 Poster: A snowHead
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Hello fellow mortals!
Been off for a while (busy pretending to be adult/actually skiing rather than talking about it). Knew you were pining away in my absence, so thought I'd drop by briefly to restore your faith in the world.
So: THE RED SKIS: whatever the choice might have been, getting them was not the wrong one. My skiing form has changed dramatically since getting them. Not on all slopes, but on many, I'm actually skiing kinda ish. SKIING. Rather than getting down with slightly more style than the time before. Biggest improvement since I stopped snowploughing constantly.
Last trip was Alpe d'Huez. Almost perfect weather - could have done with a tad more snow at the end of the week, but hey - the red skis could grip everything ...
It was here I experienced Tunnel. And learned to pay attention to the French warning signs, not the translations. Assumed it would be hard pack ice on the other side, not solid MOGULS OF DEATH/DOOM. Almost turned back when I saw an ESF instructor make it look difficult, side sliding down the top bit. Still, peer pressure and all that, and if the boarder in our group could do it, I could. Turned out to be a gorgeous run ONCE PAST THE MOGULS OF DEATH (DOOM).
Lesson: Hard = Difficult. Probably not learned. Ho hum.
Next trip, next week: Tignes. TELL ME THERE WILL BE LOADS OF SNOW. (Please).
At some point I might see if I can get a video of my skiing to fascinate you all with. I mean, so you can tell me what I should be focusing on most to improve skiingness.
Also, the number of mogul runs I accidentally end up on, I have GOT to learn how to ski them. *sigh* Why can't everything be flat and swooshy?
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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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I did the tunnel when I was 16, I don't remember it being that bad. Steep, icy and moguls the sizes of small cars but not scary enough that I'd walk back out. :\
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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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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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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first time I skiied Tunnel it was completely empty. Decided the first bit was best tackled straight down with a big stoppie. Worked fine and after the right hand turn it opens up and you have plenty of time to think/ski. Second time down there were about 100 people side slipping down the narrow bit and falling over a lot. By the time I got to the first left hander I was knackered and terrified.
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Le Tunnel really isn't on my list to do. Ever.
I've never heard anyone say it's lovely, just varying tales of terror.
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| Piccadilly wrote: |
Le Tunnel really isn't on my list to do. Ever.
I've never heard anyone say it's lovely, just varying tales of terror. |
Hahaha! It's a challenge. And the run AFTER the horrible bit was gorgeous. Swooshy and empty and fast and delicious.
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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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| feef wrote: |
| I did the tunnel when I was 16, I don't remember it being that bad. Steep, icy and moguls the sizes of small cars but not scary enough that I'd walk back out. :\ |
the latter part of your description is exactly what makes it 'that bad'. 
16 year olds have no sense of self-preservation.
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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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Similar to other peeps experiences, I've seen it in moguls of death mode and in quiet rather pleasant mode. Last time I was there I did chaperone a 4/5th week skiing lady friend down. It's certainily a challenge and something in my opinion that 'has to be done'.
Moguls you learn to love.... eventually!!
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You know it makes sense.
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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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| Thornyhill wrote: |
| first time I skiied Tunnel it was completely empty. |
The first time the wife skied it it was similarly empty, only because it was a complete white-out blizzard and you couldn't see ten feet which meant making out some of the massive moguls pretty difficult. Got to the bottom being chased by the pisteurs shutting the run and she didn't think it was that bad given the visibility, then changed her mind when we went up in perfect vis the next day and she saw what she'd skied.
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Poster: A snowHead
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| OliviaDB wrote: |
Hello!
No, no mogul lesson - just a general lesson. It's going to have to be done, though. Gah.
Birthday is one of the scary ones, hence 4 weeks skiing. Have pretty much used all my holiday allocation already. Whoops.
Thank you |
Ooooh I'm doing the same! Scary birthday next month = four ski hols this season.
*High five* and Happy Birthday.
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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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| andy wrote: |
This Tunnel does sound interesting. Anyone know how it compares on the Swiss Wall scale? |
Haven't skiied on the Swiss Wall, but just YouTubed it. Steepness doesn't really phase me if I have room to think and turn. Swiss wall looks wide and steep. First part of the Tunnel is v v narrow (not much more than 2-2.5 meters at the start.) If it is clear, you can actually ski on it. If it isn't, you could spend 5-10 minutes side-slipping and watching people fall over and disappear. Worst thing is when someone above you falls. You feel bad for praying that they will go over the edge and not come straight down and take you with them 
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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andy, skitow,
I don't know the tunnel, but the wall is as the tunnel has been described here: steep, not a lot of snow and moguls the size of VW Beetles. You get a hell of a lot of people who like the idea of doing it, starting, then realizing that they have made a mistake and then just standing about getting in your way.
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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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musher,
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just standing about getting in your way.
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That was my problem - every single mogul had a terrified person perched on top of it, I simply couldn't see where to turn. And had an epic fall. Normally I don't mind moguls, but that experience seriously dented my confidence.
OliviaDB, happy birthday, young lady!
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You'll need to Register first of course.
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| Pedantica wrote: |
musher,
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just standing about getting in your way.
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That was my problem - every single mogul had a terrified person perched on top of it, |
Once I got to the moguls it was fine. The terrified fallers on the top pitch were the major issue.
Olivia - scary birthday is 110......cos you know that this will be your last decade. 30 or 40 isn't scary. I can't imagine 50 or 60 will be either.
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If I'm still skiing at 110 I'll be happy not scared!!
Once you reach 60 you start getting reduced price ski passes at some resorts, then free ones over 70 ish
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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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| Thornyhill wrote: |
| Pedantica wrote: |
musher,
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just standing about getting in your way.
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That was my problem - every single mogul had a terrified person perched on top of it, |
Once I got to the moguls it was fine. The terrified fallers on the top pitch were the major issue.
Olivia - scary birthday is 110......cos you know that this will be your last decade. 30 or 40 isn't scary. I can't imagine 50 or 60 will be either. |
Ha, I see a certain kind of logic in that.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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The time I went down the tunnel by mistake (my third week; I got separated from the rest of the group whom I was 'following') they were pisteing it. Which is to say that five lift operators with shovels were making some of the moguls that were taller than I am (and I'm not short) a bit shorter.
I enjoyed it in so much as I thought 'if I can get down that in one piece, then I can get down anything!'
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FAQ
I am however impressed you survived, our group were rather disconcerted by watching an instructor fall and slide out of sight on his @rse.....I bailed, although some of our group did head down.... well done 
I'm much more mogul enabled now so maybe next time!
Got to the top of Marmottes intending to go back the same way. By the time I realised I was on the Sarenne I had to continue a further 9 miles to the bottom 
