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Ski Club of Great Britain buys Mountain Tracks

 Poster: A snowHead
Poster: A snowHead
Mountain Tracks, the 'off piste adventure specialists', known well to many round these parts, have been bought by the SCGB.
SCGB approached Mountain Tracks at the end of last season and it would seem the deal has now been sealed.

This on Travel Mole:
http://www.travelmole.com//news_feature.php?c=setreg&region=2&m_id=s~dmnT_T_&w_id=32703&news_id=2025260


Last edited by Poster: A snowHead on Sat 31-12-16 15:28; edited 1 time in total
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 Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Sad
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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?
Guess that means we won't be having Nick as a guide again.........
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I am a leader for the Ski Club of Great Britain and have been pondering their strategy behind acquiring Mountain Tracks. We haven't had any explanation beyond the press release so will be interested in hearing the motivation for it, and also how much it cost!
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 Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
KenX wrote:
Guess that means we won't be having Nick as a guide again.........


'Guess' being the operative word because, according to an official email I've had from the Club, 'The Mountain Tracks team including Nick and Chris Parks, along with Susie in Chamonix, will all be involved in the business moving forward.'

EDIT Sorry, KenX, by 'we' you obviously meant snowHeads. I seriously doubt there is an exclusivity clause to the acquisition of the company and employment of the guides by the Ski Club. I'm sure they'll be able to have private clients. Even accounting for all the snide shite the club gets from snowHeads, they aren't vindictive people like so many here are.


Last edited by Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do. on Mon 2-01-17 16:40; edited 2 times in total
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@KenX, indeed, so many jokes come to mind and yet it's so hard to know what to say Confused

I always enjoyed working with Chris in the past and Matt always did us and Mountain Tracks proud with his input at the PSB.
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 Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
admin wrote:
@KenX, indeed, so many jokes come to mind and yet it's so hard to know what to say Confused


Go on then...
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 After all it is free Go on u know u want to!
After all it is free Go on u know u want to!
@Gerry, you had to be there to get it...........
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
@Gerry, and I agree with you, the hate traffic does seem to be a bit one-sided.....
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 Ski the Net with snowHeads
Ski the Net with snowHeads
This is 2017 - hate is for losers!

I must say I don't really understand antipathy to SCGB that sometimes appears on Snowheads, surely we all just enjoy doing the same sport? If you don't like 'em just don't join.

I've been a leader for 13 years now (as a snowboarder) and rarely had anything but a great time skiing with members. I am also trained as an IML so risk aware in the mountains and I think the SCGB leaders these days are much more cautious than might have been in the past.
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 snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
Not sure about all the rivalry between Snowheads and The Ski Club of GB. I've read some stuff about it on here before. But this has to be a great move, as KenX says, Nick is a great guide and has an excellent team to call on as well. We might be seeing more of you all in the Val D'Anniviers!
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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.
@damoto, the Antipathy has a lot to do with how snowheads was formed and stems back to when the SCGB simply decided one day to remove access to their forums to non members
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 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
Understood - but seems that simply was a business decision to remove functionality available to non members and thus encourage people to join to continue using the forums. Pretty standard approach for websites and online businesses using a 'freemium' model?

Anyway that's a digression - I am more interested to see how the SCGB/MT purchase works out and indeed whether SCGB will start offering summer activities too.
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 You know it makes sense.
You know it makes sense.
@damoto, a snowboarder... in the SCGB... and a leader... Shocked Just experienced a 'Unicorn' moment!
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 Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
D G Orf wrote:
@damoto, the Antipathy has a lot to do with how snowheads was formed and stems back to when the SCGB simply decided one day to remove access to their forums to non members


..and more importantly they did that with no forewarning so the large number of non members who had created a critical mass of forum posters had nowhere to go. (Incidentally I was an SCGB member at the time). Many SCGB members felt that the abrupt way in which this had been done with no notice was not good, and I believe that the SCGB subsequently acknowledged that it had not been handled well. Fortunately admin stepped into the breach, setting up snowHeads in a matter of a few days, and with a good bit of internet networking many of the previous SCGB forum posters were able to meet up again on the new platform. Over the years snowHeads grew into the large snowsport based forum it is today. A few years ago the SCGB reversed it's previous decision and made (most of) its internet forum open to non-members again, however as the relative numbers of posts on the two forums (fora?) will show, by then the birds had effectively flown.
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 Poster: A snowHead
Poster: A snowHead
@Alastair Pink, every time I read that story the stupidity of the SCGB in destroying its own online community still surprises me. Of course, something similar happened with the exodus of the maggot community from the Powder forums to TGR, so the shortsightedness isn't just specific to the SCGB.

