Ski Club 2.0 Home
Snow Reports
FAQFAQ

Mail for help.Help!!

Log in to snowHeads to make it MUCH better! Registration's totally free, of course, and makes snowHeads easier to use and to understand, gives better searching, filtering etc. as well as access to 'members only' forums, discounts and deals that U don't even know exist as a 'guest' user. (btw. 50,000+ snowHeads already know all this, making snowHeads the biggest, most active community of snow-heads in the UK, so you'll be in good company)..... When you register, you get our free weekly(-ish) snow report by email. It's rather good and not made up by tourist offices (or people that love the tourist office and want to marry it either)... We don't share your email address with anyone and we never send out any of those cheesy 'message from our partners' emails either. Anyway, snowHeads really is MUCH better when you're logged in - not least because you get to post your own messages complaining about things that annoy you like perhaps this banner which, incidentally, disappears when you log in :-)
Username:-
 Password:
Remember me:
👁 durr, I forgot...
Or: Register
(to be a proper snow-head, all official-like!)

What is an intermediate skier?

 Poster: A snowHead
Poster: A snowHead
Although I find thirty06's post rather tongue-in-cheek and funny, I also find it a bit patronising and sanctimonious. So what if holiday skiers wave their arms about, swing their shoulders or whatever other technique/style faux pas? As long as they are skiing in a manner that doesn't put them or anyone else in danger, I don't see any issues at all with a perceived lack of style. They're on holiday for heavens sake, they're not aspiring to the next Winter Olympics (bit late for this one!).

To me, the only issue is people putting themselves in unnecessary danger, and that applies to off-piste skiers as much as any piste intermediate.
snow conditions
 Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
But it's soooooo ugly, soooo ugly!

It's like fat people in Union Jack shorts and sunblock going round supermarkets. No, it's not actually dangerous, but have pity.

Skiing gives you all the advantages in terms of aesthetics, head to toe cover, loose clothing to disguise unflattering outlines. All you have to do to look good is to do it properly.

Do it right and you could be taken for a younger Bo Derrick, stiffen the lower limbs and waggle your shouldrs and suddenly you're Norah Batty.
latest report
 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?
It comes down to fundamentals....these are transferable and therefore an "athlete" can improve in a sport quicker than a "non athlete" that needs to learn the fundamentals I think! Love the table though, made me chuckle!!!
snow conditions
 You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
FAF, love it.
latest report
 Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
I cant think of any other sport where the participants rate their proficiency. I like to mountain bike - but I describe it in terms of the terrain I like rather than how able I am. I also cant think of any other sport where so many take lessons. So I think the classifications relate to the tuition more than anything else.

So I like fast wide pistes where I can carve big fast turns - am I an intermediate skier?
ski holidays
 You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
Quote:

To me, the only issue is people putting themselves in unnecessary danger, and that applies to off-piste skiers as much as any piste intermediate.


As long as it's only themselves they're putting in danger, surely it's their choice and nothing to do with anyone else?
snow report
 Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
clarky999, not really. People putting themselves in danger may have an accident. And that accident may result in needing rescue, emergency help, medical treatment, insurance claims, time off work, etc. not to mention the possibility of involving someone else. Suddenly it's not just their business any more. It's only nothing to do with anyone else if they pull it off without incident.

I have a very live and let live approach to skiing. I understand totally why some people want to constantly push boundaries, venture to less-explored territory, take lots of lessons to hone technique, etc. But at the same time there are people like me that are happy with their lack of style and technique and view their annual ski trip as a holiday where they have fun, pure and simple.

If thirty06 thinks I'm ugly, hey, I'm a big girl, I can handle it! Very Happy Maybe he or she is not such a looker either.
snow report
 After all it is free Go on u know u want to!
After all it is free Go on u know u want to!
thirty06, spot on. And in skiing form often does follow function. The people who look stiff and like they have been hijacked by a pair of planks are often about to fall. Skiing is surely more transcendent than that. Closer to dancing than running?
latest report
 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.
Quote:

needing rescue, emergency help, medical treatment, insurance claims,


They're all jobs people willingly do though. I have the greatest respect for mountain rescue etc, but they chose to risk themselves helping people, they don't have to do it.. Insurance companies willingly take people's money to provide backup if things goo wrong. You could make an extreme example that to ski a blue run is an unneccesary danger to yourself. Do you think downhill racing should be stopped, as that is certianly 'unneccessary' risk.
snow report
 Ski the Net with snowHeads
Ski the Net with snowHeads
clarky999, that wasn't the point I was making at all. All skiing carries some level of risk, but people who ski in a deliberately dangerous manner or location obviously increase this risk. I was just pointing out that doing so might not just be their own business, it might involve others too.
latest report
 snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
stoatsbrother wrote:
[Closer to dancing than running?

