 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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It looks allright from the angle the photo is taken from and it's very, very short, most of it looks as flat as a pancake apart from the one small bit - can't see it's a big deal myself, anyone skied it?
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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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Well it's gonna focus your mind isn't it. All those other worries you went on holiday with, will pale in to insignificance. 
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Is it a blue?
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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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I'm wondering what the incline of the steepest portion of the Face de Bellevarde is in Val d'Isere and how it compares to this, the steepest pitch for the FIS downhill is around 63% but I don't think they do the steepest bit, or am I mistaken?
Is there a site somewhere that compares inclines?
Just trying to compare really 'coz the photos may flatten out the pitch somewhat but even those piccies of people doing the run above don't make it look that extreme... just don't leave a pole at the top then fall as I've seen some people doing on steep pitches! 
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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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If they can get a machine up it, it isn't that steep..you'll be fine..you can't go that far if you fall anyway.. and if you fall, then serves you right
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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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Poster: A snowHead
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Get down it. Or as chris says, get off it and get down the nice stuff to the side 
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Odin, Looks OK, after all the get a piste basher up and down it. Pretty much depends on snow conditions and your ability. Looks like about 7 - 8 Turns to me.
Last edited by Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person on Fri 8-02-08 20:26; edited 1 time in total
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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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NOoooo - keep on it and leave the nice stuff for me 
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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For those comforting themselves with the idea that they run pistebashers up and down it - don't they use cable-towed pistey-beasties for really steep slopes
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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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Hoppo, Only said that because of the curves in the piste, but you're right, really steep stuff is done by winch.
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I did it once, on a board first thing in the morning after a massive dump. It was insane. Later on when the snow was packed down I looked across at if from somewhere else - bodies everywhere. Quit while I was ahead and never re-visited.
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| Quote: |
I did it once, on a board first thing in the morning after a massive dump
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I'd have a massive dump just thinking about it 
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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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Mind you, if you look at pylons and trees in the background on many of those they had tilted the camera quite a lot to make it look worse (or should that be better).
Isn't it supposed to be the steepest piste in Europe or something? I doubt very much, though, that it is an average steepness of the whole run - more the average of the steep part. 38º is very steep for a piste even so.
Last edited by You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net. on Fri 8-02-08 23:16; edited 4 times in total
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boyo, oh i say... 
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Thought I'd straighten it up:
 (click)
Nobody after the tip-over point I notice - they all slid straight off.
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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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| Quote: |
For those comforting themselves with the idea that they run pistebashers up and down it - don't they use cable-towed pistey-beasties for really steep slopes
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Website says - 'making a jack and special groomers indispensable for grooming' so I am guessing not a piste basher.
That's why I asked if anyone had any experience of skiing - did the one at Levi that was meant to be 'oh so steep' but it wasn't at all bad, (tho saw a couple fall on it and not stop 'till the bottom.)
I am lead to beleive that most of the snow is manufactured and that it is more or less all ice (like a prepared race course). May be one to do with well prepared edges.
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I stayed there a few years ago...its not 78 degrees, I think its 78 percent, which is about 37ish degrees I think. Is pretty steep though, and very intimidating, nice run, to the point you are thinking 'why is this a black', then you go over the edge.... Even instructors in Mayrhofen aren't allowed to ski it in instructor clothing. I'm probably a slightly above average intermediate skiier and found it difficult in normal conditions (v. early morning), If it were icy, I think it would be impossible! BTW, I think it gets icy v early in the day, slope doesn't hold snow very well.
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You know it makes sense.
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In this thread I posted after a visit to Zillertal Valley there is a short section I wrote on it.
It is 78% meaning the vertical is 0.78 unit and the horizontal is 1 unit. This is about 37.95 degree. (arctangent of 0.7 .
It is groomed. I saw a photo showing it needed a steel cable to tow it up or descend the slope. Thus that is possibly the limit of a "grromed" black run.
