Monday, 31 December 2007
Saturday, 29 December 2007
Off Piste
Last day. Tomorrow we will be headed back to England.
Some things that have not happened:
Some things that have not happened:
- Fatalities, mortal wounding, broken bones
- Any instructor saying "Ben Ze Knees"
- Reading even one page of the books I brought with me
Some things that happened:
- Matt & Harry skiing black runs
- Icicle fights
- Snow - finally - overnight on the last day
On the last full day we went tobogganing again and set a new land-slide record of 350 metres. Then, on the way back, Matt & Harry invented a new sport called "Sled-Boarding".
In this, you take the plastic sled and stand on either end. Then, you attempt to negotiate the slope using pure balance, snowboard style. Both boys were somewhat successful at it, but Harry was especially proficient and has been declared world champion at this new event.
Wishing all blog-readers a happy new year for 2008 !
Thursday, 27 December 2007
Pole Dancing
An eventful day on the slopes. In the morning, Harry took a series of tumbles - but he was negotiating the most difficult black slope on the mountain at the time. A plate of chips saw him right again.
Maxine was ski-ing with Sinead and myself on the more sensible blue-graded terrain. All seemed to be going to plan when suddenly she lost control, span, and crashed through a blue wooden piste marker and backwards over the edge of the run, losing both skis and poles before landing flat-out in the snow. Rather spectacular and alarming.
In due course, she recovered her poise. The piste marker pole, however, was smashed to pieces and scattered over a wide area.
Meanwhile, in the afternoon, Roger was involved in a tragic accident. He was perfectly OK after returning to the chalet for a good rest, but the tragedy was that he crashed before he'd actually done any ski-ing for the day !
It all sounds a bit dangerous, but for really high-danger action look no further than some simple tobogganing. As we discovered, a 40kg-boy on a 1kg bit of plastic on a 200-meter hill goes extremely fast. Add in a dozen others hurtling down with limited control in the near darkness, and it all seems rather hazardous, but no one came to any harm. According to Harry, in fact, crashing and falling out of the toboggan is the best bit.
Maxine was ski-ing with Sinead and myself on the more sensible blue-graded terrain. All seemed to be going to plan when suddenly she lost control, span, and crashed through a blue wooden piste marker and backwards over the edge of the run, losing both skis and poles before landing flat-out in the snow. Rather spectacular and alarming.
In due course, she recovered her poise. The piste marker pole, however, was smashed to pieces and scattered over a wide area.
Meanwhile, in the afternoon, Roger was involved in a tragic accident. He was perfectly OK after returning to the chalet for a good rest, but the tragedy was that he crashed before he'd actually done any ski-ing for the day !
It all sounds a bit dangerous, but for really high-danger action look no further than some simple tobogganing. As we discovered, a 40kg-boy on a 1kg bit of plastic on a 200-meter hill goes extremely fast. Add in a dozen others hurtling down with limited control in the near darkness, and it all seems rather hazardous, but no one came to any harm. According to Harry, in fact, crashing and falling out of the toboggan is the best bit.
Wednesday, 26 December 2007
What Poker and Skiing Have in Common
In poker, standard advice is "Tight is Right". This mantra is designed to keep the beginner on the right track and headed in basically the right direction. In ski-ing, it seems the same advice applies to boots.
Reluctantly, I changed my comfortable but over-ample foot-irons for a much tighter selection. At least these ones don't hurt immediately, unlike an even smaller pair that I was also offered.
The new equipment is undoubtedly "better" but the gain comes with considerable pain. Thinking about changing boots, then changing boots and then thinking about changing them back again is a key part of ski-ing, I have learnt.
Matt meanwhile has diagnosed some problems with my technique - I am making turns and slowing down - apparently the correct approach is straight down the hill.
Reluctantly, I changed my comfortable but over-ample foot-irons for a much tighter selection. At least these ones don't hurt immediately, unlike an even smaller pair that I was also offered.
The new equipment is undoubtedly "better" but the gain comes with considerable pain. Thinking about changing boots, then changing boots and then thinking about changing them back again is a key part of ski-ing, I have learnt.
