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  2 of 5, "Did someone nick the grooming machine?" 27/02/2010 @ 12:04 |
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| 1 of 1 people found the following review helpful: |
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| Price Per Hour |
| £17.50 |
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| Times Visited |
| Just Once |
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| Review Detail |
Friday may not have been the best day to go, but to be honest if you're paying the same price as any other day of the week the facilities should be the same.
The main slope was half width, with loads of toys on the left hand side (looking upslope). This was far too narrow to do a great deal with the number of people using it. This meant that the middle was ice, the edges moguled and gave little scope for anything but gunning it. Apparently it doesn't get groomed during the day, which is a bit strange and would have actually made the time more pleasant.
The learner slope had more toys on it and the big airbag which cost an extra £10.50 for 45 minutes!
Lift queues large at times, but people were friendlier that those at MK. |
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| Strengths |
Fast lifts
Free parking
Lockers that give back your quid |
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| Weaknesses |
Price
Slope width
Lack of grooming during the day between sessions
Apathetic lifties and patrollers. Need to have a lesson in smiling! |
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| Similar Slopes Visited |
Tamworth
MK
Chillfactore |
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 4 of 5, "Lived up to the hype......so far" 06/10/2009 @ 20:35 |
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| 1 of 1 people found the following review helpful: |
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| Price Per Hour |
| £27 for 2 hrs |
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| not perfect, but really enjoyed the visit |
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| Times Visited |
| Just Once |
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| Review Detail |
I finally managed to wangle just enough time off to nip up to the hemel snow centre for a cheeky 2 hours on the slope...
so i pulled up outside dawns (prawnywhite) house and away we went... firstly let me say the distance from us (catford - south london) is sooooooo much closer than MK, and apart form a bit of traffic around palmers green (so whats new) the journey was quick and stress free...
upon arriving at the centre we had the choice of hundreds of parking spaces......"right outside the door".......and wait for it..........FREE....
the centre is very nicely laid out and obviously in tip top condition being that it is very new... the front desk staff were friendly and got us booked in within a few minutes. we headed off to the changing area trying to scan our slope passes, but they would not scan so we had to be let in via the emergency exit barrier (somehting that became a bit of a reacuring problem as we went out for a ciggi a few times lol)
changing area was smaller than i had thought, but still bigger than MK and the cubicles actually had doors that stayed shut!!!
the lockers are all single though and i felt they were a little small?? but you dont mind getting 2 if your getting your pound back do you, so that was a bonus!! its suprising how many times you actually DO need to get stuff out of your locker, or at least how much you WOULD knowing you can pop the same pound back in ..
the slope was fairly quiet, and the snow was in fairly good nick, although bumpy in a lot of places, that i supprised about as it was only 2pm by this point??..... their were a few small icey patches but nothing like MK on that front, the slope dont have the carachter of MK yet as its very flat but wiht time im sure it will....one thing that i did think was strange was that when getting on the lift there didnt seem enough space to put your board whilst waiting for the poma and every time it came round, just befroe i could grab it, it banged against the back of my board....leaving my tail edge scuffed up in a small area (although thats getting detuened next anyway lol.)...it did seem strange??.... and there was a small bit of carpet showing through on the right lift exit, so not just MK has that problem..
i liked the fact that it was really well lit as i have always felt that MK is a bit dark and dingey at times...
i had read many reviews saying that the staff were so friendly etc, and will have to take your word for it, as during our stay it looked like the poeple worling were extremly bored and showed it.....sitting wiht arms folded and pulling their heads into their jumper necks..... including the ones in the bar haha
upstairs looked big and welcoming, but the tables weer not cleaned and even when we sat down at one for about 20 minutes and 4 bar staff stood looking at us, nobody came to clean it?? but im not too bothered about this, im just putting it in to cover all areas of a review..
i left Hemel wiht the feeling that i owuld like very much to come back, but not shouting "Death to MK" as i went lol
it made a nice change that the poeple were there for snowsports and snowsports only , rather than going shopping or having a KFC like at xscape...
and to top it all off, whilst on the outside viewing balcony, we spotted a skiier in the craziest outfit i have ever seen in a dome......a wait for it....NEON pink, orange, green and yellow two piece slice of wonderment....how was it possible to get ALL neons in one outfit???? and that was worth the visit alone (photo to follow) |
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| Strengths |
Very new, Very Clean (apart from the tables)
a little more expensive than MK, but saved on the travel so it even's itslelf out.
well lit slope and smooth running lifts
free parking
money back lockers |
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| Weaknesses |
staff seemed bored stiff
expensive food
but none enough to put anyone off going, time will tell if it can keep up the good work, but so far......so good |
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| Similar Slopes Visited |
| MK |
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| 4 of 5, "Very impressed" 22/09/2009 @ 21:27 |
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| 1 of 1 people found the following review helpful: |
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| Price Per Hour |
| £22ish |
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| Times Visited |
| Just Once |
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| Review Detail |
Went there for a 3 hour session as its closer than MK. Everything looked nice and new as you would expect. I thought the equipment hire was a bit messy as it seemed kinda hard to get the attention of the staff, (maybe im too quiet!).
The gear was all ok, the slope was really nice, no real ice problems even though we were there in the evening the snow seemed to have survived the days battering!
