Back in the Uk

It was freezing cold waiting for the car park bus. Judith finally needed the fur hood on her new extra warm ski jacket!

We had a good trip back and I finally got home at 9.30-ish.

Grenoble airport

Having heard tales of it being a bit of a cattle Market on a Saturday I am happy to say it's nowhere near as bad as that. Yes it's small and very busy but we never had trouble finding a seat and there are snack bars outside the departures entrance, in the deptartures area and after security. The staff were all friendly and displayed a sense of humour. The only trouble came from a fellow passenger at check-in! A lady with an injured leg was wheeled up by a porter to the front of our queue immediately before me. Her husband had all their bags. It didn't seem to have occured to them that they'd need to show tickets, passports and medical docs - and as the check-in guy asked for them these came to light slowly one by one. Meanwhile the husband, in handing over bags for the wife to fish out all the documents had manouevred her wheelchair so it prevented our queue from accessing the next check-in desk over so we were stuck waiting for them to sort themselves out while the other queue had both the other open desks to use.

During all this the couple must have been clearly able to see the many notices about no ski boots (or helmets) in handluggage - they were on the screens and on large signs on every check-in desk. Yep, you guessed it - next thing the check-in guy asks them is what's in their rather large handluggage ......!! The bloke then starts repacking their luggage, by now having positioned himself and his possessions across the entrance to TWO check-in conveyer belts with stuff everywhere, totally oblivious to the bottleneck he was creating. The staff just looked on with bemused expressions. Thinking all was done, he then replaces his handluggage on his trolley at which point the wife asks if he doesn't need to check his boots in too as well as hers .....!

We meanwhile were trying, with the group of blokes behind us to whom we'd been chatting, to stifle the giggles - we were early enough that there was no concern about time! Eventually they got sorted and I got my bag on the belt and horrors, it said 15.4Kg though Margaret's travel scales had said it was 14.8 when packed. As we watched though, doing only a partial job of resisting the giggling, the scale repeatedly went up to 15.6 and down to 15.0 randomly while the blokes were helpfully recommending the opening of the bag and removal of the largest knickers I could find to reduce the weight! The check-in guy, although not entirely sure of the content of the humour in the conversation (probably just as well) was smiling along quite happy with my bag's weight and we all then completed check in uneventfully.

On getting to security though, I was asked if my bag could be searched and the chap stuck in a gloved hand, and withdrew it, looked at what he had hold of and said, in a surprised tone "oh, it's an orange"! I still am not sure what he thought it might have been!

Au Revoir Les Deux Alpes

We're in Ben's Bus on our way to Grenoble where we'll have time to kill as our flight isn't until 17.20 and we left at 12.00. Don't know what the snow was like today - the sky was clear with a little mist and at 10am it was zero degrees C. The info board by the red eggs was showing several blacks closed which perhaps was due to icy conditions but about 11.15 we noticed quite a lot of people on Diable. I wish we'd had time to ski this morning instead of packing , cleaning the apartment and lugging stuff up to the bus! No doubt there'll be reports from those staying on till tomorrow. It is so sad to be leaving!

Last day for most of us ....

.....although 4 aren't going home till Sunday and one lucky person's transfer is 5pm tomorrow so she's having another day's skiing too. Val got the shortest straw though - her pickup is 5.30am tomorrow.

Despite the weather not being so good we all had a good day today. It was -10C last night so it was an icy start with strong winds that caused both White & red eggs to be closed. The more advanced lesson group had gone up to Cretes but retreated back downhill for more pleasant conditions.

After the very heavy slushy snow yesterday afternoon I was quite unnerved by the icier start today. However the Easiski magic soon began to work as our lesson got going and the confidence came back as we worked on lots of flexing including doing little bounces round turns and on traverses.

We ended with a trip across the lower pistes and a video session on Limacon. Then rather than go for lunch I took up the invitation to go along on the group 1 expedition around the Village area and up the chair to the Desmoiselles. During this Charlotte asked me to lead them down a section while she filmed meaning I had to try to set an appropriate pace and course. Afterwards she pointed out my skis were nicely parallel when they should be for many of the turns.

