 Poster: A snowHead
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I'm thinking of booking one of the half day Warren Smith courses at Castleford Xscape. Has anybody been on one before? Whats the general consensus on the quality of tuition, progress made etc?
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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How expensive are they?
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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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About £80 for 3 hours
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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 Mosha Marc and Spyderjon may have done some of these courses.
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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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My hubby bought me one on my birthday last year. We had enquired whether or not, as someone just at Xscape's Recreational standard, I could take part and they had said yes. It was a small group and the first thing they did was the bracquage which was beyond me, but they were very good and the two instructors (one was training) split up so I ended up with spells of 1:1 tuition followed by periods of practising things while they both worked with the group. It was useful and I was impressed with how they coped with the mismatch in ability.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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| ajpaul wrote: |
| I'm thinking of booking one of the half day Warren Smith courses at Castleford Xscape. Has anybody been on one before? Whats the general consensus on the quality of tuition, progress made etc? |
I've done a good few of these afternoon sessions.
I'd say that the courses are designed for folks that are parallel red run standard skiers looking to improve further. The content is a taster of the WSA's week long Verbier/Saas Fee courses but as Xscape is limited in space the sessions will mostly be the basic drills that Warren uses to develop ankle flex, thigh steering, braquage/pivot slips, weak turn side development, pole planting etc. The Castleford staff usually build bumps so if they're there you'll do bumps training as well.
Most folks struggle with these slow speed technical drills (even though they may be proficient skiers at speed) but Warren's belief is that if you don't get the fundementals right then you'll struggle in the future on steeps, bumps & in powder etc. The quality of tuition is superb but, like any other tuition, it's unlikely that in one session that you'll come away a very different skier. However you will come away with a series of drills & exercises that are ideal for regular off-season practice at places like Xscape or dryslopes. There's usually a number of attendees that do multiple sessions & the improvement in their skiing is always noticeable.
The three hours is pretty intensive so take a drink & wear layers as most people end up overheating. Xscape require anyone skiing the bumps to wear a helmet but these are available foc.
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Sounds good, but what's the advantage over watching his DVDs to pick up these useful drills and exercises? I know you would get far more from a 1:1 session out in a proper resort, but I'm not totally convinced about the value of this sort of course within the limitations of Xscape (for a more experienced skier at least). Any thoughts on that?
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| uktrailmonster wrote: |
| Sounds good, but what's the advantage over watching his DVDs to pick up these useful drills and exercises? |
| Quote: |
| I know you would get far more from a 1:1 session ............. |
There you go. 
True, it doesn't help you get the steep and deep feel. Look at it as more of a mid-summer refresher.
I'll be going on one again next year.
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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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1:1 session...........out in a proper resort.
That was my question really. Is it really worth it for a 1:1 session at Xscape, assuming you have all the DVDs and know what the basic drills and exercises are anyway? I guess it gives you some feedback on your performance, but it can't be anything remotely like a day on the mountain. Just trying to figure out if I should bother with the Xscape courses or just go straight onto one of the mountain courses, which look superb.
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I love paraphrasing. 
Not as good as the mountain. But better than sitting at home.
How far are you from a 'dome?
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Ok, it's obviously better than sitting at home. But is it worth £80? I do live near a dome as it happens, but rarely ski there due to a poor cost-benefit ratio.
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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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uktrailmonster, considering it would cost you best part of £50 to freeski for 3 hours, then I guess it doesn't look too expensive.
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Elizabeth B, That's the reason I don't ski much at MK! £50 for 3 hours of skiing (the vast majority of which is taken up by the painfully slow lift) is not my idea of good value. But I guess another £30 for the tuition is good IF the slope hire is included in the £80
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You know it makes sense.
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| uktrailmonster wrote: |
| .......I guess another £30 for the tuition is good IF the slope hire is included in the £80 |
Yes it is.
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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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spyderjon, Almost sold now, cheers! Except my boots are in Canada 
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