Unfortunately good was not good enough for Clare this time... next time.
very sorry to hear that. Hope she's not too discouraged.
Sounds a tough journey down to Geneva (they're not so used to snow down there - Geneva airport closes with not very much snow, sometimes). I saw a broken down vehicle being winched onto a breakdown truck today. A Spanish camper van. Maybe full of diesel from too far away? It wasn't quite as cold here as in Val D,Isere, but not far off - the sign outside our cross country area today said minus 22 and 2.1 metres of snow. By the time I got there it was much warmer - around minus 14 according to my car. Positively balmy. XC in the trees is ideal when it's so cold. No nasty chairlifts.
It's great hearing from such an enthusiastic ski instructor. The ESF guy I had for XC this week was good, but well past the prime of life. The ESF organised an apero for the XC classes when we finished yesterday. We thanked him and he thanked us for getting him another week nearer to his holidays - in May.
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Steve Angus, sorry for Clare. Will she be able to have another go quite soon?
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?
Had a wonderful couple of days here, some of best conditions I've ever skied in but spool cold! However bad news is that had a minor tumble on almost last run of day and now have broken shoulder! Helmet not much use there! Hoping can get back to UK tonight without too much hassle. Then straight to casualty tomorrow to get it sorted.
D
Tony Ellwood, that's miserable, bad luck. A friend was knocked off her feet by out of control skier a couple of weeks ago, landed on shoulder and sort of stretched some ligaments or something (she couldn't understand the diagnosis in French). Local doc prescribed physio and strapping, having X-rayed it. We thought he might be making a bit of a fuss, but her GP at home has said she is unlikely to be properly recovered and able to ski again for six months - she was planning to be back out in the mountains for four weeks in March/April but now thinking twice.
Have you told your insurance company?
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
pam w, I was hoping to het out again this year but I think that's on hold now! not told insurance co yet as have paid for doctor and X-rays but putting off operation until get home
Tony Ellwood, commiserations. always best to tell insurance first so as you might turn up at the airport and be refused your flight. They also might kick up that you paid for medical treatment without their authorisation....assuming you want to claim the money back
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
A necessary evil...
Will be making my update short tonight as not feeling 100% tonight.
Firstly thank you for your kind comments re Clare... yes she will be able to have another go - possibly end of this season - otherwise in 12 months time... plenty more training to fit in before then... she has a Eurotest this Wednesday which is her focus now.
Also sorry to here about the shoulder Tony Ellwood - how frustrating... as others have said I would speak to the insurance company and square it with them asap! Hope you mend soon and get back on the slopes soon.
Well it was -27C when I left the house this morning.... I was over in Tignes doing the bi-annual mountain first aid course to keep my license current... with several of my colleagues at the Alpaka Lodge.
Wonderful sunrise over Mount Pouri this am with the Aiguille Rouge (Les Arcs) in its background.
It was a long day but fitted lots in and feels good to be back up to speed on CPR etc etc etc - lets hope I never need to use it!
After many years of having those HUGE Irish Wolfhounds they now have these two amazingly adorable dogs in the Alpaka.
At lunchtime it was nice to have a walk around Tignes Le Lac as the sun was beaming down and it felt (almost) normal temperatures.
Thanks to Tignes Cuisine for YUMMY burrito for lunch.
OK folks thats your lot for today - I am off to bed.
Chris Ski H Im skiing with Guy tomorrow - going to be doing some off piste with him - sure you'll want me to pass your 'hi's' on to him - so I shall do that.
After all it is free
After all it is free
Defibrilator- in case you ever have to text for one in a hurry!
Sorry to hear about Clare's exam. Next time, eh.
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.
Quote:
Chris Ski H Im skiing with Guy tomorrow - going to be doing some off piste with him - sure you'll want me to pass your 'hi's' on to him - so I shall do that.
Cheers Steve, tell him it would be nice to see him back at Hemel as well. Hope you both have a great day tomorrow. Look forward to reading where you've been.
Hope Claire does well on Wednesday.
Ski the Net with snowHeads
Ski the Net with snowHeads
All the best laid plans go to pot...
