 Poster: A snowHead
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D G Orf, in an attempt to combine this thread with the one on skiing and social class, can you tell us something about the DHO?
I have the clear impression, on the basis of no evidence whatsoever, that it is a rather exclusive UMC outfit, with lots of middle aged women called Belinda wearing alice bands and too much sun tan, with husbands called Tony who wear antique one piece ski suits, know practically everyone in wengen by their first name, have parents, grandparents, even great granparents who werein the club, that sort of thing. They're all brilliant skiers, of course.
As I say, I know nothing at all about the club, except what is on their web site. All info interestedly received.
Thread split from the what are you doing today thread by DGO
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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, Ok lets see.
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that it is a rather exclusive UMC outfit
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It certainly used to be the case, but now we take almost any Tom, Dick or Harriet who wants to join, after all I'm a member 
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with lots of middle aged women called Belinda wearing alice bands and too much sun tan
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No definately not true 
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with husbands called Tony who wear antique one piece ski suits
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May occasionally be seen but rare 
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know practically everyone in wengen by their first name
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For a number of members this is indeed the case 
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have parents, grandparents, even great granparents who werein the club, that sort of thing
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Whilst there are possibly one or two members for whom that might apply it's not all that common 
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They're all brilliant skiers, of course
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Whilst I'd love to be able to agree with that comment I'm afraid it wouldn't be true, there's a very mixed level of ability going from say early internmediate to very advanced, we may even have a few very poor skiers who simply join for the social aspect 
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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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Perhaps this thread should be broken off into a new one to discuss the DHO?
I used to stay at the Falken Hotel in Wengen, where they held weekly drinks parties. They did certainly appear to fulfill UMC stereotypes (not that I have any prejudices against UMC - I went to St Andrews uni!). There was also a TV documentary around about 1984, think it was called "On the Piste" filmed in Wengen that featured the DHO. However, that was specifically trying to portray the "Hooray" image and compare it with Soll in Austria.
That was all a long time ago however, things may have changed, as skiing has in general.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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D G Orf,
Sorry, did not read your post until after I'd written mine.
We certainly have a lot to thank the DHO for - after all it was them who persuaded the locals to keep the mountain railway open in the winter so they could catch the train up and ski down. The locals thought the Brits were mad! Otherwise where would we all be today - still walking up?! 
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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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beanie1, things have certainly changed, I cringe every time someone mentions that doccumentry Whilst the club is open for almost anyone to join, it is still run in the manner of an UMC club, however we do now try to avoid food fights and few of us pronounce our words in an UMC accent, also we tend to distribute the weekly drinks parties round a number of the hotels
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You'll need to Register first of course.
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| beanie1 wrote: |
| I went to St Andrews uni. |
Me too, '75-'80. You no doubt more recently.
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D G Orf, as a matter of interest, if I was intending to ski in Wengen (which I have no plans to do , but hope to one day), how would I, the old lady and the 11 year old kids set about joining? Do we wait to be asked? Do we apply? Do they have promotions a la SCGB with a free day's skiing with the rep? Would we be welcome? We're reasonably civilised (well, the others are), reasonable skiers, reasonably well heeled.
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richmond,
Yes I was there '98 - '02. Loved the place. Did you enjoy your raisin weekend?!
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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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richmond, the DHO use the Wengen curling club hut (except Saturday) from about 5.30pm till as late as 7pm, you just go along and meet the people, you can indeed have a day skiing with the rep for free, also during the school holidays the DHO run coggins groups for the kids but they need to be fast skiers to keep up, these are now lead by proffesional ski teachers and supposedly the kids really enjoy them (all day sessions including lunch time) I can see no reason why you wouldn't be welcome
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Chris Brookes, God I wish I knew that answer .....
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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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D G Orf, thanks. If I do go to Wengen, I'll look them up.
beanie1, so far as I can remenber, bearing in mind that a) I was not at my brightest and best, and b) it was 30 years ago. I too loved the place, although I don't think that it would be everyone's cup of tea. I stayed in The Atholl (John Burnett Hall), Largoward, City Road (right next to the West Port) and North Street, just around the corner from Greyfriars Terrace, for 2 years.
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Help me out here please  's
What is UMC? I have been struggling with this TLA for a while and feel compelled to be put out of my misery.
Thanks
CP
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You know it makes sense.
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CP, UMC = Upper Middle Class
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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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D G Orf, what are the advantages of joining the DHO when in Wengen?
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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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D G Orf, I wouldnt join the DHO just wanted to know why people do ... as for being a K member....Yes i am
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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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I would hazard a guess at 'Upper Middle Class'. I don't know enough to say say if 'Tony' and 'Belinda' and 'alice bands' fit that profile. Most of the 'Tony's' I know are Italians. I would not attempt to pigeonhole them into a particular socio- economic group.
You do spot Brits in Switzerland identifiable by the sort of drab, but not cheap, clothes that only Englishmen of a certain age consider smart. They are probably 'UMC' too. They do not have tattoos. Nor do their wives. They never have haircuts that can be described by reference to a number on an electric clippers. I would not fault them on the last three.
I'm sure SCGB and DHO used to ski occasionally with the Crystal rep in Wengen. So they can't have been that snooty. I vaguely remember trying to hide my boredom, whilst being told about children's races and military connections by someone from the DHO.
By the way I loved the 'On the Piste' documentary. I am sure the vodka swigging divorcees and the hapless Kevin who kept falling over(i'm sure he was acting) had a far better time than the posh Prods in Wengen and their specially imported English vicar.
