 Poster: A snowHead
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Val Pistuers have just posted that there were several off piste avalanches today but all have ended well for those involved.
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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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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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I can't see your FB vids Steve, so I've put in a friend request from the work account (I don't have Facebook).
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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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| HoneyBunny wrote: |
| I can't see your FB vids Steve, so I've put in a friend request from the work account (I don't have Facebook). |
Oh dear. Me bad! Can you see it now on FB???
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You'll need to Register first of course.
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@Steve Angus, I can’t see the FB video either.
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another who can't see the videos.
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I can't see them either
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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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| Steve Angus wrote: |
| so lets hope people start to learn NOT to follow tracks blindly! |
Best laugh I've had for a while - it's not the hope that gets you, it's the never ending proof that people leave their brains behind when going on a ski holiday (and, to be fair to the punters, this applies to many a seasonnaire too). Perhaps the piste map should be updated with 'Here be dragons' marking the danger points - though no doubt people would complain that they went there looking for the dragons. 
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I've never been able to see your FB videos either - I thought maybe it was just me. Instagram?
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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There is a route out of the colouir to nowhere. Exit right before the cliff and there is some rope tied to a couple trees to drop you down into the next colouir to the right. It is pretty exteme however.
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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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^^ that would make me so mad as well. Bad enough that she damaged your equipment by her own stupidity and didn't give a sh*t, but the fact they were then so aggressive is disgusting. What is wrong with people? Don't let it spoil your great week - or your birthday!
@Steve Angus, nope, still can't see it, I presume you must have protected content on your page or something. Maybe use Insta instead?
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You know it makes sense.
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Ali it won't spoil my week it's nothing ptex can't sort
Not seen Steve yet though
Tomorrow I have that outfit on I may be easy to spot
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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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@harvsurrey, OMG!!!
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Poster: A snowHead
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@VolklAttivaS5,
My Dilema would have come had the raised hand come towards me !
I had suffered abuse for being British, abuse for brexit , and no admission of his brainless girlfriend who he should have told to take her poles into the lift
Then again (I am going to hate myself for saying this) he wasn't a skier
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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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| harvsurrey wrote: |
@VolklAttivaS5,
My Dilema would have come had the raised hand come towards me !
I had suffered abuse for being British, abuse for brexit , and no admission of his brainless girlfriend who he should have told to take her poles into the lift
Then again (I am going to hate myself for saying this) he wasn't a skier |
I am disgusted. Raising his hand to you too!
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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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| harvsurrey wrote: |
@VolklAttivaS5,
My Dilema would have come had the raised hand come towards me !
I had suffered abuse for being British, abuse for brexit , and no admission of his brainless girlfriend who he should have told to take her poles into the lift
Then again (I am going to hate myself for saying this) he wasn't a skier |
He might not have been a skier BUT let’s not forget that the catalyst for the whole incident was a pair of ski poles (which are mostly used by skiers) 
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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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| Steve Angus wrote: |
And apparently there was another slide involving a group on the lavachet wall this afternoon too... it was only yesterday that Henry (HAT Off Piste) was saying that this was setting up in a similar way to the deadly slide during half term in 2017 when 4 people died on the Lavachet Wall! Timely but scary! This slide today had 2 people buried but they both got themselves out in one piece (I won't name the local who is a mountain guide (French) that works in Tignes who are known for pushing the boundaries in a reckless way!)... he (when questioned by an off duty colleague of mine who saw it happen) shrugged it off in front of his client denying it was dangerous out there on that spot today - idiot! |
I just don't get why people ride the Lavachet Wall, it puts a cross in every box of places you should avoid. That the big fatality this time last year was lead by a Tignes guide (who was killed with his clients) and this group was lead by another, only makes it more puzzling. Do people sit at the Loop Bar marvelling at the tracks and say I'm going to get my tracks on the wall, even if it kills me? There are so many much safer places to go in EK and the example should be set by the local guides.
| Steve Angus wrote: |
| PS the season dates for 2019 / 2020 have been published : 30/11/19 - 3/5/20 (oh and the Summer 2019 dates are 29/6/19 - 1/9/19 (with the glacier open 8/6/19 - 12/7/19) |
Thanks Steve.
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Funnily enough the first time I ever did a SCGB guiding day was in Tignes (the day of the week where they hire a guide-this must have been maybe 2009/10 approx maybe even 2008) and I remember the guide (French) turning up and giving those that didn’t have them transceivers but no shovel or probe. They didn’t know how to use them they just wore them. I had my own transceiver and kit but he didn’t ask me if I had the rest just a transceiver. This was when I first started doing off piste so I didn’t have the knowledge that I have now.
Anyway I remember asking him what we had done and he said the Lavachet Wall.
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@harvsurrey,
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One pole snapped in half as we entered the lift station the other as she rammed it in the tip had gouged the base .
