Skiing: Anyone been to the snow slope at Hemel Hempstead?
Discussion
Sort of moved this myself from the sports section as it just seems to be full of footballists...
Wondered if anyone had been to the snow slope in Hemel yet? I didn't even realise it was open until I heard a chance comment from someone I was looking to buy a car off.
It's a bit dissapointing that it's 10 metres shorter than the already less than vast slope at Milton Keynes, but if it's quieter that should more than compensate I guess. Also (for me) it's 20 minutes away, not an hour, which is nice...
So, anyone been? Any thoughts?
Wondered if anyone had been to the snow slope in Hemel yet? I didn't even realise it was open until I heard a chance comment from someone I was looking to buy a car off.
It's a bit dissapointing that it's 10 metres shorter than the already less than vast slope at Milton Keynes, but if it's quieter that should more than compensate I guess. Also (for me) it's 20 minutes away, not an hour, which is nice...
So, anyone been? Any thoughts?
Chris71 said:
Sort of moved this myself from the sports section as it just seems to be full of footballists...
Wondered if anyone had been to the snow slope in Hemel yet? I didn't even realise it was open until I heard a chance comment from someone I was looking to buy a car off.
It's a bit dissapointing that it's 10 metres shorter than the already less than vast slope at Milton Keynes, but if it's quieter that should more than compensate I guess. Also (for me) it's 20 minutes away, not an hour, which is nice...
So, anyone been? Any thoughts?
I didnt evan know of any ski slope in Hemel! I've been to the 'not amazing' slope in MK andthat is always RAMMED!Wondered if anyone had been to the snow slope in Hemel yet? I didn't even realise it was open until I heard a chance comment from someone I was looking to buy a car off.
It's a bit dissapointing that it's 10 metres shorter than the already less than vast slope at Milton Keynes, but if it's quieter that should more than compensate I guess. Also (for me) it's 20 minutes away, not an hour, which is nice...
So, anyone been? Any thoughts?
I found myself with a couple of free hours yesterday so I actually headed over. It was pretty much exactly as expected - you do miss the extra length of the MK slope, but it was significantly quieter and seemed well run. There were still perhaps more people than you'd expect on 160x30m of alpine piste (at least outside of peak times), but I basically went straight off the top of the lift, down the run and onto the lift again at the bottom.
The snow quality was arguably better than MK, which seems to get a bit icy, but other than that the slope itself felt much the same. As it stands I'll definitely be heading back - a bit more distance and gradient would be nice, but the lack of crowds and the proximity make it an easy winner for me. However, it's still quite new and we're well out of European ski season, so we'll have to see how it goes. If a load of people suddenly discover it (it's been open since May apparently, I've only just ehard about it too) then it could rapidly go down hill (pun not intended). One thing that's a bit annoying is the membership is hugely expensive at £100 and doesn't seem to give you much over 'pay as you ski' otherwise I'd probably sign up.
If anyone fancies heading over and investigating give me a shout. None of my friends round here ski or board and I felt like a bit of a loner perched on the top of the slope.
The snow quality was arguably better than MK, which seems to get a bit icy, but other than that the slope itself felt much the same. As it stands I'll definitely be heading back - a bit more distance and gradient would be nice, but the lack of crowds and the proximity make it an easy winner for me. However, it's still quite new and we're well out of European ski season, so we'll have to see how it goes. If a load of people suddenly discover it (it's been open since May apparently, I've only just ehard about it too) then it could rapidly go down hill (pun not intended). One thing that's a bit annoying is the membership is hugely expensive at £100 and doesn't seem to give you much over 'pay as you ski' otherwise I'd probably sign up.
If anyone fancies heading over and investigating give me a shout. None of my friends round here ski or board and I felt like a bit of a loner perched on the top of the slope.
LeightonBuzzard said:
Yh i have a few mates who ski and board 
went past it today to have a look as i picked a mates car up with him. How much is it?
IIRC it's £22 for 1 hour, £33 for 2. went past it today to have a look as i picked a mates car up with him. How much is it?Looking on the Xscape (MK) website that actually makes Hemel marginally more expensive, but I think it's worth the extra pound for fewer people and a 20 minute journey, not an hour long one. At the moment at least. Not convinced that'll still be the case in a few months...
Still gutted they couldn't have made it a bit bigger though.
Y8RSP said:
I'm keen to head over for a recce...