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I think I can honestly say that everyone has learned a lot and we've had a most enjoyable time. Charlotte has worked tirelessly with limitless patience, sympathy where needed and most importantly supportive constructive criticism and genuine praise where merited. We learned to accept this praise and focus on positive achievement instead of being too self critical. At times I started a lesson feeling very apprehensive but before long would be achieving something and the grin would be back. I cannot remember feeling anything but elated at the end of each lesson.

Many thanks also must go to Cathy at the Lutins for letting the non residents use her bootroom and giving us a central post ski base with the use of a tv on which to play back and review videos.

So when's the next trip???

Now that's what I call a blue sky!

This was taken about 8am from our balcony, which was rather cold for bare feet!

Cretes was very cold and windy so I hastily retreated back down for warmer gloves before the lesson. Our last 2 folks arrived safely despite the French ATC strike - shame they could only make it for a few days but better that than not at all.

After our lesson which was very enjoyable despite the cold we decided to go to the lower slopes to practise where group 1 were being taught. While we were finishing a very late lunch consisting of the last waffles in the cafe I got a phonecall - it was Charlotte. Group 1 had spotted us and were repeatedly skiing the tennis court terraces where I'd previously so spectacularly face-planted, waiting for us to go and watch. I hastily made my way over to watch and as I arrived Charlotte immediately led the group down the terraces - I had no choice but to nonchalantly follow & ski the terraces myself! I must admit they seemed only half the size they were before. It was great to see how confidently group 1 were skiing them and in slushy heavy snow too. It was definitely much more difficult to ski in slush than the better snow higher up, but down low it was warm and not windy.

We ended the day with our first meal out. We would all recommend the place for good food and very pleasant, helpful staff. It was La Bougie, which is opposite the Marche U. It cost us €20 each for wine, main course and sweet, including a tip.

I really can't believe tomorrow is our last day.

In the ice grotto

Strong winds are forecast for tomorrow so we took the chance to visit the grotto this afternoon.

In group 1, Margaret and Val had an expedition too today, taking in a button lift they'd not seen before, the scenic green down through the Village area and the Petite Aiguille chairlift, finishing down part of the Demoiselles. They arrived back at the Lutins glowing from the experience (or was it from the Vin Chaud?)

The more advanced group did lots of work on the glacier slopes including climbing over the snow "walls" that stop snow being blown around too much. While doing that Judith gave them a big fright, by falling heavily and taking rather a while to reassure them she was ok. Charlotte later said she doesn't need to do things for adrenaline hits as moments like that provide her all that she needs!

Off piste!

This silhouette is Easiski photographing the area just below the glacier where she had taken us off piste. She had mentioned it was "breakable crust" and and that we needed to ski lightly and not do anything sudden. However, following in her tracks, where she had felt the crust giving a touch, of course I managed to break through it and fall over. It was very soft - like falling into a feather duvet! Getting up again was interesting with little to push against but with a little help I made it!

We in all skied the whole way from 3200 at the Glacier down to 2100 where we retired to the Patache restaurant for a long late lunch. WOW did it feel good to have done that trip! It was an amazing experience. I did a steeper section of the blue Jandri that tried my skills and then faced my first long sideslip to get down from Jandri to the tunnel near the restaurant that's been rebuilt after being destroyed by fire. On surveying the slope down to the restaurant and being told I was going to go down it, I'd said "NO WAY" and I was firmly told "YES!", and that the alternative was more difficult... So there was no choice. I reminded myself that Charlotte would not ask me to do anything unless she honestly believed I had the skills to do it and we went for it.

I had barely tried any sideslipping before this and was grateful for Charlotte skiing along side me for the descent, though she said all she did was make sure I kept going and didn't suddenly panic and freeze - wonder why she thought I might - think she knows me!

The glacier this afternoon

The snow was perfect and there was almost no wind. So it was just right for doing our homework practice - lots of ankle flex - well some, anyway ;) As you can see it was wonderfully quiet.

Another blue sky day!

