 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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Fruity, like you I get mildly annoyed by people who insist on talking to their mobiles whilst on the piste (hopefully they're at least on the side of the piste at the time - not guaranteed). Mind you in Italy, where I've skiied quite a bit, mobiles are surgically grafted to Italians' ears. Anyway my etiquette would be to use them at the top or bottom of the run if you must. hey why not take our PCs with us on the runs as well and work piste-side. Part of the point of skiing is to get away from your daily routines. That said, I'm sure they can leave you a message from the kindergarten in an emergency, which you'll get at some stage when you check in. Don't let them spoil your skiing by feeling you need to check it every run!!
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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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I know a few snow-bars where a mobile-melody will earn you some dirty looks - one even has a sign - "keine handy". You need to know that your kids are ok though - maybe you can find a discreet ringtone - most phones have one.
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The meeting profile on Nokias works well (single beep, then vibrate). Just put the phone in an internal pocket, or you won't feel it (I've deliberatly left out the sexual inuendo here).
2 way radios are also quite a good replacment for mobiles, especially in mixed ability groups, where you just need to keep in touch to arange the next meeting point. The range is fairly good and the good ones have hands free kits now.
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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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Your kids safety is obviously of paramount importance so what can be done to make it easier carrying your phone?
A) there are always discrete ring tones - I have one which slowly gains in volume so I'll often answer it before anyone else hears it. Still not always possible if U have gloves and stuff to deal with first.
B) bluetooth - this is a new technology allowing cordless headsets/earpieces. They are very lightweight and some are even comfortable to wear for extended periods. The advantage is that your phone stays in your pocket and answers automatically: U barely even need to break your rhythm. However older phones will not have this and only some of the newish ones do. If your phone is over a year old though U can usally persuade your telco to upgrade it for you for free or thereabouts.
C) A replacement SIM card. Buy a pay as U go SIM in the country U are visiting and pop it into your phone. no-one back home will have your number and U give to only those U have to for emergency purposes. The bonus is that any calls made or received on it will far cheaper than via your UK SIM. U will however need to get your phone 'unlocked'. The drawback of us getting our phones 'for free' when we take on a service contract is that the phone will be locked to use only SIM cards belonging to that network ie. U cannot use a T-mobile SIM in an Orange phone. U will find that any 'indpendent' phone shop will unlock your phone to work with any SIM for £10-15.
Personally, I find the "dzzzz kghghshhhhh thhhhhhp where are U? tssssszzzzz who's that?" of short range radios far more intrusive than the occasional ring of a mobile phone.
They used to yodel U know 
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You'll need to Register first of course.
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The worst case of rudeness was a guy in our ski class who, when his mobile rang, put his hand up to the instructor and said "excuse me, stop talking while I take this call"!! Understandably, the instructor took no notice. 
I do carry one as it's useful for arranging where to meet etc., but normally do this by text messaging. However, I was on the national downhill in Zermatt in January (a big step for me as blacks are normally beyond my level), I was concentrating very, very hard on my turns etc., and my pocket was constantly bleating out the "bugle" call of my mobile phone  Annoyingly, my partner must have thought "oh dear, maybe she's fallen over" and kept on ringing and ringing. I very nearly hurled it into the trees!
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I have an Austrian Apres Ski ringtone on my phone, always gets a few laughs if I'm in the bar when it rings.
If the phone rings while skiing I generally leave it until I can get to a suitable place (i.e. At the bottom of the piste out of the way from skiers and lift lines). Even if it is the most important phone call in the world, what exactly can you do now that you can't do in a couple of minutes time?
Anybody that uses a phone in a lift line should be shot.
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I usually put it on silent, vibrating (it's a nokia). If I feel it, I answer. If not, whoever is calling me, will call back again. Also, I use the earphone. it's discrete but it make you look a bit weird, talking to yourself...Ah, I forgot.
I'm Italian, but I don't have the cell phone surgically grafted to my ear... 
It is true that more or less 80% of us Italians own a cell phone (kids included!!!)
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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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I never take my phone on piste but pick up voice messages when I get back to the hotel.
As for ringtones, there's only one suitable for the winter season - Ski Sunday 
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Matteo,
An Italian speaking while only moving one hand - I didn't know that was physically possible
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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I make sure my voicemail service is de-activated before going away - you pay when someone leaves a message even if you don't listen to the message. 'Missed call' lets you know who's rung - I ring back when convenient or text
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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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Peter B, I have Ski Sunday ring tone on my phone too. It cheers me up everytime it rings
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Cathy, you're on the wrong contract if they charge you for un-listened to messages. I've never heard of this charge before.
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You know it makes sense.
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Peter B, I too have ski sunday ring tone on my mobile (work) and match of the day on my personal one
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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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Pete - what network are you on that doesn't charge? There were a few of us using different netwroks and we all had this - I guess I assumed they all did 
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Poster: A snowHead
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Cathy,
The problem isn't in being charged for not listening to messages, if your phone is switched on when someone calls then redirects to voicemail, you will have to pay for the re-direction to voicemail.
So, if you don't want to be charged, leave your phone switched off, and just switch it on to see if there are any messages and then pick them up.
(this is when you're roaming)
It's also cheaper to send/receive text messages when abroad than to call, so you may want to change your voicemail to tell people not to leave a message, but to text you.
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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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Also, it may be interesting to buy one of those rechargable phone cards when abroad, and to tell people to call you on that number (this way one would avoid
roaming fees)
I am unsure whether the rechargables sims require the buyer to be a resident,though.
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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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Ah - thanks WTFH, all is clear now! 
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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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Cathy/WTFH, I've never received a call then diverted it (or let it divert) to voicemail as far as I know, so that may be why I've had no charges. I have had voicemail messages but that was because my phone was switched off or out of range. I'm on Orange pay monthly, Talk30 I think.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Yeah, Pete, that's it - if the phone is switched off when the call comes in, then you're OK.
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FAQ
