Scottish Elises

Took the kids skiing to Xscape today. Great fun. not cheap but the kids had a ball. Snow is perfect, great facility.

They've been at Polmont for lessons for over a year now on the dry slope, this was their first time on 'snow'. My son Sandy is 7 and has no fear at all, I had to ski flat out to keep up with him. He wants to go back and do the climbing and high ropes next time

I'm definitely getting old though what's with the snow boarders having 25mm dia grommets in their ear lobes? Is it to let the wind blow through It'll take a few tins of filler foam to fix that

Found out after we had arrived and paid that Rossignol had a demo day and were handing out vouchers for an extra hour if you paid for the first one, blx

Topped it all with a wee TGI's for lunch

Clarkie wrote:Topped it all with a wee TGI's for lunch

Yum

Clarkie wrote:Took the kids skiing to Xscape today. Great fun. not cheap but the kids had a ball. Snow is perfect, great facility.

They've been at Polmont for lessons for over a year now on the dry slope, this was their first time on 'snow'. My son Sandy is 7 and has no fear at all, I had to ski flat out to keep up with him. He wants to go back and do the climbing and high ropes next time

I'm definitely getting old though what's with the snow boarders having 25mm dia grommets in their ear lobes? Is it to let the wind blow through It'll take a few tins of filler foam to fix that

Found out after we had arrived and paid that Rossignol had a demo day and were handing out vouchers for an extra hour if you paid for the first one, blx

Topped it all with a wee TGI's for lunch

All snow boarders have so cool music in their ears, is that what you mean, yeah man Metallica rule - just buy an I-pod and get into the 21st century

Just found this on their site, that will be Sarah's xmas taken care of then!

http://www.snoshopuk.com/pages/shopping ... 4&ProdID=8

Xscape's fine for kids I'm sure (and maybe snowboarders too) but I found it overpriced and boring and doubt I'll bother going back. The slope is far too short and the ramps take up too much of the space so everyone gets funnelled into the same place. If you can ski at a reasonable level I would avoid it, you'll be bored within 30 mins. Save up and go abroad instead

I was at Xscape tonight. I solely use it for practicing.

I agree with Simon that it can be boring, but I don't think anyone's expecting the same enjoyment you get out of skiing down a proper run in the Alps! I think it's a great facility for practicing. I've not been skiing since February and we're currently looking at holidays for January. So, thought I'd pop along and see if the old legs still work!

I don't know about ramps . . . the whole slope was open and even though it was a bit busy there was still plenty of room. I just used it as an opportunity to practice (I'm still learning a lot - kinda intermediate level I guess).

I'll probably go back another couple of times before going away in January. I think it's a great facility for "warming up" before a ski holiday. I also think it's a fantastic place for people to learn . . . way better than crappy dry ski slopes.

D

I think the ramps are for the Friday night session. Sunday night 7pm to 10pm is the best value. As Simon says it is rather boring but I agree with Dezzy it is good to practise there.

simon wrote:Xscape's fine for kids I'm sure (and maybe snowboarders too) but I found it overpriced and boring and doubt I'll bother going back. The slope is far too short and the ramps take up too much of the space so everyone gets funnelled into the same place. If you can ski at a reasonable level I would avoid it, you'll be bored within 30 mins. Save up and go abroad instead

It's a gradient with slippy stuff on so we make the best of it. In comparison there's a limited time window to go abroad plus logistics and cost. I wouldn't go every week or month to Xscape but it is value if you take everything into account. Damn site better than dry slope that's for sure. There must be bigger and better slopes in Dundee.

dezzy wrote:way better than crappy dry ski slopes.

I'd disagree with that having spent 20 years using a dry slope. I didn't see there being any benefit from the 'snow' at xscape. In fact, it's easier to ski on the surface at the dry slope I use as it's not icy like xscape is and it's much quieter and only costs about £5 for 2 hours. If Hillend would resurface their slope with snowflex it would be far better than xscape could ever be. The 'real snow' headline is just a gimmick.

ExigeKen wrote:

Clarkie wrote:Took the kids skiing to Xscape today. Great fun. not cheap but the kids had a ball. Snow is perfect, great facility.

They've been at Polmont for lessons for over a year now on the dry slope, this was their first time on 'snow'. My son Sandy is 7 and has no fear at all, I had to ski flat out to keep up with him. He wants to go back and do the climbing and high ropes next time

I'm definitely getting old though what's with the snow boarders having 25mm dia grommets in their ear lobes? Is it to let the wind blow through It'll take a few tins of filler foam to fix that

Found out after we had arrived and paid that Rossignol had a demo day and were handing out vouchers for an extra hour if you paid for the first one, blx

Topped it all with a wee TGI's for lunch

All snow boarders have so cool music in their ears, is that what you mean, yeah man Metallica rule - just buy an I-pod and get into the 21st century

Ken, no earphones here mate. I'm talking about 20mm holes in their ear lobes, as in ear pierced but 25 times bigger, check some of the shots on Google. It's not the bullet that hurts but the air whistling through the hole I've got an I-pod, Westlife, Take That and Boyzone rock man

Clarkie wrote:

ExigeKen wrote:

Clarkie wrote:Took the kids skiing to Xscape today. Great fun. not cheap but the kids had a ball. Snow is perfect, great facility.

They've been at Polmont for lessons for over a year now on the dry slope, this was their first time on 'snow'. My son Sandy is 7 and has no fear at all, I had to ski flat out to keep up with him. He wants to go back and do the climbing and high ropes next time

I'm definitely getting old though what's with the snow boarders having 25mm dia grommets in their ear lobes? Is it to let the wind blow through It'll take a few tins of filler foam to fix that

Found out after we had arrived and paid that Rossignol had a demo day and were handing out vouchers for an extra hour if you paid for the first one, blx

Topped it all with a wee TGI's for lunch

All snow boarders have so cool music in their ears, is that what you mean, yeah man Metallica rule - just buy an I-pod and get into the 21st century

Ken, no earphones here mate. I'm talking about 20mm holes in their ear lobes, as in ear pierced but 25 times bigger, check some of the shots on Google. It's not the bullet that hurts but the air whistling through the hole I've got an I-pod, Westlife, Take That and Boyzone rock man

Yeah I knew what you meant I have no idea what that is all about either. Must make sure we never swap I-Pods it could be really messy My sons snow boarding helmet has buildt in I-Pod speakers.

The ear-lobe hole thing is minging IMO. I believe it's an african thing which seemd to catch on here a few years ago. 1st time I saw one was about 3yrs ago when I was in a tattoo place.

Apparantly you stick a small one in, and over time go larger.. stetching the lobe. One guy at the tattoo place, I swear, I could have almost thrown a squash ball through it... yuk.

Took the kids there last year to go toboganning(sp) - great fun

The Portugese restaurant (Nando's?) was good too


Agree with Simon if you're an experienced skiier (which I'm fecking not )

simon wrote:

dezzy wrote:way better than crappy dry ski slopes.

I'd disagree with that having spent 20 years using a dry slope. I didn't see there being any benefit from the 'snow' at xscape. In fact, it's easier to ski on the surface at the dry slope I use as it's not icy like xscape is and it's much quieter and only costs about £5 for 2 hours. If Hillend would resurface their slope with snowflex it would be far better than xscape could ever be. The 'real snow' headline is just a gimmick.

I didn't find XScape icy at all, and I've been a few times. Must depend on how recently they've had the snow machine thingies on.

I just found learning on dry slopes very difficult, but as soon as I was on real snow (and I actually do mean "real" snow, not XScape) it was much easier. Thereafter, I found XScape feels much more like the real stuff than a dry slope. Perhaps it's just because I'm not as experienced a skier as yourself.

Plus, it's only 10 mins drive from my house and is closer than any dry slope.

This is sooo getting me in the mood for the next ski holiday . . . currently looking at deals for beginning of February.

Ken, let me know when you're next going to XScape on a Sunday night and I'll join you!

dezzy wrote:

simon wrote:

dezzy wrote:way better than crappy dry ski slopes.

I'd disagree with that having spent 20 years using a dry slope. I didn't see there being any benefit from the 'snow' at xscape. In fact, it's easier to ski on the surface at the dry slope I use as it's not icy like xscape is and it's much quieter and only costs about £5 for 2 hours. If Hillend would resurface their slope with snowflex it would be far better than xscape could ever be. The 'real snow' headline is just a gimmick.

I didn't find XScape icy at all, and I've been a few times. Must depend on how recently they've had the snow machine thingies on.

I just found learning on dry slopes very difficult, but as soon as I was on real snow (and I actually do mean "real" snow, not XScape) it was much easier. Thereafter, I found XScape feels much more like the real stuff than a dry slope. Perhaps it's just because I'm not as experienced a skier as yourself.

Plus, it's only 10 mins drive from my house and is closer than any dry slope.

This is sooo getting me in the mood for the next ski holiday . . . currently looking at deals for beginning of February.

Ken, let me know when you're next going to XScape on a Sunday night and I'll join you!

OK Dezzy sounds like a plan mate