 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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I'd say North America at that time of year would be the safest bet for snow, but it's a bit of a gamble. I'd be inclined to book you flights to a hub like Chicago now then wait until nearer the time before deciding exactly where you end up. There should be a good range of cheapish flights up to the last minute from there to Denver, SLC, Seattle/Vancouver etc
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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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Zermatt.
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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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Sunshine Village/ Banff
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You'll need to Register first of course.
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thewahwah, I'm pretty sure that all major resorts in europe will have a youth hostel, which would give you cheap accommodation and food. Your budget seems quite generous to me, so I'm sure you could go anywhere you fancy. November is the problem though. Not all that much in Europe is open then. The States or Canada could well be operating, but I can't offer any suggestions about sof of living there.
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Mammoth
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Thanks for the suggestions guys and girls. 
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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'm just bumping this to see if there are any more suggestions. Surely, these can't be the only snowsure resorts in the world?
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thewahwah, no, but they're the only ones open.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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thewahwah, As I said - it's November that's the problem. Some of the glaciers will be open. Certainly Zermatt (but that might be expensive) and probably Hintertux. I don't know about the others. We'll be closed from the 5th November until the beginning of December. Last year I think Pitztal opened in Oct and Nov rather than in the summer, but I couldn't swear to it.
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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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Lizzard, easiski, ah I see. I take it that December is a dodgy month for snow also?
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thewahwah, if current precipitation levels are anything to go by we should be knee-deep in the stuff by mid-September. 
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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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Why not wait till the time before making booking. It's good to have a list of potentials ready though.
For N. America, it'll cost you a good £400-500 just for the flight. The good news is it's low season for both the airlines and the resorts so you can wait till then to make booking. Also, reliable good instructions are generally to be expected at your level. The bad news is most N.A. resorts don't have good public transport so a solo traveler has limited choice of how to get around without hiring a car, which is quite expensive.
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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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thewahwah, I'd echo Tignes as a suggestion. I was there last year from 2 Dec for a week and the snow on the glacier was really good - lots of powder!  The only thing is if the weather's really bad then they can shut down the glacier cos of the high winds. The glacier opens in September and I think the main skiing in Tignes normally opens end Nov/beginning of Dec, snow conditions permitting.
The slopes on the glacier would suit your level of skiing I would have thought - there's some nice gentle blues, more difficult reds, blacks and bumps.
stewart woodward taught me that week and I'd highly recommend him. He works with ESF and also for Snoworks http://www.snoworks.co.uk/i-skiing/meet_the_team.html . There are also quite a few very good English/independent ski schools so your tuition would be sorted.
There is plenty of cheap accommodation to be had in Tignes - try contacting Stewart who may be able to recommend suitable places. I'm pretty sure there's also a hostel there that is recommended but I can't remember where it is/what it's called.
Have fun!
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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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Colorado would give you a bunch of resorts to choose from, many are open from mid October. Utah would give you some resorts, but probably cheaper accomodation.
Whistler would also be an option, with the glacier guaranteeing some skiing, but I think that if I was to spend a month somewhere, I'd want to have more than one glacier to ski on.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Brilliant. Thanks for taking the time out to give me your recommendations and advice. It is very much appreciated. Now to start the cheap accommodation hunt....
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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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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Ronald, you should go some time, you'd love it!
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thewahwah, just did a quick check - the Camelot Hostel in SLC for the month of November would cost you $463 (£230 ish) based on you being in a 4 person bunk room, or $703 (£350 ish) for a single person room.
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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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thewahwah, In Austria resorts like Ischgl, Obertauern, Obergurgl, Kaunertal would most likely have some pistes open in late November. You would also find the glaciers open (there must be half a dozen, including Hintertux, Solden, Kaprun and others that I can't think of at the moment). You could do a good tour in a month, starting off at a glacier and moving on as you hear some of the other resorts opening up their terrain. A week in each of 3 or 4 places would give you ample opportunity to locate ski schools and sort lessons etc
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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| Quote: |
Easy to hop in to interior BC if it looks better there.
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How "easy"? 
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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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| abc wrote: |
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Easy to hop in to interior BC if it looks better there.
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How "easy"? |
Buses from Vancouver are cheap - google around for exact routes to places like Kelowna, Kamloops - resorts near there often open with decent cover by end November. There's trains too. And Revelstoke should be opening up lots of new terrain this season - dunno if they get early snow, but they sure get lots of it. Think train goes thru there.
You could also fly to say Denver, and figure it out when you get there too. Easy access to many resorts off the freeway, but I suspect Colorado will be a lot more expensive than BC.
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You know it makes sense.
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stewart woodward, "lots" of skiing on the Glacier? I must confess that I might find myself dulled out after 20 days... 
thewahwah, just a left field thought. I had two of my best ever days skiing ever around 25th November by hiring a guide from Jackson Hole and walking up. One ascent of a smallish peak pm day one (I have never been so exhausted, nor so satisfied) and day two spent yo-yoing around Teton pass. No guarantees that there'll be enough snow but I also bracketed those days with two fun days in Park City and Alta. Awesome!
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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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David Murdoch, not sure that would be ideal for someone who has been skiing for 10 days and can parallel ski and hockey stop  For someone who wants to progress with their technique on from that level I'd have thought the glacier at Tignes or LDA would be fine, especially bearing in mind the limited options in November/December.
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Poster: A snowHead
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thewahwah, Obertauern in Austria opened mid November last year with excellent snow. Ski Amade opened first weekend in December. You can buy a Super Salzburgerland Ski pass which covers all of Salzburgerland - the pass is massive!
Accommodation shouldne be a problem in November/December as its quiet - you will almost have the pistes to yourself. And as for German - all the ski schools have English speaking instructors so you dont need to lie about your age to them!
You can also get very cheap flights to Salzburg, last September Ryainair had a 'sale' any you oculd pick up flights for £40 return, also, Thompsonfly are very cheap especially if you leave it until the last minute.
All in all you really could have a great adventure. 
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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cathy, Oops, you're quite correct. I hadn't read the whole question properly. If you're looking to improve then you could definitely do much worse than 20 days coaching in Tignes. As a potential alternative - how about Hintertux?
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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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I think the best places in Europe, with cheap accomodation possibilities are Saas Fee (extensive glacier indeed) Hintertux, and Solden (if they are opened).
In other side of atlantic I think Whistler is a good place, because the maximum average precipitation month is December, and this year we are un particular strong phase of cold ENSO (La Niña), which means lots of moisture in pacific systems with lower freezing levels. Banff Sunshine Village is very good option 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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| Quote: |
Any advice on how to kill the next 2 months?
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serious fitness training? Sounds great, have a ball.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
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| pam w wrote: |
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Any advice on how to kill the next 2 months?
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serious fitness training? Sounds great, have a ball. |
Thanks, have been hitting the gym since the middle of July and have managed to trim off 2 stones (boy was I lardy) - so that box is ticked.
61 days to go  . Need something else to make the time fly.
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FAQ
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