 Poster: A snowHead
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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We had a grand total of 9 participants (the smallest snowHeads event ever)
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We're a fickle lot in the land of kilt and haggis. But we do have the best ski area in the world (and yes, I will defend that remark) plus sH's favourite Grandma 
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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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| admin wrote: |
| For a hint, see your previous line. |
For sure. Went to snow dome in summer with both kids. Not much change from £100 for 2x hours. For similar money I can get a kids season pass for Glencoe or multiple sessions on dry slope.
Having said that I reckon braehead will eventy re-open. Current management were incompetent @rseholes by all accounts (see previous page). Apparently original business case was based on the slope being loss leader for the retail. Then Intu sold off the loss making part....
Rumour is they have a buyer but liquidators need to resolve mess over the current lease first. So hopefully it is not shut for good.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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I must admit that I have always had a problem with a pricing structure that charges me for ski and boot hire when I bring my own kit  (obviously applies to all fridges) - they would certainly get more money out of me if that was changed.
Having said that I find the snow dome experience a little tedious - good time to work on technique but The Dolomites it is not.
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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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It's been poorly run for years and I avoid it as a result. I'm a member at Glasgow Ski Centre and would rather ski on plastic instead of the stuff they call snow. I'm just over £100 a year for unlimited use for my family at GSC but would be lucky to get 2 hours for us at Snozone for the same price.
If the new owners actually run it properly and freshen up the snow regularly I'd happily go for a slide now and again
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You'll need to Register first of course.
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@admin, As one of the few (along with my daughter) who attended the ski test that year, Thank you.
Ellis Brigham ran a test weekend the following year, I think, but after that the new owners of the slope whoever they were put a stop to it.
I remember EB were very unhappy at the time that sledging and tubing during October school holidays was more important 
Everytime we did a ski test at Braehead it cost us a new pair of skis.
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Was in snowboard asylum at braehead today and word is a buyer is in the wings and they expect it to reopen, suggestion was that the buyer already ran indoor slopes elsewhere in UK
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@muppet, TSA were running a board test at the slope all day last Saturday.
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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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Think further south 
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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| as long as it's NOT Cairngorm Mountain Limited |
It would be great to see Cairngorm ran properly - with a focus on snowsports. It could be a winner! 
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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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Anyone got an update on who is buying Snow Factor at Braehead? Anyone know any insider gossip from anywhere? I am guessing it will either be Hemel Hempstead (who recently bought Chill Factor in Manchester) or SnoZone (who used to own it originally) who are buying it.... Thanks in advance 
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You know it makes sense.
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Snowdomes are very high electricity users so energy price hikes must be taking their toll. Nothing wrong with dry slopes for learning to ski; much cheaper to run, less environmental harm and many venues give you much longer runs
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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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A cursory look online reveals Snozone MK has 100,000 visitors per annum. So double.
The obvious issue is that the boarding/skiing populace of Strathclyde and Central is far too low to support this niche operation.
The English indoor slopes are accessible to millions.
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Poster: A snowHead
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Nothing seems to be happening at the moment apart from dealing with the fallout of the closure - claims for unpaid wages etc being actioned. Still hope there will be a sustainable plan out in place by a new owner, but clearly one of the most lucrative business periods has just been missed.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Thanks guys, much appreciated. Many years ago a worked at Chill Factor for a few years then at SnoZone for a few more years, just minimum wage rental stuff mostly. Recently moved to Scotland with the idea I could work at Snow Factor/Braehead and it would see me out until retirement but now this happens... I think the issue for some (not all) of the indoor slopes is the lease payments to the owners; if you own the slope outright at least you can micro-manage good/bad seasons and still break even... but if you have *very* high lease payments regardless of how busy or quiet it is then, without a great catchment area like Manchester of Hemel/London, they're always going to struggle...  I hope they continue, with global warming it's good if we still have a community of snowsports enthusiasts who keep the sport alive... #worriedface
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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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@MediumSpeedMiddleAged, lease payments are/were not the issue in this case.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Ice Factor is defunct - the circumstances outwith their control is that the owners of the building have changed the locks and evicted Ice Factor, well from the Ice Factor. Even the website has been suspended. Looks like a lot is catching up with Jamie Smith. Karma is a bitch. 
Probably little bearing on what happens next at Braehead. There is a slim possibility of a short term operation of the slope there as it is still being keep refrigerated and looked after by the xsite building owners. It needs kept chilled and controlled or else the tenants will have to leave the building, but if nothing comes of a short term operation of the slope to buy some time it is sadly sounding like it is inevitably going to move towards being curtains for the whole xsite building over the summer.
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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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@haggishunter, Thanks for the update man, I'm really really hoping it reopens by next Christmas as I've recently moved to the area and would love to work there... fingers-crossed
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Jeremy Hunt announced £63 million extra funding to go to leisure centres struggling to pay their energy bills... I wonder if any of that might trickle-down to indoor ski slopes and (possibly) help reopen Snow Factor @ Braehead...?
