 Poster: A snowHead
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Why is it that most europeans ski on the piste?
I was at obersdorf (germany), st anton (austria), and bad gastein (austria) last winter and witnessed an incredible sight. They had some of the best snow in the world and wide open bowls and 98% of the skiiers skiied on the groomers that were cut across the mountain. Why?
I know about avalanche danger (I ski with a beacon, shovel, probe, and know how to read the snow), listen closely to the avalanche reports and forecasts, and stay on marked ski routes. I was skiing off-piste in some of the best powder ever with very few others. Days after the storm there were many freshies to be found. Why? I don't get it?
asland
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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In America you can generally ski anywhere within the boundaries of the ski area. In Europe you ski off-piste at your own risk, the areas are not usually patrolled and avalanche risk is much higher as the snow in these areas is not managed as well. Also, skiing off-piste is not covered by most insurances.
From personal experience skiing off-piste in the States is much easier because the snow is drier and doesn't stick to you like it does in Europe.
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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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And many European akiers (think that they) are not capable of skiing off piste. Apart from skiing ability, they haven't the knowledge to read the snow, use an avalanche probe or beacon and so on, and can't be bothered to learn. No criticism (I'm in that group), that's the way it is.
Last edited by Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see? on Fri 2-02-07 11:03; edited 1 time in total
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richmond, Don't beat yourself up too much, most American skiers fall into that category too
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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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The General answer is. Most European are on a relaxing ski holiday, they just like to ski around on groomed slopes , stop for coffee,beer ,wine etc . There not into carrying RuckSaks with spades, beacons, munchbars etc.
There also not reading forums like this or others. Its just a way of life 1 or 2 weeks winter ski holiday 3-4 weeks summer holiday in the Med.
However, there are hardcore groups (hundreds) of Off-Piste/Touring skiers from Germany & Scandinavian Countrys.
Sking Off-Piste in Europe can be incredibly dangerous , there are numerous fatalities every year & this gets reported on European TV reguarly.
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asland, because that's the best place to ski... in fact more Europeans should stick to the piste... off piste is rubbish... 
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Why do most europeans ski on the piste?
- because it's easier and you're less likely to die.
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Why is it that most europeans ski on the piste? ..
because there is usually a bar 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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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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| Quote: |
Why is it that most europeans ski on the piste?
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Oooh look at me, I'm a hardcore off piste skier, I don't ski on piste, piste skiing is for poor skiers. 
I do wish folks would stop rubbishng piste skiing. A good piste will have all that most folks need with even a little off pste detour thrown in. Skiing is about what you as a skier get out of your holiday/ skiing, and not how many ticks you have in the boxes. If you are having a fantastic time then where is the problem.
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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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Frosty,
reread the original post - dont think there is any evidence that he was rubbishing piste skiing
J
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You know it makes sense.
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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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| jedster wrote: |
Frosty,
reread the original post - dont think there is any evidence that he was rubbishing piste skiing
J |
Though with the exception of racing/training - piste skiing is generally dull IMO
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Poster: A snowHead
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I thought Euros skiied on piste because:
1. Stanton says that on-piste is better than anything the Brits have ever done.
2. Whitegold says that off-piste is the devil's playground.
3. Who wants powder when you can have hardpack?
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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| asland wrote: |
Why is it that most europeans ski on the piste?
I was at obersdorf (germany), st anton (austria), and bad gastein (austria) last winter and witnessed an incredible sight. They had some of the best snow in the world and wide open bowls and 98% of the skiiers skiied on the groomers that were cut across the mountain. Why?
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By Europeans you seem to mean Germanic types. Why? for the same reason they will wait indefinitely at a red man on a crossing despite there being no traffic.
In France it is the opposite, as Jean-Louis Tuaillon, the piste director at Tignes put it "We could construct a berlin wall across a dangerous off-piste slope and people would climb over it just because it is there - its French nature".
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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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| Whitegold wrote: |
| Off-piste is for losers. |
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davidof, there may be something in that - but then why did they need a Berlin Wall and not just a few traffic lights?
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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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| Quote: |
you're less likely to die
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Sloppy writing! You are absolutely certain to die, whether you ski off-piste or not. Just not necessarily today.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
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| davidof wrote: |
| for the same reason they will wait indefinitely at a red man on a crossing despite there being no traffic.[/i]. |
There is a reason. You can be fined in Germany. Also if you corss the road in sight of Zebra crossing area you can be fined. After all thats what they provide these facilties for.
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And after all, 'they' know best.
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| Wear The Fox Hat wrote: |
I thought Euros skiied on piste because:
1. Stanton says that on-piste is better than anything the Brits have ever done.
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??
