 Poster: A snowHead
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| Frosty the Snowman wrote: |
At least it's not very busy there. It's not like it's the spot where all the pistes funnel into one  |
No but its the point thats the issue. It can be an area where people carry a huge amount of speed from higher up as well and mixing with ski school groups making their way to the bottom so plenty of scope for disaster!
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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@Steve Angus, I was being sarcastic......sorry. every way down to La Daile converged there, it's also a the bit where wusses like me go from short turns to a nice blast on the run out. I'd blame those in charge - A very poor assessment and understanding of risk and the rules on the mountain.
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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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| Frosty the Snowman wrote: |
| @Steve Angus, I was being sarcastic......sorry. every way down to La Daile converged there, it's also a the bit where wusses like me go from short turns to a nice blast on the run out. I'd blame those in charge - A very poor assessment and understanding of risk and the rules on the mountain. |
Ah ha sorry didnt spot the sarcasm - all good
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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,
Nice to see you on Cugnai this morning.
Sunshine & blue skies all day - fabulous. 
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@Steve Angus, Mikaela Shiffrin once calculated how many hours he had spent training and racing actually on the snow - it wasn't very much
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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| welshflyer wrote: |
@Steve Angus,
Nice to see you on Cugnai this morning.
Sunshine & blue skies all day - fabulous. |
Yea ditto! Of all the places in the resort up there eh! Was a lovely day!
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| holidayloverxx wrote: |
| @Steve Angus, Mikaela Shiffrin once calculated how many hours he had spent training and racing actually on the snow - it wasn't very much |
If we all calculate how much time we actually ski for its quite low actually!
Personally when I hear people talk about 'how many seasons they have done' I always work backwards in my head....
A season.... not available to get on the mountain until mid morning most days and finish up mid afternoon to get back to the chalet for work - so thats half a day each day so immediately compared to whats available thats 1/2 season max spent on the mountain. And then there will be days when weather is bad or you are hungover or cant be bothered... so thats probably another day a week lost.... so down to about 8 weeks skiing in the 'season'. Then seasonnaires often get lazy / spend a fair amount of time at the folie etc. So we are down to about 6 'weeks' in the season. So in actual fact a 'ski season' is probably only the equivalent of a few weeks skiing.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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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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Thank you! Great report and looks lovely atm
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| Steve Angus wrote: |
| holidayloverxx wrote: |
| @Steve Angus, Mikaela Shiffrin once calculated how many hours he had spent training and racing actually on the snow - it wasn't very much |
If we all calculate how much time we actually ski for its quite low actually!
Personally when I hear people talk about 'how many seasons they have done' I always work backwards in my head....
A season.... not available to get on the mountain until mid morning most days and finish up mid afternoon to get back to the chalet for work - so thats half a day each day so immediately compared to whats available thats 1/2 season max spent on the mountain. And then there will be days when weather is bad or you are hungover or cant be bothered... so thats probably another day a week lost.... so down to about 8 weeks skiing in the 'season'. Then seasonnaires often get lazy / spend a fair amount of time at the folie etc. So we are down to about 6 'weeks' in the season. So in actual fact a 'ski season' is probably only the equivalent of a few weeks skiing. |
Don't forget time spent on lifts.
Even doing seasons as a ski bum I reckon an average of 5 hours per day on the mountain, so say 800 - 850 hrs, given Tignes' long season, meaning 500-550 hrs actually skiing.
Working the season in Meribel about 350 hrs on the mountain, so about 200-250 hrs skiing - and I HAD to ski to the bank 4 days a week most weeks!
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You know it makes sense.
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It's not just about quantity though, it's about quality.
Some days I can see my Ski Tracks km/vert isn't all that but actually we did some great/challenging skiing. Other days I might do a lot of km but a lot of it was cruising. 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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Kenzie - of course lift time - thanks for adding that! And for sure Layne - quality every time.
Im all about 'PERFECT practice, makes perfect'. I always encourage people to have a focus when skiing not just skiing around aimlessly! Also its worth remembering that we are trying to train our bodies to do something it is not used to do... skiing is a muscle memory sport. So when you think like that a person needs to practice what they learn in a lesson(s) over and over and over again to make perfect. If only people I teach practiced what they learn in the lessons then they might make a step forward but all too often when the lesson finishes they stop working on what we talk about and it goes out the other ear! Its not everyone of course. I spend half my life 'practicing' technique and working on things to make my skiing better etc.... its my job!
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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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Nice on piste skiing
Clare was not working this morning, just me but also both kids needed to get to Club des Sports so the alarm went off at the normal time.
Like the last few days with the clear nights, the temps have plummeted first thing in the morning and this morning was no exception... -12 at breakfast time - brrr! However a little like in the Spring you know that it will warm up nicely!