Matt meanwhile has diagnosed some problems with my technique - I am making turns and slowing down - apparently the correct approach is straight down the hill.
Tuesday, 25 December 2007
Candlelit Descent
Christmas day ! It's a special day, but in a ski resort it's very much business as usual. Especially with all the presents left back in England.
After ski-ing and turkey, we were out on the slopes witnessing a genuinely amazing sight: 100+ expert skiers snaking down the Face Bellevarde bearing "candles" (magnesium flares in reality) in the dark, followed by an impressive fireworks display.
The only downside was that it blanketed the whole area in smoke totally obscuring the view of the mountain. A glimpse of what Beijing 2008 may look like perhaps !
After ski-ing and turkey, we were out on the slopes witnessing a genuinely amazing sight: 100+ expert skiers snaking down the Face Bellevarde bearing "candles" (magnesium flares in reality) in the dark, followed by an impressive fireworks display.
The only downside was that it blanketed the whole area in smoke totally obscuring the view of the mountain. A glimpse of what Beijing 2008 may look like perhaps !
Monday, 24 December 2007
Boot Camp
By a happy accident of logistics, we had no ski-ing first thing on Monday. So after a lie-in, it was late morning before we had to kit up and make for the slopes.
Included in our chalet was a driver service to pick us up and drop us off at the slopes - not much more than 500 metres away. Hardly worth it, really, but on the other hand it's a pleasure not to have to trudge in ski boots particularly after 20minutes getting ready - layer-upon-layer, hat, gloves, goggles, boots, sunglasses, lip-balm, suncream, neck-warmer, coat, skis, poles. Got everything ?
First time back on the slopes for a year - or first time ever in Roger's case. It all takes some considerable getting used to.
Some things do come back to you though: the fact that everyone looks the same in ski gear, the fact you're always too hot or too cold, the fact that your boots are always too tight or too loose and the fact that the slope looks severe from the top, benign from the bottom.
Lessons in the afternoon - a chance to get some ski-legs back.
Included in our chalet was a driver service to pick us up and drop us off at the slopes - not much more than 500 metres away. Hardly worth it, really, but on the other hand it's a pleasure not to have to trudge in ski boots particularly after 20minutes getting ready - layer-upon-layer, hat, gloves, goggles, boots, sunglasses, lip-balm, suncream, neck-warmer, coat, skis, poles. Got everything ?
First time back on the slopes for a year - or first time ever in Roger's case. It all takes some considerable getting used to.
Some things do come back to you though: the fact that everyone looks the same in ski gear, the fact you're always too hot or too cold, the fact that your boots are always too tight or too loose and the fact that the slope looks severe from the top, benign from the bottom.
Lessons in the afternoon - a chance to get some ski-legs back.
Sunday, 23 December 2007
Snow Business
On our way to Val D'Isere for Christmas. 5am alarms ... away on time at 6am. Traffic mostly friendly, and the fog was patchy, which is presumably the best kind of fog. The online check-in worked. No problems at security.
The gate of course was right at the far end, as always. We boarded almost on time and then they announce a 2-hour delay due to the knock-on effect of the foggy conditions. Still, we were eventually underway. For the rest of the journey, some complications: there was lost luggage, but not ours. Babies being sick, but not ours. Connections missed, but not ours. Flights cancelled, but not ours.
Still, with or without complications, it's a long way up the mountain. We arrived at 7:30pm local time - only just time enough to survey the locality for pre-existing snowmen, before ski-fitting, dinner and bed.
The gate of course was right at the far end, as always. We boarded almost on time and then they announce a 2-hour delay due to the knock-on effect of the foggy conditions. Still, we were eventually underway. For the rest of the journey, some complications: there was lost luggage, but not ours. Babies being sick, but not ours. Connections missed, but not ours. Flights cancelled, but not ours.
Still, with or without complications, it's a long way up the mountain. We arrived at 7:30pm local time - only just time enough to survey the locality for pre-existing snowmen, before ski-fitting, dinner and bed.
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