 Poster: A snowHead
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On another thread started by Wayne about the pros/cons of employing ski hosts to guide guests, on-piste, around the ski area, I mentioned that I had worked for a couple of TO's as a rep/host. I said that the British and Irish public can be unbelievably stupid/naive/air-headed. Pam W suggested I give some examples; so here are a couple of gems from my two seasons in the Italian Alps to start you off.
"Will I be cold if I don't wear a jacket?" 30 something, educated woman in mid Jan.
"My skis and boots haven't arrived on the luggage carousel, I think they must still be in Dublin" The guy was told he would have to fill in a form and was asked where his luggage tags were. After much confusion and debate we established that he had pre-booked ski/boot hire at the travel agents and he thought they would be put on his flight to be collected at baggage claim.
Guest: "Which way do I go when I get off the chairlift?"
Me: "Go left off the chair. There's only one piste down from that chair"
Guest: "So which way is that?"
Me: "Errm, down".
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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jzBun, 
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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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jzBun, do they ask you whether they should wear a helmet?
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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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"Will I be hungry by lunch time ?"
"What do the men who make the bumps do in the Summer?"
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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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pam w, This was 6 years ago. Nobody wore a helmet.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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jzBun, Rightly so!
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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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Clients : "How will I know if they hurt?"
Us: "Erm well you know when you are hungry............"
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Snowmobiler in the Guide's Hut shop in Fernie last year:
'Do you guys sell those personal avalanche detectors?' 
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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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One of the Chalet girls (the pretty but dim one) saw the Mountain Rescue/ Avalanche dogs at the top of the Roche in La Plagne - she thought the dogs predicted the avalanches and their barks were used to warn people.....
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"How do I know which ski is for the left and right foot?"
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You know it makes sense.
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| DB wrote: |
| "How do I know which ski is for the left and right foot?" |
You buy a pair with graphics that go across the pair. And then you know which set of edges have always been on the inside and so are blunter.
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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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"Which way do I go?" (there's only one choice)
"Down"
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Poster: A snowHead
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| DB wrote: |
| "How do I know which ski is for the left and right foot?" |
Mine ARE actually marked 'L' and 'R' . . .
but I do tele AND have put them on the wrong feet
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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| Quote: |
And then you know which set of edges have always been on the inside and so are blunter.
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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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My OH had right and left skis at one time, after a BASS guy in Les Gets balanced him up by putting assymetrical wedges under the bindings. These days he has them in the ski boots, so it's less easy to make a mistake.
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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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Will there be snow.......
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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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For a beginner there's no such thing as a stupid question, even the ones that sound really stupid. I once heard a lady ask where to pick up her 'apres ski'. I think she though it was some kind of physical artefact. When the instructor explained that it just meant going for a few shandies, she looked quite disappointed. At first I thought 'hahaha you dunce' and then realised that there's not a lot of shame in not knowing something if you've never been told. When I took some beginners in January, I got the full range of 'how do I wear my underpants' kind of questions, and it's all fair enough really.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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to be honest, it's not always the stupid question (understandable if you've never been) it's the complete lack of common sense. Like trying to put your skis on facing up the hill etc etc
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| heidiky wrote: |
| to be honest, it's not always the stupid question (understandable if you've never been) it's the complete lack of common sense. Like trying to put your skis on facing up the hill etc etc |
That's nothing to do with common sense. Understanding the mechanics of how skis work is something that has to be learnt.
For a start, they will happily sit on the snow pointing up a moderate hill until you click into them, due to the way the brakes work. There is no possible way a beginner would know that, and facing uphill is a natural defence mechanism against falling and vertigo.
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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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| Quote: |
There is no possible way a beginner would know that
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There is when you told them 10 minutes previously that their skis always have to be ACROSS the slope or they'll slide off when clipping in! Doesn't matter how many times you remind some people they still decide not to use their brain.
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I'm with Mr Technique here. Can some of you folk not remember what it was like when you first learned to ski? If you learned as a child then try putting yourself in an adult's shoes - being told loads of new, quite scary stuff then having to remember it all at once - and if you forget only 1 thing it all goes to hell in a hand cart.
After 20 years skiing, so far this season I have managed to try and put my boots on the wrong feet, put my uphill ski on first and try to clip into closed bindings - oh, how I laughed.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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To be fair, standing on a snowy mountain in a strange outfit with two planks strapped to your feet for the first time is not normal - it's a bit confusing and possibly a bit nerve-wracking... I'm not surprised beginners ask questions such as 'which is the left ski and which is the right?' or take a while to get used to positioning their skis across the slope before they clip in. My first time on skis I remember feeling completely bewildered by the environment and just stood there trying to take it all in, before I suddenly found myself sliding backwards down the slope with my feet moving further and further apart and no idea how to stop myself - fortunately I had a nice, patient instructor to rescue me!
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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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miranda, better put than my effort above. +1
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| holidayloverxx wrote: |
| put my boots on the wrong feet, |
Just out of interest, who's were they ? 
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You know it makes sense.
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Exactly.
Last edited by You know it makes sense. on Mon 28-03-11 16:28; edited 1 time in total
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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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Mr Technique, Fair point. Its already first page of a google search
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Poster: A snowHead
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What is?
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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| Mr Technique wrote: |
| Exactly. |
Very good.
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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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Mr Technique, Oh, that edit was naughty.....
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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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| pam w wrote: |
| Quote: |
And then you know which set of edges have always been on the inside and so are blunter.
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Why the question mark?
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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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James the Last, are you serious? both sides will get equal contact - the inside becomes the outside on the next turn
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Only if you're carving both edges. I for one am usually not.
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Mr Technique, neither am I tbh, but in the best of all possible worlds and all that....
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Surely both inside edges get more worn as you should be on your outside ski? Becomes very apparent on plastic...
And.... I know it's bewildering being on a ski slope for the first time, but when I'm standing right next to someone, reminding them over and over to not point their skis up the hill, I can't help but wonder if there's fresh air between their ears...
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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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| heidiky wrote: |
Surely both inside edges get more worn as you should be on your outside ski? Becomes very apparent on plastic...
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Hmm, now I'm changing my mind, having just done a little exercise with my hands as the skis and a bit of visualisation
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holidayloverxx, Yup!
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FAQ
