and looked almost finished.
Two criticisms though, after all the hype about it being made to look like an Alpine Village, it doesn't. Unless it's because I'm used to Austrian Alpine villages and not French ones. The cafe that overlooks the slope looks like an Ikea-fitted fast food joint, no rustic pine tables, or large wooden beams. So a missed opportunity in my mind to create a real après ski feel.
Then there’s the car park – totally full and it’s not even open to the public! It’s about the size you would expect at a large McDonald’s, not as big as most supermarkets. This it seems is not the fault of Chillfactore, or even Peel Holdings, but Trafford Council who would not give Peel Holdings (who own the land to the right of the structure) consent to use the spare land for car parking, instead the waste land is being used by scrambler bikes. The riders of which must be really grateful of this free opportunity to test their skills. A crazy situation when you think of how much Trafford Council stand to make from this project.
I envisage people parking all over the place, much as the service vehicles where whilst it was being built, and if you add to this the extra Christmas traffic to the Trafford Centre, which also parks on the road edges in that area, it will be pandemonium.
All in all though, I thank my lucky stars that we live so near so a great facility, and it will certainly keep the post holiday blues at bay.
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Just back from 2 days of great skiing at the slope.
Snow was to a high standard and in my opinion better than another slope not too far down the road.
A lot of thought gone in to the layout, liked the ski hire area, not a big bench that divides you. Staff able to nip through and help. That said there were a few nervous looking staff but I think they came over very well and were very friendly and helpful.
Eating joints were smart, check out the pancakes at Mont Blanc.
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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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Sounds v promising, looking forward to giving it a go.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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nbt, smile sweetly and flutter your eye lashes at the gate keeper...works everytime... lol 
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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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sharon1953, did you get to ski then? I'll break out Mrs NBT's mascara if it's worth trying...
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Been there all day, the facilities all got a good workout. Slope was at capacity for much of the day, and at 6pm, the snow on the slope was still really good. Still quite grippy and firm.
I never knew people had that many friends and family, it was very crowded, for much of the day.
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You know it makes sense.
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nbt, No, we were just passing on the way to the Gym, but we noticed the car park full, and people going in with ski gear, so realised it was being used. I'm just recovering from a knee op, so very frustrating that I can only watch for now. We had a good walk round though, spoke to the reception staff who told us that it will be open to members only on the 9th for skiing, providing McAlpine Ltd gives the go ahead.
veeeight, yeah, we thought that, friends and family that ski too! A likely story...It will be great to go off peak when all the rush dies down, so much space to move in.
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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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Hmm, I wonder if it's going to be inundated for the first few weekends... might be an idea to put off my planned trip up to take a look until it calms down a bit! 
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Poster: A snowHead
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Just tried booking some lessons for the 24th but was told the booking system will not be up and running till possibly the end of the week, shame as we are only over on the main land for that weekend and the G/F really wants to have some lessons prior to us going to the slopes in Jan. Hopefully though I can still sort it out before then. Does anyone on here have a insight into what the format of the lessons will be looking at the web site we were intrested in the 6 hrs in one day option.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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sharon1953,
Gutted by your comments!!! The quality is so much higher than Ikea - did you take a look at the loos for example!! Not quite finished yet though... You didn't want Disney's version of an Alpine Village, did you?!
They were mainly friends and family - but there are a lot of people working there, so a lot of people's friends and family!! For example i invited about 20 people along... But also potential sponsors, corporate clients, people who've worked on the project, special guests, financial backers...
There is more car parking round the other side of the building, and overflow parking to the rear. The car parking is not being actively managed as yet.
It is 180m long. Castleford is 180m long if you add the two slopes together, therefore CFe is longer!
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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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Agree with Beanie on the standard issue. Well built and put together with some very good extra touches. Quality rather than tacky.
I ate at Mont Blanc restaurant and it was well spaced out and although busy didnt feel manic. The tables with benches either side were about 50% wider than they needed to be so it gave a good feeling of space rather than crowbarring in the extra couple of sets of seats.
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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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any idea how/when joe public can make himself a member???.
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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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george owen, Pretty sure you can join already - try giving them a call.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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beanie1,I guess my expectations were of an 'Alpine Village', as per publicity, lots of wood everywhere, rustic rather than stylish tables and chairs. If you want somewhere to look like the original, ie an Alpine Village, then you surely have to adopt the architectural features and interior decor that makes that type of village so unique. My point was it doesn’t look like the Alpine Villages I frequent Austria, or Switzerland for that matter, but maybe it was never meant to. Perhaps it would be hard to reproduce the Alpine ambience in a large commercial setting, or the raw materials that would have to be imported were outside the allowed budget, or such materials might even be deemed a health and safety issue by the powers that be, I don’t know, but then I didn’t write all publicity about the “Village “ in the first place.
The lack of car parking space for the expected number of visitors (not to mention staff when the shops are completed) was something that the people already working there were concerned about...time will tell. I can see the sports centre having to put barriers up though.
I’m not slamming the place, I think it’s the best structure in the whole of the Northwest, as I’m a biased skier, and I’d go even if it had nothing but the slope, and I had to walk up it! I’m just expressing my observations as an onlooker.
Do you know what the maximum number allowed in is? Do you think it will be all pre-booked till the crowds die down?
george owen, we were told to contact them from the 8th onwards for memberships.
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BTW this was on Blue Peter that my kids were watching this morning on CBBC....
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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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We just got back from the Chillfactore. Oficially it doesn't open till the 16th but if you get down there now, just pay your money and off you go. They are keeping it quiet, so there were only a handfull of people there, I guess that will be the last time for a long while before we can ski on the empty slope.
My overall impression is that it was OK but not quite as good as I was expecting. The snow was better than Castleford and Tamworth but my disappointment was that the slope didn't seem any longer. Top to bottom in seconds and then 3 or 4 minutes back up. The staff are extremely friendly and the consessions for food and drink seem excellent although a bit expensive.
In conclusion, I would say that we will be going fairly regularly to hone up the skills before the real thing in February or to overcome any withdrawal symptoms in the summer, but probably not as often as I thought we might before we had tried it. However, I still feel lucky that they have built it just 4 miles away from where we live.
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Coo, may be worth a visit tomorrow then...
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FAQ
I quite like Disneys version 
LOL