Group 3 has the early slot this week and had a good lesson before the rest of us were out and about! Group 1 though had to wait till the afternoon with pre-ski nerves which they tamed with some practice while my group had our lesson. We were on the Petites Cretes doing arm exercises to encourage a good body position and to help us get the weight in the right place. We also worked on trying to develop the balance necessary to lift the uphill ski between turns.

I am definitely gaining confidence and with it more speed and am pleased to say my relationship with chairlifts has improved to the point that today I went on one with a rather nice French flight
attendant who told me all about his ski hols with his girlfriend and at the end I just nonchalently skied off without much thought! If you've never had issues with a chairlift you won't understand the import of this for me perhaps.

We eventually met today's new arrivals, one of whom was a bit delayed as her bus driver managed to have a minor collision with another bus down by the red eggs. They got settled in while I spent a very pleasant couple of hours down at Charlotte's enjoying the peaceful location and making Ioda's acquaintance. He truly is adorable.

Sad to see friends leave

Just waved off some of the week 1 group and after a coffee am now sitting in the sun with only a t-shirt on awaiting others. The bus should be here soon. Can't believe it's so hot. Wish I'd had time to change out of salopettes!

Skis

Thought I'd do a brief entry this morning as I've woken up at stupid O'Clock again after a night of dreams featuring some scary descents! I'm getting on really well with my skis - it's their first outing. They're Fischer Vision Ivory, bought 2nd hand from a Snowheads member in beautiful condition. Should I ever need them waxing in Hampshire I've been told this week of someone there who's a dab hand with an iron & hot wax ;)

Final evening

After a great day's skiing everyone came to our apartment where we shared pizza & drinks. Charlotte brought her video footage which we enjoyed watching and seeing how every single one of us had made good progress in our lessons.

Steve has kindly offered to copy everyone's pics and the video footage and post them to us.

Last Day of week 1!

So, we have reached the end of week 1 and we are going to be sorry to see people go home after such a great week, but look forward to the week 2 people coming tomorrow.


The weather was stunning today. Caroline & I skied the Puy Salie down from the top of the funicular and loved every minute of it, not wanting it to end. It was nearly as much fun as playing "teapots" with Charlotte, honest it was! (see pic!). Caroline says she is going to post something on SnowHeads about Butterfly - hmm!




Our beginner group did very well today, with two managing to ski the path from the Red Eggs to the Cretes restaurant. It's a lot nicer today than the day my group skied it in horrid weather, with the wind blowing the snow around so much we had to stay close together to keep each other in sight. This shows the last section of the path just before it reaches the Cretes. You have to be going "so fast you are scared" by the time you reach the part in the bottom left of the pic, or you have to pole the last section as it goes uphill towards the end.

Thursday

Where has the week gone? Ian't believe tomorrow is the final day of week 1. It seems most of us had a good day today with most doing something new. The beginners did the Gentiane lift and came up to the Cretes restaurant. One managed to ski there from the red eggs, the others came up in the White eggs. The top group experienced some off piste tho I gather it was a case of "you want us to go WHERE?" at one point when the instruction seemed to be to jump off the edge of the world!. Caroline & I (with Steve) managed to find our way up to Cretes via the Lutins, Petite Aiguille & Village lifts. In the lesson we managed to ski turns while lifting our inside ski (ok so only a little and briefly, but lift them we did!). We also worked on speed, whooshing down/up in the little valley in the middle of the P etites Cretes - would you believe I was heard to say "that was fun, can we do it again?".

Later on we went up the glacier to see the view and have a drink on the terrace of the restaurant up there. Fuelled by vin chaud, Caroline & I skied Signal with Steve & Richard but were not keen on the state of the path back to the restuarant from the top of the Signal chair - it's a narrow-ish track which is normally fine but today it had large ridges of snow blown onto it creating a switchback course - we managed just about to plough the remaining narrow gulley having negotiated a few humps that we couldn't avoid. All good experience!

Lovely weather!

This is some of us sitting in the lovely sunshine outside the Cretes restaurant - a favourite meeting point.

It has a snack bar near these outside tables which serves hot/cold drinks and things like hotdogs. Upstairs is a self service restaurant and a huge outdoor terrace with wonderful views, part with tables, part with deckchairs. Very nice!

