 Poster: A snowHead
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At last weeks British Indoor and Anglo Welsh champs the snow conditions at Chill Factore were heavily criticised. It appears to have got worse and a decision has been made to cancel the British Indoor Ski Cross champs next weekend. Detail is in short supply but there are rumours that their snow-making capability has failed and can't be repaired before mid-September. I know of several people who have lost out financially through booking non-refundable rates in local hotels.
Poor show from Chill Factore.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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| English Ski & Boarder Cross Championships facebook page wrote: |
URGENT NOTICE :
It is with regret that the ERSA Open Challenge Race and the British Indoor Ski and Snowboard Cross Championships, scheduled to take place at Chill Factore, Manchester over the weekend of 27th/28th August have been postponed. The postponement is due to organisers of both events agreeing that the races can not be delivered to an accepted standard and safety as a result of the snow conditions at Chill Factore. Organisers are working in partnership with Chill Factore to identify a new date however refunds will be offered to all participants. ERSA, organisers for the Saturday event will contact those entered directly.
We are deeply sorry and hope you understand that we must always put safety first |
Chill Factore not saying much... Any scope for Tamworth to pick it up?
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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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| letsgetpiste wrote: |
| Chill Factore not saying much... Any scope for Tamworth to pick it up? |
Probably too late for this coming weekend.
Clearly CFe have an issue but they are keeping it very quiet. Many competitors described the conditions last weekend as dangerous and it is lucky no-one sustained serious injuries.
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What exactly is wrong with the snow?
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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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| PaulC1984 wrote: |
| What exactly is wrong with the snow? |
Last weekend it was like sand, it just wouldn't bind together.
I haven't been to Tamworth for a long time but I don't think they are able to make enough snow to build a skier cross course.
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Thats not good. Had a similar problem when the slope first opened and all the snow ended up at the bottom of the slope with all the glycol pipes showing through!
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They've not been very forthcoming about the cause of the problems, or the state of the snow at any given time, but after a few messages they said they are doing a 'snow scrape' - and have finally put up some details about the dates and times of it.
So anyone looking to visit during September, be aware there will be weeks when only half the slope is in operation, and visibility will be limited at times (cannons on during the day).
Should all be finished in time for the sH ski test though 
http://www.chillfactore.com/whats-on/news/new-snow-is-on-the-way/
| Quote: |
To do this, we need to change the snow on one half of the slope at a time. This means there will only be half the main slope available for public use on:
Monday 12th - Friday 16th September
Monday 26th - Friday 30th September
We are also refreshing the snow on our beginner slope, which means for a few days we won't be able to offer sledging and Sledge-o-Mania within our Snow Park, during the following dates.
Monday 5th - Friday 9th September
Please note - that the snow cannons will be on throughout the day and this can effect visibility. |
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I was there last week with my young lad and it was awful.
The left 1/2 of the slope has been taken over by a park with the right side piled high with crappy snow on the edges and bullet blue ice down the centre of the run.
Not good at all.
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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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Not that it was exactly in a great state before... In fact, from certain horrible mnemories earlier this year, crappy snow and blue ice sums it up rather well!
Annoying, though: was just gearing up for several day trips before end Sept., including lessons & coaching. Hey ho - will have to phone & check what they're still running. 
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I will be there this weekend, will report back on the conditions.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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This is somewhat of a relief to me. I was there a couple of weeks ago and left after half an hour as I wasn't enjoying it. I thought I'd reached the stage in life where I need to be on great snow in a beautiful setting to enjoy skiing. I just assumed this is what indoor slopes are like these day and it was no longer for me.
Maybe I need to give it another go when it's fixed. I'm not sure what was wrong with the snow, as I'm no expert but it just wasn't easy, or enjoyable to ski 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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Have to say I was up skiing in glasgow dome at the weekend and the snow conditions are ace. my god can your rip it up (for a dome!) smooth down the middle, deeper to the right, and bumpy on the left after race training had trashed the slope 
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I think ChillF have shot themselves in the foot with this a bit - they've not been admitting to issues, and so people visiting recently leave with a poor impression, and probably think it's normal.
On the plus side, they do seem to have stepped up their game over the summer in terms of keeping their events calendar updated, so it's easier to work out when you can visit without half the slope being blocked off for something or other...
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You know it makes sense.