Then as I showed her not only did they not apologise but retorted with verbal abuse .
Unfortunately I admit I lost it and ranted back only to be told to off back to my brexit disaster of a country and this place was there's.
He then raised his arm/hand across my face
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There's a special place in hell for those two 
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@Steve Angus,
Nice to finally say Hi today Steve , even if I was looking a bit special .
Shaping up for a corker tomorrow and it's been another fantastic week this week
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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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Small but nice
We were woken by a very excited young lady with the words 'I'm dressed'.... I should explain... last night when her grandpa came around there were quite a few presents in the form for new clothes so obviously Olivia was extra excited and this morning woke early and decided to put on her new dress... at 5am.... then wake us up! That would have been OK but Clare sent her packing back to her bedroom and back to bed... well at least we thought until we heard the loo flush a few seconds later... again that would be OK until the flushing loo woke Ben up!!!! All hell broke loose.
So needless to say it was a very early start to the day!
Anyway when we did finally get up and looked out the window there was about 10-15cm of fresh snow out there but the skies were clear - it was going to be a bluebird day.
I headed up to the meeting point and met my lady that I have been teaching the past week... today it was just her and I and the plan was for off piste - yay!
What I immediately discovered up top was that there had been some effect from a breeze overnight - in essence it meant that only north and east facing stuff was really work chasing... but with only 10-15cm of fresh snow it was not quite enough to totally transform the off piste and give a fresh canvas. Worse still was that the intense sun we had had earlier in the week has meant that the south facing slopes have taken some sun and therefore crust! ANYWAY I did as many variations and rotations of the Jardins de Borsat as I could manage and also including a few turns under monitors couloir... before finally working a few angles on the Super Santons. We had some really really nice shin deep pow turns mixed in with a few 'sharks' but a darn fun morning with nice snow. And I only had to put one line in all morning - yay!
So I have been home since lunchtime as I have taken the afternoon off... back on duty tomorrow am but apart from that all good for this afternoon and tomorrow afternoon off!
I have a few jobs to get done this afternoon and then we are out for a meal with Clares dad tonight.
So TTFN until tomorrow
Splat - Fiona takes one for the team
P.S. Interesting video clip of the pisteurs doing a rescue somewhere off piste yesterday - or perhaps it was this morning. Not quite sure what is going on but it is a cool view non the less!
https://www.facebook.com/pisteurval/videos/228409748103847/
P.P.S. Could be some slowdowns on the road tomorrow with 31000 cars forecast on the road up... leave early or arrive late is the usual rule of thumb to avoid traffic jams
P.P.P.S. The 3000 drag lift up the Solaise opens for the first time in 7 years tomorrow!
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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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| Quote: |
A few interesting things to note out there from today. Firstly the Val and Tignes pisteurs have done some some analysis of rescues on the mountain and they have found out that 33% of the skiers rescued on the Val side of the mountain come from Tignes but only 9% of the skiers rescued on Tignes side come from Val... now that is an interesting stat - not quite sure how you would read this. Either way lots of people needing medical attention on the Val side have come over from Tignes - that is a large number!
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Are there more hotel beds on the Tignes side? If yes, then there are simply more skiers so they will dominate the stats??
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| London_Falcon wrote: |
| Quote: |
A few interesting things to note out there from today. Firstly the Val and Tignes pisteurs have done some some analysis of rescues on the mountain and they have found out that 33% of the skiers rescued on the Val side of the mountain come from Tignes but only 9% of the skiers rescued on Tignes side come from Val... now that is an interesting stat - not quite sure how you would read this. Either way lots of people needing medical attention on the Val side have come over from Tignes - that is a large number!
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Are there more hotel beds on the Tignes side? If yes, then there are simply more skiers so they will dominate the stats?? |
My guess is that when staying anywhere in Tignes Lac/Claret you're only one lift away from crawling out of bed/the bar and getting to the Val ski area (Toviere, Tufs or Fresse) . If you're staying in Val/La Daille, then you need at least two to get to Tignes - you can't get to Borsat or Tommeuse without taking another lift first. The bowl between Bellvarde and Tov/Borsat is basically 'shared' between the Tignes and Val skiers, but counts as Val as far as the piste rescue is concerned.
Also got to wonde how many of the injuries come after Follie kick out time
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You know it makes sense.
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nbt - yea now is your chance
London_Falcon - yes there is more accommodation on the Tignes side for sure (but less hotel accommodation and more self catering apartments!)
Judwin - the 'bowl' is not all 'Val as far as the piste rescue is concerned' - that is not strictly true. For example the Creux piste down parallel to the Tommeuse lift is most definitely a Tignes piste and you would be rescued by the Tignes pisteurs if you hurt yourself on there... in the same way Tommeuse lift is a Tignes lift! But yes the Folie kicking out time counts for a fair few injuries yes!
Either way something else to post this evening... this photo taken (from the Solaise side looking back over) but this is the reason why Santons piste is closed most afternoons... it is a terrain trap down there. You can see the slide the pisteurs set off this afternoon down onto the piste.
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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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One has been pondering on the injury stats , 21000 beds in Tignes vs 14000 in Val. But the ski areas are very similar in size (both on and off piste) and the number of skier days are similar. If you were to stereotype Tignes could be described as being more about the sport than the partying so maybe Val visitors don't venture as far. I have met quite a few jollidaymakers who have come purely for the apres in Val. But more likely is the size of the Val Park compared with the one in Tignes (and it is easily accessible as described above) where there a re a lot of injuries by the nature of the activity.
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Poster: A snowHead
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@chocksaway, is it the average age of the clientele in Tignes possibly? It’s generally cheaper to stay that side so may attract the younger skier? And a bit like driving, maybe they are more likely to have an accident if they are 25 or under?
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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I made 3 trips up this morning around 10. It was nice until amateurs like myself chopped up the soft snow. My last day here. A fabulous resort with seemingly endless terrain. Listening to the antics at Cocorico from our balcony each afternoon was entertaining.
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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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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Thanks for the info last week on the portable WiFi box. We’re currently in an apartment where the WiFi isn’t fully operational so gave in this evening and went to the tourist board and picked one up. It’s working great and should have got one days ago.
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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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| chocksaway wrote: |
| One has been pondering on the injury stats , 21000 beds in Tignes vs 14000 in Val. But the ski areas are very similar in size (both on and off piste) and the number of skier days are similar. If you were to stereotype Tignes could be described as being more about the sport than the partying so maybe Val visitors don't venture as far. I have met quite a few jollidaymakers who have come purely for the apres in Val. But more likely is the size of the Val Park compared with the one in Tignes (and it is easily accessible as described above) where there a re a lot of injuries by the nature of the activity. |
It would be interesting to know the Val/Tignes split for the Tignes patrol.
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Closing in
muppet No problems!
I woke up feeling a little jaded this morning and this was despite all of the household having a really good sleep (well I think we all had a good sleep) but I still felt tired! Hmmm weird!
Anyway with Clare not working she was due to head up the Solaise and have a nice go the sledges etc in the Val Kids area (having seen the photos they all had a really fun morning by the looks of things!)
I meanwhile suited and booted and headed to the meeting point. So the guy I had in the morning was rather hung over and whilst he more or less lasted the distance he did need a water stop along the way! The first half of the session we worked on piste and had a nice run down the Face too at one point. It was busy'ish in places and at some times but overall the pistes were not too busy at all! The second half of the session we looked at trying to get his off piste up to scratch as he and the other lads he is with have me for a full day off piste tomorrow! Hmmm could be interesting!
Anyway it was a nice morning and we got some really good technical development done and then for a bonus got some nice powder turns in.
After regrouping myself at lunchtime I headed to meet my pm team - a couple of large strapping 'Vikings' who now live in the Netherlands and one of them grew up in Switzerland. The off piste we were supposed to be doing was going to be more tricky as the weather was really moving in this afternoon and the light fading... the breeze was strengthening and the snow was building! However we made the most of things and had some really good turns and found some good snow - too low though and it was heavy and warm snow and too high and you could not see a thing - tricky! Anyway the best snow of the day was once again the bus stop... some lovely snow in there!
When I got home we had a full house as Clares dad, his friends were all here and it was chaos with the kids too! Arghhh oh well!
So I am going to finish typing this up then head to bed as I need another early night that is for sure.
Oh one thing - confirmation of an interesting fact I heard a while ago but reconfirmed today from Radio Val... 44% of all visitors to Val are Brits, 37% are French and then the Scandinavians are in third place with something like 10%.
Some nice turns up there this am!
TTFN
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^^ oooh beautiful!!
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@Steve Angus, it would be interesting to know how much money the ski resort makes over the season from the sale of lift passes, shopping, restaurants etc to know how much that 44% is worth in money terms.
That’s assuming that if you have a shop or restaurant in Val D’Isere the ski resort/lift company STVI takes a cut of some sorts? I’m not sure how that works unless it’s just the places up on the mountain that have to give them a cut? If at all! Who knows.
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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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Interesting they are watering creeper, is that to make it heavier to then slide or trying to get it to freeze and become more solid do you think??
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| kitenski wrote: |
| Interesting they are watering creeper, is that to make it heavier to then slide or trying to get it to freeze and become more solid do you think?? |
They sprayed it until it avalanched, under control. There was a video on the pisteurs FB page.
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FAQ
off back to my brexit disaster of a country and this place was there's.