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@MediumSpeedMiddleAged, -No. money is for England. Some money will come through to the Scottish Government via “consequentials”, but there is no obligation to spend it in the same way. In any event the money in England will be for public/community venues not commercial ones.
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dangly bits
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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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Bit of an update here: -
https://www.facebook.com/snowsportscotland
Looks like snowsports Scotland and maybe a few of the local race clubs have been in discussion with Intu (who own the slope) to reopen it just for corporate/race events (not for the general public). But after discussions Intu shareholders sound like they don't want to get involved in running themselves and would still prefer to give the lease to a company who will take over the whole slope...
But at least there's polite/constructive pressure from the higher-ups in the snowsports industry to reopen it... which is good
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@MediumSpeedMiddleAged, I was thinking about this the other day. It would make a great base for BASI.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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| GlasgowCyclops wrote: |
| @MediumSpeedMiddleAged, I was thinking about this the other day. It would make a great base for BASI. |
Yeah it would be awesome, but I guess it needs to be a business that makes enough £££ to break-even first and then an BASI/organisation base second... that's unless the government subsidise it... which is unlikely in out cost of living crisis
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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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There's a petition to save the slope from closure. Some concerned parents started it. Interestingly, The Daily Record, in a wee article about the campaign, wrote that a spokesperson for Braehead said they were currently in discussion with potential new operators. Whetehr that's true or not is anyone's guess. Just thought I'd give everyone a little update.
https://www.change.org/p/save-scotland-s-only-indoor-snow-slope-from-closure
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You know it makes sense.
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Welcome to snowHeads @justhuckandpray,
Ta for the update |
Thank you for the welcome! I lurk but this is my comment.
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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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Cracking reason given by one of the petition’s supporters.
“This snow slope was my only getaway from a toxic and hurtful relationship with my wife. She would throw avalanches of insults at me. It gave me a chance to escape the torture that was staying in that house with her. Without this snow slope i will be nothing but a waste of space and a piece of trash for my wife to abuse. Please do not close this snow slope this will cause my life to slide downhill rapidly.“
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Poster: A snowHead
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| Quote: |
Cracking reason given by one of the petition’s supporters.
“This snow slope was my only getaway from a toxic and hurtful relationship with my wife. She would throw avalanches of insults at me. It gave me a chance to escape the torture that was staying in that house with her. Without this snow slope i will be nothing but a waste of space and a piece of trash for my wife to abuse. Please do not close this snow slope this will cause my life to slide downhill rapidly.“ |
I saw that comment! What a brilliant reason.
I actually wrote to the MSP for Renfrewshire about this and here's the response I got. It sounds like work is being done in the background to save the slope.
Thank you for your email to Natalie Don MSP.
Natalie is aware of the concerns relating to the ski slope and has been in continued discussions with the owners of the Xsite centre to ensure that all is being done to secure the long term future of the indoor ski slope.
Natalie has met with the owners of Xsite to discuss this and explore all possible options. Please be assured that Natalie is continuing to liaise with the Xsite management to ensure that the future of indoor snow sports is protected as she has been doing since news of the initial closure was announced last year . Natalie recognises the benefit that this asset contributes not just to her constituency but for the entire West of Scotland.
Natalie has received reassurances from the management at Xsite that they wish to maintain the Ski slope and have actively been seeking an operator to take it on. However, Natalie appreciates that there appears to be limited progress being made.
Please be assured that Natalie will do everything that she can to support the retention of the ski slope for Renfrewshire.
We trust that this response clarifies Natalie’s strong position on this matter. However, if you have any further queries please do not hesitate to get back in touch with us.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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@justhuckandpray,it wasn’t Natalie Don’s husband I trust.
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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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Good stuff guys! Lets get it back open 
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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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Anybody heard any news, insider information? I feel like the clock is ticking to get it back open...
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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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@MediumSpeedMiddleAged, I spoke to someone yesterday and there is nothing new on the go. I can’t
Divulge my source.
The slope is being maintained so there is still the infrastructure.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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| GlasgowCyclops wrote: |
@MediumSpeedMiddleAged, I spoke to someone yesterday and there is nothing new on the go. I can’t
Divulge my source.
The slope is being maintained so there is still the infrastructure. |
Thanks man, here's hoping!
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@MediumSpeedMiddleAged, as I understand it the slope and the Pomas could be used tomorrow.
Unfortunately intu knocked back Snowsport Scotland using the slope over the summer, however into have to maintain it because the snow slope, the ice base and the refrigeration system is integral to the entire building.
Obviously staff, booking systems and hire equipment is needed, but the critical basic infrastructure is ready.
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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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edited
Last edited by You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net. on Wed 27-09-23 14:41; edited 1 time in total
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FAQ
(the smallest snowHeads event ever)