And i'm sure we can find plenty of local skiers/boarders for a bit of a PHers snowsports & Aprés evening? Meybe organise a mutual date and get something 'properly' organised....
Any takers?
Steve-o
I'd be up for that.And i'm sure we can find plenty of local skiers/boarders for a bit of a PHers snowsports & Aprés evening? Meybe organise a mutual date and get something 'properly' organised....
Any takers?
Steve-o
My skiing is pretty embarassing at the moment though. I grabbed the first warmish thing I could find on my way off to take a look the other day and it was an old hoodie with 'Courchevel Season Workers' spread in huge letters across the front. I've also got into the habitat of skiing with a lid on so I looked pretty damn hardcore right up until the point I stepped onto some snow for the first time in two years and proceeded to ski with all the grace and coordination of a pregnant water buffalo.
Y8RSP said:
That's the spirit!
Well i'd be happy enough organising something if there is enough interest... I'll get in touch with the Snow Centre and see if we can get a discount if we bring enough people...
Any preference on days of the week/times?
I think the earliest I could guarantee getting over to Hemel during the week would be about 8pm (maybe a bit earlier with advanced warning), but any day is good. Weekends I tend to either be around or not, so basically any weekend or late-ish evening might be an option. Maybe. Well i'd be happy enough organising something if there is enough interest... I'll get in touch with the Snow Centre and see if we can get a discount if we bring enough people...
Any preference on days of the week/times?
It might be worth sticking a post in the events section maybe? Difficult to know where to put it without a ski/board section (which coincidentally - mods - I think might work
).
As replied on the meet thread, i've been a member since it opened. I try and go once a week, and because i'm local try and get in there for the last session.
It isn't as long a MK, but i think the snow, and organisation is 100 times better, you can also go onto the snowpark at any time, as long as you have a helmet, which is a free hire!
The price also includes hire.
It isn't as long a MK, but i think the snow, and organisation is 100 times better, you can also go onto the snowpark at any time, as long as you have a helmet, which is a free hire!
The price also includes hire.
lythaby said:
As replied on the meet thread, i've been a member since it opened. I try and go once a week, and because i'm local try and get in there for the last session.
It isn't as long a MK, but i think the snow, and organisation is 100 times better, you can also go onto the snowpark at any time, as long as you have a helmet, which is a free hire!
The price also includes hire.
What is the provision for kit storage there? It isn't as long a MK, but i think the snow, and organisation is 100 times better, you can also go onto the snowpark at any time, as long as you have a helmet, which is a free hire!
The price also includes hire.
I went to the Chill Factor-e in Manchester a couple of weeks ago... frankly I was very disappointed.
The slope is big and well maintained (for indoor piste) - and its cheap
BUT
Holy cow, the organisation was shocking. The place was a total bumfight... Kit everywhere, people milling around and some pretty horrific music playing in the background when on the slope.
The thing that got me though was the provision of lockers - or lack of... there are literally thousands of lockers for people who would like to store a pair of gloves, but nothing for anyone wanting to stow their skis/poles/boots... I ended up sweettalking one of the kit hire girls into letting me keep my skibag behind the counter with my second pair of skis in it and hey presto... after a few hours on the slope went back to collect it to find all of the staff had changed and noone seemed to know anything about the whereabouts of my kit
If anyone on here works at the Chill Factore, maybe put the idea forward for a few bigger lockers to be installed? The person I talked to on the front desk didn't seem to care... a poor show I thought
To be fair, I had an awesome time there - but surely there must be a few people who have asked for more storage?
Apologies, rant over. Just had an emotional experience
I cant believe i'm ranting about storage
Hmm,
I think the facilities at MK are more than adequate - but never been there at peak peak times!
So if Hemel is better, well then... game on!
I'll pop over for a few hours tomorrow and have a recce, get a proper pricelist and info and finalise plans for the 29th...
Chris - keen to join tomorrow?
I think the facilities at MK are more than adequate - but never been there at peak peak times!
So if Hemel is better, well then... game on!
I'll pop over for a few hours tomorrow and have a recce, get a proper pricelist and info and finalise plans for the 29th...
Chris - keen to join tomorrow?
Graeme_Gman said:
May have to get my behind in gear and finish off my lessons. Done a level 1 lesson last year, and then never got round to doing the other 3 levels to get to recreational standard. Will look into doing the lessons soonish now I think.
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