Just joined and thought I'd say hi, sorry if this isn't the appropriate part of the forum for this, it seemed the most likely!
I'm a snow newcomer at 38 and I'm off to Passo Tonale for New Year, done a few lessons at the Manchester Chill Factor-e and think I could become obsessed with this skiing lark rather quickly!
As such I may be asking some rather silly noob questions over the coming weeks, please try to be gentle with me!
Cheers guys, looking forward to contributing!
Sted.
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
sted, no such thing as a stupid question. Welcome to snowheads
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?
welcome. I think its fair to say, whilst the fridges are good places to start, nothing is going to compare to that first day you are on a real mountain. Blue sky days are just beautiful and when you look back up the hill after getting down you will smile.
a few points to note.
we in general are a friendly lot, but occasionally forums like email and text messages can be misunderstood try not to take offence.
just dont ask about helmets or winter tyres nobody around here has an opinion on either of those subjects..
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
........ and if you drive a Landrover you can just get out now
After all it is free
After all it is free
Welcome, we were all new at some point.
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.
sted, hello and welcome!! You will definitely become obsessed with skiing before you know it....!!
Ski the Net with snowHeads
Ski the Net with snowHeads
Hi sted, and welcome to
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
sted, Welcome to Snowheads and the skiing obsession!
DB, Saw a repeat of that crash at Castleford yesterday! You know that high speed not quite parallel fixed rigid technique small children have for whizzing down pretty much any mountain? Chap in his 20s came down all the way from the top like that and straight into the barriers at the bottom without slowing, got up and left!
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.
davkt,
Yes I was like that about 15 years ago at Tamworth.
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
DB, At least Tamworth (where I first learnt as well) teaches you hardpack is nothing to worry about!
You know it makes sense.
You know it makes sense.
No but I had nightmares about those red toblerone crash thingys that took you away just below the knees.
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
A friend did it at the dry slope at Calshot many years ago, but went under the safety net and ended up on the center line of the indoor tennis court. Embarrased was an understatement. Two very worried tennis players as well.
sted, welcome to the wonderfull world of white stuff. Have a great holiday. My cousin was a Chill Factor virgin last year and had a marvelous time out here when he hit the real thing for the first time. Hooked too.
Poster: A snowHead
Poster: A snowHead
At Rosendale dry ski slope some got as far as the car park.
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Hi sted, hope u has much fun on this site as we all do. You will find yourself on here in July asking about the forthcoming season and checking out the green hills of the webcams. Passo tonale will be great for you. We went there 2yrs ago after a few trips to Bulgaria send Lapland. It's a great place for beginners and low intermediates. Can ski under all the lifts from one side to another. Town isn't thriving. Mainly social side set in the hotels but a few bars along the road. Here is a vid I put together from there. Hopefully show you some of the runs you'll be flying down in a couple of months. http://youtube.com/v/miFOWvKQ9_8&feature=youtube_gdata_player
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?
sted, welcome to snowHeads and true addiction
I started at 38 too. 11 years and 22 weeks skiing on and I still get as excited about it as the first time
Enjoy! I think you've picked a fair place for your first trip. Easy access from the town to steady pistes that are ideal for learning and practising what you've learned.
PS It's all your fault, you owe poor Boris 800 quid
You know it makes sense.
You know it makes sense.
Mike SWest wrote:
Hi Sted, I think Passo will be a good place for you, I was there 2 years ago. where are you staying ? Any questions please ask.
The Gran Paradiso I think its called, we really like Italy and was in Lake Garda earlier in the year, the theory being that if the Skiing wasn't to our liking we would still be in a country we really like, my wife hasn't done any skiing either so she picked the hotel on the strength of the Spa and massage facilities! Lol!
I'm absolutely buzzing about going though, I even splurged on a pair of Ski Boots (The Chill factore hire ones near crippled me!) a bit of an extravagance for a first timer I know but hopefully a worthwhile investment.
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
sted wrote:
I'm absolutely buzzing about going though, I even splurged on a pair of Ski Boots (The Chill factore hire ones near crippled me!) a bit of an extravagance for a first timer I know but hopefully a worthwhile investment.
Well if you're going to be skiing more than once, getting your own boots like you've done is definitely a priority. Gives you better fit for better skiing control and they should be more comfortable as well, and will save you money as compared with renting each time. Many people get their own skis as well, but the advantages are not as clear cut as with ski boots imv, since if you're flying out most airlines charge quite a bit extra for ski carriage, and you'll need to pay for the skis to be serviced every so often (unless you service them yourself - if you fancy doing that have a look at snowhead spyderjon's website).
Haha! Duly noted! However I would like to submit the mitigating factor of a sun loving/cold hating wife yet I have still managed to wrangle a week on top of a mountain, gotta be worth a shot right?
Passo Tonale is great for beginners. I stayed at the Paradiso last Easter and it is a lovely hotel. The round tent attached to the hotel is a very lively apres spot (although it was only open for a couple of nights when I was there - it was the last week of the season). It is a bit of a walk to the ski school area but there is a bus stop right outside the hotel and it is only 2 minutes on the bus.
The locals all drink Aperol Spritz - a cocktail made out of Cava, a bright orange liqueur and soda water.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
sted,
Was in a similar position to you this year, with a first trip (after some time in a snowdome) in Feb. It was fab!
If it helps, here are the before and after threads I posted. We got some very good advice from the Snowheads - such as taking two pairs of gloves, taking buffs, etc. - so I hope you find it useful too!
sted, welcome! I'm also new to skiing (have been learning at Chill Factore too, along with a local dry slope; holiday booked for Feb), and well on the way to full-blown obsession! In fact it's amazed me how much time I can spend obsessing already, when I'm yet to have even been on my first trip, and this site is great for feeding the new addiction...
Was also in Lake Garda earlier this year and agree that Italy is a lovely country - I imagine skiing there will be beautiful. Of course you can't go wrong with the food and drink there either. I did develop rather a taste for the Aperol Spritz mentioned by Tiger2!
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
chemistry wrote:
sted,
Was in a similar position to you this year, with a first trip (after some time in a snowdome) in Feb. It was fab!
If it helps, here are the before and after threads I posted. We got some very good advice from the Snowheads - such as taking two pairs of gloves, taking buffs, etc. - so I hope you find it useful too!
FAQ
Poster: A snowHead
