 Poster: A snowHead
|
I went to to some practice before going to France in a few weeks time. It's been two years since I went last. Im like most skiers in UK I think? The odd week every year. Intermediate. Confident at the end of the week holiday to go down blacks.
I fell over 5 times! That is more than the last few years put together.
The slope was John Nike white "greengrocers grass" and it was like skiing on grass. And when it rained, then it was like skiing on ice. No edges possible!
The drag lift was such hard work on my thighs. Good exercise I think.
Are all dry slopes this hard work? I really do hope my usual skills come back on snow because this was terrible.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
All dry slopes are cr*p. (My opinion).
The Plymouth slope is by far and away the cr*ppest thing on Earth. (Everyone's opinion).
|
|
|
|
|
|
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?
|
Wobbler,
Welcome to Snowheads.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
Oh yes, forgot that. 
|
|
|
|
|
|
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
|
|
Wobbler, in Plymouth, stick to bowls. Did Sir Francis Drake get involved in skiing? No he didn't.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
Wobbler, welcome to snowHeads. great name.
I remember when the slope opened. Derriford A&E did really good business. I believe someone broke both wrists the first weekend it was open, but it's a splendid view of Marsh Mills roundabout... 
skisimon, with you.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
skisimon,
"Everyone" obviously hasn't been to Bracknells main slope lately, it's in an absolutely dire state of repair.
Can't believe there's a worse one out there.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Thank you for the welcome. I am enjoying reading all the posts as revision.
I agree. The skiing was truly rubbish. However my thighs had got used to the punishment by the end of 1.5 hours. Is it any use for fitness training? It seemed to be too much drag lift and not enough skiing for my liking. I do think I got something out of it.
mainly bruises from the white "Wet'n'Dry" the place is made from. Make sure you tuck your t-shrt in before falling over!
Is it worth doing any more sessions before going to the snow? Or should I go to the gym instead? Would hurt less maybe?
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
Wobbler,
Only thing you can do on the dry slope at Plymouth is improve your side slipping!
Best to stay away from there 
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The John Nike surface is universally considered cr*p by all except JN's insurers, who charge a lot less for it than a conventional (i.e. dendix) dry slope with its allegedly higher injury rate.
|
|
|
|
|
|
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
|
|
Filling in the holes was a good idea. How many broken thumbs?
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
Wobbler,
I'm not sure how that place makes any money, it's always empty (apart from you of course  )
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
It was very busy. There was me. An English snow boarder practising falling down. A Canadian snowboarder who gave up. A very pretty girl beginner getting all the attention from an instructor and her older friend/mother who wasn't.
The cafe had a meeting going on of Energy engineers. Maybe the coffee is very expensive?
I was going to go every week. I think I will save my money/skin and go to the gym instead. I haven't had scabs on my knee since I was six.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You know it makes sense.
|
|
|
|
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
|
|
|
|
Poster: A snowHead
|
| Wobbler wrote: |
| A very pretty girl beginner getting all the attention from an instructor and her older friend/mother who wasn't. |
They're obviously striving to make it as like the real skiing experience as possible.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
After returning from the ski trip last year (not my most successful) I decided to try the runcorn dry slope. Drag lift nearly killed me, slope robbed me of any dignity I might have had, lost control totally and flew down straight with my eyes bouncing in their sockets, blindly slammed into the fence at the bottom. Took the skis off and left.
Place was pretty busy though, had booked a lesson but can't remember the instructor saying anything more than 'hello'.
|
|
|
|
|
|
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?
|
|
People who ski on dendix regulary should be rewarded with free ski holidays pro rated for the amount of time spent on the dry slope.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
|
|
|
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
|
|
Yep I broke my thumb after it snapped in the holes on the diamond style slope in Sheffield (crappy) Ski Village, I believe that was before it was refurbished but I have never been back!
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
Ah Dendix, I love the stuff!!! 