I met Guy and his mate Ed at the top of the Funi as they were staying in La Daille just after 9 this am... the Funi took a little longer than normal to get up as they were testing the emergency brakes etc as one of the cables needed to be replaced yesterday after it slipped off the guide rail. Anyway I made it up and it was a lovely sunny start to the day. I did a warm up off the side of the Orange piste and then did a little technique on piste. The plan had been to do the Spatule but as we got to the Marmottes lift it was shut... technical problems AGAIN... it is the newest lift in Val d'Isere (3rd season) and always seems to have issues with it. So that was the end of that plan. Instead we went and did the Familial followed by the Vallee Perdue - both were great fun and the snow is lovely and chalky which is FANTASTIC SNOW to ski on.
We headed back up on the Funi and hit the Spatule from the top... I was looking for some fresh snow and thought I saw a little patch of it... however it was a big mistake as I lost most of my ski base to the rocks and stones which were just a few mm's under the snow cover..... DAMN IT. Anyway we still had a fun ski down. Guy filmed most of it on his head cam so we are going to have a beer later in the week and review the footage and we may whack the footage on YouTube so if that happens Ill get it up on here!
Lovely but VERY cold start to the day as I headed up the Funi to meet Guy and Ed
Guy and Ed rip up the Spatule slopes.... just before I found us some 'lovely' rocks to go over.
The afternoon was fun as I had a couple who will be in my Discovery (strong on blues, OK on reds) group this week. They both came on really well... lets hope the rest of the group are up to their standards when I meet them for the first time tomorrow morning.
At the end of the ski day I spent about an hour hanging around as the Top Gear team are out here in Val d'Isere filming yet another one of their stunts. I was hoping to see evening two of the filming they are doing....
... they are trying to drive a specially adapted mini with spike tyres up the Face de Bellevarde...
and to prove it is Top Gear here is James May with someone (not sure (seasonairre)) from Val, last night...
...anyway not sure what time they were starting filming but I gave up waiting as I was frozen having been standing out there in the cold for well over an hour... maybe Ill try and go see the third and final evening of filming tomorrow. Thanks to The Mountain Echo and RadioValdIsere.com for these photos.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
Blimey, not quite halfway through the season and the seasonairres looking that rough already.....?
Great reports as always
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.
In Tignes atm wish I knew top gear were filming last night would have loved to watch it.
Are they filming anything tomorrow?
So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
Know your limits...
The sun shone once again, the layers applied in generous amounts (it is finally starting to get a little warmer) and a new group for a new week started. This week I have a 'Discovery Clinic' so strong on blues... and strong on blues they were. Worked on some generic technique with them today and tomorrow we are taking it up a level onto some reds... so looking forward to pushing them a little harder tomorrow.
Clare headed off to Alpe d'Huez early this morning and is this evening in position and doing the final preparations before getting her bib number allocated at 8am tomorrow morning... so fingers crossed tomorrow goes according to plan for her for the Eurotest.
I was not feeling 100% the last 24 hours so I blocked myself off from work this afternoon. I have had a fairly productive afternoon getting odd jobs done at home. Will have one more early night which should see me set for the rest of the week and into the exerts of Feb Half Term which is now only a few days away.
know your limits.... (indeed)... I know my camera is not the best therefore I used the wonderful tool of the internet along with some contacts of mine to source the following sequence of photos.... Top Gear were filming in the Val d'Isere Park - taking the car off the jumps - I was unable to be there myself so thanks to Simon Twigge, and Val Park for these photos. The helicopter was rolling so it was definitely action stations all over this morning.
The car being pulled into position. Piste bashers come in handy for more than one thing!
The crowds gather. All around the Val Park people lined the fence.
The mini gets ready.
The mini gets air - but some reports say it actually broke on this landing. The freestyle team were pulling some damn fine tricks so it should look awesome on camera.
As I mentioned above there are reports that the mini was damaged on one of the jumps therefore I am not 100% sure how much filming they actually got done - but that is JUST a rumour - please feel free to update the status everyone!
The other exciting bit of news from today was that 'The Wedding Proposal' has started to be advertised on Channel 4. I have seen at least 4 adverts this afternoon / evening - it is VERY weird seeing yourself on TV I can assure you of that!
Hopefully tomorrow I will get some more photos of my own - still not got around to buying an Android phone so the picture quality I know is not the best but better than nothing!
Fingers crossed for Clare......
You know it makes sense.
You know it makes sense.
Sorry Hutchy forgot to reply to you.... NO I think they finished filming today... sorry!
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Damn head and nose cold...
It was hard going today even though the air temperatures have risen massively... to give you an idea it was somewhere in the region of -25 yesterday morning yet only -5 this morning. The problem was wind today - not sure where that came from.
I think everyone was under-dressed today apart from me as the wind was getting into every gap it could find.
My group did well this morning on some tough reds and I look forward to working on some more technique and possible making it onto a tougher reds run tomorrow... we shall see.
The afternoon I had my usual seasonairres and the girls once again did really well - for some of them it was their first trip down the Face and they did so well (OK the snow was lovely and grippy and chalky but nevertheless). After a few weeks of down time with the chaos of Christmas and New Year now old hat they are bracing themselves for Half Term... good luck and see you on the other side girls.
I thought an early night last night would do the trick in terms of getting myself feeling 100% but my head cold is pretty bad this evening and I think a course of Berocca and Vitamin C is definitely required... Clare was less than a second off in the Eurotest today after they delayed several times over the start... the wind was so intense apparently that she was being blown back up the hill during course inspection... anyway she will be home very soon so we can keep each company in commiserating ourselves.
Talking of Clare and I... the adverts have started as I mentioned on Channel 4 too - I had problems recording from the TV to PC therefore resorted to videoing the TV - but it comes out alright'ish:
We were actually able to ski today without either a) being blown away or b) being frozen to the ground... in fact I think I can say (for the first time in bleeding ages) that I had too many layers on.
On paper it looked like it was going to be another cold one (well relatively speaking for recent conditions anyway) with -14 at breakfast time.
I took my group up and we did a warm up down the Fontaine Froide which was in AWESOME condition and basking in the morning sun - we had the run to ourselves... the group were in buoyant mood so I gambled with a top to bottom of the OK Orange and they did so well - even on the really steep bit at the top... I thought after one member of the group clicked a ski off by accident on turn 2 on one of the steep sections that we could be in trouble.... but (full marks to her) she got herself up and continued on.
...we were on a roll so I thought - 'this is it' (I knew some members of the group had issues with imaging themselves on a black run etc).... so I took the plunge and played a couple of positive mind games and took the group to the Trolles black run into Tignes Le Lac................ they did me so proud and were visibly chuffed that they had made it down in one piece... I had never gotten a (full aswell) 'Discovery' level group down a black run before this in only three days (ill give myself a pat on the back for that one!).... they were gunning for more so we did the Raye black run down to La Daille (to celebrate). I could feel in a couple of cases tears of joy coming on from the group as a whole.................
I celebrated with a Chevallot Club Poulet sandwich and an afternoon at home in front of the TV - have not been feeling on top of the world as you know therefore did not want to overdo things in the run up to Feb HT! Actually it was a nice afternoon as Clare was in too so we both had some down time.
The warmer temperatures have taken their toll with a main water pipe bursting and flooding the basement and sauna area of the Aigee de Neige hotel in the centre of town (photos courtesy of Radio Val d'Isere). After (what seems like a lot longer) about 10 days of VERY cold (almost record lows) temperatures the pipes thawed too quickly and apparently there were some 'ground movements' too (not sure) which cause the main pipe to burst... one day an ice rink - the next a white water river through the centre of town.
OH DEAR
We are looking forward to some fresh snowfall coming (see the photo at the top as there is not much off piste left under the Tommeuse) in a few days time... fingers crossed.
......................and finally some sad news.
Reports are not 100% clear but apparently an 11 year old English kid in a sit ski (a physically disabled kid) with his (or her) instructor here in Val d'Isere died yesterday. Apparently with the parents they were out around the resort skiing (the instructor guides the sit ski around) and the kid complained of not feeling too well.... even after the pisteurs arrived and a doctor the kid was pro-nounced dead at the scene. I do not know any other details and apologies if there is already talk elsewhere on this forum about it but that is all I know. Thoughts go out to the family (and the instructor concerned).
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
... ohh also meant to say that...
THEY HAVE FINALLY FIXED AND RE-OPENED THE GRAND MOTTE CABLE CAR IN TIGNES AFTER THE INCIDENT AT THE END OF LAST YEAR - WE ARE BACK IN BUSINESS FINALLY.
I think after the (slightly) warmer weather yesterday people got a bit over confident when they say sunshine this morning. Indeed it was a lovely start to the day but BLIMEY it was cold up there until the sun came over the horizon. I personally felt colder than I have for a long time even though officially last week we were having colder temperatures.
The quality of the snow is not quite as good as it was and we have a little bit of man-made around.... coupled with the cold temperatures this has meant some small patches of ice (or at least slick snow) forming in places.
After much mental building up I took the lady I have been teaching all week down the tough red down the front of the Solaise... and then it was onto the Face de Bellevarde which had been an aim for her all week. Even though it was a little 'icey' in places (not real ice but holiday-maker ice as we instructors call it - just slick snow basically) she did it.... she was so emotional at the bottom that she had done it - BRAVO Nicky!
It is interesting personal perception in that technically she skied it slow, steady and carefully... hardly putting a foot wrong yet she thought she was 'on the edge'. However there were many other so called 'expert' skiers flying down that were technically NO WAY near as good as her. If you asked them to analyse themself then I am sure they would be full of their own abilities. Just remember folks.... speed is NO indicator of ability at all... it is just a sign of confidence.
The day warmed up before eventually clouding over this afternoon. I took a trip up the Grand Motte cable car this afternoon before the weather closed in (I have to say I found this afternoons lesson a little tough as I had a russian lady who was rather characterless and tough work to engage with but there you go). Anyway it is now snowing out there lightly so goodness knows what we will have in store overnight before the chaos of Half Term transfer day starts!
I download and enjoy an empty cabin to eat my lunch in as another cabin goes up with sliders full of anticipation... it was a nice morning though....
People queue up at the wall (lemmings leap as I call it) on the steep part of the Face... it is FAR better to come in at an angle having gone down the path (in the foreground) and straight onto the steep section... if you pause and look from the top of the wall then people scare themselves... it is SO much in the mind!
Anyway folks not much else to report - good luck to those on the road this weekend - ill see you in the traffic jam as 29,000 cars are scheduled up the Tarrentaise Valley tomorrow alone - BOY OH BOY that is a lot!
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Steve Angus wrote:
People queue up at the wall (lemmings leap as I call it) on the steep part of the Face... it is FAR better to come in at an angle having gone down the path (in the foreground) and straight onto the steep section... if you pause and look from the top of the wall then people scare themselves... it is SO much in the mind!
Absolutely agree, I try not to stop there these days and just go over it, it looks and is steep but in the times I've done it never as bad as it looks
Agree with what you say about speed v technique. My wife was quite a cautious skier but had a decent technique and great stance, whilst many friends would ski much faster but without the technique. She now skis with a decent amount of speed as well, though not this season due to having one in the oven, which does mean I've a taxi driver for the winter.
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.
"People queue up at the wall (lemmings leap as I call it) on the steep part of the Face... it is FAR better to come in at an angle having gone down the path (in the foreground) and straight onto the steep section... if you pause and look from the top of the wall then people scare themselves... it is SO much in the mind! "
I did exactly his last week on my first run on tha Face. Shoot at the far side from the path for nearly ten minutes. Well I took the plunge. It was fantastic to get down it. It was steep, but last Friday had great snow and blue skies.
I was ecstatic when I completed it.
Then went up to the glacier and hat chocolate chad in Le Signal and got my skis stolen.
A long afternoon was spent getting down to La Fornet on the gondala, free bus to VDI, bus back to Tignes. Then multiple visits o the ski shop and the police to get the mess sorted out. And a 150 euro excess on he ski insurance.
But a fantastic time all the same.
Ski the Net with snowHeads
Ski the Net with snowHeads
Is it really half term?
********************************************************************************************************************************************
tspill sorry to hear about your skis being stolen - gits. But WELL done on completing the face... its a long old black run ehhh!
waynos yes I had seen that - thank you.
********************************************************************************************************************************************
Anyway back to todays report.
