 Poster: A snowHead
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Well, last week in Tignes was very different to the PSB. Didn't recognise half the runs, and there were several that definitely weren't there during the PSB. They were building all sorts of terrifying looking jumps for the X games, too. A brilliant week, though with a group rather prone to long lunches. Had a couple of lessons with a New Gen guy, failed to traumatise him with my humour/innuendo and learned loads too. (Actually a really decent instructor (Joe, Tignes) - he took most of the rest of the group in the mornings, and it was infuriating how fast they progressed. {Yes, I'm competitive and selfish. And self-aware.})
I prefer the Mooserwirt to the Folie Douce. But it was OK, as apres ski goes. Refused to buy any drinks as they charged to use the loo (only 50c, but I had to go back for my wallet despite being moderately desperate and was annoyed). Actually, this was the first resort where it seemed common to charge for use of toilets in the various restaurants. Is this a new thing, or a Tignes/ Val thing?
Spent much of the week focusing on my short turns, which somehow deleted any ability to carve/do larger turns from my brain. Annoying.
Also - had far too much fun. I was painfully happy, and the no-more skiing till December crash is already horrible.
So. Current goals are:
1) Sneaky long weekends this year
2) Finding cheap good places for late season/summer skiing (if they exist)
3) Working out how to affordably work from a ski slope for a few months (since I'm too grumpy to chalet host, need to keep up my business now it's just got rolling, and want to ski most days if poss)
4) Get decent. None of this fannying around as a post-beginner. I've wasted far too many years not skiing, and need to catch up. Tempted to aim for a basic instructor course, not because I think I'd ever be good enough to teach, but because have found teaching other things has dramatically improved my own skills. Could be a little too much of a reach, though, considering where I'm at. (Must post something in the Bend Ze Knees place at some point ...)
Nicest photo of the week? Hmm. No particularly special ones, but a few I'm fond of:
A couple of self portraits: http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v678/imsomebodyelse/pics%20innit/P1030743b_zps62ce9303.jpg (photoshopped to remove my arm from reflection)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v678/imsomebodyelse/pics%20innit/P1030745_zpse659b060.jpg
The flying-ski people: http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v678/imsomebodyelse/pics%20innit/P1030790_zps1a97c846.jpg
Nearly the last lift home: http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v678/imsomebodyelse/pics%20innit/P1030821_zps77165cd8.jpg
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Glad you had a lovely time. 
To further some of your goals, how about some clinics at Hemel with skimottaret and rob@rar aka http://www.insideoutskiing.com/ ? I guarantee they will move you forward, as well as tell you if/when you might be ready to do BASI 1.
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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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| Quote: |
Is this a new thing, or a Tignes/ Val thing?
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it's a French thing the recession has obviously resurrected. Post war the little old ladies used to clean the toilets, not get a wage and were left tips. This morphed into highly aggressive old ladies charging people to use the toilets. This seemed to disappear; I would guess because the French Govt. came down on it as a tax avoidance scam (little old ladies (‘LOL’) not being the most paperwork orientated individuals) and also because of the EU work law harmonisation – or possibly because they annoyed one French President to many by insisting he pay to use the pissoir. In any event, they seemed to disappear. Lately they seem to be making a comeback. There’s even a harridan on the toilets at Bourg St Maurice station, ffs. I suspect it’s all a scam in that they are not actually legally allowed to charge as LOL’s BUT it might be a way that the various managements’ are squeezing an extra cent out of the tourists and the LOL could be an employee?
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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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| RattytheSnowRat wrote: |
| Quote: |
Is this a new thing, or a Tignes/ Val thing?
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it's a French thing the recession has obviously resurrected. Post war the little old ladies used to clean the toilets, not get a wage and were left tips. This morphed into highly aggressive old ladies charging people to use the toilets. This seemed to disappear; I would guess because the French Govt. came down on it as a tax avoidance scam (little old ladies (‘LOL’) not being the most paperwork orientated individuals) and also because of the EU work law harmonisation – or possibly because they annoyed one French President to many by insisting he pay to use the pissoir. In any event, they seemed to disappear. Lately they seem to be making a comeback. There’s even a harridan on the toilets at Bourg St Maurice station, ffs. I suspect it’s all a scam in that they are not actually legally allowed to charge as LOL’s BUT it might be a way that the various managements’ are squeezing an extra cent out of the tourists and the LOL could be an employee? |
Hmm ... genuinely peeved me enough that I'd happily react disproportionately and ski elsewhere. When I'm paying 5€ for a hot chocolate and 7€ for chips, charging for the toilet rubs my fur the wrong way. Anyone know if it's appearing at all other French resorts? Austrian?