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Southampton is pretty bad from what I remember. Some of the edges of the mats are folded up so you have to watch out the ends of your skis don't get stuck in them 
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
ski, maybe it has improved since last time I went then. I haven't been there in over a year.
|
|
|
|
|
|
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
|
| Ordhan wrote: |
| People who ski on dendix regulary should be rewarded with free ski holidays pro rated for the amount of time spent on the dry slope. |
At approximately 6 hours a week all year round how many free holidays do I qualify for?
(I'm a real Girl, so do I qualify for extra holidays?)
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
|
|
|
|
|
I'm another Plymouth walking wounded, usually a very competent skier that falls over a max of 2 times a week on snow despite skiing at speed on all sorts of runs. The first time I tried Plymouth I fell over 3 times in one hour, usually with the edge giving up and sliding away underneath me. The surface is a combination of no grip, variable resistance (top is like skiing on sheet ice with no edges, bottom like skiing on earth) and to top it all there are areas where the surface has come away.
The second and third time I tried it I fared better but it really is completely different to skiing on snow. I'm 182 cm and they gave me 160 cm skis originally- I found that going up in size to 170 cm helped get me more grip.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You know it makes sense.
|
vivski,
| Quote: |
I kept falling over coming over the crest
|
I seem to have two choices there 1) Fall or 2) B****r up the turn and loose any speed 
|
|
|
|
|
|
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
|
|
|
|
Poster: A snowHead
|
Nick L, I've used the Southampton ski slope a few times, I didn't find it to bad 
|
|
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
|
Twice, Iwasn't blaming the Southampton ski slope particularly, just dry slopes in general (actually it was more likely caused by my lack of skill)
|
|
|
|
|
|
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?
|
Hi, all just to report that things have improved and the issues you guys describe has gone away! It does get sticky and difficult to use in dry weather but runs well in the wet. Apparently they are installing a sprinkler type system to keep the slope wet. Apparently this should reduce the severe wear on the skis and make for a better experience all round.
Apparently they replaced the surface with a second generation that performs better and put down a spongy underlay which takes some of the impact out if you fall.
It still needs a little tlc and the drag lift is still hard on the legs, my kid went all day every day for a week with their school and absolutely loved it!!!
So in general sounds like things have changed for the better!
|
|
|
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
|
|
|
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
|
| weeza73 wrote: |
Hi, all just to report that things have improved and the issues you guys describe has gone away! It does get sticky and difficult to use in dry weather but runs well in the wet. Apparently they are installing a sprinkler type system to keep the slope wet. Apparently this should reduce the severe wear on the skis and make for a better experience all round.
Apparently they replaced the surface with a second generation that performs better and put down a spongy underlay which takes some of the impact out if you fall.
It still needs a little tlc and the drag lift is still hard on the legs, my kid went all day every day for a week with their school and absolutely loved it!!!
So in general sounds like things have changed for the better! |
I am interested to see the sprinklers in and will head up there a lot more often when they are working. The matting reduces the impact of falling - but you still get some nice burns.
I have skied up there when its been raining really hard and it was great - no ski damage at all. But it was a totally different story in the dry!
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
I was in Plymouth when it first opened in ?? 1988 and they had dendix, and - I think - sprayers.
So much for progress...
I do remember that someone broke both arms on opening day...
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Yes, 1988
and yes, dendix and sprayers
Alex Leaf was the first Head Instructor, joined later by Dave Renouf and Pete Baker
Is three BASI Trainers at the same artificial slope at the same time a record?
Don't remember any broken arms on the first day, but have a vague memory of the owner breaking both arms after going over the fence
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Wobbler - Count me as one who broke his thumb at Plymouth - a couple of weeks after it opened - can still see the scar where they pinned it at Derriford.
I seem to remember that A&E had a sign up that said anyone with ski injuries would be put at the back of the queue and only treated when the staff had nothing better to do
Soon after I left Plymouth and moved to Tamworth - couldn't believe the difference back then of skiing on "real" snow
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
From reading all the negative reports here: s are a pile of wimps.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
FAQ
Raced there this summer - seemed OK 
It takes me a full night to get used to the Dendix again after being on the snow. Love teh smell of burning though when you hockey stop.