 Poster: A snowHead
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I would be interested to find out how many snowHeads who currently use MK, or don't go there because of the distance, cost, conditions, etc. would use Hemel instead, once completed as a snowdome? 
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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| skimottaret wrote: |
rob@rar, rumour has it that a new XScape is going up at Lakeside in Essex. not sure where you are located but that coudl be an option..
ps how are the quads  |
Sore!
I'm in Hampton, SW London, so Lakeside wouldn't be much good for me. Hemel will be my closest indoor slope when it opens.
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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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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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| Spyderman wrote: |
| I would be interested to find out how many snowHeads who currently use MK, or don't go there because of the distance, cost, conditions, etc. would use Hemel instead, once completed as a snowdome? |
Me.
MK is too far and too expensive for me to use as a regular facility. My visit there yesterday was my first for about three years, and was only because I had a telemark lesson. Hemel is close enough for me to visit regularly if (a) the cost was not prohibitive, and (b) there was something along the lines of race training for adults. I wouldn't be keen on frequent (weekly or fortnightly) visits if all I'd be doing was laps on a relatively short slope, but if I had a specific purpose like gates training or learning a second discipline I'd be happy to be there regularly (especially if the cost was less than the £31 it cost for two hours at MK).
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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skimottaret, Is the traffic/distance your main consideration or is it what Hemel is proposing to offer?
Bear in mind as soon as the M1 widening is finished in Dec 2009, work commences for 3 years between J11 & J14.
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| Spyderman wrote: |
Even better.  Where and when are you doing them? |
I've signed on to the L1 course run by ICE in Val d'Isere (Mark Jones, Rupert Tildsley, et al) in early December. Assuming that goes OK I hope to do the L2 course in July at Hintertux as I doubt I'll be able to get two full weeks away from work during the winter. Obviously I'll need to fit in the required number of shadowing hours and first aid, child protection, etc., but I think I can get those done as well.
Last edited by Then you can post your own questions or snow reports... on Sun 2-09-07 18:21; edited 1 time in total
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rob@rar, Once you're qualified as an Instructor and have allocated some time to teaching at Hemel, your Free skiing would be exactly that, Free. The only additional costs to you would be for the Coaching sessions, but only at a rate to cover the Coach's charges. I think the Race Training session at the moment is about £5.
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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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| Spyderman wrote: |
| rob@rar, Once you're qualified as an Instructor and have allocated some time to teaching at Hemel, your Free skiing would be exactly that, Free. The only additional costs to you would be for the Coaching sessions, but only at a rate to cover the Coach's charges. I think the Race Training session at the moment is about £5. |
Sounds perfect!
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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rob@rar, THere is a Child Protection Course being organised at Hemel sometime in October I believe, it's only about 2-3 hours in length.
Contact BASP for your First Aid, 2 day course over a weekend. The 35 hours for L1, followed by another 35 hours for L2, will probably be the biggest problem if you don't have a slope nearby.
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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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Spyderman, thanks, I'll look into that. I think BASP are running a couple of First Aid courses at MK this autumn. I'm hoping to pick up some of those shadowing hours in Les Arcs over the winter, with the rest here in the UK.
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rob@rar, There's a BASP course at Hemel in October. I know that because I'm on it.
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You know it makes sense.
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| Spyderman wrote: |
| rob@rar, There's a BASP course at Hemel in October. I know that because I'm on it. |
Can you let me have details? I'd rather do it at Hemel than battle my way up the M1.
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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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rob@rar, I'll post them Monday.
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Poster: A snowHead
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| Spyderman wrote: |
| rob@rar, I'll post them Monday. |
Thanks.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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rob@rar - the BASP course is on 13th / 14th October. I'm also on it!
You can book directly on www.basp.org.uk
Spyderman - could you post details of the Child Protection course if you have them please - a friend needs to do his before the season starts.
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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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PhillipStanton, The date for the CPM hadn't been fixed yet, although October was strongly mentioned. I shall try and find out asap, as Kitty needs to do it too.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Thanks Spyderman.
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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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PhillipStanton, thanks, I'll try to get on that BASP course.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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rob@rar, THe BASP course is pretty pricey, I did mine with St. Johns Ambulance who do an outdoor sports biased course which was fine as far as BASI was concerned. It was in their london headquarters which isnt far from you...
Spyderman, No M1 isnt the main issue, i would very much prefer to teach at a centre which is focused on teaching as opposed to the rec skiers at MK. BUt under an hour to Hemel definately is an attraction as opposed to the extra 20-30 minutes to MK as well.
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My experiences at MK have been very poor. Its managment dont understand or care about snowsport users, they just want your £s! The snow is offtern very bad, the staff look un inspired and un interested and the slope is more times than not a mass of jumps, rails and fencing!
Hemel will be a refreshing change from the current slopes ( Tamwoth is not so bad, ChillfactorE will be ran by skiers). I think the Xcape model is going to struggle when the new slopes come on line. Hemel all the way for me, cant wait!
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elbrus, Hopefully, maybe if Hemel is a success they might build one in the South
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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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| elbrus wrote: |
| My experiences at MK have been very poor. |
I was surprised on Saturday by how much of the available terrain was taken up by jumps and rails (which almost nobody was using), then the bottom half of one slope was closed off for tobogganing (although not a proper toboggan that could go exhilaratingly quick, just bits of round plastic you can sit on). It didn't leave much room for people who wanted to 'just' ski or board. Fortunately I was only using the nursery slope so none of this bothered me, but on the rare occasions I've been previously it was a major bugbear and the main factor I never took to using the place on a regular basis.