So I dropped both kids at the meet point and met my lesson... a one off private with a guy here with his wife and very young family. An experienced skier from his army days but in need of some work on his technique. So we set off with the intention of skiing red and black pistes and actually even mixed in a green slope too..... on that front always remember that doing stuff on really flat terrain at super slow speeds can often be much harder than just bashing down the harder slopes. So anyway with the slopes very quiet being a Saturday we had a lovely time lapping around on runs including Fontaine Froid (those who have skied with me a lot will know that I spend a fair amount of time on that piste as it is such a great training piste!).... my other favourite for teaching on include Arcelle and the Plan Millet (glacier run!). We also did a few laps on the Face.
A very fun morning! He was a quick learner and I did some really tricky drills with him so I was impressed with the changes! Bravo.
I collected the kids at the end of the session as their sessions finished and headed home.
Olivia had had the re-arrange 'Pre-Club Championships' this morning which is basically all the kids in the Club des Sports who are not of secondary school age - having an annual GS timed championships on the Raye... its mainly to see how they are all progressing in relation to each other! They did 4 runs and Olivia was right up there near the top on all her runs and certainly amongst the girls virtually at the top including all the girls in years older than her. So proud of her. Meanwhile Ben loved his ski with his group today!
I got home and managed to watch some of the ski racing on tv but still have the whole of the mens race to watch on TV later when the kids are in bed!
Clare took the kids to club for the pm and we had a visitor! Garrick popped around as he is out here for the next 12 weeks doing the BASI Level 3/4 training with ICE and he has the Off Piste course next week so needed to borrow gear particularly things like maps and compasses for it! So a nice cuppa and chat for an hour or so!
Then the kids were home and Olivia had even more exciting news having beaten everyone including all the boys apparently in her age group which means she was going some - go my girl.
This evening promises to be chilled and Ben is currently playing on the iPad, Clare reading her book, Olivia talking to her friend in Canada and im enjoying my weekly beer on a Saturday evening as typing this!
Tomorrow I am on Dad duty in the morning and then at the moment the afternoon is free so lets see whether I get booked or not. One thing is for certain this week is supposed to be about 15% busier than last week so about 80,000 night stays which is about 75% occupancy! - nothing on 95% or more during school hols but busy enough thats for sure!
TTFN
This photo was taken earlier in the week obviously as it was wall to wall blue skies again today but nevertheless I like it!
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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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Well done Olivia! I really look forward to your posts Steve. For some reason I couldn't see your latest photo.
PS I can see it today thanks.
Last edited by Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see? on Sun 14-01-24 18:04; edited 1 time in total
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Hi all- sorry to go off topic but I’m looking a little advice on buying new boots in Val, I’ve stuck a thread up in the equipment section. Anyone with a bit of local knowledge would really appreciate any advice!
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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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| SkiG wrote: |
| Hi all- sorry to go off topic but I’m looking a little advice on buying new boots in Val, I’ve stuck a thread up in the equipment section. Anyone with a bit of local knowledge would really appreciate any advice! |
Hi. If you want to buy new boots when you are in Val then I would always send people to the team at Mattis Sport or Killy Sport - for a variety of reasons just those two! I find the ability to take off the shelf boots and fit them are usually served well from those two places! However consider looking at buying in the UK and that way (for example if you bought at a shop by a indoor snow facility) you can get them just right before you head off on your holiday in the first instance! And then there is Colin at Solutions for Feet in Bicester who would always be my first choice anywhere anytime for new boot fitting! Hope that all helps!
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Jehu - sorry forgot to say thanks for your kind words... thats weird re the photos. I host the photos on Facebook but after a few days / week ir whatever it is the link stops working so you can usually see my photos for a few days and a few days only but no idea why it would stop working so soon!
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Do you know if the tunnel will be open this week? I was here last year and the TK3000 drag lift was closed the entire week I was there and I managed to get on it today for the first time but the tunnel piste was closed.
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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| euanovsky wrote: |
| Do you know if the tunnel will be open this week? I was here last year and the TK3000 drag lift was closed the entire week I was there and I managed to get on it today for the first time but the tunnel piste was closed. |
Its unlikely as firstly they need enough snow on the Fornet side which until now has been a little short - blown a bit thin on that side. Then they need to get it pisted and set up with marker poles etc and finally the avalanche risk needs to be low to open it up... all those things lining up this week I dont think are likely... but after the snow that comes this week it surely wont be long until the last 2 things are in place but I would not count on it being this week... however my colleague hiked up and over the ridge this week to ski the powder on the Fornet side and if you are into the powder side of things then crawling under the tunnel door and through and out the other side is a possibility too perhaps!
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@Steve Angus, thanks didn’t realise there’s still powder there would have thought they got blown away. Also didn’t realise you could crawl under the tunnel door. I only saw it briefly on the drag lift up and the door seemed to cover the whole entrance. Admittedly I didn’t actually ski to there to investigate…
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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| euanovsky wrote: |
| @Steve Angus, thanks didn’t realise there’s still powder there would have thought they got blown away. Also didn’t realise you could crawl under the tunnel door. I only saw it briefly on the drag lift up and the door seemed to cover the whole entrance. Admittedly I didn’t actually ski to there to investigate… |
Saturday was a tunnel pot-hole session with quite a burly friend. Snug fit. It was well-skied on the other side but with lots of space still. Couple of sharky sections. The greatest perceived hazard was the huge corniche overhanging the ridge far above the tunnel exit - wanted to cut out from under that as soon as the skis were on.
