 Poster: A snowHead
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Yes, I'm sorry to bring you this staggering news a bit late, but it emerges that Britain's most successful downhill ski racer turned 50 sometime recently and didn't tell snowHeads about it. His exact birthday remains a mystery, but maybe he could pop in here and tell us when we should have 'given him the moguls'.
I 'bumped' into Konrad at the Aspen / Blizzard of Aahhhs ski movie evening in town a few days back. He told me all about his new career in TV - Classic Sport on the ESPN channel - and I told him his commentaries on Channel 4's World Cup ski racing last winter came over very well.
Flattery may get you everywhere. Anyway, he tells me we can expect to see him on Chanel No. 4 again this winter.
Now, if Konrad would like to grace us with his presence (I told him Martin Bell is a snowHead) he can blow out 50 candles - again. He's received an email to let him know this thread is going.
Here's Konrad's website if you'd like to refresh some memories. Click on 'Ski Hero' for an account of his terrible 1975 crash in Megeve, and 'Achievements' for a reminder of that famous 2nd place in the 1981 downhill in Val Gardena.
Anyone have any memories and (late) birthday greetings for Konrad?
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Happy Birthday, Konrad! 
I'll always associate Konrad Bartelski with the Ski SUnday music, the smell of roast puddings cooking and the voice of David Vine...
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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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Cheers Konrad! You'r a true inspiration as to what can be achieved by an
" Anglais "
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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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Congrats Konrad. I wanted to send him a message, but couldn't see how to do it. Great pics of his party. I noted at least one Bells brother there. And how did they get that picture of Konrad when he came second onto his cake? I can iron pics onto t-shirts, but I doubt that's how they got the image onto the icing.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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David Goldsmith, did you actually stay for the Aspen/Snowmass promo? Bit off topic, but boy, was it hard work. Watching Glen Plake tumble down the Poubelle Glacier:
in this pic on Phil Ingle's site
-in Chamonix in the Blizzard of Ahhs, afterwards, made it worthwhile though. The skiers left the couloir muttering: ’it was just too steep, man’. And it wasn’t even 50 degrees 
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Kit Wong, I certainly did stay! I was there for Blizzard of Aahhhs - first time on the big screen that I can recall in the UK, though sadly the film's beginning seemed to have been cut.
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Thanks for the messages...it was actually May 27th and as ever dear old Franzie... as in Klammer, beat me to that line again...he made 50 last November!
Blizzard of Aahhhs - featruing two very time bandits John Faulkner and Mark Shapiro...and many 210 cms skis...rememeber those....now they were something! 
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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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Jonpin,
That pix on the cake was taken in 1973 after one of my first ever FIS downhills...and ASDA actually offer the service...take a picture down to your local Asda store and a day or two later out comes the cake.. 
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Welcome to snowHeads, Mr headcase!
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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(oh, and David Goldsmith beat you and Franz to it by a few months!)
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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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Welcome to snowheadsa Mr B. Mrs NBT will be most impressed to learn that Snowheads is frequented by so many workd class skiiers
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headcase? in lower case? Very self-effacing!
I first met headcase near Kaprun in about 1976 while enjoying some high summer glacier fun. He was driving around in an open-top sports car, probably chasing girls. It seemed an envious lifestyle, snaking around the mountain roads of Austria and doing a bit of ski training. Anyway, whatever head damage that 1975 crash induced made him a friendly approachable guy.
I wonder what he was like before the crash?
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You know it makes sense.
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Welcome to snowHeads, headcase
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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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Another Konrad memory: With his former company Badger Sports he imported Marker bindings, Raichle boots and Atomic skis into the UK.
Many moons ago Konrad arranged a trip to Kitzbuhel and led us around the local slopes as his guest. We ascended the Hahnenkamm (then a cronky old cablecar) and made our way across to that very special landmark - the start hut of the downhill. To see that humble wooden hut, the horrendously steep schuss below it, and get a downhiller's first-hand account of what it meant, was a bit special.
Go see.
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Poster: A snowHead
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Yes Kitzbuhel is not quite a stroll in the park. Every time a downhill racer gets in the start hut there they do wonder why they didnt take up golf! Still it is less humiliating crashing down an icy cliff than missing a two foot putt in front of 8 million TV viewers - I mean anyone can sink a 2ft putt can't they? 
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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headcase, not sure, ask the Walrus. 
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FAQ
Your website is fascinating - great to read the stories of your achievements 
