 Poster: A snowHead
|
| Quote: |
BKK - welcome to SH's... AFA the seasonnaires program is concerned.... far from being aimed at beginners (we only get a few to those) it is generally aimed at those wanting to fulfil their ambitions of which of piste sessions are one of the most popular... we have people who have done many seasons in Val signing up for the sessions. So most definitely there will be a group that fits his requirements... tell him to either drop me a line on here, pop into our office in Snowberry (Slopeside) or visit the www.tdcski.com website and contact us that way. He should do it sooner rather than later as we are going to finalise the groups in the next week or so!
|
Thanks for the info Steve - I'll pass this onto him
|
|
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
bar shaker - yup another season of Wednesday afternoon swearing as you pass the Folie!!!!! Sure you'll sort something out for the clinic! Good luck!
richjp - yes you're right that there are other reasons that piste are closed but what chocksaway says is spot on in terms of his associate... we have to justify decisions and a closed piste has been actively closed for a reason that other professionals deem it not able to be open!
|
|
|
|
|
|
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?
|
|
BKK - no problems
|
|
|
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
|
|
|
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
|
| chocksaway wrote: |
@richjp, Not sure, were there piste poles by the side. If not it is not a piste under the French rules (just a line on a map).
I spoke to an off piste instructor, I know well. If he is instructing a group he will not go on a closed piste as he would be deemed negligent if there was an incident. If there is an incident off piste he will be judged on the merits of the individual case, taking into account local knowledge, conditions etc, his peer group of instructors would be consulted. |
Come to think of it, I don't think there were any piste markers so according to your explanation I was probably off piste anyway. As you know the ladies' downhill was due to be run on that slope before it was cancelled which is maybe why the piste markers were not there in the first place. Once it has been pisted, which I assume has happened by now and the markers put in place, if the slope was subsequently closed after a new snowfall, it would then presumably become a closed piste.
You said that you had spoken to an off piste instructor, however we were with a very experienced local mountain guide. Do you know if being a mountain guide would make his position any different compared to that of an instructor if something were to happen? I am thinking in the case of something like a leg injury because of a fall rather than an avalanche.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
Not sure on that one. If he had a radio to ask the Pisteurs why it was closed?? Clearly if they were blasting from above or piste bashing with one of those wire tethered jobs it wouldnt matter if he was an instructor or a guide 
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Something different
It was Clares turn to get up early when the kids (well Ben really) had us up early! So I got a small lie in - until 7am!!!!
Anyway we had a lazy start to the day before heading out mid morning to go to our apartment we rent out to do some bits and pieces before we then headed to Blue Note... Father Christmas was coming to Blue Note so all the kids (and Mums and Dads of course too) all arrived for a couple of hours of fun and games, a drink or two and of course a chance to get a present from the big man himself! Well the time came and went but Olivia was not very happy to go and get her present off FC and Ben - well he balled his eyes out!!!!
Whoops!
After a snack lunch at home everyone got some shut eye - well I would have if it werent for a phone call from the co-props for our apartment in town - the place we rent out seasonally, to say that the boiler had blown up (well I knew about that) and there was someone around already to fix it, but it would seem that the next door apartment might have gotten flooded as a result of the problem!!!! Uh OH... so my afternoon and early evening was spent with me trying to get around what was going on..... cutting a long story short it was a complete waste of time as I dont think the problems stemmed from our place after all... however the plumber was replacing the boiler all afternoon so at least it looks like that might have been fixed - yay!
So that pretty much ruined my whole afternoon of rest... it also meant that I didnt really get anything sorted on the photo taking / video casting front etc - doh again! So I will have to utilise the photo form Radio Val instead...
On the snow front we had about 30cm of fresh yesterday but with some wind BUT most importantly the temps really are unseasonably warm. I had it on good authority that at 2500m or below the off piste was unskiable today... it was not until you got to 3000m that it was any good!
After a nice family evening meal we are here once again!
Clares dad arrived in town this evening so in the morning as Clare works and I look after Ben, he is taking Olivia out for a ski... hope that goes well - I am sure it will!
Anyway I think that is all for now. The crazy season of lessons has started and from tomorrow afternoon onwards it is pretty much go go go.
