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Original poster

Anyone been to Xscape?

35 replies

LibbyVonTrap · 03/01/2022 14:41

Can you just turn up and go snowboarding on the slopes? We have no experience and no equipment - we just want to try something new

OP posts:
Hemingwayscatz · 03/01/2022 15:25

You hire the equipment so don’t need your own. You need to prebook nowadays thanks to covid.

LizziesTwin · 03/01/2022 15:27

If you have never snowboarded before I think you’ll get far more out of the time if you have a taster lesson. The only exception would be if you are good skateboarders.

Hellocatshome · 03/01/2022 15:40

Not been to Xscape but most places won't let you loose on the slopes without a certain level of competency. If the staff see you on the slope with basically no idea they may ask you to leave. Best off booking a lesson or a beginners session.

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edwinbear · 03/01/2022 15:41

I've not been to that one, but every snowdome I have been to, if you're just buying a lift pass, you absolutely need to be competent. It can be incredibly dangerous to both you, and others on the slope to try and teach yourself in a relatively small, enclosed space. You can usually get a single 'taster' session, which would be far more fun than spending an hour falling over, by yourself.

kittykarate · 03/01/2022 15:41

I can't say for Xscape, but Chill Factore has a minimum skill level for the 'main slope' so if you just show up without any previous experience there, you can be asked to get off the slope if you're a danger to yourself and others (have seen it happen). There is a 'beginners' slope at Chill Factore, but it's generally booked out by their lessons.

You'd be so much better off booking a taster / beginner lesson. Especially with snowboarding as getting on/off the button lifts seems to be a bit of a challenge.

ImInStealthMode · 03/01/2022 15:42

Last time I was at Xscape they required a minimum skill level (competently able to use a button lift) to be allowed on the slope.

I'd suggest a lesson first.

Original poster
LibbyVonTrap · 03/01/2022 16:00

Oh that’s shit 😞 don’t know if I can be arsed with lessons

OP posts:
Anothernamechange3 · 03/01/2022 16:03

I think you can just do sledging there instead with no experience, or you could pre covid anyway

ineedsun · 03/01/2022 16:03

You can go sledging if you book ahead but that’s a bit shit now they’ve changed the sledges and gone all health and safety so you can’t mess about going backwards and upside down

Cherryblossoms85 · 03/01/2022 16:06

They're a bit fussy about skill level. Never sure if it's because they want to make the money from lessons or it's a genuine safety issue but the skiers and boarders on the main slope do bomb down. Try the skydiving next door, I bet that's just a safety briefing - i-fly.

Hellocatshome · 03/01/2022 16:07

You can go sledging if you book ahead but that’s a bit shit now they’ve changed the sledges and gone all health and safety so you can’t mess about going backwards and upside down

I think this is a bit insensitive especially since a child has recently died sledging at a snowdome. Health and safety measures are there for a reason.

OP if you can't be bothered to make sure you are not a danger to other people or yourself by reaching a basic level of competency before going on the slopes then please just stay away.

OakleyStreetisnotinChelsea · 03/01/2022 16:10

If you can't be arsed with lessons perhaps you need to have a bit of a Google. People die in ski and snowboard accidents. A child died not that long ago sledging in an indoor snowdome place. Health and safety rules in a small, enclosed environment where a high risk sport is taking place are rather important.

Besides which for all the fun you'd have trying to teach yourself you might as well set fire to your money.

ethelredonagoodday · 03/01/2022 16:14

I've been to the one near us. We had a day's intensive course before we went skiing the other year. If you've never skied before, or snowboarded it's very likely you'd need a lesson. It's absolutely not as easy as it looks! 😳🤣

ImInStealthMode · 03/01/2022 16:20

If you can't be arsed with lessons perhaps you need to have a bit of a Google. People die in ski and snowboard accidents

This. A friend of mine and very competent skier was badly injured at the base of a nursery slope by an out of control adult beginner. If the guy had have hit a child instead of a grown man he'd likely have killed them.

Original poster
LibbyVonTrap · 03/01/2022 16:22

I’d do the lessons if they were not so ridiculously expensive.

OP posts:
Aroundtheworldin80moves · 03/01/2022 16:26

Was pricing up a trip recently and they ask questions about competency in the booking process.

Without lessons it would be no fun anyway as you won't be able to stand up. I've spent several days over Christmas observing absolute beginner lessons. You spend most of your time sitting. Skiers fall less.

Original poster
LibbyVonTrap · 03/01/2022 16:27

£300 for one lesson!! Sod that, I’ll stick to horse riding

OP posts:
ABCDEF1234 · 03/01/2022 16:27

You need to be competent and be able to pass their 4? lessons. I haven't been for about 5 years so this may have changed (although I suspect not). If they think you are unsafe/not experienced they will ask you to leave

Hellocatshome · 03/01/2022 16:29

£300 for one lesson!!

Tamworth Snowdome is a lot cheaper than that.

Aroundtheworldin80moves · 03/01/2022 16:30

Its not £300 for one lesson...

Anyone been to Xscape?
Hellocatshome · 03/01/2022 16:33

I've just checked Xscape in Castleford its £149 for a beginners day course. You should be main slope competent after a full day course. I dont know what you are looking at?

dittymcdit · 03/01/2022 16:35

@LibbyVonTrap a beginners lesson is not too expensive.
As everyone else has said, skiing and snowboarding are dangerous sports and they absolutely cannot let you into the slopes without a certain level on competency.

MeredithGreyishblue · 03/01/2022 16:35

@LibbyVonTrap

Can you just turn up and go snowboarding on the slopes? We have no experience and no equipment - we just want to try something new
If you fancy breaking a few bones and injuring everyone else...

No, you can't! They'll not let you on.

AColdDuncanGoodhew · 03/01/2022 16:35

@LibbyVonTrap

£300 for one lesson!! Sod that, I’ll stick to horse riding
Where have you seen that OP? Its £44 for an adult level 1 skiing lesson at Xscape.
Original poster
LibbyVonTrap · 03/01/2022 16:37

For DH and I the “day course” thing would be £299

OP posts: