This July ski/summersports event in Tignes begs a question ... or two

A snowHead

In July, Natives and the SCGB are hosting the Natives Summer Weekender Industry Championships:

http://www.ifyouski.com/news/newsarticle/?ObjectID=8719516

A snowHead

David Goldsmith, I have no wish whatsoever to attend the event, and as I don't belong to the SCGB, I don't care what it gets up to. If it bugs you, and you are still a member, why not take it up with a member of the Council? Can't see that it's any of our business.

Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?

OK, OK. Keep your hair on.

I'm just making some social/snocial observations here. Presumably this website is still frequented by SCGB and Natives members/users, so it's remotely possible that the topic's of interest.

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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.

David Goldsmith, Have you asked the question in the SCGB chat forum?

You'll need to Register first of course.

David Goldsmith, not a member but think if it is supposedly a community ..or sets out its stall as such, as other groups do, then it seems stupid to have sections that are excluded. I doubt they are alone in this, however, and lots of clubs get very cliquey quickly enough and self-serving.

A pretty tacky tactic on the face of it... but then all I know of that club and its set-up is what is in the above post. Why would you want to be a part of a
group like that..you are either included in things or you aren't....??

You can always make your feelings known when they come round asking for money.... Laughing

Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...

After all it is free

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Agenterre, are you my sock-puppet? I see your signature exactly defines me.

snowHeads are a friendly bunch.

It's clearly a jolly (and why not?) and I can't see what commercial benefit there is. So, yes, if I were a member, I think I'd be intrigued to know what the whole jackanory is, what it was costing, was it respectful to the mountain, what was the projected outcome? David Goldsmith, I think you should call an EGM immediately.

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Nothing jolly about it from my point of view, but I'm jolly interested to know if you're going, Swiller.

Does it offer the kind of athletic challenge you're looking for?

David Goldsmith, no I'm jolly well not going and I'm jolly well struggling to find the athletic challenge or the jolly commercial angle. As a non-member I'm outraged and grateful to you for bringing this scandal to everyone's attention.

You know it makes sense.

Don't care frankly!

Will shortly be leaving the South of England Ski Club, as it ought to be called IMHO - joined primarily for the discounts and have discovered even they were a waste of time if you shop round the net. I'm not a clubbable type (too awkward) and am not interested in any of their social activities or, heaven forbid, going on a holiday with them Shocked

I also ski on UK mountains (Scotland) as well as elsewhere in the world, a fact that appears to bring derision from many in that club, at least the ones who post on their forum (not that that's very many!) - sad really! rolling eyes

As others have said, if it's an issue bring it up with their council members or whoever.

Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:

The trends are interesting. 35 years ago the Ski Club had a big programme of grass-skiing events that toured the country in summer, with portable lifts and equipment hire. These events catered for members and the general public.

The event in Tignes, above, excludes members and the general public.

Essentially, national clubs need to focus on the common denominator and the overall interests of members. This becomes all the more necessary when a club is commercially pitched with a mission statement as 'the spokesbody of British skiers'. In that sense, the interests of the general skiing public need to be upheld by the SCGB as well, I'd have thought.

[NB - technical point - a spokesbody is not a bicycle wheel]

rob@rar clearly has his finger on the pulse of what skiers want to do in summer - cool off in a snowdome. Not a bad idea, and only £25.

A snowHead

The Ski Club co-sponsors many events with Natives. This one has not been kept from members, it's on the website in the list of events.

A snowHead

That's correct, Colin, but you don't mention that the first line of the copy is ...

Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?

would someone please start a helmet debate

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David Goldsmith, the club is completely irrelevant to grassroots skiing in the UK, both at domes, dry slopes and in the mountains (be they N of England or Scotland).

Essentially it's a commercial organisation based in London and drawing most of it's membership from the south of England. It primarily operates in the Alps (guides/reps) and offers it's members expensive holidays with like minded clubbable types. It publishes a magazine that can be bought by non members which is mostly filled up with advertorial, it organises social events in London and runs a website that's not as good as this one.

The corollary is I don't care whether they sponsor events or not.

Anything to add?

Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.

Bode Swiller, more into boots in hand luggage myself. You could start one on 'green' cars, though.

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achilles, oh behave. Do they still have the Saaaaab? (akin to sound of baby lamb being slaughtered)

Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...

Bode Swiller, dunno, actually. There's something young Dave can also find out - and give us a un-bleatable, mint-fresh exclusive.

After all it is free

roga, I liked your neat reference to grassroots skiing, after my mention of grass-skiing.

I wouldn't necessarily define dry slope-skiing, dome-skiing and Scottish/Pennines skiing as the 'grassroots'. They have to be embraced by a national skiers' organisation, while also recognising that (probably) the majority of skiers just go on holiday abroad without skiing either of these locations. They are also 'grassroots skiers'.

The common denominators have to be recognised across the board, and the key statistic is the membership number relative to the total number of UK skiers. I think the current percentage is about 3%.

I think the key challenge (for either the SCGB or snowHeads or anyone else seeking to operate in this field) is to grab people when they're young by offering (if necessary) cheap relevant services. As their disposable income increases they may, of course, want more up-market services.

You mention magazines. Definitely a common denominator. Relevant journalism can appeal to any level of skier of any age group and income bracket. So publishing relevant stuff is a key factor.

Back to the Tignes event. Given the fact that this ski village has a huge number of unused beds in summer but has a lot to offer, maybe the kind of Natives event promoted could take in any skiers, not just workers. I've done summer skiing there, in Hintertux, Kaprun, Stubai, Zermatt etc. and it can be a blast with the right mix of activities and entertainment. The point is that it can be priced very competitively, because the accommodation is going begging.

Anyone who is, has or is thinking of doing a season can become part of the Natives community - so anyone can go on this trip. Just the age group issue may bother some here...

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This July ski/summersports event in Tignes begs a question ... or two

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