 Poster: A snowHead
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Hi. Looking to book a guide for Tignes over Xmas week 2021. Any suggestions? Would also like a guide round the various on piste gems. Pref same person. Any suggestions please? Thank you.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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*points at list of instructors for PSB  (https://snowheads.com/ski-forum/viewtopic.php?t=147995)
I have only skied with Floss (http://www.freefloski.com/) who is excellent, but I gather they are all of a similar high standard.
(Others may be able to direct you to various addresses for 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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Thank you
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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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A big fat +1 from me for @FreeFloFloss.
- She knows the area inside out, given she's lived locally for ages.
- She prioritises safety above all else.
- She has a nurturing and encouraging demeanor, while having the skills to lead from the front.
- She naturally explains her decision making process and encourages her clients to engage in it.
- I could go on...
The only drawback is that as an instructor rather than a high mountain guide, she is not permitted to lead off-piste on glaciated terrain. But I don't think that's a great cost compared to the benefits her skill set as an instructor brings.
I've worked with her often and as you can see, I'm a big fan.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Thanks for advice. I've sent her a message.
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I'm slightly confused. Is the recommended instructor also a guide?  (As the latter is what the OP is looking for).
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How have you determined that @Bergmeister?
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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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@admin,
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Hi. Looking to book a guide
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@Markymark29,
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| a guide round the various on piste gems |
Not exactly screaming "maximum exposure - bring it on!!"
Certainly ambiguous enough to warrant recommending a well respected top level instructor who specialises in off-piste and touring and lives locally, no?
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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@admin, Agree but nontheless he asked for a guide, any way it's OP's call.
Hope you are well btw.
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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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In real world communication though, people often use the word guide to refer to a guide or instructor for the purpose of guiding them about.
And while there are indeed people for whom only a HMG will do, in a wide range of cases the only practical difference is whether they are qualified to cross glaciated terrain and an appropriate instructor could be the better choice in many respects.
We often use instructors with good off-piste qualis/skills as guides due to the fact that they are better at assessing the skills within a group and matching the terrain to ability as it changes throughout the day as people tire.
That said, we often use guides who are also qualified instructors for the same reason but from the other direction.
Now, if the OP had said, "High mountain guide" specifically, I'd agree that the recommendation would have been inappropriate but the challenge in this context is looking IMV just a bit pedantic.
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@admin, In my head the word 'Guide' covers a multitude of sins (ahem, skill sets). Or at least 2 - a guide can be an instructor who leads groups off piste and may or may not teach them while doing so (Floss), and a 'Guide' can also be a 'High Mountain Guide', who leads groups off piste but doesn't teach them, unless he/she is also an instructor, in which case he/she might teach them too, or not.
Simple, innit?
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You know it makes sense.
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Hi there,
As I've been mentioned (and thanks for that), thought I'd add to the conversation. As fully qualified instructors we can instruct or guide anywhere offpiste on non glaciated terrain and without the use of specific climbing equipment, ice axe, crampons. We can carry a rope for emergencies but abseiling into couloirs if left to our days off  .
We can and do take people ski touring, be out all day or just over the back of a resort for instance.
People often gravitate towards a high mountain guide for offpiste skiing. Although remember a HMG is first and foremost a climber/mountaineer with skiing part of their training. A ski instructor and talking top level here is of course a skier though and through and some like myself and Floss then have chosen to specialise in offpiste, probably relating to a strong background in other mountain activities.
Anyway just thought I'd contribute.
Cheers
Ant
Tradski.com
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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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Welcome to snowHeads @AntSwallow 
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Poster: A snowHead
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@AntSwallow, Good to see you here. I had a great day's skiing with you at the last PSB, hopefully there'll be more to come.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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ESF are by far the best value for Tignes if you need an instructor, skiers don't really need guides unless you are on a glacier climbing.
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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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@nevis1003, what a load of cobblers....ESF wouldn’t touch them with a barge pole “follow me” training LOL
“skiers don’t really need guides” ???, all because yiu might be a good skier doesn’t mean you will know where to go to get the best, safest off piste etc or any off piste for that matter if you don’t know where to go, hence you get a guide
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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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@nevis1003, I too disagree entirely.
My experience with ESF in Tignes was utterly dire.
The service they were meant to provide was delivered incompetently (on numerous counts) and the attitude of the office was, "We have your money so you get what we choose to give you."
It was also easy to infer "You're an English holiday maker: how would U know if our service is sub standard?"
Another French ski school in the village provided more help, and better service overall, even though they knew we had committed our custom elsewhere. Naturally we've used them instead, many times since.
To be fair, I don't doubt that ESF do have some excellent instructors on their books but unless I had a specific name to book we wouldn't go near ESF Tignes again. Frankly, between them and a couple of ESF experiences elsewhere, my default is to avoid ESF entirely unless, as I say, I have a specific instructor to book by name via prior experience or trusted recommendation.
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| skiers don't really need guides unless you are on a glacier climbing. |
Sorry but this is so wrong I'd go so far as to call it potentially dangerous misinformation. For a start, climbing has nothing to do with it. If you are skiing glaciated terrain you need a high mountain guide, as a ski instructor is not permitted to lead you. Further, guides have a different skill set from instructors and in many off-piste circumstances would be the preferred option.
Yes there are instructors who specialise in and have extensive experience off-piste and their skill sets overlap those of high mountain guides a little more, but they would be the first to tell you that there are still circumstances where a high mountain guide is the appropriate choice.
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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.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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A bit confusing Adi, did the snowboarders trigger it while walking, or some skiers above them?
From the photo it suggests is avalanched onto the "blue" run back into Tignes Le Lac!
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@Toby Jug, it did not come onto the blue run, just filled in the berm built to protect the village.
I was there that day, it was horrible beyond belief. The instructor was highly regarded, I spoke with other off piste instructors and most were of the opinion that they would have skied/ridden that slope that day.
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