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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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@PeakyB, thanks doesn't look too bad. Looks similar to the other side (3000) coming down (at least from the video).
Weather wasn't great today though snow was good so I didnt come check if the tunnel was open today. I stayed in the Tignes side was a bit worried they might close the connection...
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You know it makes sense.
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@euanovsky, I recall the piste is far narrower and a bit steeper than the drag lift side, with more rocks to avoid.
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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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| PeakyB wrote: |
| @euanovsky, I recall the piste is far narrower and a bit steeper than the drag lift side, with more rocks to avoid. |
Yea this pretty much sums it up!
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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| Steve Angus wrote: |
| euanovsky wrote: |
| Do you know if the tunnel will be open this week? I was here last year and the TK3000 drag lift was closed the entire week I was there and I managed to get on it today for the first time but the tunnel piste was closed. |
Its unlikely as firstly they need enough snow on the Fornet side which until now has been a little short - blown a bit thin on that side. Then they need to get it pisted and set up with marker poles etc and finally the avalanche risk needs to be low to open it up... all those things lining up this week I dont think are likely... but after the snow that comes this week it surely wont be long until the last 2 things are in place but I would not count on it being this week... however my colleague hiked up and over the ridge this week to ski the powder on the Fornet side and if you are into the powder side of things then crawling under the tunnel door and through and out the other side is a possibility too perhaps! |
Went there today again and it’s still close. On closer inspection I think it’s going to be quite a challenge to crawl under the tunnel door even with the help of a shovel (and I’m not that big) guess no tunnel for me in this trip…
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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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@euanovsky, even if it’s closed you can get through - shush… all the skis, poles and packs are in and you can just see my boots 
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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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| Steve Angus wrote: |
| SkiG wrote: |
| Hi all- sorry to go off topic but I’m looking a little advice on buying new boots in Val, I’ve stuck a thread up in the equipment section. Anyone with a bit of local knowledge would really appreciate any advice! |
Hi. If you want to buy new boots when you are in Val then I would always send people to the team at Mattis Sport or Killy Sport - for a variety of reasons just those two! I find the ability to take off the shelf boots and fit them are usually served well from those two places! However consider looking at buying in the UK and that way (for example if you bought at a shop by a indoor snow facility) you can get them just right before you head off on your holiday in the first instance! And then there is Colin at Solutions for Feet in Bicester who would always be my first choice anywhere anytime for new boot fitting! Hope that all helps! |
Thanks Steve, that’s really helpful. Few others have said the same thing, so I’m booked in with Bruno from Killy for the day I arrive.
Would love to have got sorted here, but sadly the only bootfitters in Northern Ireland closed a few years ago, so no options at home at all!
Appreciate the updates on here, builds the excitement for getting out soon!
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I would have thought a blast would trigger any potential activity thus making it safe? I would assume that means people will then think it is safe? Or would the opposite be true, if needing to blast then probably still unsafe?
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| SkiG wrote: |
| Steve Angus wrote: |
| SkiG wrote: |
| Hi all- sorry to go off topic but I’m looking a little advice on buying new boots in Val, I’ve stuck a thread up in the equipment section. Anyone with a bit of local knowledge would really appreciate any advice! |
Hi. If you want to buy new boots when you are in Val then I would always send people to the team at Mattis Sport or Killy Sport - for a variety of reasons just those two! I find the ability to take off the shelf boots and fit them are usually served well from those two places! However consider looking at buying in the UK and that way (for example if you bought at a shop by a indoor snow facility) you can get them just right before you head off on your holiday in the first instance! And then there is Colin at Solutions for Feet in Bicester who would always be my first choice anywhere anytime for new boot fitting! Hope that all helps! |
Thanks Steve, that’s really helpful. Few others have said the same thing, so I’m booked in with Bruno from Killy for the day I arrive.
Would love to have got sorted here, but sadly the only bootfitters in Northern Ireland closed a few years ago, so no options at home at all!
Appreciate the updates on here, builds the excitement for getting out soon! |
May be a bit far but "snow and rock" in Dundrum shopping centre do boot fittings if you were ever in Dublin.
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SkiG - no worries - sounds good. Keep reading glad you enjoy the updates!
therock - its more the fact that the whole aspect at that altitude etc is not rock solid rather than that specific bit of slope... traversing around the corner to where there is no control work done but same aspect etc yields the same potential result (aka danger!)
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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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Hi Steve, Many thanks for the posts,
Could I ask what goggles do you use for poor/flat light days?
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FAQ
