 Poster: A snowHead
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I'm not sure if I'm imagining it but early today the Merinet websites snow report said that the big news from the 3 Vallees lift companies was that next season there was going to be a handsfree lift pass system. This element of the report has now vanished. Have Merinet breeched some press embargo date or is this just wishful imagining on my part? Did anybody else see this? 
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Yes, I saw the handsfree "news" yesterday as well and it was a cause of great celebration in our house. I just hope it is true.
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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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snowHead Alistair, whos been in Val Thorens all season said that the 3V's would be installing a handsfree system for next season, instead of doing any lift upgrades - he did mention further plans for future years...but I forget them!
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The VT lift company, SETAM say that their plans for the next few years are as follows:
2005 – installation of hands free lift pass system.
2006 – replacement of the Cairn and Caron gondolas, together with construction of a ‘welcome centre’ at the Caron bend for day trip visitors.
2007 – replacement of the Boismint chair
2008 – replacement of the Three Valleys chair
Up until now the delay in installing a hands free lift pass system has been put down partly to the need to get five separate lift companies to agree on the system to be installed.
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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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More Info from Merinet website developements in the 3 Valleys
10-May-2005 : Skiers' escalator in Meribel centre
Work has begun on the new escalator by Meribel Tourist Office. This will whisk skiers from the centre of town up the short steep slope to the pistes and replace the old, steep metal staircase. The escalator is due to be completed before the start of the winter 2005/6 season.
10-May-2005 : Hands-free lift passes for 2005/6 season
The Three Valley ski area is to introduce hands-free lift pass system for the coming season. According to lift company S3V the new system will be put into place progressively from December 2005 to December 2007 when the entire ski area will be covered. The new technology means skiers will no longer have to show a pass at each lift, and no photographs will be needed (except for season passes). It will also allow the lift companies of offer new products such as morning-only passes or ‘à la carte’ passes.
10-May-2005 : New Three Valleys lifts
Lift company Société des Trois Vallées (S3V) is investing in several new lifts over the summer. The slow Signal draglift in Courchevel 1650 (which when it was built in 1954 was the longest in Europe) is to be replaced by a high-speed 6 seat chairlift costing 6 million Euros. The new lift will cut queues at the bottom of Chapelets piste and make the long ascent quicker and more confortable
The Courchevel 1550 Grangettes gondola and the 1300 Praz Gondola will both be equipped with new, more spacious and comfortable cabins. The modernization of Courchevel 1500 continues with a new pedestrian lift linking the centre of town with the gondola.
Personal Note
Having been in both the Le Praz and Grangette gondolas this year I wonder which unfortunate Bulgarian or Eastern Europe resort will get these relics? Cramped is not the word. As for the Signal drag being replaced, great but hardly anyone uses it anyway are they creating traffic???
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| stevew wrote: |
| As for the Signal drag being replaced, great but hardly anyone uses it anyway are they creating traffic??? |
Maybe no-one uses it because it;s so slow? Not really familiar with the three valleys (went once, really didn;t like the attitude) but in various other resorts we've made roundabout trips involving skiing to two or three lifts rather than taking a slow, direct drag
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The Signal draglift serves some lovely terrain, which is normally very quiet (combination of it being at the far end of the ski domain, and served by a clunky old drag). It's a great place to ski when the rest of the resort is very busy, but this may change if it gets a shiny new 6-pack.
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rob@rar.org.uk, I agree, Chapelet is my favourite run in the whole 3v. Did it last year in a foot of fresk snow, and we were the 2nd group down at 10.30 
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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Frosty the Snowman, there's also lots of gentle off-piste either side of Chapelet, especially on the right hand side as you go down through the trees. It's one of the last bits of 'near-piste' to get tracked out.
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| Quote: |
The Signal draglift serves some lovely terrain, which is normally very quiet (combination of it being at the far end of the ski domain, and served by a clunky old drag). It's a great place to ski when the rest of the resort is very busy, but this may change if it gets a shiny new 6-pack.
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rob@rar.org.uk, that was really my point, it's a great run to go blasting down, knowing that hardly anybody will be there, and yes the off piste (in my limited experience) can be good, I did the bit you mentioned in January 2-3 days after a big dump and there was still fresh snow.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Its a shame the old Signal is going. I bet the new chair won't be significantly faster and that any additional convenience will be more than outweighed by the loss of 'character' in this part of the 3V.
Somewhere in France there must be huge amounts of secondhand Poma spares. Don't suppose anyone living out there could point me in the right direction ? Our club is always on the look out for second hand buttons and pylon spares for our system in the Pennines.
In the not too distant future we may be owners of the oldest Poma in Europe making it a candidate for listing or Scheduling as an ancient monument !
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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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Peter S, Serre Chevalier are replacing a couple of theirs this summer too.
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Helen Beaumont,
Not sure about replacing chairlifts but I notice a certain Snowhead has replaced their signature! Looking good! 
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You know it makes sense.
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Hands free passes have arrived! Pictures of the new 'turnstiles' on www.latania.co.uk plus other news including a new piste down into the village.
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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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Poster: A snowHead
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Welcome to snowHeads kkev,
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