With the 10th anniversary coming up in less than 3 weeks ...
snowHeads began in the first week of February 2004, as a direct response to the closure (to non-members) of a 'chat forum' operated by the Ski Club of Great Britain (SCGB) for a couple of years. For reasons which have never been entirely clear (legal liability was cited officially, but the SCGB seemed more concerned with public discussion/criticism of its reps' off-piste skiing policy) its open forum was confined to history.
On 5 February 2004, over 60,000 informative, friendly and sometimes controversial posts were 'impounded' to a SCGB archive (visible only to members), though that figure of 60,000 now looks less significant. As of this morning, snowHeads has archived approaching 2.5 million posts in its opening decade. The SCGB eventually reopened its public forum in December 2012 - almost 9 years after the closure/suspension.
It's worth noting, in context, that several other UK ski forums have existed historically and done well - notably completeskier.com (later renamed ifyouski.com and an important information source of its era), natives.co.uk (a very busy resort-workers forum in the past, still going) and the long-established Scottish ski forum winterhighland.info (re-launched in November 2002 but dating from 1994). For snowboarders, snowboardclub.co.uk and goneboarding.co.uk are long-established forums.
Here are what are believed to be the first seven 'snowThreads' ... in chronological order ...
1. Learnt nothing
2. Found out a lot
3. Had a lot of support
4. Stayed alive
5. Carried Shimmy's, skis to the car
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Nice tribute, Comedy Goldsmith.
Heavens, some folk have been around awhile....
Wonder what happened to Jason Carpenter from Essex. Bumped into him in Tignes, randomly (and slowplough too, AIR), and then again, randomly, in a branch of S & R. Nice guy.
Does anyone else think that this thread should have been Admin's perogative?
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Megamum wrote:
Does anyone else think that this thread should have been Admin's perogative?
No
After all it is free
After all it is free
Damn
Megamum, stop trolling. No. And since when did you get to be a self-appointed public moderator - I am sure admin had no issue with this. Whatsoever. His call. His right of reply. Not yours. Not anyone's, really.
If you thinks so, then perhaps you don't really get snowHeads.
Right, back to service as normal for me
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.
Megamum wrote:
Does anyone else think that this thread should have been Admin's perogative?
Megamum's English tutorial, for the benefit of offspring
Last edited by You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net. on Tue 14-01-14 13:17; edited 1 time in total
Ski the Net with snowHeads
Ski the Net with snowHeads
I'm sure he'll post something from the BB. There'll be cake pics for sure.
Still doesn't feel like 10 years (nor 9 years 11 months and a week )
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
I even remember where I was when I first heard about it. Ski trade show in Manchester early February 2004, a certain comedic Goldfish approached me and said "have you heard of snowHeads?" and my reply went something like this: "no". I now realise what a historic moment that was and wish I had written it down. Then followed a decade of tireless time wasting and the pursuit of knowledge I already had or didn't need.
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.
Bode Swiller wrote:
... a certain comedic Goldfish approached me and said "have you heard of snowHeads?" and my reply went something like this: "no"...
That's interesting - I never realised you'd met anyone of that name. Was this individual swimming around in a plastic bag, communicating in small air bubbles?
So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
Comedy Goldsmith wrote:
Was this individual swimming around in a plastic bag, communicating in small air bubbles?
Metaphorically speaking, he still is.
You know it makes sense.
You know it makes sense.
Cacciatore, I clearly don't get SH's then. BTW. that wasn't moderation, that was expression of an opinion. I could write a supporting essay, but it's not worth the bother. The Piste is clearly CG's private play pen, I'll leave and let you all enjoy it. Ta, Ta.
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Megamum wrote:
Does anyone else think that this thread should have been Admin's perogative?
Comedy Goldsmith is Admin but phsssshhh, keep that to you and me ok?
Poster: A snowHead
Poster: A snowHead
And, in honour of pistehors.com - another valuable forum+information site, not strictly "UK" but run by a relocated Englishman (unless he's a Frenchman - I'm really not sure) - it should be mentioned that davidof speaks and writes perfect English from a French location and ...
... should have been included in the summary in the opening post.
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Quote:
Right, back to service as normal for me
Oh, by all the gods in Asgard, please, no.
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?
While I have no problem with DG starting the thread, I can't help but wonder WHY he shot his bolt 3 weeks before the proper Birthday? Just excited I guess... Or does SnowHeads have 2 birthdays, like the Queen?
While I have no problem with DG starting the thread, I can't help but wonder WHY he shot his bolt 3 weeks before the proper Birthday?
Stand by. Something reasonably astonishing has been happening today [assuming that all parties arrived safely].
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
so who else has just been to look up when they joined and their snowhead serial number?
(#1038) for the record
After all it is free
After all it is free
Does your restraining order expire?
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.
