 Poster: A snowHead
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| "This is the place to be seen in the winter," says Ali Reza, an 18-year-old student from wealthy north Tehran. "Up here, nobody bothers us and we can really chill out on the snow." |
Anyone ever skied in Iran? Somehow I can't imagine they'd have many Western visitors in the current climate. The article suggests there has been some relaxation in attitudes, but it's not so long since strict rules were enforced, with sexually segregated slopes and no eye contact between unrelated males and females. I was going to go there (Dizin) in 2002 for the World Grass Skiing Championships, but these were relocated at the last minute for obvious security reasons - Iran is next scheduled to host the championships in 2005.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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One of my colleagues is Iranian and I've asked her about the skiing in Iran and she reckons it's great, ski the morning, hit the beach in the afternoon. However she said it was an absolute no-no to go home right now as they're just waiting for Dubya to drop it on 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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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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PG, what an interesting article. It puts in interesting slant on Western "culture".
(Ghandi was once asked what he thought of western civilisation.
"What a good idea" was his reply.)
It is easy to denegrate other countries, especially Islam states. But as I was reading the article and nodding at familiar ski behaviour, I realised none of it was anything to be proud of. Was Iran really being improved by adopting western behaviour? Here are some quotes:
"(the ski resort) is known for illegal parties, where young men and women mix without supervision, drink alcohol and use drugs"
"Boy racers speed up and down, overtaking on blind corners and sending pebbles flying"
"(skiers) descend, locust-like, on the resort every weekend,scattering litter, playing loud stereos and patronising the locals."
We have got a lot to answer for....
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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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Does anyone know anything about ski-ing in lebanon? I've heard that's pretty good as well.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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PG - for grass skiing they have one run at Dizin where they irrigate a grassy slope in the summer and it has a magic carpet type 'lift' to get you back up. You were probably lucky your competion got relocated. Iran is not yet a fun place to go but skiing and boarding are very popular amongst middle class teenagers as it is about the only thing boys and girls can do together.
Drags are however segregated - if the button has been between a girl's legs no way is a boy going on next !! 
Last edited by Then you can post your own questions or snow reports... on Mon 10-05-04 8:40; edited 1 time in total
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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 can't imagine them separating the participants into male and female queues.
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When I skied there (which admittedly is a few years ago) that is exactly what they did. Some nursery slopes were even designated as ladies only - but that actually made some sense for nervous beginners as it stops the flash b*****tds cutting them up and scaring the pants off them. At least I think that's what they were trying to do......... 
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| PG - for grass skiing they have one run at Dizin where they irrigate a grassy slope in the summer and it has a magic carpet type 'lift' to get you back up. You were probably lucky your competion got relocated. Iran is not yet a fun place to go but skiing and boarding are very popular amongst middle class teenagers as it is about the only thing boys and girls can do together. |
No problem this year, the World Cup children's races are in Austria, Switzerland and Germany, just one senior race at Dizin, so we're 'safe' for another season...
Still it's regrettable, under different circumstances I'd love to visit the place... they are making an effort to bring in more tourists (various new promotional websites in English etc), but I think potential visitors, especially Europeans and Americans, are going to take a lot of convincing!
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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potential visitors, especially Europeans and Americans, are going to take a lot of convincing!
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It's probably as safe now as it ever has been and slowly liberalising but has a long way to go. The only 'Hotel' near Dizin is a dump as are most of them in Tehran itself which is about 2 hours drive from Dizin via a spectacular road with several tunnels. As a foreigner, you are also looking at silly room rates maybe payable in hard currency. And they won't take AMEX !!
The Dizin resort and others are great for young Iranians rich enough to ski or board (although lift passes were a joke by our standards) and anyone who happens to live there for work reasons but I could never recommend it for a holiday.
There are now some organised tours to Iran ex UK but for those interested in archaeology and religion mainly. I don't think Crystal will feature it for a while. All women still have to wear something providing the degree of cover of a loose fitting coat and a headscarf. For skiing the dress code is not really a problem as it's usually very cold at that height and bulky ski clothing is pretty good at concealing the busty substances. I used to be a 'tits and bum' man but I've been in the Middle East so long I'm more into ankles and eyebrows these days ...........
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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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I've worked in Iran and it is a lovely country. Even with their very strict and hard to adhere to rules. Buses have seperate sections for men and women etc. Women walk behind the men, eat in the kitchen after serving the men in the main room etc. Must be what the blacks suffered in the days of segregation. We almost had a multi million pound contract cancelled because two of the specialists we were going to send were femails. They had to get passports with their hair covered, fill out extra paperwork etc. Then last minute said we couldn't send them.
When in Tehran, the mountains behind there were truely beautiful, just truely scarey in most cars didn't have brakes that worked..... (I'm not joking). But you could drive down out them and bathe in the lakes later on in the day.
Most of the time I was down in Ahwaz, their oil capital. Near the Iraq border, and ruined in the Iran/Iraq war. But a great place, the markets and barbers shops (where men hang out as there are no bars) were so lively and interesting. And although we had work escorts, you felt safe going out, except when crossing roads, just do not drive, its one big game of chicken.
I would recommend a trip, though not necessary a skiing trip, because you are in a country which is soooo different.
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You know it makes sense.
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The skiing is good, extensive off-piste . Food is superb. If you a male you have no worry's but if you have a problem with there laws dont go . There are seperated liftlines for men & woman & you cannot ride the same lift with a woman.
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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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| David Goldsmith wrote: |
| This photo probably wasn't taken in Iran, then. |
That picture definately wasn't taken there. As someone else mentioned, after a month out there its suprising how sexy a glimpse of ankle becomes.......
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Poster: A snowHead
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from the resorts Spanish Holidays thread......oh well, why not?!
Mac46
super-snowHead
Posts: 42
Location: Sendai. Japan kuwait_ian, After the revolution they first tried a curtain down the main slopes, ladies to the left, gentlemen to the right.....then they started fighting over lift access! Next they tried ladies on odd days and gentlemen on even. Am relieved they got back to some degree of normality. Iranian students here make it now sound almost pre-revolution with North Tehran back in party mode??????
I learned to ski in Tabriz pre-revolution and only started going to Tehran at the end of my first season(8hrs there on Fri night, 10 back on Sun night!! and yesstackem evs, the driving was pretty hairy...camels crossing the road in the middle of the night)....I remember shoulder-high moguls in Shemshak....or was that just a beginner's perspective?! Mon Nov 08, 2004 2:37 pm
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FAQ
Maybe he can arrange to drop it on Scotland too 
I wonder what they do when they have international competitions/training.... Just can't imagine them separating the participants into male and female queues.
