 Poster: A snowHead
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Unsurprising, and though not quite as bad as the rumours that had been going around it stinks of the dead hand of HIE!
https://www.nevisrange.co.uk/snowsports-23-and-24/
Also regularly getting the line that there’s not been a winter since 2018 from CairnGorm which ignores 2 very good seasons largely written off because of covid. It’s highly questionable that negatively impacted Nevis in 2021. Because the ski areas had been cleared to operate under Level 4 lockdown and spent not insignificant sums setting up to meet the Level 4 operating rules, they were give very substantial grant aid of £1.5m per resort when they were shutdown after 10 days of operating under level 4 lockdown.
The outgoings would have been substantially reduced by not operating lifts, while the majority of staffing costs were met by the government furlough scheme.
A wee bit of contrition that they made some mistakes and bad choices would not go amiss. Perhaps finances would be better if they spent less time and effort galavanting around the country trying to pick up business awards to say how amazing the CEO who got them into this mess is! 
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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I've already started a discussion about this in the Scotland snow conditions thread.
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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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| haggishunter wrote: |
| Unsurprising, and though not quite as bad as the rumours that had been going around it stinks of the dead hand of HIE! |
So my thoughts....
I don't like the bad news from Aonach Mor.
However I am going to salute Nevis Range for delivering unwelcome message in honest and candid manner.
I am massive advocate of Scottish snowsports. Grew up skiing here and want my kids to experience the same.
However it needs to be acknowledged the Scottish ski "eco-system" is presently looking fragile:
i) Snow dome to be demolished
ii) Nevis Range going to limited opening. Braveheart and Warrens mothballed. No season pass sales or ski school
iii) Cairngorm funicular remains f--ked despite HIE spending £20 million on it. Will it open this winter?
iv) Glenshee seemed to be limited to Cairnwell & Sunnyside only last winter
Climate change is a real challenge.
Scottish skiing was always marginal with mountains at 1000m.
Plus none of the resorts have ever fully recovered from covid closures.
Since 2020 we had 2x winters of covid blank followed by a no snow-season in 2023.
What all the resorts need is a decent 2024 snow-season.
That is not the entire story though.
Certainly HIE need to be removed from having any future influence at Cairngorm and Nevis Range.
The funding for the funicular has been to detriment of the ski-area (and other areas in Scotland).
There needs to be recognition that while ski areas might lose money they bring visitors to the Highlands during the winter period, which would otherwise be low-season for tourism.
I remain hopeful that Nevis Range will endure the storm.
The hotel, conference centre, and bike tracks means they should have sustainable summer business (unlike Cairngorm).
If they can make money in summer (8 months of year) and employee staff year round then assuming we get snow the winter (4 months) will look after itself.
Oddly Glencoe seems uniquely placed to endure the challenges
- close to central belt
- small ski area. nimble operation that can ramp up if / when snow arrives
- snowsure on upper-runs.
Having said all that I am still hopefully we will still get some decent Scottish winters in the future.
As ever you just need to be opportunistic and willing to take advantage when periods of good snow and weather arrive.
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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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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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A snowy winter very much essential for greater good of Scottish snowsports this winter.
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Amen to that
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i) it doesn't work with kids
ii) most of the folk touring in Highlands learned basic skills in a Scottish resort first
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Personally I learnt at Hillend dry slope as a kid - not great fun but taught me the basics and not dependant upon snow falling from the sky, so some Scottish infrastructure remains 
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Skied Nevis Range on Friday 20 March 2020, two days before we went in to the first lockdown
Superb conditions with unlimited visibility and boot top powder in the Back Bowls
Skied Glencoe the day before with similar conditions and was blown away by the whole area - sights, skiing, food & drink, welcome, value for money
It's a real shame that Mother Nature doesn't consistently play ball because both are up there as ski experiences
I think it's a great press release and a very sensible solution to an unsolvable problem
There are plenty of places around the ski world which are open part time
This could be the making and saving of the area
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FAQ
And what is more it costs nothing to ski there 
