Poster: A snowHead
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Just about recovered from an amazing week in Solden, the first Alpine coaching week for Inside Out Skiing. This was a fairly late decision for us in terms of whether to run a trip so early in the season, but we wanted to get to know the resort a bit better and it has a reputation for being snow-sure because of it's two glaciers so we thought we'd risk it and offer a limited coaching programme. As it turned out we had no need to worry about a lack of snow because the snowgods smiled most graciously on us, with lots of fresh before we arrived and several snowy days while we were there
We were lucky to have half a dozen great clients to teach, so it was an enjoyable challenge to be inventive as the week went on, with some days devoted to technical training with lots and lots of drills, and other days a bit more tactical as we sought out as much powder and variable snow as we could find, both on piste and off. Thanks from both Scott and myself to Samerberg Sue, andy, Timberwolf, Sleipnir & Heike for being such good fun, and really getting stuck in to the skiing with such enthusiasm, even when we took you outside of your comfort zones.
As can be seen in these photos were we lucky with conditions on and off-piste. The week was a perfect mix of blue skies on some days and falling snow on others.
Scott and I saw lots of changes in everyone's skiing as the week went on, and we offered a range of individual drills and exercises which can be followed up to continue the development in everyone's skiing. Hopefully the next time we see everyone it will be even more of a challenge for us to improve their skiing
It was the first time in Solden for me and Scott, and we are both very impressed. There is a great range of ski terrain available, the lift system is modern so whisks you around the mountain at speed and in comfort. It's also a very short transfer (less than an hour) from Innsbruck airport, so we are investigating options for short coaching trips later this season On hill facilities for lunch and coffee stops are simply superb, with a mix of cosy, traditional huts and large, comfortable self-service restaurants. Prices are reasonable and quality very high. The village itself is less spread out than we thought it might be, so walking around (or short hops on the bus) is not a problem. The apres ski is extensive and varied, from quiet bars and nice restaurants to manic clubs serving bizarre drinks (tip: never drink the Zombie shots...). Scott and I stayed in the Hotel am Hof and would be very happy to recommend it - good location, great food and a comfortable hotel. We also checked out the Hotel Tyrol which will be our base for our coaching weeks in January and March and it looks superb. All in all we are very impressed with the resort.
As part of our thorough investigation of the resort Scott and I sampled the apres ski as best we could We were aided and abetted in this by Samerberg Sue, andy, Timberwolf, Sleipnir & Heike, as well as by rayscoops who was staying with us in the am Hof (and dazzled us with his boarding and dancing all week). It would be fair to say that we enjoyed every evening...
BTW, what is the collective noun for a pile of empty Jägermeister bottles. Is it a Charlatanefc of Jägermeisters?
Lots more photos of our week on my blog. Our next coaching week in Solden is on 16th January. Let us know if you're interested in coming along
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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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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rob@rar, great report, not jealous of the snow at all!
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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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rob@rar, nice report, sounds like a good technical week with just the right mixture of challenge and enjoyment thrown in too! Great stuff!
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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rob@rar, Nice report, and a very good review of Solden, i noticed it get's a bit of bad press on here. I was very impressed with the on-mountain facilities and the lift system when i visited in March last year.
The trip looks really good, and having two coaches (?) for half a dozen skiiers is very good. I'd be interested in signing up to a trip in future.
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Butterfly, they were generous enough to give us 1 pole each at one point
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Liam, yes, very good on-mountain facilities, and the new place at the bottom of the Tiefenbach glacier is impressively huge. And most "facilities" are all on the ground floor, or if they were downstairs then there were proper stairs with handrails, not dangerous wet, icy spiral staircases like everywhere I've been in France.
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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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That viewing platform looks terrifying. There's a chairlift embarkation point on Hintertux where you have to ski along a little "pier" like that, apparently off the edge of a cliff, I remember. Pant filling stuff.
Looks like a great inaugural Inside Out shindig was had by all, excellent work!
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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paulio, it was pretty scary especially when a couple of people decided it would be fun to jump up and down on it. it was really windy and it had to be 500 metres at least straight down but had stunning views...
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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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skimottaret wrote: |
and a littel apres off the hill
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What's going on over your right shoulder. Those guys look happy to see each other!
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ahh yes the Italians !!!
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You know it makes sense.
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Looks like you all had a great week! Now, if you could just pop over and do a coaching week in Wengen that would be great!
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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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There really was a lot of fresh snow, could have really put the Volkl Mantra and Kastle freeride skis I tested the previous week through their paces in that.
The viewing platform would be good for a bungee jump!
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Poster: A snowHead
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Peter Ross wrote: |
The viewing platform would be good for a bungee jump! |
the half dozen people on the end decided to start jumping up and down and it really got moving. quite dramatic and almost a shear drop to the glacier on the other 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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rob@rar, skimottaret, looks great out there! Maybe maybe maybe I can do the Instruction Bash in 2011... here's hoping!
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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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TallTone, that would be great. We've got quite a few others who are hoping to do the same
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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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Me too, me too, me too!!!! {Jump-up-and-down smiley}
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