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Ski Club of Great Britain Chief Exec resigns

 Poster: A snowHead
Poster: A snowHead
Not all skiers want to race, my thoughts were more along the lines of a club for social skiers at local level that can affiliate to the SCGB. I am not sure whether these clubs exist or if there is even a market for them.

Perhaps Snowheads already fills this market
snow conditions
 Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
@Gilberts Fridge, Some local clubs already do have connections with the SCGB, the nearest one to me seems to, have never been a member of one that does this and it wouldn't tempt me to join.
ski holidays
 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?
Back in the old days (1970s/1980s), the SCGB had regional/county reps in the UK who organised events etc locally, often at dry slopes.
snow conditions
 You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
@rjs, Thanks, I have just explored the SCGB website some more and they have a long list of UK clubs, seems to be a mix of racing and social, so perhaps I am doing them a dis service.

If I still lived back home, the Edinburgh club would interest me,

http://www.edinburghskiclub.org.uk/
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 Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
@rjs, @Gilberts Fridge, what is that connection though. Isn't it just a listing on the SCGB website?
snow report
 You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
SCGB home page suggests an eclectic set of reasons to join:

Become part of the oldest and largest club of its kind in the UK seems a non-reason to me - I know oldest and largest are often used as Marketing terms by many enterprises and organisations though so perhaps forgiveable
Experience fantastic group holidays with Ski Club Freshtracks, New Horizons and Mountain Tracks OK, so it's a TO?
Save money with hundreds of year-round discounts Suspect these amount to very little in reality but I get the Marketing also
Enjoy our Rep programme in resorts across Europe and North America Will come back to this one but essentially it's a fairly niche service
Ski socially with other club members facilitated by our Rep programme They are doubling down on the Rep thing so it would appear to be important
Use our on piste and off piste Instructor-led Guiding service Happy to be corrected but this appears to be mainly a way of doing Rep in France
Access weather forecasts and historical snow reports So it's a weather and snow report service of which there are already several
15% discount on Ski Club Travel Insurance

* The Rep Service operates in 18 resorts. The ILG is in 14 resorts. There are two overlaps. So in effect they do Rep/ILG in 30 resorts. Not bad but if I say 6 in Austria, 2 in Italy and 2 in North American you get a picture of the limitation.

So what does the Rep service do:

•Facilitating and organising social skiing for groups of Members I guess this is the crux of it
•Promoting safe and responsible recreational skiing Eh?
•Arranging a fun and varied weekly events plan, including lunch meetups and après drinks A bit meh
•Ensuring Members are aware of the fantastic range of Ski Club benefits and discounts What is this Timeshare - seriously this smacks of desperation


And the ILG service:

•The Ski Club has Instructor-led Guiding active in 14 resorts. OK
•Whether you're an improving skier or love adventurous off-piste skiing - ski with people of similar ability and aspiration. OK
•This is your chance to ski with a top qualified instructor at a fraction of the usual cost. This seems to be the crux of it
•Stop staring at the piste map and wondering where to go - just enjoy your time on the mountain. But only three times a week and at an extra cost


I think on a general level the Club is a bit jack of all trades, master of none. Unless they bring something extra on the weather forecasting and snow report side, what is the point. Basically there are specialists who only do this, that do it much better. And these days you can look at the webcams to see the here and now picture.

On the holidays front - From what I've read they do a good job. But why is it connected to the Club? What does the connection bring to the party? And there are plenty of TO's out there. Why not just partner up to get discounts?

The Repping is an interesting one. Because it's quite niche. I understand the attraction of it. Skiing itself is a fairly niche activity and it's not for everyone and standards vary... so finding a group to holiday and ski with can be tricky. But it does seem to me a Club on a smaller scale or a more local level would work better. As mentioned there are a number in operation.

Now I've written all that I'm not quite sure what my point was!
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 Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
@Layne, haven't got time to read your whole post and only got to this bit:

Quote:
Experience fantastic group holidays with Ski Club Freshtracks, New Horizons and Mountain Tracks

OK, so it's a TO?


It's a ski club that organises holidays for its members to go on. It would be a strange skiing club if it didn't do that. 'TO' is always used against the Ski Club in a pejorative way and I just don't understand it.
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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!
Dave of the Marmottes wrote:
Yebbut this thread isn't about snowheads and their need/or lack of need to recruit new members to sustain themselves. sH membership seems to be doing just fine with more than enough members to sustain bashes, casual peer to peer skiing and social meetups etc etc.


snowHeads will always risk becoming the subject in any conversation about the Ski Club. SH's membership figures are unaudited, therefore out of date and highly questionable. There are pages and pages of accounts that have never posted.
ski holidays
 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.
Who actually owns Snowheads?
ski holidays
 Ski the Net with snowHeads
Ski the Net with snowHeads
mitcva wrote:
Who actually owns Snowheads?


it's a privately owned tour operator, so that would be admin.
snow report
 snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
Who is admin?
ski holidays
 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.
@Layne, I think you're being a bit harsh on the discount front - I've saved a good few hundred quid this year, even on items (e.g. Scott E1 airbags) that were supposedly almost impossible to get hold of and not being discounted anywhere. Same with new transceiver bundles and Swiss flights (admittedly, the last of those is a bit more liberal with discount codes).