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rob@rar, come back after the summer school holidays and the tobogganing, rails etc will be very much reduced I'm told. To be fair to MK during the summer school break there arent too many experienced skiers there to brush up but rather lots of kids and families looking to have a fun day out. They were actively trying to attract boarders and teens with the rails.....
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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rob@rar, tobogganing runs 11-3 pretty much everyday over the summer hols - goes on till later if there's demand - this then is the worst period to go to MK. There's certainly been more generally recently though and I believe it's planned for these times every weekend for the next couple of months and also every weekday early evening too!!  Plan is for rails and kickers to be reduced after this week though.
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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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rob@rar, We had the same thing at the DC L&S, we booked on Fresh Tracks, supposedly a 3 hour session for experienced skiers 10-1. When we got there 1 slope was perfect, no obstacles, the other was full of jumps & rails(unprotected) with narrow paths between them. At 11am the lower half of the decent slope was barriered off making it useless, you then had to ski down half the slope then swap sides onto the terrain slope, miss the people coming from your right and ski between the obstacles. I complained to the Duty Manager, saying that it was not what 12 of us had paid for and the slope was dangerous. He said that no one had ever complained before and that it was safe. I said I didn't believe him. I reminded him of my last visit where I witnessed a slope user crashing into an unfenced rail and breaking her leg. He didn't seem to recall the incident. Maybe they get so many they all blur into one. He said the barriers would only be there for 45 mins while the tobogganing was on, then they would be removed. They were still there at 1pm. He refused to entertain my complaint, as he said that Fresh Tracks was for experienced skiers and they wouldn't have a problem skiing between the jumps. I said that I was an experienced skier and whilst I could easily avoid the jumps & rails, what about people using them crashing into me. I got nowhere, but the Lunch was great.
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You know it makes sense.
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| elbrus wrote: |
My experiences at MK have been very poor. Its managment dont understand or care about snowsport users, they just want your £s! The snow is offtern very bad, the staff look un inspired and un interested and the slope is more times than not a mass of jumps, rails and fencing!
Hemel will be a refreshing change from the current slopes ( Tamwoth is not so bad, ChillfactorE will be ran by skiers). I think the Xscape model is going to struggle when the new slopes come on line. Hemel all the way for me, cant wait! |
I agree with your points entirely.
I think Hemel will succeed for skiers and boarders who want to do exactly that, ski and board and improve. Xscape will not be able to compete on that level. I can see a severe downturn in the fortunes of Xscape, once viable alternatives are on line.
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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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Spyderman, But will Hemel be able to avoid the temptation of tobogganing, even our local bristle slope at Christchurch ropes off the slope for non ski/board stuff in the summer
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Poster: A snowHead
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boredsurfin, One end of the planned Nursery area is plenty big enough. It will not effect lessons and certainly not the main slope.
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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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boredsurfin, We do Tobogganing now on the plastic nursery slope. The new one is massive, so really shouldn't be a problem. Can't promise Canoeing 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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rob@rar, there's also a 2-day First Aid course in the offing at Aldershot (principally for new staff) sometime in Oct - I need to find out dates myself. I believe it's with someone other than BASP though.
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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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Spyderman, Hemel will have to be run with £££ every bit as much at the forefront as MK, however it may be that its design may mean slope skiers are still catered for too. The more indoor snow slopes built the more competition and the more the game will up, so I'm all for it. Hemel will probably be my nearest slope but MK may be forced to do better, and it'll still have length on its side.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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I'll go to Hemel when its snow...as i go there now when its not..
If only it would be like this sunday..They had to turn the lift on for me!!! at 11.30 I had the slope to myself and daughter for 2 hours..but sadly no instructor available for my better half..Stupid me didn't book in time..
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slikedges, Hemel will only be 20m shorter ( skiable length) but so so much wider with no plllars. Think although MK is slightly longer, basicaly its a shoping mall wth a slope shoved in the back. thats how it feels. There is no real interest in providing a top class snowsports product. I am aware they have some great staff who are well qualified. How frustrating must it be for them? I think I know where they will be looking ( current staff) when Hemels on line. From what I gather, Hemel will be the UKs first specialist snowsports venue. Xcape would not exist if it was not for the retail that props it up.
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elbrus, The Snowdome at Tamworth has always been prety well a specialist snowsports venue, although it did used to have a swimming pool and sauna suite attached (I believe they are now closed).
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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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elbrus, as it's run at the moment, can't disagree with any of that. Roll on Hemel!
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| Spyderman wrote: |
| I would be interested to find out how many snowHeads who currently use MK, or don't go there because of the distance, cost, conditions, etc. would use Hemel instead, once completed as a snowdome? |
MK is about 75m for me, Castleford around 100m but I'd rather drive the extra distance to Cas over MK given a straight choice. That said though virtually all my snowdome trips have been to events like the skitests or SH get togethers so the event is more important than my preferred location.
Looks like Hemel would be about the same distance as Cas for me so it would be a comparison between the 2 slopes first and then the ease of getting there second.
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