Poster: A snowHead
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I just received this offer by e-mail. I was considering contacting them and asking if they would undertake PR for my business as the ability to spin this positively deserves a wider audience. Particularly like the bit that says 'all ski resorts in Chamonix sit above 2000m - well above the freezing level' Or realistically ' there is skiing above 2000m but at the moment the freezing level is about 2700m'.
Now, I'm a cup half full sort of person and have enjoyed my skiing so far thi year and am looking forward to the rest of the season but this sort of thing is a bit misleading
Weather Report
10 days ago we experienced a major snowfall in Chamonix. This opened all ski lifts and gave us the best week of skiing so far this season. (some photos below). Conditions were perfect - it was unbelievable! We were all suprised at how much snow had fallen - with bright sunshine, soft fresh snow on the piste, and plenty of off-piste areas available - it was a weekend to remember!
Since this snowfall temperatures have increased in the valley and much of the lower areas have melted back to grass again. But the great thing about Chamonix is that all ski resorts sit above 2000m - well above the freezing level.So our pistes are still in great condition.
With the warmer weather it has been reminiscent of spring time. Normally January can be bitterly cold at the top of the mountain, yet we are enjoying amazing sunny weather, with picnics on the pistes everyday.
The forecast is for more snow! Today it is becoming overcast with snow due tomorrow afternoon - we are hoping for 10-20 cm of fresh snow.
So book a flight out this weekend. We have an incredible one-time-only deal:
3 Star Hotel Accommodation for only £25 per person per night!
The long-range forcast is for a colder February with temperatures returning to normal again. Apparently we are in an "El Nino" winter which historically has brought colder temperatures in February with, yes, more snow.
Piste Report
Warmer weather than normal - plenty of snow - lots of sunshine - We are loving it!
There is still snow cover throughout the valley on all pistes above 2000m. All major runs are open.
The warmer nights means softer snow, allowing the piste machines to groom the pistes to perfection. Morning is the perfect time for those who enjoy carving down the mountain over the flat groomed pistes, with the afternoons perfect for the young'uns to practice their snowboarding tricks in the softer snow.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Hmm, not easy to make the lack of even an overnight freeze into a marketing point! I suspect some of this odd language (ski resorts sit above 2000m) might be the result of a dodgy translation from some dodgy claims in French. Just goes to show, caveat emptor applies with ski holidays as everything else. After all, you don't believe those emails claiming to be able to make your pint enormous, do you? (especially if, like me, you are female....)
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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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Don't know about anyone else but I am sold, where do I sign?
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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where do i put my bank details ?
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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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BGA, If one accepts that Les Houches is not part of the Chamonix system then all of the above is essentially true
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LARGEZOOKEEPER, the essence of any spin is that it contains large elements of the truth. Whilst I agree that the majority of information given is true, the overall sense of the e-mail is misleading. You could quite easily take the same info and present it very differently - ie - The warmer nights means softer snow, allowing the piste machines to groom the pistes to perfection. Morning is the perfect time for those who enjoy carving down the mountain over the flat groomed pistes, with the afternoons perfect for the young'uns to practice their snowboarding tricks in the softer snow.
OR - get your ar*e out of bed early 'cos it's all turned to slush by 12.
Perhaps now you can see why I never worked in PR
pam w, can't blame dodgy translation I'm afraid as it's an English company. BTW my wife gets those enlarge your pint e-mails, but she forwards them to me. Do you think this means anything?
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After just spending a 2 days in Chamonix I can agree with everything this says about the conditions. the forecast looks more than dodgy though! Chamonix and Argentiere are just fine at the moment.
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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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Quote: |
considering a French 3 star is more like a 4 star everywhere else
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You sure you've got that the right way round BMF_Skier?
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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BGA, was this spin courtesy of Bigfoot by any chance? I had a similarly over-egged email before Christmas from them. Hey, it's called selling and the buyer must be beware. The big tour ops have been at it for years. I was once sold ski-in ski-out in St Anton and, when I got there, discovered that I was off the beaten track in Nasserein without a ski lift within a 10 minute yomp.