I don't know Nick Parks at all but have spent a little time skiing with Matt. He did a portion of my avalanche training and I am still alive so something probably stuck. Struck me as a smart and level headed guy. I suspect they know what they're doing. If not, then there are always alternatives. I would follow the individual guides much more than I'd follow the Mountain Tracks brand.
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 Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Ok fair enough on the history but as someone who runs small businesses just seems to me like a commercial decision to restrict access to services that cost money to provide to those that aren't paying for them. Agreed it sounds like it was done somewhat abruptly though!

There are a few SCGB leaders on boards though with the general decline in snowboarding probably not many more being recruited. Having led for around 40 weeks now never really found it a problem leading skiers on a board, though I have had a few surprised looks from older members turning up. They dealt with it though!
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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?
Quote:

There are a few SCGB leaders on boards though with the general decline in snowboarding probably not many more being recruited.

Hmm, there's the club we know and 'love' - i've never had a conversation with an SCGB person about snowboarding which extended beyond commiserating with me on my chosen snowsport - even the drones at the shows never bothered to try and up sell club membership to me once they realise I snowboard.

Quote:

though I have had a few surprised looks from older members turning up.

I'll bet you did!
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Well I have no interest personally in the skiing 'v' snowboard debate, it's so old hat particularly that us snowboarders that started 20+ years ago are now middle aged. I do a lot of splitboarding now but recognise that skis are better tools for general mountain travel and I'll probably start skiing again in the next few years. I prefer a board in deep powder though.
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 Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
The big question is, given that, as a MT customer for a trip in April, I will now get automatic membership of SCGB, what should I do with this great boon? Will it open the door to brilliant deals and days and days of untouched powder?
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@zammo, no you'll just arrested if you ski in France.
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 Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Sounds like you might benefit from untracked cynicism Very Happy
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 After all it is free Go on u know u want to!
After all it is free Go on u know u want to!
@gorilla, ha! I'll make sure to ski in disguise, if I find myself in France.
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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.
damoto wrote:
Ok fair enough on the history but as someone who runs small businesses just seems to me like a commercial decision to restrict access to services that cost money to provide to those that aren't paying for them. Agreed it sounds like it was done somewhat abruptly though!


There were a lot of people grinding axes and getting their revenge in back in those days. Of course during their grinding sessions they all swore blind how much they really cared about the Club...yeah right! There was even an expert witness posting inflammatory shite who was, at that time, helping to bring a case against the Club.

This site was kickstarted by vindictive nasties and that's what it has had at its core every since. Stand up against the in anti Ski Club crowd on here and they get nasty. Refuse to be intimidated by them and they call you a cyberbully.
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Thanks for the insight @gerry, seems an awfully long time to hold a grudge for what may have been an admittedly ill-judged commercial decision on behalf of SCGB back in 2004.

Anyway life's too short for negativity, I'm off for a run by the sea...
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 snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
@damoto, I agree. I am off to learn to snowboard...
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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.
Gerry wrote:
This site was kickstarted by vindictive nasties and that's what it has had at its core every (sic) since.


I think that comment says a lot more about you Gerry than admin who had the motivation and expertise to set up this site and the large number of people who joined snowHeads in its first year. I've met a considerable number of snowHeads and none of them are what I would consider vindictive nasties.

Gerry wrote:
Stand up against the in anti Ski Club crowd on here and they get nasty.


Well as I said previously I was a member of the Ski Club at the time snowHeads started and I remained a member for many years afterwards. I enjoyed skiing with the resort reps during that time and I certainly wouldn't class myself as anti Ski Club. My post above was merely to give the historical background (for recently joined sHs) as to how snowHeads came about following the sudden "members only" forum decision (which as the Club later acknowledged they should have handled better). However after more than 30 years of membership I decided that as I now spend virtually all my ski trips either with friends, on sH Bashes or in Wengen (I'm a member of the DHO there) I concluded that I was no longer gaining sufficient benefit from my membership to make it worthwhile for me to remain.