TTFN
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
| chocksaway wrote: |
| Not sure on that one. If he had a radio to ask the Pisteurs why it was closed?? Clearly if they were blasting from above or piste bashing with one of those wire tethered jobs it wouldnt matter if he was an instructor or a guide |
chocksaway, he was certainly in touch with fellow guides and pisteurs by radio at other times of the week. I suspect that he was on that day as well. I cannot be certain as this was an early season Freshtracks trip with about a dozen groups and with so many people milling around at the bottom of the Olympic I would not have heard everything that was said.
He deliberately entered the closed piste a little way down so as to discourage others following him which is something he was very critical of. It was a blue sky day with no evidence of blasting.
There were no piste machines in action at the time which was early morning, although I admit that is a potential hazard which had not crossed my mind.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
|
PS: Forgot to say...
If anyone is looking for childcare options out here this Winter in Val then a SUPER well qualified and SUPER amazing nanny by the name of Kellie is here in Val for the season and available for bookings... comes really highly recommended... check out https://www.themountainnanny.com
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
|
Have a great Xmas. Was there last week and often coudnt see the pistes:Genepy?.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Weather a bit grim today We arrived in Tignes Saturday night but we're in Val for lunch yesterday
Sun Bar was bathed in sunshine which was a nice surprise.
Pistes were in great condition yesterday apart from the last section into La Daille
|
|
|
|
|
|
You know it makes sense.
|
Grand Pre??
Marry Christmas to you and yours and thanks for all the updates...won't be long til we are out there ourselves!
|
|
|
|
|
|
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
|
@Steve Angus, Happy Christmas to you and all the family 
|
|
|
|
|
|
Poster: A snowHead
|
retsil - you are the winner it is Genepy - you must have been able to see something!
Thanks everyone else for the comments and the festive wishes! The same to you guys back! Onwards and upwards!
Merry Christmas eve!
So we woke to rain, lots of it this morning... it was an early start with the kids so goodness knows what tomorrow morning will be like - eeeek
Anyway it was a busy start to our day... Olivia had to get to the Village des Enfant for her 'club' and part of that was a ski lesson and she had to be there before 0830 so it was go, go, go before Clare headed to her lesson... meanwhile I was in charge of getting Ben sorted and off to creche... and like Clare I had to do that and get off to my lesson.... so yes hectic was the word of the morning!
Anyway everything worked out...
So the weather was grey and miserable with a thick band of low hanging cloud around and the heavy rain that was pouring down... it was pretty miserable and it was definitely a day for a trenchcoat. So I had 4 teens (brothers and sisters and friends) and it was a case of trying to give them blast around the mountain and challenge them. So we headed up Bellevarde and the weather at the top was horrendous it really was - strong wind and hail in the face - argh! This all meant that there was limited openings up top... the link to Tignes was certainly not open.
So we made the most of a bad situation and I hope they had fun given the options available! I was pretty wet and miserable by lunchtime but with only a 30 min lunch break there was barely enough time to eat lunch let alone get warm etc before getting back out there again and doing it all again!
It was the same afternoon booking as yesterday afternoon and we toned down our expectations of where we could go given the weather! So we made the most of doing laps on the Village lift and then as the weather eased off a little later on we did a trip up the Solaise to have a go at the magic carpet.
After repeating for collection purposes to get Ben home I was really ready for a hot shower and an early night but of course being Xmas eve there was all sorts of things of jobs to do at home this evening AND we had a mini drinks party for a handful of people at home too. So finally I can report that santa has visited, the mince pie has been eaten and the reindeer have eaten their carrot and I am really ready for bed! So I will hope that we get a reasonable wake up time tomorrow (yea fat chance!!!) and with Clare out working in the am I'm hoping I will be keeping the ship shape at home!
TTFN
|
|
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
|
Hope you all have a lovely Christmas. Nice to meet you on the bus last week
|
|
|
|
|
|
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?
|
|
@Steve Angus, thanks for all the updates. Have a great Christmas with the family
|
|
|
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
|
|
|
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
|
|
Crikey, those are some bonkers snowpack conditions. Stay safe everyone! Belated merry Christmas Steve and fellow snowHeads
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
Certainly agree with Steve on the ice lower down.
I had decided I wanted a Fois Gras burger from Edelweiss for my Christmas dinner and the run down Mangard was truly awful.
However the sun made it a fantastic day .
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Hi, I’m back out this weekend with my daughter but have never done new year in Val d’Isère has anyone got some good advice to beat the queues - should we head high and go towards fornait or head up the Olympic. and then head over the top to Tignes.
If anyone fancies meeting for a couple of hours one day or a beer let me know.
