 Poster: A snowHead
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I'd not done off piste until I made the mistake of going on my first snow heads bash 2 years ago. Admin "persuaded" me to follow him off piste for a morning. Couldn't do it and wore a lot of snow. "Persuaded" - by admin again - be careful, he's a dangerous man to get to know - to do the off piste bash in the beginner's group. Haven't looked back since!
Dave and Gavin both fab instructors and not all the people who go on the course are internet weirdos 
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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k, being persuaded by Admin to follow you into the abyss to break your off piste virginity?! Sounds like the start of either a thriller/horror/seedy movie 
Sure cant wait to get the preachers out and use them as intended!
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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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PaulC1984: I'm 48 and I started off piste 5 years ago. So don't worry about your age. Men stay strong well into their 50s so keep working on your fitness and you'll be fine.
I had found that piste skiing was getting a bit samish but I couldn't convince anyone to come off piste with me. 5 years ago we were in St Anton where they have un-pisted, patrolled areas called trails. I eyed one up for a few days and then had a go. It had been well skied so it was quite firm. I fell over about a dozen times and I managed to sprain my wrist punching the mountain on a steep bit, but it was the best fun I'd even had.
The following year we went to Val D'Isere specifically because the lift accessed off-piste is so good. I did a 3 day course with The Development Centre (www.tdcski.com) which concentrated on steeps and trees because there wasn't much powder. I've done some private lessons since and then this year I did another tdc course in Courcheval.
I still haven't convinced anyone to come off-piste with me and I wouldn't feel safe on my own. But I find a lot of "sidecountry" (that's the stuff between pistes) and lift lines (which are my favourites). I ski with my daughter and wife and often my brother and it works really well. Kids seem to learn jumps and basic off-piste in their lessons so my daughter comes with me on the short or easy bits and we all meet up at the lifts. If you throw in some blacks and the mogul fields that seem to be springing up in many of the resorts you get a fantastic "all mountain" experience. And I've started going to the freestyle evenings at my local dry slopes so hopefully I'll be able to add that to my repetoire next year!
I hired a pair of fat skis the first time and now I own a pair of Head Rev 90s. They are 90mm under foot which is plenty enough to stay afloat. If you go down the instruction route the slightly narrower skis will make you remember your lessons. And they carve surprisingly well. I don't use safety equipment when I'm near the piste and it's provided on courses. I've just bought a decent bag this year and will buy a shovel and probe. I'll get a transceiver as and when I need one but for the moment I'd rather use a guide/instructor's transceiver as I think it'll work better with their own kit.
And if there are any Snowheads in Courcheval next January who would care to join me off piste . . .
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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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henzerani, if i wasnt in tignes Jan i would have joined you
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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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I'll joined the chorus singing the hymn that your racing background probably means you already know how to ski "properly". So converting to off-piste will be relatively easy.
So much of skiing is about balance on the skis. The advice of treating the 2 skis as a unit is particularly spot on. What makes snowboard so much easier on powder is there's no independent movement between the two planks. Pay special attention to balance evenly on the two skis, you'll find it comes naturally.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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There's another misconception that off-piste is hard work. Well, not any harder than proper carving on piste at racing speed!
ok, maybe just as hard. So you're good for about 180m of off-piste 
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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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downskis, Cool video!
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PaulC1984, One thing to consider in picking a ski school for your Tignes trip is that the founders of Ultimate Snowsports are ex dry slope racers.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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rjs, I used to be in Stoke Race Team with Sean and Simon mmaaannnyy years ago! To be fair, they are awesome skiers, but just because I know them, doesn't mean I will get them on the day. Whilst I appreciate you get some good and bad instructors, Id rather go with a ski school that comes with several recommendations rather than hoping I get someone good on the day, and actually getting Smeagol or Pingu turning up!
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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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haha, have you ever noticed how Pingus parents are always ironing yet they wear no clothes!!
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You know it makes sense.
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So this is the BASI 2 training video?? No wonder ESF get upset with us teaching on their mountains
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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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Love Pingu I got caught doing a Pingu the other season! On Piste Fat ski look was funny
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Poster: A snowHead
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livetoski, haha pmsl
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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If you're looking for recommendation and you'll be in Tignes see if tdc (www.tdcski.com) are running any courses. I've skied with Nico once and Kierran twice. I'd definitely recommend them.
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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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| henzerani wrote: |
| If you're looking for recommendation and you'll be in Tignes see if tdc (www.tdcski.com) are running any courses. I've skied with Nico once and Kierran twice. I'd definitely recommend them. |
By pure coincidence I am in tignes in Jan, so looking to do a 3/5 day course!!
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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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Well, email them!
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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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henzerani, Yes boss!
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FAQ