The sun's back!

Had really good day all round. Charlotte took my group on a tour along the tops of the resort level drag lifts, hastily pointing out as we approached the Lutins drag that there was no need to panic as we were going off on the path at the top, not skiing the run. I think the panic was rather evident on our faces!

We took the green path through the Village, up the Petite Aiguille chair, down a section of Desmoiselles and up the Village chair to the Petites Cretes. After the lesson we practised on Petites Cretes, managing to ski its full length without stopping which was a first for me. Then we finished by crossing onto the blue Cretes at the top of the Petites, and bombed back across to the lift with minimal poling needed.

Others have had a good day too - Group 3 succesfully conquered some powder that looked knee deep in their pics..

We must be nuts!

You may not believe this but 5 of us went swimming about 6pm in the open air pool while it was snowing heavily! It was heated but rather bracing I have to say. At least there was no need to walk outside in cozzies - you get in the end of the pool indoors and then bravely emerge outside through plastic curtains. A group of lads at one point were getting out of the pool and making snow angels, - we declined to join in!. I could not get a photo, sadly!

Tuesday - day 3

It started off promising with a blue sky, but the red glow should have told us - by lunchtime it was grey, snowing, windy, cold again, but fresh snow is welcome! Everyone's had a good day, though Caroline and I landed in a joint heap getting off a chairlift - didn't hurt ourselves at all, we just both couldn't stop laughing. Liz found the moguls and enjoyed the challenge of them in dodgy light! At the top apparently it wasn't possible to tell what was up and what was down.

At about 3pm the sun sort of came out for a brief very hazy appearance. The light today was horribly flat- "follow my tracks" was an impossible instruction - what tracks??

From sun to murk!

Today's weather was grey & snowing with variable visibility. The beginners made good progress anyway and learned to use a Poma.

My group stayed on the Viking and Gentiane but Charlotte then decided we should ski down the terraces where the tennis courts are. Well the first time, going straight in a plough it was ok, but when it came to doing it with parallel skis on the diagonal with a large bumpy bit of snow part
way ...........!!

Yes I proved that Charlotte was dead right about if you look at something you'll ski towards it - that large lump of snow that I wanted to avoid and focused my attention on became my destination and I did the most spectacular face plant. Oops!! At least I know know my bindings release as supposed to! I wasn't at all hurt and then managed to do 2 more trips down the terraces just fine. It is disappointing when you turn back and look at something you found hard as it seems much smaller looking up - but of course the difference comes from your eyes being a further 5+ feet off the ground than your skis! This really was a lesson in confidence.

After a brief sandwich we went back out for another hour of practice during which I found out one of the party, Caroline went to the same school as me and we were just 2 years apart. We are both in this photo! What a small world it is.

Wall to wall sunshine!

Everything is going according to plan so far, touch wood! This is the 3 beginners on their first day. They were able to compare their experience with that of a rather large group nearby who seemed to be having a bit of a White knuckle intro.

Group 2 had a good time as well. We started on an easy nursery slope to have a confident base to work up from and worked on some basic edging skills. Then we went up the Red Eggs (the Diable) and along what seemed to me to be a rather scary path that seemed to have a large drop off one edge (Route de Thuit). I was assured it was safe and afterwards was really pleased I'd done it. We arrived at the Cretes area and descended again in the White Eggs, (Jandri 1).

Group 3, the more advanced group spent their lesson on the Cretes and say they enjoyed themselves. After skiing we all retired to the Lutins Bar where a certain yogurt cake that I'd been asked to take went down well.

Ready for take-off

All well so far! Seven of us are travelling together - Pat's all strapped in between Liz & Margaret, ready for her first ever flight. Incidentally we used Airparks Birmingham. It is ok but not that quick even though it's close to the airport.

A Skiing Trip is Planned

This was taken in Les Deux Alpes (LDA) last summer. While there, a plan was hatched to take a small group of people who are older, more nervous learners. The aim was for gentle paced skiing lessons in small groups with Charlotte - www.Easiski.com.

This is a report of that trip.

Catch the action as it happens!