 Poster: A snowHead
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Anyone tried indoor skiing at Xscape? (Milton Keynes/Leeds/Breahead)
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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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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oldsnowie, I was in MK on Thursday for a couple of hours and had a good time 
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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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Linds, does that mean you are a good-time girl? 
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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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Moved to The Piste from Suggestions. 
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Forgot to tell you all. At the Cas meet we brought along a friend who had not skied for 17 yrs. This morning she has the entire family at Cas doing theier first ever lessons, and 2nd lessons this afternoon. Just rang them and they are having a brill time.
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| Frosty the Snowman wrote: |
| Forgot to tell you all. At the Cas meet we brought along a friend who had not skied for 17 yrs. This morning she has the entire family at Cas doing theier first ever lessons, and 2nd lessons this afternoon. Just rang them and they are having a brill time. |
I hope you're on comission then!
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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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Frosty the Snowman, great news. Are they all joining snowheads?
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Frosty the Snowman, There's us thinking she were one of your many concubines . . . you being the Lord of the Lard and all that,. Next time are you bringing the Suet Virgins from the Temple of Rendering? 
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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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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oldsnowie, I've been to Milton Keynes, Castleford and Tamworth. Tamworth is the oldest of the three, and the building is starting to look a little tired, the run is the shortest, but it seems slightly longer because there's a bend in the middle. MK and Castleford are pretty similar - I think Castleford is a little longer. The rental gear at all of them is quite basic. If you've never been to one before, then you spend an awful lot of time travelling up the slope - one run down takes about 20seconds! I find it a pleasant thing to do in the summer when the prospect of real ski-ing is far away. Also worth going if you want to try something new, snowboarding for example, or as preparation for your first ever trip on the slope.
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I've only been to MK just before my first trip of a season. It's OK to get a bit of 'feel' back.
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You know it makes sense.
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oldsnowie, I went to Braehead in July for a few hours in the afternoon. Only one slope (apart from the beginners "slope"), so not much choice. By the time, you get up some speed, do a few turns, its all over (bit like sex really!!). Apart from that, its not too bad. I did like and would probably go back.
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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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I tried MK and found it too short. Breahead was good on Thursdays as the slope was almost empty but it's getting crowded. This week someone switched the fridge off and half of the top slope was closed and with a bigger crowd it wasn't much fun. But I guess its better than a dry slope.
At least when I get onto the real stuff again this year I'll be fitter and better prepared.
I'm about at the stage when I want to try freestyle so may have a lesson when its not so crowded.
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Poster: A snowHead
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Moan Moan...
Given the extortionate cost (£31 for two hours) – you’d think they’d put some snow on the poma run – I’m forever dragging my skis as they catch on the carpet. Does this happen at the other centres or is it just Breahead? 
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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oldsnowie, It happens all the time at castleford.
add to that the 'bonus' of frequent lift stops and it can make a visit quite frustrating.
Bonus at castleford is you can trial ski's from Ellis brigham if you ask nicely and show interest in the shop. saves b#ggering your own skis and loads better than rental.
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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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Odin, - great tip, Ill try it next week.
I think a 'crumpy' customer email to Mnsr Pye is in order, I'm going to try and find out his direct email address and contact their PR team for a response - if you pay good money, you desrve good service and I reckon its pretty shoddy.
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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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Skied Braehead three times - OK but avoid Fri evenings unless you are interested in freestyle. Had a fight with the management that night as half way through my hour they decided everybody on the slope had to go off and put on a helmet even if they weren't doing jumps (me).
I argued that you pay enough for an hour without having to spend 10 mins going off and putting a helmet on - they saw my point of view and gave me £10 worth of vouchers as compensation. 
Oldsnowie - I agree with you about the snow on the pomma, it's never been good any time I have been there.
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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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oldsnowie,
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Had a fight with the management that night as half way through my hour they decided everybody on the slope had to go off and put on a helmet even if they weren't doing jumps (me).
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that's terrible ! Although wearing a helmet is a good idea, i would not agree with making everyone wear helmets which were not their own and thus didn't fit properly. Ill fitting helmets could cause more of an injury in a fall that not wearing one.
Most people who do jumps etc. have already purchased a helmet, so its not a problem for them.
I think it ok for the slope to reccomend you wear a helmet, but not to enforce it - its your head, its your choice.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Part of my complaint was that nobody told me before I went on (nor was it mentioned on their web site that I booked through).
As well as using my paid for time what really annoyed me was that I had a helmet at home (which I wear on the mountain) that I could have brought with me. I think someone just made a snap decision, because it was getting busy, that everybody had to wear helmets even if they weren't doing jumps.
