 Poster: A snowHead
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Just some guesses here as to why there are these differences:
Canadian slopes tend to be at lower altitudes, partly because there is snow at lower altitudes in Canada with the colder weather, and partly because mountains here are simply not as big as the Alps  The result is two-fold:
1) The weather can change more. If you are really high up, you are probably going to have snow on all the runs all the time, and not be too affected by ground weather. But if you are depending on cold ground days and some warm days appear, you can have slopes with little to no snow on them, and hence a greater need to fence off areas.
2) There is alot more tree-skiing in Canada, which is inherently more dangerous, and therefore more ski patrol/fencing off. As far as I know alot of the good skiing in France/Switzerland is above the treeline?
Note that I've only skied in Canada, so I don't know if what I've heard about altitude/treelessness of most European skiing is correct, and also cannot really comment on American 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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richmond, I've stayed at the Village before. Cafe Breck was a favourite of mine for breakfast - they do a great "Mile High Stack"
You're in a great location. Take a walk down the main street to Ullr's for a few beers, or go up to the Great Divide Lodge (I think that's what it's called) for a slightly quieter/more up-market affair.
There used to be an Irish bar about half way down the main street on the right, but I heard it closed a couple of years ago.
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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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nextascent, that's very kind of you. You could pm your number to me. What are Keystone and A Basin like? I've heard good things about both, especially A Basin.
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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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richmond, I've skiied Keystone before, it was a lot quieter than Breck, and well worth a day trip. Haven't skiied A-Basin yet, but a lot of people rave about it.
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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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I'm not sure that Switzerland is representative of the whole of Europe as far as their treatment of slopes are concerned. I believe their attitude is less caring about safety than a lot of resorts - their pisting is less frequent, they don't use netting on narrow chutes and lanes - basically if you can ski you can ski anything in their opinion. I love their resorts but not their slopes as much as other european venues.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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It might be a bit harsh to characterise resorts who do not piste everywhere frequently as 'uncaring'. I enjoy skiing unpisted pistes (?) some of the time.
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| tessaventer wrote: |
| I'm not sure that Switzerland is representative of the whole of Europe as far as their treatment of slopes are concerned. I believe their attitude is less caring about safety than a lot of resorts - their pisting is less frequent, they don't use netting on narrow chutes and lanes - basically if you can ski you can ski anything in their opinion. I love their resorts but not their slopes as much as other european venues. |
One thing I specifically noted last week, in Verbier, was that there were no notices concerning backpacks. And the lifties certainly were not bothered. Whether or no you wore you back pack on a chair was entirely up to you.
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That sort of goes against the "overregulated" stereotype, a bit. 
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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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skanky, you should see them when they get hold of fireworks 
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Ian Hopkinson, I have.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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You should see them on the roads. They may stick the speed limit, but they do everything else they can to drive, how shall I say, badly. The German autobahns near the Swiss border are full of Swiss driving incredibly fast and badly; kid in the sweetshop syndrome, I suppose.
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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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Wear The Fox Hat, Ullrs? I should have known! I've been known to park my tail there for a few beers as well. Tis especially fun when the bartenders are feeling gererous and buy you a drink!
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You know it makes sense.
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nextascent, do they still do the 24" pizza?
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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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Wear The Fox Hat, I haven't seen one lately...I know they do those at "Downstairs at Erics"...that is HUGE!
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Poster: A snowHead
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nextascent, None of our august SnowHeads seem to have elaborated on the falling off chairs, top, or bottom, or both, of lifts. That European 'Rite of Passage', that 'Badge of Honor' - like running with the bulls at Pamplona, an experience to make the boy skier a man and to make the girl skier a woman, the faller an object of momentary ridicule, while also providing the the immediate ski world with priceless entertainment. The projected ridicule and laughter mask our own inwardmost fears of losing concentration for that nano-second and doing it as well! I have heard a rumour, and only a rumour mind you that some lift assistants give points for 'Spectaculars'. A friend of mine did a 'Spectacular' last season - no queues whatsoever, the next chair would have taken 20 seconds. Does he wait? NO! rushing forward for a chair when the gate bar closed (just about knee level). The forward inertia which was to propel him to the chair now turned on him as his enemy and whilst the gate bar stopped his legs, his upper body maintained a pretty strong forward motion, resulting in his uncermonious somersault over the bar, to land, balanced on his head with legs & skis akimbo. The few witnesses of the 'event' were sent into uncontrolable hysterics. I felt quite unable to move, shaking voilently with laughter, lest I have an unfortunate accident. The lift stopped for a minute or two - no doubt to the dismay of those already on it, but for the dozen or so others that were treated to the event, and to our little group, it became the stuff of legend, recounted each time a glass or two is had! - until the next one....... 
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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The best thing about Europe is that you can pretty well go where your good or bad sense takes you!
Its down to you and you better be able to cope with your decision.
Having said that I'd jump at Utah but I think any nannying would p*** me off..!!
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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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nextascent, managed one once! (forgot it was Erics)
I remember one evening walking back along the main street and it was really cold, so we stopped at every bar for a warm drink...
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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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Bernard Condon, I would admittedly love to have witnessed that event!!!
Wear The Fox Hat, when are you coming to CO....you should come during Ullr fest I'll buy you a drink....or five! haha
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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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Bernard Condon, that almost happened me up the Lauberhorn in January. I thought I was going to make it to the chair, instead I had a VERY SORE thigh - I'm just glad I wasn't about 6" shorter, or I'd be singing soprano the rest of my life.
nextascent, when is the Ullr fest?
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FAQ