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@rjs, looking forward to hearing your report. They have a sale on at the minute so I'm going to book a session for early October, after the scrape is finished I hope and snow quality restored!
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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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| PaulC1984 wrote: |
| Have to say I was up skiing in glasgow dome at the weekend and the snow conditions are ace. my god can your rip it up (for a dome!) smooth down the middle, deeper to the right, and bumpy on the left after race training had trashed the slope |
Glad you liked it, and we actually thought snow was relatively poor on Sunday! There had been a big freestyle comp on Saturday so a lot of snow movement before and after, leaving the base thinner than usual and a softer top surface. In race we set only brush markers to minimise further deterioration.
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Poster: A snowHead
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The half of the slope with new snow was really nice, we were mostly on the old half but got a few runs on the good side on Sunday afternoon.
The old half was horrible, the bases of my skis were the colour of the stuff that comes out of your nose after a day in London.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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| rjs wrote: |
The half of the slope with new snow was really nice, we were mostly on the old half but got a few runs on the good side on Sunday afternoon.
The old half was horrible, the bases of my skis were the colour of the stuff that comes out of your nose after a day in London. |
I heard the same thing (virtually word for word) from another on Thursday.
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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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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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Save your money and do the real thing, I don't get fridges, been to most of them in UK and they're all lousy IMO. If you like them sorry but I'd give up if that's all there was! Overpriced, dangerous and too short. 
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| Markymark29 wrote: |
| ... but I'd give up if that's all there was! |
Me too. But you can say that about any number of sporting activities:
Would we play golf if there were no courses, just driving ranges?
Would we play tennis if there were no courts, just hitting a ball against a wall?
Go cycling if there were only exercise bikes?
Go walking if there was only a trip around the block?
Go running if there were only treadmills?
No, of course not.
But in each case the artificial training environment has a value, especially if used with a purpose such as focused practice or to be coached. Substitutes they are not, but they can help you be better at what you love, should you choose.
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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 to move the topic away from this place in particular ( they hadn't finished building it when i left manchester) and onto fridges in general,(this seems to be where the discussion was migrating)
i was originally planning to go for 2hrs a month from may-december, to keep up with my practise in the off season. so thats 8- 2 hour trips at my local fridge- hemel hempstead. That would cost roughly £240 ( £30 for 2hrs midweek, not in holiday times) & fuel, drinks etc afterwards, just to go down the same small track over and over.
i worked out (and have booked) to go to morzine instead for 2 days skiing, which is costing me £255 (flights, lift pass, ski hire, transfers, accommodation) + spending money
in my opinion, i will learn a lot more and gain a lot more experience from two days unleashed in the ports du soleil than going to hemel to repeat a run which takes a few seconds and then a wait for a button lift which then stops most of the time at some point on the way up, then once you get to the top, you have to get through the line of snowboarders who seem to spend all evening simply looking down and getting in the way, but thats another story!
so essentially while i do appreciate that these places are good for total beginners to learn the basics of skiing under tuition, much better value can be had by going to europe and actually skiing. so for the above posters who argue there is nothing better that can be had at a regular basis within range of your home- i agree. but would you not be better off spending the time you would have in the snow dome working in the gym on fitness programmes which will benefit your skiing massively , then using the money you have saved not going to the snow dome on an extra short ski break in the alps?
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Oh and then there is commitments, getting time off, families, etc etc to consider
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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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@rob@rar, @Grizzler, wasn't trying to be rude, I guess I can see the merit in family's going and getting used to equipment and such, it'll take a few days off their upcoming holidays. It's the hoards of yoofs hurtling down (boarders ime) and I just can't see that it is giving them any skills training. Ok if it's a quiet 10.30am slot and it's super quiet and a teacher is doing turns training etc then that works I guess.
For me my summer training is hill walking, mountain biking, road biking, gym classes and real stuff and I tend to treat skiing as my winter thing and whilst it remains my favourite sport I try put it on one side and do other sports to build up muscle strength kind of assuming that technique returns in winter, which it pretty much does when back on snow.
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| PaulC1984 wrote: |
| Do you work there then? |
Just a couple of sessions a week: Sunday morning for the race club, and Tuesday evening. We start at 9:15 on Sunday so usually get pretty good conditions and the slope to ourselves, at least to start with!
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You know it makes sense.