The rep provides a focal point, at a known time and place, when you can rock up and see what's going on, meet a few other people, find out a bit about (real) snow conditions etc. Whilst that used to hinge around the idea that you would probably ski with the rep, there were some times I skied with them very little but still went to the bar to say hi.

At the time that I used the service (until about 5 years ago) it was useful to me, but then I stopped having much requirement for it at about the same time it was withdrawn. However, I can see why, if you want to be a bit sociable, but not full on chalet-holiday sociable, it's a very good option for singles, small groups and similar.
ski holidays
 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
mitcva wrote:
Who is admin?


Real name you mean?
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 You know it makes sense.
You know it makes sense.
Gerry wrote:
It's a ski club that organises holidays for its members to go on. It would be a strange skiing club if it didn't do that.


Well the club isn't very good at it because, according to the accounts, it's a big money loser. Ski Club Winter Arrangements LOST £441,000 in 2019. Far better to book group holidays with specialist tour operators and cop a commission. That's what other clubs do. Then the club wouldn’t have a wage bill as high as £1.2million either.
snow conditions
 Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Gerry wrote:
mitcva wrote:
Who is admin?


Real name you mean?

Yes.
snow conditions
 Poster: A snowHead
Poster: A snowHead
Pruman wrote:
Gerry wrote:
It's a ski club that organises holidays for its members to go on. It would be a strange skiing club if it didn't do that.


Well the club isn't very good at it because, according to the accounts, it's a big money loser. Ski Club Winter Arrangements LOST £441,000 in 2019. Far better to book group holidays with specialist tour operators and cop a commission. That's what other clubs do. Then the club wouldn’t have a wage bill as high as £1.2million either.


That's what happens when incompetent people get to the top. In normal trading conditions and with proper P&L oversight, Freshtracks does what it's supposed to do.
snow report
 Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
@mitcva, What is your real name ?
snow conditions
 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?
Is the ownership of Snowheads a secret?
snow report
 You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
mitcva wrote:
Gerry wrote:
mitcva wrote:
Who is admin?


Real name you mean?

Yes.


I don't know what his real name is.
snow conditions
 Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
mitcva wrote:
Is the ownership of Snowheads a secret?


It's not a limited company, or a membership club/mutual society so there's no duty to be transparent so there's no transparency.
ski holidays
 You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
mitcva wrote:
Is the ownership of Snowheads a secret?


Why is it important to you?
ski holidays
 Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Fair enough. I don't really need to know. But how would one contact him about something posted on here?
ski holidays
 After all it is free Go on u know u want to!
After all it is free Go on u know u want to!
mitcva wrote:
Fair enough. I don't really need to know. But how would one contact him about something posted on here?


You can PM him from here: https://snowheads.com/ski-forum/profile.php?mode=viewprofile&u=2
snow report
 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.
The ownership of Snowheads is not really a secret, but it isn't exactly advertised in lights either. In essence, it is owned by admin - and if you pay anything towards the cost of running the site ( https://snowheads.com/ski-forum/support_snowHeads.php ) you have the option of paying either by Paypal in which case you will see the recipient name, or by a bank transfer, in which case you will see both admin's name, and his bank sort code and account number.

Snowheads is not a charity, limited company, co-op or community association. It's a web forum run by one person with a couple of volunteer technical assistants and a small team of volunteer moderators.
snow report
 Ski the Net with snowHeads
Ski the Net with snowHeads
@mitcva, to contact him, you'd just PM him.

If you wanted to contribute money to the running of the site, or go on a snowHeads holiday, you'd get to know his name and his bank details. It's not a very well kept secret. Some snowHeads even know where he lives! Laughing
snow conditions
 snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
Quote:

But how would one contact him about something posted on here?


Send a pm
snow conditions
 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.
Many thanks!
ski holidays
 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
It seems to me the purpose of any club is to create improvement through synergy. To enhance the enjoyment of the club activity, and in some cases to facilitate the activity.

For example a football club at its basic level is a team of players. One person in a football club would be pointless as there would be no games.