It was a very early start (4.30am) and I was on the road before 6am. I thought (like last week) that the road was going to be really slippy and therefore slow but it was actually fine. We made REALLY good time... in fact such good time that we stopped for breakfast en-route. The road was really very quiet which really caught me my surprise but hey i'm not complaining.
After a quick lunchstop at Geneva Airport; it was time to come back again. The airport was ABSOLUTELY rammed and the queues we enormous... I resorted to walking outside the terminal building in the cold (and for a short period of time snowfall) as you could not move inside the terminal.
Anyway it was snowing quite hard by the time I got 10 minutes away from the airport - the roads (and the wind didn't help) were pretty awful but things settled down and I made good time. I was worried that there would be a massive jam between Albertville and Moutiers as it goes down to one lane... however when I went through it was nice and quiet on the road. I made it to Bourg and fitted in a large food shop at Super U and a couple of other errands.
The final leg up the hill was a little slow going - just people taking their time on unfamiliar roads (which is fine). Half way up the hill there was a sudden flurry of blue and red lights as there had just been a nasty head on collision - right by the turn off to Tignes Les Brevieries.... I assume a local '73' reg car had tried (impatiently) to overtake and hit someone coming down the hill. Anyway that was quite sobering but as it had only happened shortly before hand there was no real time hold up.
I made it home fine, tired and hungry but that is one the busiest days of the year on the road out the way. It look pretty heaving going from Bourg to Moutiers as I was coming the other way so I was glad I am not going that way... it just goes to show that the best tactics on the road are (nearly always) leave early or very early and get back early... so early flights going and coming back minimise time spent in traffic jams - which i'd prefer anytime over a lie-on and departure at say 9am!
It was interesting to see a sight I have never witnessed before.... the answer is in the photo of the day (below) - can you guess what it is?
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
Steve Angus wrote:
can you guess what it is?
You need a new camera phone?
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.
Lac du Chevril completely frozen over? - I claim my £5
So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
bertie bassett wrote:
You need a new camera phone?
Sure it's been frozen over a week must be the camera phone!!
You know it makes sense.
You know it makes sense.
The lake frozen over with snow on it by the look?
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
YES I SUPPOSE YOU ARE ALL RIGHT
Definitely on my list to get a new phone with camera - I know it is not the best quality.
But yea the Lac du Chevril completely frozen over (which in itself is very rare) but the fact that it now has a layer of snow over on top of it - certainly the first time I have seen that... don't think I would like to go walkies on that lake though - the ice is not thick enough yet a while.
Freezing temperatures persist here this morning - minus 22 at present so no sign of it thawing yet a while!
Poster: A snowHead
Poster: A snowHead
The sun shines, it remains cold and the masses arrive...
The weather and snow conditions were very much the status quo and it seems like it has been freezing for an awfully long time.
I took our chalet guests out for their complimentary lesson this am... I was told to mostly concentrate on their younger daughter who was 14 I think. Anyway it did not take much for her to regain her technique and after that we enjoyed a nice ski around showing them the sights and sounds.
It was noticeably busier on the slopes even though tomorrow will be the really noticeably busier day. Each lift we took there were lines of kids waiting to be loaded with adults. In all fairness many instructors had private guests too so it was not kids group after kids group but there were certainly a fair number of them around.
Sorry about taking this photo through glass but it does show a nice Sunday morning start to the day in Val d'Isere.
I spent the afternoon doing a few odd jobs back in the chalet, taking the bins out... chilling and watching tv basically.
We have a number of friends coming around to watch our tv debut this evening and Clare has cooked up a storm of Beef Bourgenon (sp?) followed by apple crumble and custard.... right hurry up folks and get your back bottom over here - Im hungry and desperate to start eating.
Hope everyone enjoys the Channel 4 programme at 9pm... we have not seen it either yet.
Ill report after the first day of the school holidays tomorrow - probably knackered beyond belief but we shall see.
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Steve Angus,........ Bourguignon.......you missed all the traffic yesterday with your early start....it was crazy for a non half term saturday....
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?
Just watched your proposal on TV Steve!!
Definitely a helicopter and mountain top takes some beating
FAQ
Poster: A snowHead
Hope she's not too discouraged.
not told insurance co yet as have paid for doctor and X-rays but putting off operation until get home