In the above link I estimated about 15% of the skiers/boarders who tried it and fell. I never saw so many skiers/boarders fell on one slope like Harakiri. None of them got injury. The wife fell too at the middle or the steepest section. I cannot remember she has ever fallen in any of the black slope we did before She didn't fall on any of the black before and after Harakiri in the two weeks we skied Zillertal and Silvretta. I just managed it. So be prepared. It is No. 18 in the piste map.
There are sections of some black slopes steeper than it but not as long. When other black slopes are longer they are'nt as steep as Harakiri.
I am 59 and the wife is slightly younger so it cannot be that tough for the young ones. Just try other Austrian blacks first before Harakiri to size up your confidence. The No, 17 on the same resort is called the "Devil's run". It is the next steepest. No. 4 and No. 16a are black runs too but they are significantly easier. Couldn't tell the last black run No. 12 as I didn't ski it. Comparing Harakiri with the black runs I tried in the rest of Zillertal I would say Harakiri does have substance.
The photograph does not show its steepness. The top section is also more like a blue slope standard. However when you pass the one-third point the remaining 70% approximately is the real thing. There is a short mild section at the bottom of the slope to check the moisture of the pants.
Last edited by You know it makes sense. on Sat 9-02-08 0:03; edited 1 time in total
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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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saw a skier do the whole thing in a perfect tuck down the fall line. he picked up a LOT of speed.
that said the snow was pretty good, i did it on a board without any particular trouble.
if it was icy/bare it would be a pretty serious undertaking.
in any case you can go up the chair and check it out. if you decide you dont fancy it there are other routes down.
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Poster: A snowHead
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just make sure you do it whenm the snow is good and you'll be fine...just dont think about the steepness, it'll soon be over - and you'll take the chair back up and do it again! ( I didn't but I prefer relaxed skiing!)
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Odin, did it about 8 weeks ago when it was in what I'd guess is good conditions ie a bit icy, nothing very special, there's a steep bit but the whole run is very short and there's a safe run out, whole thing over in seconds. I'd guess it's always a bit icy and could imagine it being a bit trickier if large tracts were sheet ice but most runs would be.
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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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All in all I have done it about 12 times and have had one massive wipe out see above But by the time we got back to the top the piste was closed and stayed that way for the rest of thee week.
Did it last year with full race turns from top to bottom dont think I was in the full tuck before I got to the end  that was a day before it bacame the worlds steepest Ice rink
THe piste basher is tied to a post at the top of the slope when they groom up and down There is a great video below that will give you an idea
http://www.mayrhofner-bergbahnen.com/en/100196/100481/harakiri_spot_mayrhofen_steilste_piste_osterreichs.html?S=
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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| JT wrote: |
| If they can get a machine up it, it isn't that steep..you'll be fine..you can't go that far if you fall anyway.. and if you fall, then serves you right |
The pites bashers use winches to get up and down that slope.
It is very steep, but only for a short stretch (almost all the steep bit is visble in that photo), and there is nothing much you will hit (apart from other skiers) if you fall.
I didn't ski it on the one day I spent ijn Mayrhofen in January, but I did go up the chair that photo was taken from 3 or 4 times. If I had gone back at the end of th week, and hadn't hurt my leg, then I might well have given it a go.
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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.
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We spent our first 5 days warming up in other runs/areas and attempted the Harakiri on the last day.
It is prudent to build up the confidence first if you haven't skied it before. By the time you see the steepest section it would be too late to return back and it is quite a long way down.
There are always skiers who can charging it down at speed but the majority seems to be willing to give it the due respect.
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Ride it switch or it doesn't count.
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| Spikyhedgehog wrote: |
| How much would you just love to straightline that. |
Straightlining a 38º slope would certainly get the adrenaline flowing!
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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 have skied it a few times - not a problem really.
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I suppose at the bottom of the slope if we interview someone who does extreme skiing his reply could be "No problem".
Equally if the interview were conducted at a hospital bedside to someone who probably did his/her first black run with Harakiri the reply could be "People said - no problem and I had a good quality helmet too".
So can we have some advice from SH who work as skiing instructors on how this run should be viewed?
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FAQ
and ended up in that very soft snow on the right of the slope 
I walked away without a scratch no idea how to be honest! Thank god for helmet and body armour!