Steve I never got to catch up when I did my level 2 in 2012 but I seem to have your number saved on messages if it’s still the same and you fancy a beer if you can fit it in on the busiest week.
Happy Xmas everyone
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
Curtains - 'good advice to beat the queues' - you need to be up and out EARLY thats the first thing to note.... secondly the Olympique side is the busiest side of the mountain and until you get to Tignes les Brev you are going to be in the thick of it so avoid if you want quieter slopes! Seriously consider taking the bus to fornet first thing (not skiing from the centre) or the bus to La Daille and heading up the funicular if you really want to head up that side (as the funi opens first in the morning!). Basically if you get to the far ends of town first thing and get up and away you will get an hour (or two at the Fornet end) when you will beat the queues. Also its worth remembering that places like the Fornet and the glacier are busier when the sun is shining! Ultimately its New Year so beating the queues will be extremely tough!
My number is still the same French number and I have to be honest I can't recall the circumstances as to how we were going to meet up back in 2012 (that was a long time ago!). Not sure ill get time to catch up but you never know!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
|
|
|
|
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.
|
@Steve Angus, Lovely pic.
Completely agree with 1). Carving down a blue run, practicing smooth transitions n getting some angles in, is much more fun (and beneficial IMHO) than skidding down a shiny black run
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
What I hate is how incredibly rubbish I am when my legs are tired. All technique goes out of the window, I know I'm leaning back and can't help it which makes my legs ache even more. It's such an awful feeling. The worst thing is being stuck on something steep/mogully when you're tired (happened on Sache earlier this year).
So I would say my big holiday mistake sometimes is skiing back when I should download.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You know it makes sense.
|
@Steve Angus, where is the area known as "sunny bowl"? I know it starts from the Signal drag above Le Fornet but I'm struggling to visualise it.
As for holiday mistakes... fitness, fitness and fitness. Every bloomin' time. 
|
|
|
|
|
|
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
|
|
|
|
Poster: A snowHead
|
AL9000 - thanks! Yes I agree that carving etc is much more fun than 'making it down' a black!
HoneyBunny - well yes that is a common one - but often pride of NOT downloading outweighs the practicality of it all!
moosepig - Sunny bowl - as you go up the Signal drag lift its the big bowl off to the right as you look up.
iainm - I didnt know that you were in town - you should have given me a shout! And I live opposite that lift. I also notice that one of my colleagues loads right behind you when you are doing the report at the start too! Let me know if you are back in town soon!
|
|
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
|
How the snow at the moment? Coming to do an off piste course 05/01 and the forecast doesn’t look great between now and then
|
|
|
|
|
|
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?
|
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
|
mk28 - Off piste snow - well it is not the best to be honest... if you want decent snow then you need to go take a walk for it currently and that aint changing any time soon! Some of the off piste will be nice and chalky sometime soon though on the classics which is nice to ski!... but no powder!
|
|
|
|
|
|
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
|
|
@Steve Angus, thanks steve. Hopefully there’ll be some snow over the next couple of weeks. At least it looks to be going a little colder
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
|
@Steve Angus, thanks. It's been a long time since I went up Signal, and on that occasion we went left at the top Those skis look like they've been rammed into a gondola ski rack by an overenthusiastic liftie.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Those skis definitely look like they have been rammed in to something - obviously not by you but it's hard to imagine that damage is possible by just skiing? If it is just skiing then that's appalling. It would be interesting to see what a ski/tech expert (spyderjon?) would have to say.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
mk28 - yea in the medium term but getting warmer first!
moosepig and nemesys - I know exactly I'm really miffed as to how it happened on BOTH skis... didnt do anything to them that I can think of that should have caused this damage. Its very strange! One minute they were fine and the next minute I look at them and they are like that - very strange! Arghh!
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
|
@Steve Angus, thanks for the fundamentals’ reminder. On a related note - what information a person booking a ski instructor should provide to make it usefull to a ski instructor? As a professional do you listen to what it a client is asking for or telling you or are you judging on what need to be worked on after a firts few test runs? I will be booking some lessons for my teenage son, he is an OK skier having skied since the age of 7 and went through quite a few ESF lessons. He is now 1.85 and 72 kg and I am not sure of how to communicate to a ski school of what to focus on. Your point on the fundamentals got me thinking and I would simply ask to focus in the fundamentals.
Last edited by You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net. on Sun 30-12-18 22:01; edited 3 times in total
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
FAQ