Too often I feel like I'm wrestling rather than skiing, but when I'm doing it well it does feel like I'm dancing with the terrain.
latest report
 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.
Queen boedicia

It's unlikely that you're ugly, as Galton determined that Notts had the highest percentage of beautiful women in England. I should point out that I myself look how Joaquin Cortes would look if he were a bit more macho and worked out regularly.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2051/buddyicons/20986662@N07.jpg?1213998205#20986662@N07

Stoatsbrother

Yes, as an engineer said about motorcycle design, "If it is right, it looks right". For most skiing there is no measure of sucess, in the mens' downhill you could ski down sideways with a checked jersey and your hat on backwards so long as your time was best; for other events there are stlye points. Dancing is definitely a good comparison, anyone can have a go, but some might benefit from a bit of polish.


Last edited by And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports. on Mon 15-02-10 22:48; edited 1 time in total
snow report
 So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
bar shaker wrote:
Its the most abused term in the sport.

In skiing and boarding, its everyone who is not a beginner (first week of mountain ski/board school) and who is not competing in Vancouver.


Loving it Wink


Last edited by So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much on Mon 19-03-12 22:09; edited 1 time in total
latest report
 You know it makes sense.
You know it makes sense.
And anyway, intermediate between what ? what are the limits ?

Okay, I'll accept that we know the lower limit, but what of the upper ?

Suppose you practiced and practiced and did loads of inner game training and cross training and excelled at every discipline so that you an extension for your trophy cabinets and another for your medals and you skied every vertical ,ile in the world with such panache that you were decalred a sort of cross between Franz Klammer, Snowhoe Johnson, Ali Ross and Frank4Short. What then ? Sure you'd be the upper limit for ski ability measurement, but would you carry on or just go "Oh well, I guess that's about it" and take up gardening ?
snow conditions
 Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
rob@rar wrote:
If a skier describes themself to me as "intermediate" or "advanced" I always ignore the title and ask them to describe what they can and can't do, what they enjoy the most, what sort of terrain they make the best turns on, etc.


When I was booking my trip a few months ago, I told the rep what I could and couldn't do so that I could book into the right lesson level - I want to enjoy my trip and get better off the back of it. Basically, I was told if I was beyond snowploughs, I was an intermediate Shocked I'm still slightly nervous about that as an idea but am assured that since there's such a large group going, it should be relatively easy to switch level if I need to.

I suspect one of the reasons for people claiming to be intermediates rather than beginners is that they fear a week of lessons on the nursery slopes, relearning snowploughs. And while snowHeads have a very clear idea of an 'advanced or expert' skier, a lot of those on the mountain would class anyone coming down a red well, as being advanced. In which case, describing themselves as intermediates, makes sense (to them at least)

I'll throw in something that will make you all shudder more...

Here's a ski school which offers courses for 'advanced' skiers which includes just getting to grips with reds. Although to give them some credit, they do at least recognise a level beyond advanced. wink
snow conditions
 Poster: A snowHead
Poster: A snowHead
Applespider wrote:

I suspect one of the reasons for people claiming to be intermediates rather than beginners is that they fear a week of lessons on the nursery slopes, relearning snowploughs.


This goes both ways though, I've rolled up to ski school and described myself as intermediate only to be popped in a group with the above. Sad This is as much my fault though (as ski school's*) because I need to speak up and demand a change of group!

I like the grading system suggested on this thread, conversely I think the Canadian 6-point one difficult. I don't think there's enough spread at the upper end.

*Ski schools seem reluctant to break up groups - keeping those of lower ability happy at the expense of others.
ski holidays
 Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
This splits up the novice and intermediate into "cautious" and "confident" - seems a sensible approach. It's American so I assume green = European blue and blue=European red. By this table I'd be a cautious intermediate.
snow conditions
 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?
Butterfly, That's the Panorama ski school isn't it?

We marked ourselves as level 4 on that scale based on our first trip - they made sure we weren't fibbing too!

It seems intermediate covers a wide spectrum of abilities!
snow conditions
 You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
Butterfly, that scale would make me a 'confident intermediate' I think. No matter what scale I look at, I'm always an intermediate. Very Happy
latest report
 Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
queen bodecia,
Quote:

No matter what scale I look at, I'm always an intermediate
Me too, wherever the word is used. It's notable that Inspired to Ski, with whom I've now done two courses, don't use the word at all, just numbers/descriptors. Perhaps that's the way forward, and then there wouldn't be all this confusion and argument - ban the word altogether!
ski holidays
 You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
clarky999 wrote:
Quote:

needing rescue, emergency help, medical treatment, insurance claims,


They're all jobs people willingly do though. I have the greatest respect for mountain rescue etc, but they chose to risk themselves helping people, they don't have to do it.


That is arrogant, ignorant nonsense. Presumably French piste patrol are paid for it. But you lose yourself in the Cairngorms in the winter, then http://www.cmrt.org.uk/ will come to rescue you. They are volunteers, they are helping their fellow men out of the good of their hearts - no doubt also because they can, because they enjoy the challenge, but the fact remains they are volunteers.

A bit like saying that the army know what they're going into so they don't deserve sympathy when they die or lose a leg.
ski holidays
 Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
James the Last, that's a bizarre statement to make. CMRT do it because they want to. They know the risks and choose to do it anyway. Ditto the people serving in our armed forces, casualty nurses, police officers, firemen.

clarky999 makes a valid point.
latest report
 After all it is free Go on u know u want to!
After all it is free Go on u know u want to!
CMRT do it because they want to. They know the risks and choose to do it anyway.

Yes. But they do not WANT to kill themselves. And those who head ill-equipped up into the hills are risking the lives of the mountain rescue. It is not acceptable for us to sit here and say "Well we can risk our lives by being stupid, and if it kills the mountain rescue people too, well they knew the risks and they're being paid anyway." It is acceptable to say "I know what I am doing, I am qualified for what I want to do and I have the right equipment. poo-poo sometimes happens. It has just happened to me and I need rescuing, but I can feel certain that I was unlucky, not negligent and therefore have not needlessly* risked somebody's life."

_____________________________________________

*I think we can all accept that whilst we don't need to go into the mountains, it does not constitute "needless" activity.
snow report
 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.
I replied on the other thread which DB started too, just found this one so I'll comment here now.

You have completely missed my point. I didn't mean idiots headin into the hills with no knowledge, skill or experience and consequently getting into trouble.

Someone mentioned should we be allowed to put ourselves in unneccessary danger. Skiing offpiste at all is unneccessary danger.

Yet I am capable and confident skiing offpiste, and know the risks. If I decide the risks on any given day or slope TO MYSELF are acceptable (ie I don't think this slope will slide or whatever) then I think I have the right to risk myself - ie I am taking a calculated risk. I can do this relatively safely do to my knowledge, skill, experience and equipment. If it is only myself that I risk, I defy anyone who tells me not to do it.

To again clarify it, I would never do something in the expectation that I might rely on someone else to save me.
snow conditions
 Ski the Net with snowHeads
Ski the Net with snowHeads
As an ex emergency service worker (Fireman) I think there is a distinction to be made.

hyweljenkins, groups the emergency and armed services together with mountain rescue and says 'they know the risks and chose to do it anyway'. This is of course true.

However as a fireman I felt my role was to protect life and property when it was threatened. Most of the time the threat came from unforeseen, or difficult to avoid circumstances, a car accident, a fire, the rescue of tibbles from a tree.

On those occasions when some daft bugger had got their toe stuck up a bath tap, or head trapped behind railings, or had set fire to his slippers while pissed, there was a generally accepted feeling among my comrades of 'bloody idiot!' toward the affected party.

If some numpty gets stuck halfway up a mountain becaue he's gone up totally unprepared for the (known) dangers he might face I would feel a little miffed that my services were called on to go get him, but this is the sort of thing that mountain rescue teams face all the time. Just because they exist doesn't absolve the rest of us from behaving sensibly and taking all necessary precautions.

Emergency services exist to provide a safety net to the general public. Shit does indeed happen and they are here to help when it does. However some members of the general public put themselves at more risk than others.

As James the Last, says, the rescue teams are not looking to get killed, They are willing to risk their lives to save others. Such an attitude is rare, and such rescue teams are general underfunded and under resourced. It is a shame that their resources are stretched by people who through ignorance or stupidity put themselves in the path of danger.

BTW I'm not having a go at clarky999, here. He clearly is capable of weighing the risks and making an informed decision. It's the blanket 'well they chose to do the job so it's their lookout' attitude to the emergency services that I am deriding.
latest report
 snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
Axsman,
Quote:

BTW I'm not having a go at clarky999, here. He clearly is capable of weighing the risks and making an informed decision. It's the blanket 'well they chose to do the job so it's their lookout' attitude to the emergency services that I am deriding.


Well put, I didn't intend any of my posts to convey that, maybe they were a little ambiguous though.
ski holidays
 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.
harriet wrote:
well aparently im number 7 on the chart! theres no way im an advanced intermediate thats for sure!!!!! Laughing well im chuffed if im classed as an advanced intermediate but i think thats too high a grading well im not going to be in the x games in 2 years time so i dont think anyone can say thats advanced!!! Crying or Very sad


I think most of those terms, in so far as they have any meaning at all, can only apply to recreational skiers.

Everybody else is lumped together under level 12, although levels 10 & 11 are still a long way beyond the rest.

And I would be level 7 on their chart too. Blush
latest report
 So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
Last weekend a friend of ours suggested that anyone who needs to ask what colour a run is is an intermediate skier. I like that.
snow report
 You know it makes sense.
You know it makes sense.
FlyingStantoni, intermediate? or just colour blind Madeye-Smiley

Are they asking the question before or after they've skied it? Laughing

Actually being serious for a second, I think someone who skis a run and then asks what it was is a pretty good intermediate. Someone who asks first is probably a nervous intermediate, and someone who doesn't ask is probably either nuts, or a ski god, beyond such mundane concerns. Toofy Grin
ski holidays
 Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Axsman, So where is the person that asks before - skis down it and then doesn't believe what they were told to begin with? Laughing

I am normally this:

Quote:

Someone who asks first is probably a nervous intermediate,


But did get really close to this
Quote:

someone who skis a run and then asks what it was


On a couple of occasions this year. I like to think that I'm a controlled intermediate, but not a high level one
snow report
 Poster: A snowHead
Poster: A snowHead
Megamum, I don't ask beforehand, because you can't trust the bu99ers not to lie! I check the piste map. If it's anything darker than red I let the kids go first! Laughing
snow report
 Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Someone who's not a beginner or advanced Toofy Grin
ski holidays
 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?
Axsman, this year I'd been dollying along well inside my comfort zone during a lesson and I reckon the instructor decided I'd had quite enough of the easy life. Down we dropped off a lift and went in a different direction that I hadn't explored before. Over what felt like damn sharp 'edge' we dropped and for about 200 yards I had my heart in my mouth and just kept going (silly fool that I was) until the slope dropped back to a sensible incline. 'Good god....was that a black?' 'No' he said with a wicked grin 'but it is an [i]Austrian[/b] red!!'. He was right, a red was what it was marked as, but there are not many reds that I've done with a bit in as steep as that bit was!!

Mind you it was a strange holiday this year, although we were in a new area I didn't spend every minute consulting the piste map - most unlike me. I think once I'd worked out that there was very little chance of skiing a black I was happy. Though the first morning when we met up with kooky we'd turned the wrong way and were at the bottom of red that had rather lethally icy patches in it some distance from where we had started when she found us. 'Have you skied that?' {indicating the red} I was asked. Apparently I had just skied that ladies world cup slalom piste that had been deliberately iced up Shocked - I have since decided that I might go back to reading the piste maps as it was clearly marked as such Laughing .


Last edited by Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see? on Sat 3-03-12 20:41; edited 1 time in total
snow report
 You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
Colin B wrote:
Someone who's not a beginner or advanced Toofy Grin


Exactly , will try most pistes, knows their own limits but also is in more control than a beginner but has not got that flowing hip/knee control at speed.

Knowing where you can improve and where you are wasting effort in turns is a good sign.


I love skiing but realise I am not brilliant, but will keep trying to keep up with the naturals.
snow conditions
 Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Axsman wrote:
...someone who doesn't ask is probably either nuts, or a ski god, beyond such mundane concerns.

As I say, if you have to ask...
ski holidays
 You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
You're intermediate til your first WC or FWT start or video part.
snow report
 Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Anyone not on Telemark....niffy said Twisted Evil
latest report
 After all it is free Go on u know u want to!
After all it is free Go on u know u want to!
queen bodecia wrote:
Although I find thirty06's post rather tongue-in-cheek and funny, I also find it a bit patronising and sanctimonious. So what if holiday skiers wave their arms about, swing their shoulders or whatever other technique/style faux pas? As long as they are skiing in a manner that doesn't put them or anyone else in danger, I don't see any issues at all with a perceived lack of style. They're on holiday for heavens sake, they're not aspiring to the next Winter Olympics (bit late for this one!).

To me, the only issue is people putting themselves in unnecessary danger, and that applies to off-piste skiers as much as any piste intermediate.


Very true!

Much as we'd all like to ski like Didier Cuche/Lindsey Vonn, we just try to do our best and have fun.

I know my limits - and if more people knew theirs, the slopes would be a lot safer!

I've been skiing for nearly 25 years but I'm still an 'intermediate' with lots of faults, and I still have lessons sometimes.
snow report
 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.
They are all relative terms.

Beginner - Someone who needs help to get down a piste
Intermediate - Someone who can get down a piste on their own
Advanced - Someone who can help beginners and get down a piste.
Expert - Someone who doesent need a piste in the first place.
ski holidays
 Ski the Net with snowHeads
Ski the Net with snowHeads
Intermediate, ski all pistes. Advanced, ski all terrain. Expert, ski all terrain like a boss, race, huck cliffs, etc.
snow conditions



Terms and conditions  Privacy Policy