A ski club brings together people who ski, in order to join forces in knowledge sharing and buying power. The club has specialist knowledge of the needs of members and problems associated with being a skier in the UK.

Unfortunately, clubs tend to have exclusivity and hierarchy built in through years of existence. Competition can challenge the status quo, usually silenced by exclusion. Which could explain the existence of a ski forum on the internet not associated with the ski club in UK. I do not know the history of Snowheads, but I have experienced forum mobbing and post blocking. I am not generally an offensive poster in my opinion. However, some forums just do not want your type on there. (I am not sure what type that might be, and it is never clear why people behave in this way, but needless to say most of these forums are no longer on the internet) In China the moderators are more strict. (I am led to believe this is true, but it may just be my impression from media stories).

Golf clubs may restrict membership because of class or sex. Rugby clubs can have an inclusive or exclusive membership policy as well. It will not always be explicit, but if you do not fit the club you will soon not feel welcome.

A ski club will attract those who wish to gain knowledge, share knowledge, access ski areas, and a wide range of other reasons which may actually involve skiing. (or snowboarding) Although, note that the ski club UK is racist against snowboarders as the title exludes them by default!

Not everyone will want to go on bashes for whatever reason they may have. Maybe they are content with one or two days skiing in Scotland on the best days of the year, and do not have the motivation anymore to spend months on end living in a van at altitude in the Alps.

A ski club which is primarily a money generating machine may conflict with the original motivation of a club. (especially if competition aligns itself more closely with my definition of club)
ski holidays
 You know it makes sense.
You know it makes sense.
@Bigtipper,

Quote:
A ski club which is primarily a money generating machine may conflict with the original motivation of a club. (especially if competition aligns itself more closely with my definition of club)


Ski Club of Great Britain = democratic, transparent, not for profit.
snow conditions
 Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Not for profit doesn't mean some people can't be doing very nicely out of it. Like the people building the website.
ski holidays
 Poster: A snowHead
Poster: A snowHead
Dave of the Marmottes wrote:
Not for profit doesn't mean some people can't be doing very nicely out of it. Like the people building the website.


Got ripped off there, to be sure.
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 Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
I am finding this thread fascinating. If I remember correctly, Snowheads owes its existence to the SCGB, but that's not the subject of this thread.
ski holidays
 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?
@Jehu, Correct on both points. Madeye-Smiley
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 You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
Bigtipper wrote:

Although, note that the ski club UK is racist against snowboarders as the title exludes them by default!


Didn't see that option on the last census Wink
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 Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Jehu wrote:
I am finding this thread fascinating. If I remember correctly, Snowheads owes its existence to the SCGB, but that's not the subject of this thread.


Unless admin is considering applying for the job wink
ski holidays
 You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
@Jehu, that would be the ultimate in reverse takeovers, and of course admin already has experience of running a snowsports tour operator and a successful snowsports forum so that's more than any incoming CEO would be likely to have... Cool

Might lack a little in the staff management experience column though, and would need a good PA.
snow conditions
 Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Gerry wrote:
... I don't know what his real name is.
That would be outrageously incompetent of the scgb if true.

These made-up attacks on the competition don't really help the scgb compete.
latest report
 After all it is free Go on u know u want to!
After all it is free Go on u know u want to!
Who runs Snowheads..

Google "who runs snowheads" or "linkedin snowheads" - it's really no secret.
snow report
 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.
Jehu wrote:
I am finding this thread fascinating. If I remember correctly, Snowheads owes its existence to the SCGB, but that's not the subject of this thread.


It's put forward as a better alternative 'club' by some contributors to this thread so it's part of the discussion now.

SnowHeads = total (unaudited) membership of c. 58k in over 16 year. Zero churn rate due to the fee subscription model.

Ski Club = on average c. 25k membership (audited) per year but with a churn rate of 15% (last time I checked).

Holidays: Ski Club north of 3k a year -v- snowHeads with a few hundreds.

With a rather anemic total 'membership' of 58k in 16 years, snowHeads can't claim to have reached a high level of relevance amongst UK sliders. I can see why any criticism of snowheads as an organisation will be something of a sore point for some and therefore a topic worthy of suppression.

The Ski Club demographic always gets a bashing on here but I note with great interest, and a lot of amusement, what chocksway said about the demographic of snowheads.
ski holidays
 Ski the Net with snowHeads
Ski the Net with snowHeads
Lots of people run forums - I've led a fairly sheltered life and I know a few.

I've organised trips (skiing and otherwise) for 10-12 people. I'm not a TO. OK admin/Graham does it on a bit of a larger scale but so did a mate of mine who was a Teacher - although I think most schools use a TO these days.

SCGB holidays has a brand name and are ABTA protected as I understand it. They act like a TO.
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