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| mikeholmes25 wrote: |
i was originally planning to go for 2hrs a month from may-december, to keep up with my practise in the off season. so thats 8- 2 hour trips at my local fridge- hemel hempstead. That would cost roughly £240 ( £30 for 2hrs midweek, not in holiday times) & fuel, drinks etc afterwards, just to go down the same small track over and over. |
On that basis I'd agree it's not good value, BUT that's pretty much the most expensive way of doing it. This summer I'm currently averaging about £2 an hour at Hemel for lift pass time - and that includes free tea and coffee. Even during the season I was only paying about £5 an hour. Sure it gets busy sometimes but at other times I've literally been the only person on the slope.
Obviously not everyone's circumstances make using it like that possible, but if you can then it is possible to get excellent value.
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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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@Tubaski,
You must go there a hell of a lot! Fair play to you for making it work though, do you not get bored?
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Poster: A snowHead
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| mikeholmes25 wrote: |
@Tubaski,
You must go there a hell of a lot! Fair play to you for making it work though, do you not get bored? |
I hope not 
His skiing has improved significantly over the last four or five months of skiing at Hemel.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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| Markymark29 wrote: |
| @rob@rar, @Grizzler, wasn't trying to be rude, ... |
Didn't think you were I was simply trying to illustrate a point which I think sometimes gets missed when talking about indoor ski slopes. They are most certainly not a substitute for skiing on a mountain. Not even close. My tolerance for "free skiing" on a short indoor slope is about 30 minutes. But if you think of them in a different way, as a training or practice venue, then they can be extremely helpful. Obviously there are compromises because it's a short, relatively gentle slope, but with the correct approach even very experienced skiers can help develop their skiing at times when it is impossible, for a range of reasons, to head to the mountains.
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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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| mikeholmes25 wrote: |
@Tubaski,
You must go there a hell of a lot! Fair play to you for making it work though, do you not get bored? |
Quite a lot(!) - I'm up to about 150 hours since May. Although that is not just lift pass time, it includes a few clinics with Inside Out , so I've had plenty of drills from @rob@rar to practice! Honestly, the only time I get bored is when there are long queues for the lift (and I generally manage to avoid those times). I think so long as you have a focus there is something to keep your mind busy. I guess I'd say I primarily go there to work on my skiing rather than going there to ski (if you see the distinction).
| @rob@rar wrote: |
| His skiing has improved significantly over the last four or five months of skiing at Hemel. |
I have to say that I have had fine tuition from Rob!
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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So how is the snow at chill factore now 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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You'll need to Register first of course.
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Has anyone been in the last few days? Just spotted this on their facebook feed:
| Quote: |
We’ve enjoyed the fresh new snow, so much here at Chill Factore, that we’ve decided to let it carry on falling for the next few weeks.
During 9:30am until 3:30pm on the below dates, only half of the main slope will be available for public use, whilst it snows:
* Monday 3rd until Friday 7th October
* Monday 10th until Wednesday 12th October
We are sorry for any inconvenience this may cause….however this does mean MORE, FRESH, NEW SNOW for you to enjoy! Hurrah! |
The cynic in me is wondering if the 'fresh snow' already put down hasn't actually done as good a job as expected, and so they need to keep going... Or it could genuinely be that they've had great feedback on the new snow, so are keeping going!
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I went on Monday night, they have now completely renewed the snow across the main and beginner slopes, there is now 3 feet of lovely fresh powder!
Okay maybe not quite those conditions but it is a lot better than before. Much smoother and quicker and no ice on the slopes. How long it will stay that way is another question...
They still have a lot of deals on so it's a good time to go. If you are a member you can get an unlimited pass in October for £35! My 5year old Charlie has just had 3 x 1hr 50min group lessons for £50 - but he was the only one in his group so he has had 3 private lessons! 
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@pablito69, thanks for the update, that sounds really good I'll hopefully be there for a couple of hours on Saturday, and then of course the Oktobertest on Sunday!
If they do keep pumping out more snow over the next couple of weeks it should hopefully hold up for a while.
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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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The new snow certainly looks good from the viewing balcony and I've been spectating most of the summer and I've seen a definite improvement visually. I'm on the slope Saturday early doors, trying not to be outdone by my 4 year old grandson who's in a lesson......fingers crossed as he's kind of thrown the gauntlet down ha ha
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The snow there is fine, absolutely nothing wrong with it.
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FAQ
But great description.