So I ended up wearing a smelly helmet that umpteen other people had worn that day. 
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Better a smelly helmet than brain damage,paralysis,and drinking your food through a straw.
Sorry to sound a bit 'schoolteacher' but it's happened to a few really good boarders.
Any suggestion regarding your safety should be viewed as a positive,and yes I know that some people go over the top but you should really take your own well fitting helmet as a basic requirement.
If you have to use someone else's then don't do jumps. 
If you have to wear someone else's then dont ride.
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| Sage wrote: |
| .................I think someone just made a snap decision, because it was getting busy, that everybody had to wear helmets even if they weren't doing jumps............ |
Xscape have always had a policy that a helmet must be worn when doing jumps & the park apparatus etc - however I never seen any signage stating that or anything on their website.
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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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| paulm wrote: |
If you have to use someone else's then dont do jumps.
If you have to wear someone else's then don't ride. |
I was skiing and was not, and had no intention of doing jumps (bit too old for that). There was no problem the first half hour on the slope until the management changed the rules.
I agree with helmet use (better watch not to turn this into another helmet good/bad thread) but not for sking down a 200 m indoor slope.
Anyway, I will not be going back on a Friday night.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Sage,
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I was skiing and was not, and had no intention of doing jumps (bit too old for that). There was no problem the first half hour on the slope until the management changed the rules.
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Sorry mate did not realise,lost in my own little boarding world.
Mind you,if you ever get the chance to see me ski you would wear a helmet whilst spectating.
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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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Yeh,done that,infact...still doin' that. 
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You know it makes sense.
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[quote="spyderjon"Xscape have always had a policy that a helmet must be worn when doing jumps & the park apparatus etc - however I never seen any signage stating that or anything on their website.[/quote]
They are there at Cas, both on the door as you go in and at the bottom of the lifts.
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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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Poster: A snowHead
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Read the CEO's response. Now it may just be me but I thought the whole point of xscape was that you ski on snow!
A reply from PY Gereau:
Thank you for having taken the time to contact me personally and for your loyalty towards our great snow destinations.
I have read with attention your concerns regarding the lift tracks of our Breahead snow slope. The tracks are made from Snowflex, which is meant to be kept moist at the surface, but free from too much snow which would result in stopping the lift. For the comfort of our customers, we have slope patrols shoveling snow onto the lift track, should it becomes slightly sticky, especially at peak times under heavy use.Following your comments i've ask the team in Glasgow, and especially, our Slope Manager to monitor the situation very closely, please do not hesitate to ask for one of our slope patrols should you require assistance upon a next visit.
The snow maintenance of an indoor slope lift is on certain aspects different from an outdoor resort, and this is the reason why you will notice some slight differences in your sensations. I really regret any inconvenience this may have caused. We arededicated to ensuring all our operators adopt a positive and proactive attitude, and your feedback is greatly appreciated.
We look forward to welcoming you again on the slopes in the near future.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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oldsnowie, How the hell is Snowflex at -2 or less meant to be kept "moist" and are they confirming that their 'snow' has more drag than plastic? We need more info.
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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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oldsnowie, Of the three I think Braehead does the best at keeping the lift track covered.
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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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oldsnowie, The lift tracks at Castleford were always snow covered until some time last year when they began to leave them as bare snowflex.
The reason given was that their insurers had insisted on this on H&S grounds as beginner level skiers & boarders who fall on the lift effectively stop on the snowflex bristles, with the lifties immediately stopping the lift. When the track was snow covered, although the lift had been stopped, fallers could (& did) slide down the track & take out the person on the poma below.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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spyderjon, good point, but I've seen a number of skiers come off the lift as one ski sticks to the dry carpet while the other carries on - and they end up twisting something and as Masque said (above) how do you keep the snoflex wet at -2c?
will the insurers ban the skiing incase people bump into one another on the slope? 
I guess the trick is to kee a light covering of snow on the whole track
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I think the insurers should be more bothered abouts Castleford's 'common practice' of only running one lift instead of two even when busy which results in people queuing across the bottom of the piste. I've seen quite a few collisions there and was once personally wiped out by a very attractive yound damsel who was still mastering the art of stopping.
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| Odin wrote: |
I think the insurers should be more bothered abouts Castleford's 'common practice' of only running one lift instead of two even when busy which results in people queuing across the bottom of the piste. I've seen quite a few collisions there and was once personally wiped out by a very attractive yound damsel who was still mastering the art of stopping.
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I've seen this happening at Braehead too. I was quite surprised due to the potentially high risk of an accident happening. At our dry slope which is a good bit shorter (and slower) they are very careful not to have queues at the bottom.
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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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FAQ
Mind you I can't ski wearing my reading specs 