STOP THE BRUTAL GROOMING
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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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| laundryman wrote: |
Why do most europeans ski on the piste?
- because it's easier and you're less likely to die. |
Debatable. There is definitly way more accidents, injuries ON-PISTE in resorts than OFF-PISTE.
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That sounds suspiciously like the arguments the insurance companies give for quoting lower prices to women!
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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| stanton wrote: |
Debatable. There is definitly way more accidents, injuries ON-PISTE in resorts than OFF-PISTE. |
True, but I think the deaths off-piste are in the majority.
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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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| stanton wrote: |
| Debatable. There is definitly way more accidents, injuries ON-PISTE in resorts than OFF-PISTE. |
Per skier-minute?
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Surprised at your view on st anton - that not many people were off piste. Not my experience, seen plenty of powder frenzies in st anton and it generally gets tracked pretty quick. St anton is known for it's great off piste where as the other resorts you mention aren't to my knowledge. My only real north america experince is fernie 2 seasons ago. After 3 weeks of "pineapple express" induced rain and thaw the first powder day everything was tracked by lunch. I was in Zauchansee, Ski Amade, for a day last week, was 20cms of fresh and me & the wife seemed like the only ones giving off piste a go. Mind you there was hardly any base so it was a bit hit and miss but did find some very nice pictches of untracked. I do think the big repuation resorts may have the best off piste and snow records but if it gets tracked so quick it can make quiet family styled resorts a good place to head for fresh pow.
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You know it makes sense.
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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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| stanton wrote: |
| laundryman wrote: |
Why do most europeans ski on the piste?
- because it's easier and you're less likely to die. |
Debatable. There is definitly way more accidents, injuries ON-PISTE in resorts than OFF-PISTE. |
I would imagine that that's only because there are way more people on piste than off. The biggest danger 'on piste' is the possibility of colliding with other skiers. The terrain itself is nowhere near as dangerous as off piste terrain.
Imagine if you had as many people off piste as on at any given time. There would be an endless line of helicopters transporting people to the local hospital!
Maybe skiing off piste is seen as less of a big deal to Americans because quite often the difference between areas is less dramatic than it is in Europe.
I skiied in Utah last year and on virtually every day that we skiied, the snow on the 'groomers' was so deep it felt like we were off piste anyway!
Under these circumstances, Crossing that line and venturing off piste would feel a lot less daunting than if you'd spent the last four days skiing on solid hardpack.
Just a theory (probably a load of bol**ocks)
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Poster: A snowHead
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| Quote: |
Why is it that most europeans ski on the piste?
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Actually I think most Europeans don't ski at all!
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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| Frosty the Snowman wrote: |
Oooh look at me, I'm a hardcore off piste skier, I don't ski on piste, piste skiing is for poor skiers.
I do wish folks would stop rubbishng piste skiing. A good piste will have all that most folks need with even a little off pste detour thrown in. Skiing is about what you as a skier get out of your holiday/ skiing, and not how many ticks you have in the boxes. If you are having a fantastic time then where is the problem. |
I definetly was not trying to trash piste skiing. I have a lot of fun at that as well. It's just that when I ski in the US almost everyone is looking for good off-piste. Just wondering about why the differences?
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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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asland, Part of the problem in Europe is the number of skiers on the mountain, but most of the answers have been given above. 2 of the 3 quotes i gave were not yours, but i was just waiting for the off piste supriority brigade to come along. 
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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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| Quote: |
Why is it that most europeans ski on the piste?
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Possibly inexperience - to us noobs, on piste is how we learn and what we are comfortable with. There is also probably an element of "swimming between the flags" if you get what I mean. To me personally, I'll have to get a hell of a lot more experience before I'm game to try off piste. Oh and I'm not European - I'm an Aussie living in London!!!
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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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asland, Go to Chamonix, you'll see more hard core skiers there than anywhere in the States
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Spindrift, possibly. You'll also see more fakes who are going there to be seen as hard core skiers.
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Ideal situation - off-piste before lunch - a really good late lunch somewhere in the sun - and then some high speed blasting on-piste after lunch ending at a piste-side bar.
Whilst I think my most memorable skiing has all been off-piste or in US type bowl situations, there is a certain type of skier who would rather be clattering over windpack or through semi-set porridge than be seen on a nice steep bit of corduroy, even if no one else is looking. I don't understand this.
Last edited by Then you can post your own questions or snow reports... on Fri 2-02-07 15:43; edited 1 time in total
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| stanton wrote: |
| Also if you corss the road in sight of Zebra crossing area you can be fined. |
But vot iz ze bra crossing?
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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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| asland wrote: |
Why is it that most europeans ski on the piste?
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Who cares? its a holiday.
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Wear The Fox Hat, That's Val D'Isere
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