 Poster: A snowHead
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Just got home from a trip to Xscape Castleford.
My first visit since before last winters holiday. Moguls where out so spent most of the two hours
on them while using a set of Scott Punishers from Brighams.
I quite enjoyed it, the skis where great and may consider making a purchase.
Anyway the reason for the title in the tread was that the bottom 3rd of the slope was very 'sticky'.
it felt almost as if someone was getting hold of me and pulling me back. Whats going on with the snow
that makes that happen?
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Was it busy Renry, ?
Hoping to get myself down there to see how my boots are doing.
Sorry - can't answer your Q!!
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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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last time i was there (late August) the snow was like porridge
hadn't previously been like that when i'd been before.
Since been to Manchester and Hemel, much better snow at both
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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's been a long time since I've been to Castleford but I do dimly remember the snow was a bit mashed potato. I actually prefer Tamworth, which is icy hardpack. Not been to Manchester yet (gimme two more weeks!) but Hemel has the best snow of any indoor slope I've been to.
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Probably something wrong with the cooling pipes - possibly an actual leak of the Glycol coolant into the snow (I know that makes it sticky). Or could it be a build up of too much old icy compacted snow underneath the newer snow? Or do they add chemicals to the snow to help it freeze? Someone told me they do. Possibly too much of that built up in the snow pack?
I know for sure that Glycol leaks make it sticky.
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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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When I went to Canada last March temperatures dropped to -32 and the snow became extremely sticky then. An instructor explained to me that when we ski/board there is a microscopic level of melt that occurs which allows our skis/board to slide. If it is too cold for that melt to occur, skis and boards tend to "stick" to the slopes instead of slide. After trying to ski in -32, I could see what she was talking about as I had to find the steepest slopes that day to get anything like a decent slide.
Anyway, could that be the reason for the sticky snow at Castleford, i.e. it was too cold on the patch down the bottom? Although I doubt it was -32 of course!
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snowshine, no, it wouldn't be cold enough to get that effect at Xscape.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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I was at xscape Braehead in Glasgow. It was like poridge on Sunday. The problem only occurs when it is busy so I assume it is turning into aggregates. When they groom it fresh on Sat it is usually great.
Now they are into the winter season and it is getting busier, and they chare more per hour (no freebies); It is essential that they make new snow and groom it more often.
It was the last day of my month ticket. Which was well used. However, If I'd paid £31 for 2 hours I would be asking for my money back. It was terrible.
Cheers
Bob
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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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What wax were you running?
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There are really only 2 possibilities: snow too warm or something added to the snow. I was trying to think of all the possible reasons within these. If the snow is too warm you can improve it a bit by using a different wax - but in this case it was only part of the slope. If you are carving turns it will affect you less than if your skis are flat on the snow.
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You know it makes sense.
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snowball, Glycol is actually a form of antifreeze they add to the cooling system. Though as far as i'm aware these snow domes actually run on ammonia as it's the most efficient refrigerant in the volume required at the temperature bands needed to the keep it operational. Chilled water where'd you be using glycol wouldn't be particularly efficent for a snow dome.
Sticky snow would be from the snow not be cold enough/reaching an isothermic state where it's on the verge of reverting to it's fluid state. They're probably having issues with one of their cooling circuits.
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FAQ
