 Poster: A snowHead
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What is it like?
Ive never skied plastic.
How does it compare with Castlford snow dome in length (which is 165 metres)
the web site dosnt give a great deal of infomation on slope detail.
is it worth a visit for a change instead of Xscape?
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Renry,
Sheffield, at a guesstimate, is about the same in length as Castleford, although its a bit more split up with a couple of different routes down from the top of the drag lift.
The surface at the top half is the honeycomb type material (the stuff everyone tells broken finger horror stories about) and the bottom half, which runs into and through the freestyle area is made of the white carpet type stuff (called Snoflex I think).
The freestyle area is quite good fun with a half pipe and plenty of large bumps and jumps to enjoy.
Personally I would choose Castleford everytime simply due to the surface, I just find artificial surfaces such hard work (this of course is probably down to my lack of fitness/technique rather than a fault as such with plastic).
Having said that I'd say its worth trying anything once, you may love it, and from memory I think Sheffield works out about half the price of Castleford for a couple of hours on a weekend.
Boy of the Hairy variety
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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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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Cast' is also only an hour away for me. We go about once every 6 weeks or so. Generaly midweek as its quieter (i presume) We do the lunch session 11am-1pm for £25 inc a lunch. The panninis are rather nice.
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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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Renry; The best time to go is on a frosty evening after 8pm (most people are drifting off to the bar or pub at that time so it gets progressively emptier). When it is frosty it is quite close to a smooth piste skiing experience, the uplift on the main slope is a T bar. It is definitely worth a visit.
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Renry, I worked at the Sheffield Ski Village as an Instructor and the slope at Sheffield is definately longer than Castleford, I think its closer to 250m. The problem is that the Dendix on the main slope is very worn and not in the best state of repair. The advantage of Sheffield has to be the Freestyle arena (halfpipe, tabletop and rails) which is covered with Snowflex, if you are into that style of skiing. That said I would still probably go to Castleford as its snow as opposed to plastic.
There is a bit more variety regarding the terrain at Sheffield with a mogul field at the top left of the slope and the section of slope that goes under the lift line and there is also the ski jump ramp into the water (if that floats your boat). The bar is fairly good and so is the food and there's also the Snow & Rock shop on site. But as I said before I wouold still make the journey to Castleford if I was you.
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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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The advantages that Sheffield has over Castleford (other than being able to see it from my bedroom window!!)
1) It's outdoors. Obviously if the weather is bad, then this can be a disadvantage...but skiing was invented to be done outside, not in a fridge.
2) The freestyle area is good. Even if you're not into the "big" stuff, having a halfpipe and mogulfield gives a variety of skiing.
3) It costs less.
That said, most of my recent UK skiing has been at Castleford.
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If I could make an analogy - or two
If Skiing on snow is like making love to a beautiful woman then skiing on plastic or even an indoor slope is like making love to a blow up doll!!!
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Guys & Gal's - when did you last visit sheffield ?
the free style snowflex is still there, but what was the main slope of dendex is only half as long as it used to be, the removed the top half.
great in summer if you want a tan, but i much prefer to do practice etc. at Cas.
HOWEVER
Big things planned for Sheffield, including a REAL SNOW SLOPE (a'la xscape only longer) and a cable car system
web site is here snowmountain 
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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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| Odin wrote: |
| Guys & Gal's - when did you last visit sheffield ? |
Oooh...let me think... 
| Odin wrote: |
Big things planned for Sheffield, including a REAL SNOW SLOPE (a'la xscape only longer) and a cable car system |
Not sure exactly where things are up to, but (according to the Sheffield Star a few months ago) plans appear to be on hold for the moment after the council refused to support the housing part of the proposal (part of the grand plan was to build a new housing estate). Unfortunately, this was one of the ways that the project was being funded, so it appears to be "back to the drawing board".
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| Quote: |
Not sure exactly where things are up to, but (according to the Sheffield Star a few months ago) plans appear to be on hold for the moment after the council refused to support the housing part of the proposal (part of the grand plan was to build a new housing estate). Unfortunately, this was one of the ways that the project was being funded, so it appears to be "back to the drawing board".
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This point is still under discussion. One of my clients works in the housing department on Sheffield city council and she says that they are wrangling about the amount of housing that is to be sold as it is in conflict with a council housing project. The argument stems over how many houses that the Snow mountain consortium want to sell off, the quality of those houses and what impact it will have on the council plans to sell their houses.
As far as I know building on the site was due to start over the next few months but that will oviously be set back until they sort this problem out. I will endeavour to find out more info from my client.
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You know it makes sense.
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lampbus, next time you fancy the extra hour in the car give me a pm and if at all possible i'll share the cost. That's of course if you want some more snowheads to come.
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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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Curtains, Its always fun to share
Which part of Newcastle are u based in ?
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Poster: A snowHead
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lampbus, sunny bedlington , but i work in gateshead 
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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| Elizabeth B wrote: |
| The advantages that Sheffield has over Castleford (other than being able to see it from my bedroom window!!) |
I can see it out of my attic wondow. Never been though.
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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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skanky, you're not about to tell me that your another snowHead that lives on my road are you??
I've been many times....usually through work.
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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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Elizabeth B, I'm near to Woodseats...if you are too, then get worried.
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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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skanky, phew!!! I'm on a different hill to you then....over where I now can't park because all the students are back in town!!
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Lecturers didn't have cars when I was a student 
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Yoda, nobody had cars when you were a student 
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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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Yeah...when I was a student I didn't have a car...but a lot of them do now....and park outside my house 
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That's why we bought a house with it's own climbing wall...sorry drive.
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FAQ
I have never once regretted having 10 dry slope lessons before my first ski trip - i then got the most out of my holiday 