Richard_Sideways wrote:
While I have no problem with DG starting the thread, I can't help but wonder WHY he shot his bolt 3 weeks before the proper Birthday? Just excited I guess... Or does SnowHeads have 2 birthdays, like the Queen?
He's just showing vast experience. It'll start Ok enough with just a rantette by MM, then someone will take offence about something more important like traffic jams around Munich and then it'll dissolve into the usual threats of legal action, mentions of helmets and Hitler and avalanche gear, followed by a few flounces and by 5th Feb it should all be just back on track enough for the actual birthday.
Ski the Net with snowHeads
Ski the Net with snowHeads
"10 years of snowHeads - what does it all mean"
Well to me it means:
a) an internet forum where lots of things relating to snow based recreation can be discussed, information, advice and experiences exchanged (and some non-snow related funny and serious matters discussed in the apres-zone as well )
b) A group of people to go on Bashes with
c) The opportunity to meet some fellow snow enthusiasts in person, some of whom have become good friends.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
I found snowHeads one bored Christmas Eve back in 2006, so in no way there from the start, but I haven't been disappointed, I've made some of the best friends I have through this forum. Long may it continue.
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.
Richard_Sideways wrote:
Does your restraining order expire?
No restraining order - just the usual commonsense you've come to expect from me. Let's just say that a famous central London location may have hosted an unconventional rendezvous in the past couple of hours.
So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
Comedy Goldsmith wrote:
Richard_Sideways wrote:
Does your restraining order expire?
No restraining order - just the usual commonsense you've come to expect from me. Let's just say that a famous central London location may have hosted an unconventional rendezvous in the past couple of hours.
Ahhh....I think I understand. Interesting, but possibly a tad naughty of you Comedy Goldsmith.
You know it makes sense.
You know it makes sense.
Comedy Goldsmith wrote:
Richard_Sideways wrote:
Does your restraining order expire?
just the usual commonsense you've come to expect from me..
Well that made me laugh at least.
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Comedy Goldsmith, you, PJSKI and a cheap hotel round the back of Kings Cross? Finally! We all wish you both the very best.
Poster: A snowHead
Poster: A snowHead
Comedy Goldsmith wrote:
Richard_Sideways wrote:
Does your restraining order expire?
No restraining order - just the usual commonsense you've come to expect from me. Let's just say that a famous central London location may have hosted an unconventional rendezvous in the past couple of hours.
Was it a SnowVole awards ceremony?
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Comedy Goldsmith wrote:
a relocated Englishman (unless he's a Frenchman - I'm really not sure) - it should be mentioned that davidof speaks and writes perfect English from a French location
Englishman, now that is an interesting word. Someone asked me my nationality today and I replied (to make it simple as I have dual nationality) British. Gilbert and Sullivan would be shocked.
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?
Richard_Sideways wrote:
Comedy Goldsmith, you, PJSKI and a cheap hotel round the back of Kings Cross?
You clearly haven't been round the back of Kings Cross recently. admin's one-time premises [not sure which railway arch was involved, but I think we deserve a guided tour with historical anecdotes] have - I think - been trashed into the 21st century.
I should stress that today's development has absolutely nothing to do with me, and I'm not involved in any way.
FALSE ALARM EVERYONE... The "will they/won't they sweepstake" on Goldsmith and PJ is still open...
Jackpot currently stands at £153,000 and the keys to The White House, Wimbledon.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
This irresponsible speculation is warranted in only one respect: today's events probably do have a financial backcloth (most things do) but ... as we've learned over the past 10 years, money can't buy you love, truth or happiness. We love snowHeads because it's a bumbling and barmy refuge from money worries and real life.
Let's just say this about today's events: if I was a paparazzo there wouldn't have been much typing going on around here: I'd have been down there, snapping like a crocodile.
However ... I don't have a long lens (or any other phallic object), because that would be intrusive.
Stop teasing then. Either gently guide it in, or leave it to go down.
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
SnowHeads is a gold mine. Wouldn't be without it. Thanks to everyone for sharing expertise/knowledge/experience/opinions.
Now, should I wear a helmet or not??
After all it is free
After all it is free
Markmcn, Only if you don't have Winter Tyres fitted
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.
What the SCGB gave up
At the top of the page are some of the earliest snowHeads postings in February 2004. But 15 months earlier - in early December 2002 - the SCGB had started its preceding forum - the discussion and users that snowHeads essentially inherited. From the start, SCGB members and other forum users benefited from the conversation and advice available. The SCGB forum was also a very effective 'shop window' for the club, for non-members - many of whom were recruited via this threshold. The web traffic generated by the forum was (as we now see with snowHeads) huge.
These opening postings of the SCGB forum (in its first week) show the similarity between what was was available then to the general public, and what's provided to the general public by snowHeads today. They just show what the Club gave up (its forum nowadays is a trickle of communication) and what was sacrificed by a seriously dodgy decision in February 2004.
The last topic below is particularly topical, in terms of current SCGB issues ...
FAQ
Poster: A snowHead
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