 Poster: A snowHead
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Hi all,
Some of you may know I am taking my Dad on a day trip to France for a surprise birthday present in January. He has not been on ski's for over 10 years. I would like to get him a refresher lesson/day at one of the domes. I have looked on Hemel's site but can only find lessons rather than refreshers.
Does anyone know if Hemel has such things or would I need to look for a private lesson?
Thanks in advance
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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I'd go for a private lesson so it can be entirely tailored to his needs. Get a recommendation here.
What a great idea. 
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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 it's a great idea, but how will you keep the trip a surprise whilst pushing him into having the lesson(s)?
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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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His Birthday is next month which is when we will present him with the eurostar tickets etc. Due to work and other things in life we plan to see him the day before his actual birthday. The lessons will probably be a gift from my Mum which she will give on his Birthday which then fits in nicely to the surprise trip.
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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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Ah... there had to be a plan in there! 
I'm just nudging 60 myself and I had an enforced 7 years without any ski trips ending three years ago. I was pleasantly pleased how quickly I got back in the saddle. So I'm sure he'll be fine especially if you get him that lesson.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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I spoke to Hemel this morning and I have 4 options:
1. They run a "Rusty Refresher" for an hour 8-9am at weekends - £44
2. Start from a Level 3 (Plough Turns) and hopefully over a few sessions get signed off to use the main slope
3. Private 1:1 @ £110 hr
4. Throw a set of ski's at him and get on the main slope and hope he gets his legs back
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If he's not skied indoors before I'd hesitate to go for 4 unless he was a strong Skier before AND has kept active. how far do you have to travel? A couple of rusty refreshers might be good. What lessons are you planning out on the mountain?
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And 65 is really quite young; I remember it well!
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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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@pam w, My dad used to be a good skiier, always up for a challenge and nothing fazed him. I would say he has the same mentality but his body/fitness holds him back.
The plan for the trip is to just go and zoom about as it only a day trip to Les Arc. I just want to make sure he is as prepared as he can be to get the most out of the day.
As for travel, Hemel is 45 min drive so its not that far.
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@chrisrawles, what about Inside Out Skiing? I would recommend the 'Building Blocks' skills clinic (there are two in the calendar for November http://www.insideoutskiing.com/calendar.html )
Rob Rees, who is doing these particular clinics in November, is rob@rar on here, so you could pm him for more information and to discuss whether this would be suitable, or contact him through the Inside Out website. I'm a fairly experienced skier, but I found this 'back to basics' tour of the various tools in the skiing toolbox very useful indeed. Rob is a fantastic teacher.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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@chrisrawles, apres lessons on wednesday evening might work well, put him in level 3, if he's better he'll could get moved up during the lesson as there will be level 4/5/6 lessons running at the same time, level 3 take them from snow plough, to more controlled snow plough, top of learner slope, level 4 should take them to top of main slope by end of lesson.
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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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The evenings on the main slope at hemel can be quite varied conditions now the slope usage has been seriously upped this month. For the least moved around clumpy snow with sometimes slippery hardpack down the middle, i'd only recommend getting to hemel as early in the day as possible . The training slope keeps it's base and consistancy throughout the day but the main slope can be extremely variable.
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@chrisrawles, your dad has a bit of time to work on fitness before the trip and a great incentive to get the best out of the day. Maybe tell him now! Are you going by overnight train?
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You know it makes sense.
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@pam w, Yes I am hoping the trip will give him the incentive to address his fitness a little. In 4 weeks time he will know all so not much longer to keep the secret. I think I'm getting excited as well. The last time were on a slope together was about 20 years ago in Canada.
Yes we are doing the night train from Kings X. Just a shame it's zero alcohol now.
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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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@chrisrawles, When I saw you mention Kings Cross I thought 39 steps, flying scotsman etc. So it made me investigate the options. I just noticed that the sleeper train now goes from Euston not Kings X to Aviemore. It also leaves Crewe at Midnight and gets to Aviemore just before 8:00. It might pan out for a slightly more expensive, but different, ski weekend.
I hope your dad is not disappointed that it is only a day trip. My 65th comes up in January. I have invited my friends to join me for a slightly longer weekend in Les Arcs, but we will take the easy option, evening flight on Thursday, rent a car and get the last flight back Sunday night.
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Poster: A snowHead
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@johnE, Although I'm sure he would love a longer trip the my holiday from the 9-5 is already spoken for next year as the partner and I are planning on a few boarding trips around Europe! Selfish I know!
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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@chrisrawles, hopefully your dad will remember how much he enjoys skiing and sort out some future holidays for himself.
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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'm slightly younger but in a similar situation (except it's about four years since I've skied). I'm a very experienced skier but feel I need a bit of a boost to get back to where I was - not least as I've booked onto a SCGB holiday and classified myself as able to ski reds comfortably and some blacks......... So my plan is to book myself onto a Lesson 5 at MK Snow Dome, checking their numbers, as some have only one person on. I won't mention I've had about 20 weeks skiing in my history until I'm there.
That would be a cheaper possibility. (You can check numbers on their booking pages) if the trip from Cambridge isn't too far.
I was toying with doing another Warren Smith day at Hemel but don't think I'm up to it at the mo. And, I'm back and the gym getting my fitness back to a reasonable level.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Then you can pack him off to the buildabash week in livigno:)
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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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@johnE, The Scottish sleeper has gone from Euston for at least 18 years (the time I have been using it).
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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@MadMountainMan, 18 years! doesn't time fly
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@chrisrawles, if your dad is not very fit and going skiing all day after a night sitting on a train it's possibly just as well there'll be no alcohol!
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@johnE, Sadly I can only answer yes... 
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