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Chris Brookes, well you do get very cheap booze 5 days a week, usually people bring a bottle of wine (or a few beers) once a week from the nearby coop and drink for free for the rest of the week, sometimes the booze is cheap plonk sometimes its very good, it depends who buys.
In addition there may be other social gatherings and competitions, plus of course you can ski with the rep
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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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Well,it must work or the DHO wouldn't still be around today
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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I'm sure SCGB and DHO used to ski occasionally with the Crystal rep in Wengen
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True, actually they will often ski with tour op reps and resort workers
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I vaguely remember trying to hide my boredom, whilst being told about children's races and military connections by someone from the DHO.
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Yep that can happen
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specially imported English vicar.
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Actually that has nothing to do with the DHO or any of the posh prods, the vicar is supplied by the ICS for the English church in Wengen (built in 1928) they do the same for the other English church in Zermatt and several other locations in Switzerland
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Latchigo, it was more of an academic question, these sorts of things fascinate me, but if one is fortunate enough to 'meet' well connected types such as D G Orf, one should take full advantage, obviously! I don't really think that these sort of outfits are really my thing, I'm not terribly sociable, but who knows?
In the same spirit of enquiry, Chris Brookes, can you tell us something about the Kandahar?
And if there are any freemasons out there, a brief note on your club would fascinate our readers, I'm sure.
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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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richmond, A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE KANDAHAR SKI CLUB (as per the K website )
The oldest downhill ski race in the world, which dates back to 1911, was named after Field Marshal Earl Roberts of Kandahar (who took his title from the relief of Kandahar). When in 1924 Sir Arnold Lunn and a group of Englishmen founded a ski club in Mürren to develop Alpine ski racing they called it the Kandahar Ski Club.
From the very beginning the Kandahar has treated racing as an activity for all members, not just for a specialist elite. Every year the Club organises, in Mürren, a racing and training week for members culminating in the Inferno, the longest Downhill race in the world. In recent years, about 100 members have taken part each year.
Other Kandahar races are run each year, not necessarily in Mürren, including a FIS calendar race, part of the International Masters Calendar Races programme. These races are run annually by, and at the expense of, the Kandahar Ski Club on behalf of the British Ski and Snowboard Federation.
Thus the Kandahar is the World’s premier Alpine Ski Racing club. In those early days the rules for Downhill and Slalom races were being evolved and eventually, in 1931, Sir Arnold organised at Mürren the first World Championships in Downhill and Slalom Racing. He did the same in 1935, these being the only occasions in history when one country has organised the World Championships of any sport on the territory of another country. It was not until 1936 that Downhill and Slalom Racing were admitted to the Winter Olympic Games.
That the Club has been able to maintain its position in the forefront of British racing is due to the emphasis that it puts on junior training. Kandahar juniors compete with success each year in the British Junior Championships and the BARSC Championships. This is a very important part of the support that Kandahar members give to British ski racing.
The Kandahar is a private membership club open to any competent skier proposed and seconded by active members and approved by the Board. It has an International membership numbering more than 1000 and is structured as a limited liability company. It has no paid staff, all its officers and directors give their time and efforts voluntarily. Although the Club owns a clubhouse in Mürren, which is the Club centre, most Board meetings are held in London.
Almost every British ski racer of distinction is, or has been, a member of the Club, which sees itself as a continuing influence on the sport of ski racing, particularly at amateur levels.
Visit : http://www.kandahar.org.uk/
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Chris Brookes, "Almost every British ski racer of distinction is, or has been, a member of the Club, which sees itself as a continuing influence on the sport of ski racing, particularly at amateur levels. "
I think I'd really have to challenge that statement. I don't have results etc. with me & I acknowledge that Conrad Bartelski was a Kandahar, but what about Bunny Field, Davina Galica(8th Winter olympics downhill) , Gina Hathorn(4th winter olympics slalom), Iain Finlayson (Sapporo downhill), Helen Carmichael (Sapporo), Alain Baxter (and I assume Noel) - these are only the ex DHO trainees that I can think of off the top of my head!!!
As an ex DHO trainee and Coggins trainer myself, and having grown up ski-ing in Wengen we could re-start the whole Arnie Lunn/ Ros Hepworth war across the valley here!!!
richmond, Unless things have changed radically there's a huge difference between the social DHO membership and the racing side of things.
D G Orf, I cringe equally about that dredful documentary - not representative of the DHO I knew at all.
beanie1, We used to stay at the Schonegg! - the Maybe family always stayed at the Eiger, but I think they defected to the Falken. 
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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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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easiski, you missed out Chimene Alcott, she's a member of the DHO as well
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D G Orf, Oh good! As I said they're just who I could think of on the spur of the moment. Chris Brookes, You're obviously not old enough!! Ros was a right tartar when I was a teenager!!!
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You know it makes sense.
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easiski, obviously not
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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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Annehillskiing,
Which one are you? Still have it on video somewhere...
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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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Annehillskiing, the odd thing about that documentary is that none of the people we knew were in it. therfore most of the people filmed were not from the racing side of the DHO, and were not really "regulars". My dad was fit to be tied after he saw it (and he's still a member).
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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If I remember rightly, it was done around easter time. Not difficult to remember because we always went to Wengen at Easter when I was a kid. Can't say anything more than that because I was too innocent to really think about politics and all that in those days!!!!!.
Truth be told I hate thinking about politics now!!
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FAQ