The staff all seemed pretty friendly and one of the instructors even gave us some tips when we were attempting a kicker that had been built. The lifts were never too busy so didnt waste too much time in a queue. The only annoying thing really was all of the vending machines in the entire building were out of order so we had to trek up to the cafe to get a quick drink! |
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| Strengths |
Good snow conditions
Friendly staff
Closer to home! |
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| Weaknesses |
Broken vending machines
Slightly muddled equipment hire area |
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| Similar Slopes Visited |
| MK |
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 3 of 5, "Was hoping for better" 14/09/2009 @ 09:55 |
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| 1 of 2 people found the following review helpful: |
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| Price Per Hour |
| 22.50 |
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| Times Visited |
| Just Once |
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| Review Detail |
| I normally go to mk but since hemel was closer ithought i would give its a go. was easy to find and a lot closer (hh 50miles mk 100miles) the car parking was free which was nice. the overall look to the building was clean and new. was a bit more expensive than mk but only by about £2 but they did not give any white lines discount so cost me about £4 more. the silly gates you have to scan your pass to get in were not working which was not a good start. 13rd of the slope was also closed for skiers. the snow was better than MK but the shape was very straight and boring. and was no fun to ride. i spnd most of my hours session waiting behind kids on lessons who could not use the lifts. everyone that uses the slope should have a minimum standard and be able to use the lifts. at least at MK learners have there own slope. |
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| Strengths |
Free parking
Location (for me)
Snow condition
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| Weaknesses |
Price
Staff should not let learners on main lifts or let others pass
Shape of slope
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| Similar Slopes Visited |
| MK |
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| 4 of 5, "Better Than MK" 02/09/2009 @ 20:29 |
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| 6 of 6 people found the following review helpful: |
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| Price Per Hour |
| Check the website...I paid £27 for 2 hrs |
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| Times Visited |
| Just Once |
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| Review Detail |
Visited Hemel Hempstead this afternoon for my first visit since it opened. Having been a (fairly) regular at MK for the past few years, I was keen to see how Hemel measured up as it's only 50mins from where I live compared to 1.5hrs to MK. This review is really an MK v HH therefore.
Prices
Off peak
1hr: MK = £16, HH = £18
2hr: MK = £25, HH = £28
Peak
1hr: MK= £21, HH = £22
2hr: MK = £31, HH = £33
Friday Freestyle Nights (7-11pm)
Both £35 I believe.
Both include hire of boards and helmets. MK is the cheaper of the two domes, however, Hemel offers a membership scheme which is £100 per year (£45 if you are an SCUK member) which offers 30% off all prices.
Parking
MK = pay & display from 7am-6pm. Costs from 25-80p/hr depending on which section of the car park you're in.
HH = free parking
Lockers
MK = good sized lockers, cost £1 BUT THEY KEEP YOUR POUND! You used to be able to get 3 locker tokens on freestyle night, not sure if this still applies.
HH = smaller lockers, also costing £1, BUT YOU GET YOUR POUND BACK! I fitted my board bag, shoes, clothes and helmet in one locker so they're not that small. If you need more space, use another locker, it doesn't matter when it returns your money.
Changing Area
MK = small changing cubicles, never found one where the lock is intact and they always seem very dark.
HH = good sized changing cubicles - can fit you and all your gear in. Locks work and well lit.
Showers
Not used at either so can't comment.
Toilets
Much of a muchness. HH is obviously newer and therfore "looks" nicer.
Slopes
MK = 170m twin main slopes served by 2x Poma button drags + beginner slope served by magic carpet
HH = 160m main slope served by 2x Poma button drags + beginner slope served by 2x rope tows
Snow conditions were better at HH than any time I had been at MK which frequently has icey patches and/or deep slow snow. HH had just the right amount of snow which seemed fresh and crisp, pretty evenly spread across the slope.
The drag lifts at MK frequently have bits of matting showing through and/or pieces of ply wood exposed. Drags at Hemel were in good condition and even saw one of the snow patrol working on the half way point exit with a snow shovel. Never seen anyone at MK attend to the drags.
MK quite often only has one drag open. HH started up the second lift as soon as it started getting too busy for one.
Staff
I've never had any member of staff on the slopes at MK aknowledge me, let alone engage me in conversation. For the most part they look like thoroughly moody teenagers. At HH today a snowboard instructor on the lift in front of me randomly started chatting to me about the Poma lifts and I had a joke with one of the slope patrol about someone losing their ski as I had to steer round it on the lift.
Bars/Refreshments
MK = Dingy lower bar which often doesn't seem to be staffed + small upstairs bar which is ok but small.
HH = Large plush upstairs bar and Costa Coffee with plenty of comfy chairs and sofas plus "outside" viewing balcony (no food or drink allowed on it though).
Other
At MK you obviously have all the other facilities that Xscape offers such as cinema, skydiving thingy, shops, bars, nightclubs and food places so is more of a place for a day/night out and there's plenty to do for people who don't board.
At Hemel, well apart from the bar, you've got a big Snow + Rock but that's it. |
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| Strengths |
Changing rooms
Lockers
Free parking
Snow conditions
Drag lifts
Staff
Bar/coffe shop
and, for me, significantly closer than MK |
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| Weaknesses |
Prices (if you're not a member)
Not sure what it'll be like when it's super-busy. |
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| Similar Slopes Visited |
| SNO!zone MK |
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