Gerry wrote:
Refuse to be intimidated by them and they call you a cyberbully.


Well I'm not calling you a cyberbully, but your hectoring tone might lead some observers to form that impression. Toofy Grin Perhaps your antipathy towards snowHeads is driven in part by its success? wink
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 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
To me it looks like the owners of the titanic buying a few more lifeboats, but I could be wrong. You can't save it from the iceberg, but you might be able to make the end a little less painful.
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 You know it makes sense.
You know it makes sense.
Digger the dinosaur wrote:
To me it looks like the owners of the titanic buying a few more lifeboats, but I could be wrong. You can't save it from the iceberg, but you might be able to make the end a little less painful.


And where would we be without the usual in-depth and doom-laden analysis from 'some bloke'.

BTW, David Orf, I've never considered admin to be one on the nasties. Snowheads is much bigger and better than the original, bitter clique that started it. I've always wished the best for snowheads and admin and have stuck up for him when I've felt he's been unfairly treated. Sorry if the truth doesn't fit with what you want others to believe.
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 Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
@Gerry, When are the SCGB next in court? Do you think the SB court ruling will help?

Sorry slightly different topic.
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 Poster: A snowHead
Poster: A snowHead
stewart woodward wrote:
@Gerry, When are the SCGB next in court?


Was going to be March this year but has been put back. Stalling for Brexit? What happened to an EU citizen's right to swift justice?

Quote:
Do you think the SB court ruling will help?


I doubt it has all that much relevance. I think Ken will be found not guilty of teaching by the Paris court, because he wasn't. Beyond that, it's all down to the wording of the judgement.
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 Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
@Gerry, I never made any comment about Nasties that's entirely down to you, your prejudices are showing once again I see, I'm not going to take this any further as I simply do not give a damn about what you may or may not think. Little Angel
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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?
D G Orf wrote:
@Gerry, I never made any comment about Nasties that's entirely down to you, your prejudices are showing once again I see, I'm not going to take this any further as I simply do not give a damn about what you may or may not think. Little Angel


Right, so just to avoid any doubt:


Alastair Pink wrote:
Quote:
Perhaps your antipathy towards snowHeads is driven in part by its success?


I have no antipathy toward the 'club' that is snowHeads, although I don't like some members of the club.


Last edited by Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see? on Sat 7-01-17 14:57; edited 1 time in total
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For a company with only around ~£2m of annual revenues, buying a volatile vacation business is a somewhat risky move. One or two bad seasons and they could be wiped out...
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 Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Whitegold wrote:
For a company with only around ~£2m of annual revenues, buying a volatile vacation business is a somewhat risky move. One or two bad seasons and they could be wiped out...


Volatile? Everyone should stay out of the ski/alpining holiday industry then? I grant you that if there was a nuclear war...
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Gerry why do you reference my quote by name and then quote Alastair Pink as if it somehow has something to do with me ?..... As I said I do not give a damn about what you may or may not think but please if you are going to quote people attribute the quotes correctly and do not try to put one set of quotes into someone else's mouth.
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 Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Whitegold wrote:
For a company with only around ~£2m of annual revenues, buying a volatile vacation business is a somewhat risky move. One or two bad seasons and they could be wiped out...


I think you will find that the ski club Freshtracks operation is effectively ring fenced as a company within the ski club and is a separate legal entity. Therefore Freshtracks, which is a bigger operation than Mountain Tracks anyway, could fail without any financial impact on the ski club itself. I would imagine that Mountain Tracks would be set up the same way.
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 After all it is free Go on u know u want to!
After all it is free Go on u know u want to!
richjp wrote:
Whitegold wrote:
For a company with only around ~£2m of annual revenues, buying a volatile vacation business is a somewhat risky move. One or two bad seasons and they could be wiped out...


I think you will find that the ski club Freshtracks operation is effectively ring fenced as a company within the ski club and is a separate legal entity. Therefore Freshtracks, which is a bigger operation than Mountain Tracks anyway, could fail without any financial impact on the ski club itself. I would imagine that Mountain Tracks would be set up the same way.


Yes, Ski Club Winter Arrangements Ltd, plus it's all bonded and insured.
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