 Poster: A snowHead
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I’m new, here to say ‘Hi’. I’m sure there’s a few people on here I already know, but as everyone seems to have an ‘alt’ name then who knows?!
Essentially I joined to find trips and people to ski with, I’m a single skier this year it seems.
About me
Late 50s. Skied every season (at least 1 week) since 1979.
Ran a design and branding co, artist, but now basically retired. Some years ago I won several rounds of a comp for designing ski top sheets for G3 skis in Canada. Result was they sent me a pair of my design, modified for another model and so they are unique- only pair in the world! It’s a talking point on a chairlift anyway.
Former SCGB rep/leader graded gold/gold in their weird system. I’ve led loads of trips - some off-piste, a couple of helis.
More recently they put me leading their ‘older’ demographic trips - probably because I’m patient and like a proper lunch and enjoy a glass of wine or 3. I also know the Sella Ronda like the back of my hand. Met some nice people but ultimately not why I joined did their leaders’ course. (Which is highly recommended for the mountain training and technique tune-up) they got me out of my ‘chalet boy on his day off skis and knees together parallel technique’.
But no longer a SCGB member or ‘rep’ — the refresh fees made it prohibitive, as did the contributions to trips along with the constant trips to London for a ‘tiresome political update’. I never did resort repping because I didn’t want to sleep in a garage in Verbier.
Live in UK but have a house in the Pyrenees foothills (one hour door to door from Ax les Thermes/Bonascre).
Road cyclist too - but only fair weather!
Speak near fluent French. Some Italian (wife#1 was Italian and grew up near Foppollo. She never skied!)
Favourite places ?
- La Grave / Briancon is a nice mix. I’m glad they saved La Grave.
- Ax Les Thermes for a day trip.
- Austria in general - they do it all well - but my dancing on the table in ski boots days are over.
- Aosta valley in a car. Courmayerur, Pila, Monte Rosa all memorable.
- Alagna for the freeride.
Biggest disappointment?
None really but I found the Vallée Blanche to be an ‘easy red’ and chopped up at that. Great views but generally overrated.
‘Gill’ from fb said to come on here. Skied with her some years back at tignes glacier.
Also on here @ansta1 was my brother-in-law - then he died.
@ansta1 was in his own words ‘a crap skier’ but we shared a few trips.
Usual ski buddy works in film and is committed to some Johnny Depp movie, so that’s him out. Another old ski friend is so unfit now that it’s just tiresome waiting.
I was 6 months in France this Summer (escape and relax as we had a few family deaths to deal with in the last few years), so now I find myself back in the UK and looking at overpriced singles trips!
Come and say hi. Open to any Snowheads culture tips.
Here’s me in the 90s in a Val D’isere locals GS race on rentals and no helmet, Patrick Vallençant Onesie, Raybans and Tecnica TNTs. Embarrassing, but i podiumed!
[img] https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/h0g43cwuppu7sc5ddv1ns/1995_4.jpg?rlkey=rnb5l6dbc5wrthhz3zjogt1cy&st=d5a5cnyv&dl=0[/img]
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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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Thanks
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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: |
Also on here @ansta1 was my brother-in-law - then he died.
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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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Hi James, and welcome. Fellow ex rep/leader here, and there's a few others around. Not sure we ever met, quite likely crossed paths in a training session at some point.
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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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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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@JamesAtkins, you could always rejoin the IOS crew 
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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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@JamesAtkins, welcome to snowHeads 
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@JamesAtkins welcome to snowheads .
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You know it makes sense.
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@JamesAtkins, are you the same James who did the SCGB logo/rebranding a fair few years back?
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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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| Hamilton Academical wrote: |
| @JamesAtkins, are you the same James who did the SCGB logo/rebranding a fair few years back? |
I submitted some ideas to the board which were largely ignored.
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Poster: A snowHead
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@JamesAtkins, hello, think I've dog walked in Roundhay with you and skied with you a long long time ago, was it on an iOS course?
They are a good way to meet/ski with some decent skiers IMHO
Very sad to read about @ansta1 he was always very helpful and knowledgeable about Gopros etc
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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| kitenski wrote: |
@JamesAtkins, hello, think I've dog walked in Roundhay with you and skied with you a long long time ago, was it on an iOS course?
They are a good way to meet/ski with some decent skiers IMHO
Very sad to read about @ansta1 he was always very helpful and knowledgeable about Gopros etc |
I think it could have been an inside-out trip? Or maybe Ski Club GB? We moved from Leeds and miss it!
Is that you Greg H?
Last edited by Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person on Sat 3-01-26 15:08; edited 1 time in total
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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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yes that would be it - seems like a lifetime ago! Finally got out of the 'closed' technique a couple of years later!
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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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| skimottaret wrote: |
| @JamesAtkins, you could always rejoin the IOS crew |
that could well be a solution, I enjoyed that short weekend on Tignes glacier. (I just twigged IOS = inside out 'doh'!)
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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@skimottaret, I've never forgotten the one I went on. So little snow we had to walk from the top of the lift to ski. And you saying, 'follow me' over what appeared to be part blue ice and part bare rock. Shudder. (I can't remember the year.)
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@KSH, I do recall that year, proper deep blue ice with wooly mammoth carcasses visible deep in the glacier  ... super sketchy and I remember a skier falling and sliding into the comp mogul run and getting all smashed up...
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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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@skimottaret, oh yes, I'd erased that gruesome memory. A laugh a minute. 
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| skimottaret wrote: |
We binned Tignes a while back as the glacier is dying and just didnt work pre season but replaced it with an early Dec trip to Meribel, much better conditions and lots of good skiers on the trip.... I think you'd like it
https://www.insideoutskiing.com/technical-tune-up-meribel |
bookmarked!
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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@JamesAtkins, I've done that exact Meribel trip twice, it's good!!
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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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@JamesAtkins, drop me your email and ill put you on our mailing list , that course sold out early last two seasons. already 5 booked for 2026... or join up by scrolling to bottom of https://www.insideoutskiing.com/contact
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FAQ