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| Quote: |
Tempted to aim for a basic instructor course, not because I think I'd ever be good enough to teach, but because have found teaching other things has dramatically improved my own skills. Could be a little too much of a reach, though, considering where I'm at. (Must post something in the Bend Ze Knees place at some point ...)
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Personally I think this is an excellent idea. Some of the best entry level instructors are definitely not the best skiers, so don't let your current perceived level of ability put you off - you're good enough. The instructor course will, if it's anything like as good as mine, completely revolutionize your own skiing and give you a fantastic new skill: the ability to understand why you (or someone else) is skiing like they are and how to make it better. So once the course is over you'll still be able to improve yourself even if you don't take any further instructor tuition (but I got hooked and keep going back for more).
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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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| kieranm wrote: |
| Quote: |
Tempted to aim for a basic instructor course, not because I think I'd ever be good enough to teach, but because have found teaching other things has dramatically improved my own skills. Could be a little too much of a reach, though, considering where I'm at. (Must post something in the Bend Ze Knees place at some point ...)
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Personally I think this is an excellent idea. Some of the best entry level instructors are definitely not the best skiers, so don't let your current perceived level of ability put you off - you're good enough. The instructor course will, if it's anything like as good as mine, completely revolutionize your own skiing and give you a fantastic new skill: the ability to understand why you (or someone else) is skiing like they are and how to make it better. So once the course is over you'll still be able to improve yourself even if you don't take any further instructor tuition (but I got hooked and keep going back for more). |
Thank you for the bolded bit.
When I get a bit more time, and work out which part of the forum to post in, I might ask for advice on seasoning it/learning to teach.
Gah! The whole being an adult running a business malarkey does seem to interfere with my determined plans to have fun. 
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OliviaDB, the very small sweet you were given with the meal gave you a free trip to the bog.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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| Cynic wrote: |
| OliviaDB, the very small sweet you were given with the meal gave you a free trip to the bog. |
Sweet? You got given sweets?
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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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Sweets?Sound more like laxatives to me 
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Anywhere that charges me to pee I make sure I urinate round the back of and ensure I splash the woodwork (admittedly not brave enough to try Victoria Station yet but I have jumped the turnstile in emergency for want of change).
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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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It does, it does! I only have 2 days holiday left though  , which while it gets me a week (part-timer), would be a little risky to take now, since it doesn't renew till Jan.
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Poster: A snowHead
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Thought u were 'running a business malarkey'?
Time to implement a 'work from, ahem, home' regime.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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| badmin wrote: |
Thought u were 'running a business malarkey'?
Time to implement a 'work from, ahem, home' regime. |
I do. But because life as a freelancer is terrifying, I do two days in an office to ensure I can eat even if I get no freelance work. (Pays a lot better too, but boring as hell.)
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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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Oh, that's easy then - 2 days off sick is far more plausible without a note from your Mum than a whole week.
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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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| badmin wrote: |
| Oh, that's easy then - 2 days off sick is far more plausible without a note from your Mum than a whole week. |
Just avoid the goggle tan this time?
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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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just walk straight past the pay to pee signs......I was in Tignes/Val d'Isere last week and never paid once
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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NE1, they've put turnstiles for you in the Datcha
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| OliviaDB wrote: |
Hmm ... genuinely peeved me enough that I'd happily react disproportionately and ski elsewhere. When I'm paying 5€ for a hot chocolate and 7€ for chips, charging for the toilet rubs my fur the wrong way. Anyone know if it's appearing at all other French resorts? Austrian? |
I've not noticed any charges for peeing at mountain huts in Austria or Italy, although I've only had half a dozen trips to both.
We did get charged to pee at a service station in Austria though. I paid well through fear the lady may castrate me, she was so scary she made Rose Klebb look like a fluffy bunny.
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| Quote: |
Anyone know if it's appearing at all other French resorts? Austrian?
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No fee to wee anywhere around Serre Che & Monty in January. Also very nice WCs at the base of Monty and Le Grave I thought. Italian holes in the floor not so much.
No charge anywhere in St Anton, Lech and Zurs that I noticed.
WCs generally much nicer than I remember them being a few years ago.
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FAQ