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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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Wear The Fox Hat, me too. Only a 3 metre base in Utah . And it's nice & cold.
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Bode Swiller, good guess.
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You know it makes sense.
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Bode Swiller, have a good trip - where you off to?
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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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how's this for an honest report with just a bit of spin at the end
sierra nevada today
Clear, fresh and sunny
Snow Quality: Packed Powder / Hard in areas
Notes:
The drought continues but the pistes continue to remain in very good condition due mainly to the hard work applied by the resort workers in dragging snow in from other areas thereby reducing the number of stoney sections that have begun appearing.
As ever, the best skiing is to be had during the first half of the days whilst the pistes remain beautifully groomed. Some areas are becoming quite thin on the ground with some stones showing through.
Forecasts are showing no real sign of change now for the next few days in contrary to expectations of a few days ago!
There is currently a limit of 8,000 lift pass sales per day being made.
Passes are being sold very quickly and obtaining a pass on the day itself is currently highly unlikely! The best option is to get to resort a day before to purchase your tickets!
The lift pass office opens at 08.30 daily. Pre-booking lift passes may be denied for the next few days whilst limited pistes remain open!!
Sierra Nevada continues to experience some of the best conditions found Europe wide!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The road to resort is currently clear.
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Poster: A snowHead
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Wear The Fox Hat, an almost unheard of place called Brian Head... around 200 miles north east of Las Vegas (cos I'm going to the SIA Show). It's not big and the vertical is around 1700 feet but there's a ton of "the S word" and, you never know, maybe plenty of "the P word" as they do cat skiing. I didn't want to say Snow or Powder in case it upsets anyone... d'oh! I'm expecting the nightlife to be dire but Las Vegas should make up for that! Where you going?
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Looks like Iraq's information minister (comical Ali) has managed to find some work as a snow reporter!
Remember him? He cried, "There are no Americans here" and "We are slaughtering them all" when U.S tanks could be seen over his shoulder about 2 miles down the road.
Except now it's, "Plenty of snow" "We are loving it".
I can just see him driving his jeep down the street with snow chains churning up the warm snowless tarmac of Chamonix shouting "BEVARE OF DE AVALANCHES" through a loud hailer.
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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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Bode Swiller wrote: |
Wear The Fox Hat, an almost unheard of place called Brian Head... around 200 miles north east of Las Vegas (cos I'm going to the SIA Show). It's not big and the vertical is around 1700 feet but there's a ton of "the S word" and, you never know, maybe plenty of "the P word" as they do cat skiing. I didn't want to say Snow or Powder in case it upsets anyone... d'oh! I'm expecting the nightlife to be dire but Las Vegas should make up for that! Where you going? |
Some superb mtn biking there. the local town Cedar City has a Shakespeare festival in summer , complete with Globe theatre replica, Cedar Breaks is stunning, like a mini Bryce Canyon. Suspect its amall as a ski area but will have good tree runs
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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BGA, courtesy of Webster, "7 : to present (as information) with a particular spin"
No Spin there then.
As reported at the time, the skiing in the Chamonix valley, excepting Les Houches which only went on the pass this year anyway, has been almost universally very good. Above 2000m the snow is pretty much normal for the time of year. It has been sunny and warm. The skiing is GOOD. Not every day is a powder day. They are being a little enthusiastic, which for my money is what I want from a ski company.
Yes, I have a vested interest (and an apartment available for next week in case anyone wants some last minute decent skiing) but I am sick and darn tired of people knocking a poor season into a dreadful one.
Oops, "whoop whoop" I think I'm about to be nicked for kerb crawling...
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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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Bode Swiller, I'm off to Aspen. I've heard of Brian Head, but never been enjoy the P******. Enjoy SIA. (one of these years I'll get to it...)
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